17 Days Rwanda Double Gorilla Trek Tanzania and Kenya Wildlife Safari : Our 17 Days Rwanda Double Gorilla Trek Tanzania and Kenya Wildlife Safari takes you on an adventurous journey through top safari destinations in East Africa. Begin your 17 Days Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya Safari in Rwanda where you will track chimpanzees in Nyungwe and gorillas in Volcanoes national park; and wind up your safari viewing wildlife in Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Masai Mara national parks. Contact us at Explore Rwanda Tours for a quotation of this Safari.
17 Days Rwanda Double Gorilla Trek Tanzania and Kenya Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Pickup and Transfer to Nyungwe (Approximately 6 hours’ drive)
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park (Approximately 6-7 hours’ drive)
Day 4: First Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Second Gorilla Trek
Day 6: Golden Monkey Trek and Ibyi’wacu Village Tour
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali, Flight to Tanzania (Own Booking) – Kenya Airways is advised
Day 8: Transfer to Tarangire National Park, Game Drive
Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater Drive, Walking Safari
Day 10: Full Day Game Drive in Ngorongoro
Day 11: Drive to Serengeti national park
Day 12 & 13: Full Day Central Serengeti Game Drive
Day 14: Transfer to Masai Mara Reserve
Day 15: Hot Air Balloon Tour and Game Drive
Day 16: Full Day in Masai Mara
Day 17: Departure
17 Days Rwanda Double Gorilla Trek Tanzania and Kenya Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Pickup and Transfer to Nyungwe (Approximately 6 hours’ drive)
In the morning, you will be picked by the driver from your hotel in Kigali and drive southwards to Nyungwe forest National Park. You will have a stopover in Butare, where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, the king’s palace in Nyanza with lunch en route. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk.
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing before entering the forest, searching for the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are the easy to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimp tracking usually takes about 3 hours. You will be given time to have your packed lunch which you carried from your lodge/hotel.
After having your packed lunch, you will embark on a guided nature walk along the famous canopy walkway bridge- a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you there after connect to your accommodation to spend the evening at leisure. This hike takes only 2 hours. Later meet up with your guide and drive back to your lodge/hotel.
Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park (Approximately 6-7 hours drive)
After having breakfast, you will start your journey to Volcanoes national park.
Have lunch and transfer to Musanze – the nearest town to Volcanoes National Park found in the northern province of Rwanda. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: First Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
You will enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch and bottled drinking water for briefing by the park ranger guides at 7:00am. After briefing, you will start your gorilla trekking journey accompanied by the ranger guides in search of the mountain gorillas; this takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas.
However, the guides will try to find them from where they were last seen the previous day! You will spend 1 hour with these gentle giants and later return to your lodge to refresh and relax. In the evening, you can do an Optional tour to the Dian Fossey Centre at Karisoke where you will visit the Dian Fossey museum and also get to know about her works. Dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 5: Second Gorilla Trek
You will enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch and bottled drinking water for briefing by the park ranger guides at 7:00am. After briefing, you will start your gorilla trekking journey accompanied by the ranger guides in search of the mountain gorillas; this takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas.
However, the guides will try to find them from where they were last seen the previous day! You will spend 1 hour with these gentle giants and later return to your lodge to refresh and relax. In the evening, you can do an Optional tour to the Dian Fossey Centre at Karisoke where you will visit the Dian Fossey museum and also get to know about her works. Dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 6: Golden Monkey Trek and Ibyi’wacu Village Tour
Breakfast will be served early and lunch will be packed. The briefing is at 7 am. Your guide will give you highlights of specific details about the way of life of the golden monkeys you will be tracking. The hike can take anything from one to seven hours.
Trekking through the steep, bamboo slopes and then finally coming across the golden monkeys camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Once you reach the golden monkeys, you are allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away. Upon completion of this magical encounter, you will connect again with your driver / guide and drive to your lodge for lunch and rest for a while.
After lunch, you will head out for a cultural experience at Ibyi’wacu village which is also known as the “Gorilla Guardians Village.” Get an opportunity to learn more about Rwanda’s rich cultural history as you visit the former King’s Palace and watch traditional Rwandan folk dance and singing performances from the local intore dance troupe. Later return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at same lodge as above.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali, Flight to Tanzania (Own Booking) – Kenya Airways is advised
After breakfast at the lodge, check out and transfer to Kigali International Airport which is about 4 hours away, for your flight to JRO.
