Mountain Gorillas, Beach & Game Safari – 12 Days is a unique safari taking in the highlights of East Africa including tracking the endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda, enjoying the big game and migration herds of the Serengeti and relaxing at the perfect beach retreat of Ras Kutani.
Throughout this safari you stay at some of the best lodges in the region, maximizing your comfort at the same time as seeing as much as possible during your stay.
Note: This safari can be tailor-made to meet your specific requirements including your preferred number of days, preferred dates of travel, standard of lodges and budget.
12 Days / 11 Nights Mountain Gorillas, Beach & Game Safari Trip Highlights
Kigali City - Volcanoes National Park / Parc National des Volcans - Serengeti National Park - Ras Kutani, Tanzanian Coast - Dar Es Salaam City
Day 1: Kigali City - Volcanoes National Park / Parc National des Volcans
Days 2 – 3: Volcanoes National Park / Parc National des Volcans – Kigali City
Day 4: Kigali City - Serengeti National Park
Days 5 – 7: Serengeti National Park
Day 8: Serengeti National Park – Ras Kutani, Tanzanian Coast
Days 9 – 11: Ras Kutani, Tanzanian Coast
Day 12: Ras Kutani, Tanzanian Coast - Dar Es Salaam City
One More Reason To Book This Safari Experience
- Learn about the horrors of the Rwandan Genoside and how the country is healing its wounds on a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.
- Experience Rwanda's hilly countryside that has made the country to be referred to as the land of a thousand hills on a drive to the famous Volcanoes National Park / Parc National des Volcans.
- Climb up deep into the Virunga Mountains to track the endangered mountain gorillas and get rewarded by spending an hour with these magnificent creatures a truly memorable experience.
- Experience the vast unending plains of the Serengeti National Park with its wild game and memorable sunrises and sunsets.
- For a chance to catch the Great Wildebeest Migration one of the greatest spectacle on earth that occurs on the Serengeti National Park Plains.
- Relax in the idyllic white sandy beaches of Ras Kutani on the Tanzanian Swahili Coast Line.
- For a chance to extend and customize your trip to other amazing destinations in Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Uganda.
The Detailed Mountain Gorillas, Beach & Game Safari – 12 Days Luxury Safari Adventure Holiday Vacation Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali City - Volcanoes National Park / Parc National des Volcans
Upon your arrival into Kigali International Airport you are met by your private professional English speaking driver/guide and private 4x4 safari vehicle. This morning, you have the chance to take a city cultural tour of the markets and pottery projects in Kigali, and if you wish to, there is the opportunity to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. The Centre in Kigali was created by a joint partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust. It contains a permanent and extremely moving exhibition of the Rwandan genocide and an exhibition of other genocides around the world.
After lunch, you travel north to Ruhengeri and the Volcanoes National Park / Parc National des Volcans. This 2 hour drive undulates over Rwanda’s extremely hilly and picturesque countryside. Upon nearing the end of your journey, you will (weather permitting) begin to catch glimpses of the Virungas - a chain of 5 impossibly steep and lofty volcanoes straddling the western branch of the Rift Valley from east to west. Each mountain possesses its own unique character and silhouette, but together they form one of the most isolated and visually dramatic ecosystems in the world. A 'true island in the sky', the Volcanoes National Park is home to some of the worlds few remaining Mountain Gorilla, which were first studied here in 1959 by George Schaller, and through the 1960's by Dian Fossey and her colleagues.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Virunga Mountain Lodge or Sabyinyo Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Days 2 – 3: Volcanoes National Park / Parc National des Volcans – Kigali City
The next two days activities may be amongst the most exciting and challenging you have undertaken. The Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda are part of a worldwide population of just 790 individuals. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to either one of ten habituated family groups. For up to five years each, these groups have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild.
An early breakfast and you're off to the park headquarters at Kinigi to register and be allocated your gorilla family for the day. Once this is done, you set out by vehicle to the start of on your gorilla safari.
The gorillas are by no means tame, and are completely wild animals. However, experienced guides will accompany you on your gorilla tracking, many of who have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas' habits and information from the previous day to locate the group's whereabouts.
Because of this, the time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 9 hours before one returns to camp. Once the gorillas are located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is one of the world's truly memorable experiences - a look into one of these magnificent creatures' eyes brings home the bond that exists between them and us. It also brings home the poignant fact that they are on the edge of extinction, and that your presence here contributes to ensuring their continued survival. The hour is often over all too quickly, and you slowly make your way back to your lodge to recount the day's adventures.
On the first afternoon, there may be an opportunity to visit with the local communities or take a drive out to the scenic Lakes Bulera and Ruhondo. On the second afternoon, you transfer back to Kigali.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Virunga Mountain Lodge/ Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Day 4: Kigali City - Serengeti National Park
An early start this morning as you take your flight from Kigali directly into the Serengeti in Tanzania. You will be met at the airstrip by your vehicle and guide and transfer through the savannah plains (game drive along the way), to the lovely Dunia Camp. Arrival in time for lunch with an afternoon game drive.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Dunia Camp
Days 5 – 7: Serengeti National Park
The next few days are yours to head out on game drives across the Serengeti. Game drives from Dunia give you access to the best the southern and central Serengeti have to offer: the Ndutu area, the southern plains, the Moru Kopjes and the central Serengeti valley. The migratory wildebeest and zebra share the land with many large cats, elephant, giraffe, Thomson gazelle and a host of other species.
The central Serengeti has one of the highest concentrations of lion prides and leopard and cheetah are often spotted. If you are lucky you may have a chance to spot the rare black rhino in the Moru area. One morning you have the option to take a Serengeti Balloon Safari, departing at 05h30. Balloon flight is approximately one hour with champagne, full English breakfast in the bush and a flight certificate included. (Cost not included a supplement of USD$500 per person is charged).
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Dunia Camp
Day 8: Serengeti National Park – Ras Kutani, Tanzanian Coast
A final game drive is conducted this morning on your way to the airstrip. You catch your flight to Dar Es Salaam. From here you will have a short 4x4 transfer southwards to the beautiful beach hideaway of Ras Kutani. Relax and reminisce over the adventures of the last week or so…
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Ras Kutani
Days 9 – 11: Ras Kutani, Tanzanian Coast
Three whole days to sit back and enjoy the comfort and tranquility of Ras Kutani. Set on a peninsular of white sandy beach next to a fresh water lagoon and tropical forest shoreline. The perfect African beach relaxation.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Ras Kutani
Day 12: Ras Kutani, Tanzanian Coast - Dar Es Salaam City
Today you depart Ras Kutani back to Dar Es Salaam in time for your onward international flight back home - (B).
An optional extension on this trip includes beach holidays in Zanzibar Island, Pemba Island, Mnemba Island and Mafia Island.
Prices
Please treat the prices shown as a price estimate. Your final price might go up or down following seasonal prices in the different lodges, camps and resorts. All prices indicated are per person, based on 2 persons sharing a room, and on estimated high season rates.
Rate Includes:
- All transfers
- Vehicle and guide
- One gorilla tracking permit
- Full board accommodation
