19 Day Rwanda, Tanzania and Island Experience

Day 1:ARRIVE KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your driver/guide. You will then be transferred to your Hotel in Kigali arriving for overnight, bed and breakfast.

Day 2:KIGALI CITY TOUR AND TRAVEL TO RUHENGERI

After breakfast go for a morning city tour visiting interesting spots which may include; the craft market, Gisozi genocide memorial site, Kigali museum. Stop for lunch in the city before we drive slowly North West through villages, farms, rice terraces and schools. There will be plenty of time to go for shopping and visit the schools and get some inside stories of the local people.

We continue to Ruhengeri area the second largest town in Rwanda, with its stunning backdrop of five volcanic mountains – the Virungas – arriving for dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 3:TWIN LAKES

After a very satisfying breakfast and some time to relax we will visit the twin lakes of Bulera & Ruhondo. These are beautiful lakes located at the base of volcano Muhabura and close to the border with Uganda. They are surrounded by steep hills and large waterfalls with a backdrop of the Virunga volcanic mountains. These twin lakes are great spots to be visited and used to be referred to as neglected gems but things have changed and Bulera and Ruhondo are a place not worth missing out on. Their deep blue waters ringed by steep hills and tall waterfalls with the outlines of the nearby Virunga Volcanoes provide a spectacular backdrop.

Day 4:GORILLA TREKKING

After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the National Park headquarters – Kinigi to meet your guides for the day. After completing our park formalities, we are embark on a once in a life time experience of tracking mountain gorillas. Once you spot them you are allowed to spend an hour watching your closest long lost cousin.

This is perhaps one of the most breathtaking wildlife experiences on earth! You get so close to these awesome giant primates. You stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 700 living today. You will get within meters of the family, and be privileged to spend relatively high altitude.

Day 5:GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING

This day is set out for Golden Monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park. Entering dense stands of bamboo interspersed with open glades; you will make your way deep into golden monkey territory. Guides lead visitors to the habitat of groups of ‘habituated’ golden monkeys – monkeys that have become accustomed to human presence. Though viewing is kept to a maximum of one hour, travelers can get an up-close look at the golden monkey in its natural habitat. Adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch.

Females carry their young, completely comfortable among onlookers.

Return to your hotel to freshen up and have lunch then go for the interesting trip to the local brewers to understand the chemistry of the process of brewing local beer from bananas. If you find the activity interesting enough you can join the women in squeezing the juice out of the bananas and drink a glass of juice (Optional). Understand how long juice takes to turn into alcohol after adding in sorghum flour. Enjoy the big glass of our local brew. Among other activities are basket weaving; with your visit this local community will be proud of this activity and families supported financially.

Day 6:DEPART RWANDA / ARRIVE TANZANIA

At 6am your guide will be waiting to pick you up and you will be transferred for a two hour drive to Kigali and on to Kigali International airport for your flight to Tanzania. Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport you will be greeted by our transfer driver and taken to your hotel close to town.

Day 7:ARUSHA – TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

In the morning you will be picked up by your safari guide. After a briefing you will head off in the direction of the Tarangire National Park. Giant Baobab trees, the bush savannah and the seasonal marshes add to the wonders of this nature reserve which is considered one of the best places in East Africa to view elephants up close, not only because there are thousands of these animals, but also because they do not feel threatened by the presence of a vehicle. With a bit of luck you can see leopards and on some rare occasions even cheetahs can be spotted. From the open roof of the safari vehicle you will be able to absorb the landscape and watch the animals. Furthermore you will also have a chance to see the elegant Maasai giraffe, various gazelles and antelopes, buffaloes, lions, leopards and marvel at the rich bird life. After an exciting day of watching wildlife, you will reach your private camp which has been set up especially for you on a secluded campsite in the Tarangire National Park.

Day 8:TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

Today is set aside for more game drives in the Tarangire National Park, which is the only permanent source of water in the park and the wildlife tends to concentrate in its vicinity. You will be able to observe herds of elephants and wildebeests as they come to drink especially during the dry season.