Upon your arrival in Tanzania, you shall be picked up and transferred to your hotel of stay. Check in, and enjoy a late dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 8: Transfer to Tarangire National Park, Game Drive
After your breakfast, you will continue your drive to Tarangire national park which begins your wildlife viewing experiences in Tanzania. After checking in at your lodge in the national park, you will prepare to have your lunch before heading out into the wilderness of the national park.
During your game drive, you will see different wildlife species grazing and roaming in the national park such as lions, giraffes, antelopes, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffalos, wildebeests, elands, elephants, cheetahs, impalas and a variety of bird species can also be seen especially around the Tarangire national park. As you enjoy the sunset and scenery around you, your guide will dive you back to your lodge for dinner and overnight lodge.
Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater Drive, Walking Safari
After breakfast at the lodge, drive to the conservancy and get to descend about 600 meters into the Ngorongoro crater during your game drive. You will look out for wildlife species such as elephants, lions, buffalos, rhinos, cheetahs, hippos, antelopes, kudu, zebras, impalas, gazelles among others on the Ngorongoro crater floor. You will also look out for attractions like Lake Magadi in the crater where you will see flamingos and other bird species on the lake shores.
After your picnic lunch in the wild, head out for a walking safari experience in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, for an opportunity to come up-close with nature and wild game including zebras, antelopes, among others as you are guided by a ranger guide. Return to the lodge enjoying yet another wild game viewing opportunity, for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10: Full Day Game Drive in Ngorongoro
Have your breakfast in the morning and head out for a full day game drive in Ngorongoro. (Endeavor to carry your packed lunch from your lodge). You can use this day to search for wildlife animals that you might have missed sighting during your earlier game drive.
Later have dinner and overnight stay at your lodge same as above.
Day 11: Drive to Serengeti national park
You will have an early breakfast at your lodge as you prepare for your transfer to Serengeti national park. You will see different wildlife species during your en route game drive in the open savannah plains on the way to the northern part of the Serengeti with lunch enjoyed en-route.
During your game drive in the national park, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery such as the kopjes where lions can be seen as they watch their prey. You will also see various wildlife species such as elephants, buffalos, warthogs, hyenas, giraffes, wildebeests, antelopes, impalas among others during your game drive. You will proceed to your camp for dinner and overnight at lodge/camp.
Day 12 & 13: Full Day Central Serengeti Game Drive
Today, you shall enjoy a game drive in the Serengeti for yet another chance to spot different wild animals including the big 5. You shall have lunch in the park, and mazing game drive in the central Serengeti for a chance to see more of the wild game, around the Seronera River. Return to the camp, relax as you wait for dinner and an overnight stay at lodge/camp.
Day 14: Transfer to Masai Mara Reserve
After breakfast the lodge, proceed to drive to Masai Mara Reserve Kenya via Isebania border where your Kenya safari guide shall meet you once again. Proceed to the lodge as you look out for amazing wild game in the reserve, including some herds of wildebeests. Chance to witness the great wildebeest migration in Masai Mara National Reserve as well. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge/camp.
Day 15: Hot Air Balloon Tour and Game Drive
Wake up early in the morning and head out for a hot air balloon safari. The hot air balloon safari offers a unique perspective of the Masai Mara that is impossible to replicate from the ground. The breathtaking vistas, wildlife sightings, and golden sunrise will leave you in awe. You will get to see various wild game in the park, including big 5 animals; and you can get to witness the Great Migration if you are travelling between July to October. A typical hot air balloon safari lasts approximately 1 hour, but the entire experience, including transportation and the champagne breakfast, usually spans 3-4 hours.
Once you have finished your breakfast in the African bush, you will embark on a game drive in the park and later have lunch in the wilderness. Look out for various wildlife and birds in Masai Mara, as well as the beautiful landscape of the park. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay as above.
Day 16: Full Day in Masai Mara
Enjoy a full day of exploring the plains of Masai Mara in search of various wildlife with a chance to witness the great migration. Look out for various animals including the big 5 animals, antelopes, elands, zebras, gazelles, among so many others. In the evening, you will get to visit the Maasai Tribe and learn about their culture and way of life. Dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 17: Departure
On the last day of your safari, you will have your breakfast and then you will check out of the lodge as you prepare for your journey back to Nairobi where you will be dropped off by your guide at the airport or at your preferred location in Nairobi which will bring your safari to an end.
