12 Days Gorillas – Big Five – Beach

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our representative, outside the airport arrivals section and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation at Flame Tree Village.

Breakfast at the hotel. Thereafter enjoy a City Tour of Kigali. (Cost of city tour included) The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare.

Visit the Kandt museum, see old Kigali and the craft centres then visit the genocide memorial site. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. Lunch in Kigali.

Later, depart Kigali and drive to Ruhengeri.  Approximately 2.5 hrs arriving in the early evening at the Volcanoes National park. Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Breakfast at the lodge. 0700 hrs: Registration is a simple process where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening. There are a total of 88 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group.

Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s Lead Guide briefs the trekkers of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point.

Trekking can take from 2 to 6 or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way.   After the trek, rejoin your driver Guide for a transfer to your lodge for lunch.

After lunch, depart from foothills of the volcanoes and drive south past coffee, tea and banana plantations on a scenic drive to Kigali. Everything and everywhere, sheer green and hanging on the hills; Rwanda truly – land of a thousand fertile green hills. (Approximately 2.5 hrs).  Overnight Kigali – Flame Tree Village.

Early breakfast at your hotel in Kigali. Thereafter, transfer to the airport for flight to Seronera airstrip in Tanzania’s Serengeti National park.  Upon arrival, you are met by our driver guide and enjoy a short game drive on the way to the lodge. After lunch, enjoy a game drive till sunset.  Dinner and overnight at your lodge – Mawe  Tented Camp.

Depart after Breakfast with boxed lunch for full day in Serengeti National Park, late check in at Mawe Tented camp.

The Serengeti is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing.

After early breakfast, depart Serengeti with packed lunches, driving southwards through the Ngorongoro Conservancy area.  Short visit of the Olduvai Gorge. Enjoy a lunch at Rhino Lodge perched on the edge of the famous Ngorongoro Crater with enchanting view of the crater below.  You may opt for an excursion to Empakai.  Dinner and overnight at Rhino Lodge.

Breakfast at the camp.  Then descend into the crater for a full day tour of the crater floor, running till just before sunset.  Due to the enclosed nature of the Crater it has virtually formed its own ecosystem. Besides the stunning scenery, one of the main attractions of this area is the variety of flora and fauna found in a remarkably compact area all year round. Drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight at Rhino lodge.

After breakfast, drive back to Arusha to arrive in time for lunch. After lunch, transfer to the airport for flight to Zanzibar.  On arrival in Zanzibar you will be met by Hallmark Travel Planner’s representative and transferred to Zanzibar Palace Hotel.

After breakfast, depart for a Tour of the Stone Town and Spice Island. In the late afternoon, drive to the beach resort – Diamond Mapenzi Beach Resort.

Spend the days enjoying beaches of Zanzibar and the Swahili way of living or at the resorts swimming pool. Scuba diving or diving course for beginners are available (at an Extra cost) at most of the beach resorts in Zanzibar.  Dinner and Overnight at your hotel – Diamond Mapenzi  Beach Resort.

Tour Price Per Person

Rates are subject to change with notice.