Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Depending on arrival time, enjoy a short Kigali city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial and local craft markets.

Overnight in Kigali.

Day 2: Kigali to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. The scenic journey takes about 2.5 hours through Rwanda’s rolling green hills.

Arrive at your lodge near the park and spend the afternoon relaxing while enjoying views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Dinner and overnight near Volcanoes National Park.

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, transfer to park headquarters for briefing before beginning your mountain gorilla trek. Guided by expert trackers, hike through bamboo forest and lush vegetation in search of a habituated gorilla family.

Once found, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. Overnight near Volcanoes National Park.

Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking & Cultural Visit

Today you will track the playful and endangered golden monkeys in the lower slopes of the volcanoes. The trek is lighter than gorilla trekking and offers great photography opportunities.

In the afternoon, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to experience traditional Rwandan music, dance, and local history. Overnight near Volcanoes National Park.

Day 5: Return to Kigali – Fly to Arusha, Tanzania

After breakfast, drive back to Kigali and transfer to the airport for your flight to Arusha, Tanzania (usually via Nairobi). Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and relax.

Overnight in Arusha.

Day 6: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park, famous for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. Enjoy a full game drive along the Tarangire River, a key wildlife gathering point.

Dinner and overnight at a lodge or tented camp near Tarangire.

Day 7: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, head to Lake Manyara National Park, located at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. The park features diverse habitats including forest, open plains, and lakeshore.

Game drives here may reveal elephants, hippos, flamingos, and possibly tree-climbing lions. Continue to the Ngorongoro Highlands for overnight.

Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with one of Africa’s densest concentrations of wildlife. Enjoy a game drive across the crater floor, home to lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and black rhinos.

Picnic lunch near a hippo pool before ascending to the crater rim. Overnight in the Ngorongoro Highlands.

Day 9: Ngorongoro to Central Serengeti

After breakfast, drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into Serengeti National Park. Enjoy wildlife viewing en route as the landscape opens into endless plains.

Arrive in Central Serengeti for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Full Day in Central Serengeti

Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti’s rich wildlife areas. This region offers excellent year-round sightings of lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, and large herbivore herds.

Overnight in Serengeti.

Day 11: Serengeti Migration Tracking (Seasonal Movement Area)

Today your guide will focus on following the Great Migration herds based on seasonal movement:

• Dec–Mar: Southern Serengeti / Ndutu (calving season)

• Apr–Jun: Western Corridor

• Jul–Oct: Northern Serengeti (river crossings)

Enjoy extensive game drives with picnic lunch in the bush. Overnight in Serengeti.

Day 12: Another Full Day in Migration Area

Another full day allows deeper exploration of migration zones and predator action. Your guide may reposition between regions depending on herd movements for the best viewing.

Overnight in Serengeti.

Day 13: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Highlands

After a morning game drive, depart Serengeti and return to the Ngorongoro Highlands. Enjoy scenic views and optional cultural stops with Maasai communities.

Dinner and overnight in Karatu or near the crater rim.

Day 14: Ngorongoro Highlands to Arusha

After breakfast, drive back to Arusha. Arrive in the afternoon with time to relax at your lodge or do some shopping in local craft markets.

Overnight in Arusha.

Day 15: Leisure Day or Optional Activities in Arusha

Enjoy a free day in Arusha. Optional activities include a coffee plantation tour, cultural heritage center visit, or day trip to Arusha National Park.

Farewell dinner and overnight in Arusha.

Day 16: Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.