Day 9:TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK – LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK – KARATU

After breakfast, you will leave the Tarangire behind and continue to the Lake Manyara National Park, where you will spend the remainder of the day exploring this small, but beautiful park on game drives. The protected area encloses a large part of the alkaline Lake Manyara which is home to colonies of flamingos and other water birds. Apart from elephants you might also spot giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, impalas and teeming groups of noisy monkeys and baboons in the forests near the lake. In the afternoon, you will leave the park and drive up the African Rift Valley. Soon, the higher lands will be reached and a wonderful panorama opens up.

Day 10:KARATU – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, you will travel via the cooler highlands towards the southern Serengeti and at midday you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen.

The Serengeti is famous for the yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water. In the late afternoon, you will reach your private camp at a remote campsite in the Serengeti National Park. Listen to the sounds of the wilderness while you sit around the camp fire and enjoy your privacy in the middle of the African bush.

Day 11:SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK – BALLOON SAFARI

After breakfast, you will travel via the cooler highlands towards the southern Serengeti and at midday you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen.

The Serengeti is famous for the yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water. In the late afternoon, you will reach your private camp at a remote campsite in the Serengeti National Park. Listen to the sounds of the wilderness while you sit around the camp fire and enjoy your privacy in the middle of the African bush.

Day 12:SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK – MASAAI BOMA – NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

After breakfast you will continue your safari in the Serengeti National Park. In the Seronera Valley you might be lucky to see predators hunt as animals gather at the waters during the dry season. After lunch at a picnic spot you will slowly drive in the direction of the Ngorongoro Crater.

On the way you will stop at a Masaai Boma. As soon as you have reached the crater you will have a superb view of the caldera. This approximate 20 km wide crater is part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to over 20,000 animals.

Day 13:NGORONGORO CRATER – ARUSHA

Rise and shine! After an early breakfast you will drive down the steep path into the crater just. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest, unbroken and unflooded caldera in the world and it has an unbelievable diversity of wildlife. In addition to zebras and wildebeests, you might also spot the rare black rhino and other members of the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard.

The crater is also home to other animals such as hyenas, waterbucks, bushbucks, eland and more than 500 bird species. After an extensive game drive and a picnic lunch you will leave the caldera in the afternoon and drive back to Arusha, where you will arrive in the early evening.

Day 14:AIRPORT TRANSFER

After breakfast you will be taken to Kilimanjaro Airport from where you will fly to Zanzibar (flight at own arrangement). Arriving at Zanzibar Airport you will be greeted by your transfer driver and taken to the northern coast of the island. Along the way you will take part in a spice tour.

Spice Tour

While spices no longer dominate Zanzibar’s economy as they once did, there are still numerous spice plantations in the centre of the island, which make an interesting visit. Friendly and informed guides will escort you on a walking tour of the spice farms, picking bunches of leaves, fruit and twigs from bushes and trees, inviting you to smell or taste them to guess what they are. Almost all the ingredients of the average kitchen spice rack can be found on this tour. Local children weave small ‘gifts’ from palm leaves as they follow you around and will quickly scamper up a coconut palm to cut a fresh coconut for you.This is a great opportunity to find out why Zanzibar is known as the ‘Spice Islands’.

Day 15 -17:BEACH HOLIDAY ON ZANZIBAR

The following days are for you to enjoy at leisure. Different activities can be booked at hotel reception.

Day 18:STONE TOWN

After breakfast you will be taken to Stone Town, where you will take part in a tour through the town. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy at leisure.

Stone Town

Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, is steeped in history and an outstanding example of cultural fusion and harmonisation. It was recently and deservedly recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.Wander around the fresh produce, fish and meat markets. Stroll down the famed narrow streets, lined with small shops. Visit the Palace Museum and the Old Fort on the seafront, the Anglican Cathedral and the old Slave Market.One of the most striking aspects of a visit to the town is its fascinating architecture, which consists of a hybrid mix of Arabic, Indian, European and African influences.

Day 19:DEPARTURE

After breakfast you will check out. During the course of the day you will be taken to Zanzibar Airport from where you can continue your journey.