6 days Serengeti and Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda
6 days Serengeti and Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda, The Gorilla Trekking Safari provides guests with an exceptional wildlife experience in Africa. The journey includes interactions with all of Africa’s Big Five (leopards, lions, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes) as well as mountain gorillas. The journey encompasses the two East African nations of Tanzania and Rwanda. Experiencing the Big Five in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area while engaging in gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park. The 6 days Serengeti and Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda commences in Tanzania and concludes in Rwanda.
Travelers in Tanzania will explore Serengeti National Park and the adjacent Ngorongoro Crater. The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater possess possibly the highest density of wildlife in Africa. The Serengeti is situated in northeastern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. The Serengeti is internationally recognized for facilitating the most extensive wildlife migration on the planet. Annually, about 2 million animals, including wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, impalas, and elands, migrate between the park and the Maasai Mara in pursuit of fresh grass, influenced by the rainfall patterns. This migration attracts thousands of people to the park to watch new calves or witness the perpetual struggle between predator and prey. The Serengeti hosts the world’s largest lion population, over 3,000 individuals, and is categorized into three primary regions: the Serengeti Plains, the Western Corridor, and the Northern Corridor. In every section you explore, anticipate encountering lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, rhinoceroses, giraffes, elands, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, waterbucks, several avian species, and small monkeys.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was formerly a segment of the Serengeti National Park until becoming an independent entity in 1959. The region has the renowned Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, and various isolated mountains. This region is frequently referred to as the cradle of mankind due to the discovery of the earliest human fossils by the Leakey family. The Ngorongoro Crater is the primary attraction. The crater possesses the highest concentration of animals in Tanzania. The sheltering crater margins enable the creatures to inhabit the crater year-round, with only a few individuals moving. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area hosts lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, wildebeests, zebras, hyenas, and primates such as the blue monkey. The region also has avian species such as the silver-cheeked hornbill and the grey crowned crane.
Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s premier tourist destination. It is located at the frontier with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Volcanoes National Park is one of the four natural homes for mountain gorillas, making it a sought-after site for gorilla trekking. Gorilla hiking constitutes an extraordinary wildlife encounter. It is a whole distinct experience from a game drive in the savanna plains. You will be observing entities that resemble and exhibit behaviors akin to humans.
Highlights of the 6 days Serengeti and Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda
- Day 1: Collection – Transfer to Serengeti National Park with a halt at Olduvai Gorge – Afternoon wildlife excursion in the Serengeti grasslands
- Day 2: Morning safari in Serengeti – Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 3: Pre-dawn safari excursion Ngorongoro – Departure to Rwanda via Arusha
- Day 4: Tour of Kigali City – Transit to Volcanoes National Park – Explore the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
- Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park – Tour the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village
- Day 6: Travel to Kigali for departur
Highlights of the Safari
- Wildlife observation at Serengeti National Park
- Wildlife observation at the Ngorongoro Crater
- Exploration of Olduvai Gorge Tour of Kigali
- Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
- Visit to Iby’iwacu Village
- Visiting the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
Day 1: Arrive in Arusha – Transfer to Serengeti National Park with a stop at Olduvai Gorge – Afternoon wildlife drive on the Serengeti plains
Upon your arrival at Arusha International Airport, our guide will be present to greet you. The Guide will provide an introduction of the Tanzania program and initiate the adventure to the Serengeti. The driver will pause at Olduvai Gorge to permit your visit to the museum containing some of the earliest human fossils on the planet. Upon entering Serengeti National Park, you will go on a brief wildlife drive across the plains before to proceeding to your lodge. Be vigilant for lions, giraffes, elands, zebras, elephants, cheetahs, buffaloes, and wildebeests. In the evening, you will arrive at your lodge for a shower and refreshments. Evening Meal and Overnight Stay at Serengeti Bush Camp/Serengeti Serena Lodge
Day 2: Morning safari in Serengeti - Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
On the second day of your six-day Serengeti and Rwanda gorilla trekking safari, you will have an amazing day filled with game drives in two of the world’s premier safari areas. The day will commence with a morning game drive in the Serengeti savanna plains to observe additional wildlife encountered during the initial game drive. The morning game drive will last approximately 2 hours. Upon concluding the morning game drive, you will proceed southeast to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Lunch will be near the edge of the Crater.
