9 Days Rwanda gorilla, masai mara and serengeti safaris
9 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari is a combined African safari taking you on an amazing trip through the Magical Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya. On this safari you visit Volcanoes national park where you will encounter the endangered mountain gorillas, visit Nyungwe Forest national park where you will encounter a huge population of primates including chimpanzees, white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and also do a magical canopy walk.
From Rwanda, you will continue to Tanzania – the classic wildlife destination in Africa where you will visit the iconic Serengeti national park and Kenya visiting Masai Mara national reserve where you will have countless opportunities to spot the Big Five – lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, rhinos and elephants alongside cheetahs among others.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 9 DAYS RWANDA GORILLAS, MAASAI MARA AND SERENGETI SAFARI
Day 1: Kigali – Volcanoes national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Day 3: transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
Day 4: Chimp Trekking and Canopy walk
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali and fly to Kilimanjaro International airport – Arusha
Day 6: Arusha to Serengeti national park – evening game drive
Day 7: Game drive in Serengeti – Full day
Day 8: transfer to Maasai Mara national reserve
Day 9: morning game drive and transfer to Nairobi
DETAILED ITINERARY OF 9 DAYS RWANDA GORILLAS, MAASAI MARA AND SERENGETI SAFARI
Day 1: Kigali – Volcanoes national park
On arrival at Kigali International airport, you will be warmly welcomed in the magical Kenya by your safari guide, depending on the time of your arrival, you may have a city tour in Kigali City – the safest and cleanest cities in Africa with a car- free zone in its Central Business District.
During the city tour, you will visit the genocide museum, monuments, craft markets and so many more. After lunch you will drive northwards to Musanze district at the foothills of Virunga Massif then to Volcanoes national park a famous home for mountain gorillas. Check into your lodge for an evening of relaxing as you wait for your dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Midrange: Le Bamboo Lodge
Budget: Virunga Hotel and Campsite
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Wake up for breakfast and head to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi for briefing about mountain gorilla trekking experience, you will join other trekkers in the briefing and be grouped into 8 people, be assigned a gorilla family to trek and then hike into the jungle looking for mountain gorillas.
Gorilla trekking takes approximately 2-8 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family you are trekking and your physical fitness, when you find the gorillas, you will spend one hour in their presence. In the duration of one hour, you can take as many pictures as possible as long as your flashlight is off, also observe the amazing behavior of these human-like creatures.
Return to the starting point and head back to your lodge for relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 3: transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
After breakfast, you will checkout of your lodge and begin on your journey to Nyungwe Forest national park which is a popular Rwanda safari destination for hosting a huge population of primates including the endangered chimpanzees. Along the way you will have short visits to some of the Rwanda genocide memorial sites and have lunch at the shores of Lake Kivu – the biggest lake in Rwanda.
Continue to the Nyungwe Forest national park arriving in the evening, have dinner at your lodge after checking in.
Accommodation options
Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
Midrange: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Budget: Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge
Day 4: Chimp Trekking and Canopy walk
Have early morning breakfast and head to the park’s headquarters at Uwinka Visitor center for briefing about rules and regulations to be observed during chimpanzee trekking. Together with your guide, porters and fellow trackers, you will hike into jungle of Nyungwe through tea plantation looking for chimpanzees.
Nyungwe Forest national park is a home to over 13 species of primates including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons among others, three horned chameleon and forest mammals.
Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest national park takes approximately 1 to 4 hours and once you find the chimpanzee troops you are allowed to stay with the chimpanzee for only one hour as you watch them play, juggle, munching fruits and going on with their daily routine.
You will return to your lodge for lunch and relax for a while as look forward to another great afternoon adventure, the canopy walk is a magical experience offering you 360 degree views of the forest and its dwellers ranging from primates, several bird species, ancient trees and other small insects. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali and fly to Kilimanjaro International airport – Arusha
After breakfast, you will checkout of your lodge and drive to South western Rwanda via Butare City where you will have a brief cultural encounter and real up close with the Rwandan style of life.
You will have lunch in Kigali city then be dropped off at Kigali International airport for your flight to Arusha – Kilimanjaro International airport, upon arrival you will be warmly welcomed in Tanzania by our guide then be transferred to your hotel in Arusha for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Arusha Coffee Lodge by Elewana
Midrange: Masai Land
Budget: Runako Hotel
Day 6: Arusha to Serengeti national park – evening game drive
Enjoy breakfast, checkout of your lodge and begin your journey to Serengeti national park which takes approximately 5 hours, along the way you will have lunch and when you arrive in the park. You will go for an afternoon game drive exploring the Serengeti plains and watching a variety of wildlife including large prides of lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, rhinos, cheetahs, gazelles, giraffes among others. Head to your lodge for check in and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Midrange: Serengeti Tanzania Bush Camp
Budget: Osinon Tented Camp
Day 7: Game drive in Serengeti – Full day
You will spend the full day exploring Serengeti national park on morning and afternoon game drives. Serengeti national park is the most popular safari destination in Tanzania and a home to the highest and varied concentration of wild animals than other destination in East and Central Africa.
During the game drives you will have an opportunity to spot a variety of wildlife including antelopes, hyenas, leopards, lions, cape buffaloes, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes among others. You will either picnic lunch or drive back to your lodge for lunch, then continue with exploring the park’s endless savannah plains. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: transfer to Maasai Mara national reserve
Have early breakfast, checkout of your lodge and transfer from Serengeti national park to Maasai Mara national reserve with border crossing at Isebania Border, after completing all the legalities at the border you will meet our Kenyan guides and transfer to Masai Mara national reserve.
When you enter into the reserve, you will have en-route game drive as you head to lodge and then embark on an evening game drive looking for nocturnal animals including predators. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mara Rianta Luxury Camp
Midrange: AA Mara Lodge
Budget: Enchoro Wildlife Camo
Day 9: morning game drive and transfer to Nairobi
Wake up early for a morning game drive before dawn, during the game drive you will enjoy the spectacular sunrise and predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs among others. You will then head back to your lodge for breakfast, checkout and transfer back to Nairobi arriving in afternoon. Along the way you will have lunch and then be dropped off at the airport for your departure flight
End of the Safari
