11 Days

Gorilla & Big Five Safari

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Trip Overview

From mountain rainforest to endless savannah plains, this East African adventure is designed for active travelers who are in deep in love with the great outdoors.  Your journey begins with some exciting safari games at Ngorongoro Crater Floor in search of iconic African wildlife such as lion, cheetah, elephant, rhino and many others. Then, venture to your fabulous safari camp at Northern Serengeti and spend three nights exploring this premier safari destination. If you are in season, between July and September, you may witness millions of wildebeest and zebras graze on the open grassland, preparing themselves the river crossings as part of the Great annual migration. Your journey ends with three nights at Volcanoes National Park, tracking down golden monkeys and gorilla’s family before eventually comes face to face with the mighty silverbacks.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - 2

Arusha

Private Transfer to Arusha's Hotel

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will receive a warm welcome from our representative and enjoy a private transfer to Arusha. Take it easy tonight, satisfy your appetite with a delicious selection of home-baked cakes and an array of hot coffees made from locally grown beans and spend a restful overnight at this attractive little town

Lake Manyara Safari Game

Located midway between Arusha and Ngorongoro Crater National Park, Lake Manyara is often used as a pit stop – but it certainly deserves more. The region features an incredible wealth of habitats from acacia woodlands to a tranquil soda lake and bubbling hot springs. Your safari guides will take you into the thick forests where the legendary tree-climbing lions lived along with tusked elephants and troops of African primates. We will also hunt for grazing wildebeests and zebras near the lakeshore, visit a crowded hippo pool and – when in season – admire the huge flocks of pink flamingos hanging out in the soda water.

Road transfer to Ngorongoro Crater

Day 2 - 5

Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater Floor Safari Games

Once a gigantic volcano, Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in the world whose floor today covers an area of 260 square kilometers and housed more than 30,000 animals. Game drives at the Crater floor will give you a fantastic opportunity to see the African Big Five: Lions, leopards, elephants, African buffaloes, and the rare, endangered rhinoceroses. To the east, you will find Gorigor Swamps filled with happy pods of hippos while the shallow Lake Magadi is the perfect spot for bird watching from flamingoes to ostriches, crowned cranes, tawny eagles and many more

Empakaai Crater Hike

Take the less-traveled road to Empakaai, a magical crater untouched by humans and encircled by steep, densely forested walls. As we approach the crater rim, a breathtaking view of the famous Ngorongoro Crater and its alkaline lakes will reveal itself along with Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and Lake Natron in the distance.  Accompanied by a local Maasai guide, we will walk through the enchanting forest, hoping to spot some indigenous wildlife including blue monkeys, buffalo, and the elusive leopard. Waiting for you at the end of the hike is the emerald-green Empakaai Lake dotted with pink flamingoes and absolute peace and tranquility

Scheduled flight to Serengeti National Park

Day 5 - 8

Northern Serengeti

Private transfer to Northern Serengeti's Accommodation

Serengeti Safari Games

Spanning almost 15.000 square kilometers, Serengeti National Park is perhaps one of the most premier and famous safari destinations in the world. The resident wildlife is incredibly rich here: Lion resting on ancient rocks, cheetah pacing the plains, and up to two million wildebeest grazing over the expansive land during the Great Migration season. But even if the herds have moved off, we will still take you on an unparalleled safari game drives twice a day to the most remote and beautiful corners of Serengeti and help you tick off animals on your bucket lists.

Scheduled flight to your Kigali

Private Transfer to your Volcanoes National Park's Accommodation

Gorilla Tracking with Expert Guides

Spend adventurous days inside Volcanoes National Park, tracking down the endangered mountain gorillas with your expert guides. The bushwhacking treks through the bamboo forest can take a few hours or the entire day, depending on where the gorillas are hanging out that day. Sometimes, they gather at unreachable areas, and your guides have to machete through a new path in order to get close to them. The journey will be richly rewarded when you first encounter the gorilla’s family – the playful young ones, the saggy breasted females, and the enormous silverback whose arms can lift up to ten times its own body weight. You will spend around one hour with the family before taking the same route back to your lodge.

Golden Monkey Forest Walk

Playful and Inquisitive, the endangered Golden Monkey can only be found in high altitude forests, especially near bamboos – their primary diets. Inside Volcanoes National Park, there are two habituated troops of around 80 members waiting to be discovered. The walk follows the same path as the gorilla trek but less strenuous as these golden furred mammals usually live on lower grounds. Once you locate them, you will spend about an hour with these energetic creatures, watching them swinging from trees to trees and racing after one another in circles around you

Private Transfer to Kigali's Airport

More Destinations

Tailor your Holidays

Combine this itinerary with other wonderful Tanzania & Rwanda Experiences

Primate Trekking in Nyungwe Forest

Combine the trip with a hike in Nyungwe Forest, home to more than 12 species of primate including colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, and more than 500 chimpanzees

Idyllic Beach Getaway

Kick your shoes off and go barefoot in one of the secluded Zanzibar islands. Explore world-class diving sites or simply relax and disconnect from the rest of the world

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