Post-lunch, you will traverse the crater for an extraordinary game drive. The crater hosts a diverse array of wildlife species, including lions, elephants, elands, wildebeests, zebras, hyenas, and hippos. The Ngorongoro Crater is been termed the “Garden of Eden” for fauna. It possesses breathtaking landscapes that provide the necessary resources for animal survival. Fauna in Ngorongoro Crater do not require migration due to the ample availability of sustenance and water, especially during arid periods. Following an extraordinary experience with the Big Five in the crater, you will return to your lodge for leisure, dinner, and an overnight stay at Hhando Coffee Lodge or Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge.
Day 3: Early morning game drive in Ngorongoro – Departure to Rwanda via Arusha
On the third day of your six-day Serengeti and Rwanda gorilla trekking safari, rise early for an additional game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater to seek for more wildlife, both species observed previously and any you may have overlooked. The Ngorongoro Crater is exceptional for observing black rhinos and ostriches, as well as giraffes, jackals, and peculiar vultures. Upon concluding your game drive, you will commence your travel to Arusha International Airport to ensure an early departure to Rwanda. The journey from Arusha International Airport to Kigali requires about 45 minutes.
Accommodation alternatives: Marriott Hotel (luxury), Des Mille Collins Lodge (mid-range), and Step Town Motel Kigali (cheap).
Day 4: Tour of Kigali City – Transit to Volcanoes National Park – Explore the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
On the fourth day of your six-day Serengeti and Rwanda gorilla trekking safari, you will rise early and have breakfast while awaiting the arrival of your guide/driver to commence a city tour. Kigali is compact yet among the cleanest and most orderly cities in Africa. The driver will transport you throughout the city, including stops at the Genocide Memorial Centre, the former presidential palace, the primary city market, and one artisan shop. Upon concluding the city tour, you will partake in lunch and commence your journey to the northeastern region of the country. The journey from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park requires 3 hours. Upon arrival, you will check in, shower, and refresh yourself. The driver will escort you to the picturesque twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
Accommodation alternatives: Five Volcanoes Hotel (luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (moderate), and Hotel Muhabura (economical).
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park - Tour the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village
Prior to dawn, you will partake in breakfast and proceed directly to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking. This workshop will include information on the regulations for gorilla trekking, the park’s history, and what to anticipate. Following the briefing and verification, you will be allocated to a gorilla group for tracking, accompanied by seven other tourists. You will thereafter advance to the hike’s commencement point before entering the dense bamboo trees. Accessing the gorillas is quite arduous due to their remote location from the park administration. You will thus need to hike for approximately 2 to 4 hours to locate them. Upon locating the gorillas, you must comply with the regulations established by the park Ranger. You will dedicate one hour to observe the primates as they feed, engage in play, and communicate with one another. The social habits of gorillas are more intriguing than those of other animals. They exhibit a high degree of organization and astuteness akin to that of humans.
Following one hour of engagement and photography with the primates, you will be escorted out of the forest and returned to the initial location to receive your certificate of participation. You will return to the resort for lunch and unwind while awaiting transportation to the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village. The driver will arrive at approximately 3:30 PM to transport you to the cultural village. The site, now referred to as the Gorilla Guardians Village, is the premier location to immerse oneself in the traditional culture and customs of the Rwandan people. You will have the opportunity to visit the local herbalist, breweries, and artisanal shops. You will also be invited to participate in activities such as bricklaying and engaging in local sports. The highlight is observing musical and dance performances by local Kinyarwanda and Batwa groups. Evening meal and overnight accommodation at the aforementioned lodge
Day 6: Travel to Kigali for departure
This will be the final day of the journey. You will have breakfast in the morning and subsequently check out of the hotel to commence your journey back to Kigali. Upon arrival in Kigali, the driver will either transport you to Kigali International Airport for afternoon or nighttime flights, or to your accommodation if you have an additional day or two in Rwanda.