14 Days Gorillas, Serengeti & Victoria Falls tour — Africa’s Ultimate Bucket List Safari

This 14-day gorilla trekking, Serengeti safari and Victoria Falls trip combines three of Africa’s most iconic experiences in one seamless itinerary allowing you to encounter the highly endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda, countless wildlife in the vast landscapes of Tanzania and the Victoria Falls commonly referred to as the smoke that thunders, both on the Zambia and/or Zimbabwe side.

Itinerary overview

  • Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and City tour
  • Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
  • Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking
  • Day 4: Golden monkey trekking and return to Kigali
  • Day 5: Fly to Tanzania
  • Day 6: Transfer to Serengeti national park
  • Day 7: Full day game drive in Central Serengeti
  • Day 8: Another day of game viewing in Serengeti
  • Day 9: Ngorongoro crater experience
  • Day 10: Fly to Victoria Falls
  • Day 11: Arrival at Victoria falls and tour of the Victoria falls on the Zambia side
  • Day 12: Flight over the Victoria falls, Boat cruise and Evening Boma dinner
  • Day 13: Chobe day trip
  • Day 14: Tour on the Victoria falls from the Zimbabwe side and departure

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and City tour

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will meet your designated professional driver guide who will warmly welcome you the land of a thousand hills. He will give a short briefing about trip after which you will head out for the beautiful streets of Kigali for a tour of this city. During the sightseeing, you will visit the Kigali genocide memorial, the Belgian peacemakers’ memorial, the bustling local kimironko market and craft centres. After the city tour, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will stay the night.

Accommodation: Hemingways Retreat Kigali (Luxury)/Hotel mille collines(midrange)/Five to Five(budget)

Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast

Kigali City tour

 

Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes national park

Wake up to a breakfast at your hotel then embark on 2.5-3 hours drive northwest of Rwanda with stunning views of the rolling hills and lush vegetation to Musanze, home of the Virunga mountain ranges and the Volcanoes national park. On arrival, check in at your gorilla lodge for lunch and enjoy an afternoon of relaxation. Optional Twin Lakes (Burera and Ruhondo) canoe excursion.

Accommodation: Amarembo by Touchdown(luxury)/Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel(midrange)/ Le Bambou gorilla lodge(budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking and Iby’iwacu cultural experience

Today you will experience one of the highlights of this trip. Wake up to a breakfast at the lodge and at 7:00 am assemble at the Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing on the gorilla trekking experience. During the briefing, you will be informed on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking then you will be grouped into 8 individuals and each group assigned a habituated gorilla family to visit. The treks range between 1 to 5 hours round-trip depending on where the family is feeding that morning, and once you find them, you will be allowed 1 hour in their presence observing them and taking photographs. After the trek, you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, head out for a visit to the Iby’Iwacu cultural village also known as the gorilla guardian village where you will experience the traditional culture of the people of Rwanda through music, dances, dress code, stories, poems, among others. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Amarembo by Touchdown(luxury)/Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel(midrange)/ Le Bambou gorilla lodge(budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Tanzania and gorilla safarisDay 4: Golden monkey trekking and return to Kigali

Arise for a breakfast at the lodge and at 6:40am, leave the lodge once again for the Kinigi park headquarters and assemble for a briefing on the dos and don’ts of golden monkey trekking. The golden monkey hike will take you via the potato fields belonging to the local community and lasts between 1-4 hours round trip. Once you locate the golden monkeys, you will be allowed 1-hour in their presence admiring these beautiful creatures and taking photographs. You will then meet your driver guide and return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, check out of the lodge and begin a return journey back to Kigali.

Accommodation: Hemingways Retreat Kigali (Luxury)/Hotel mille collines(midrange)/Five to Five(budget)

Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast

Day 5: Fly to Tanzania

After a restful night, wake up for a breakfast at the hotel then you will transferred to Kigali International airport for your flight to Tanzania- Kilimanjaro International Airport. On arrival, you will be met and greeted by the company’s representative who will then take to your hotel in Arusha for relaxation and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Aya Sofa Villa (Luxury)/ African Tulip(midrange)/ Safariland hotel (Budget)

Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast

Day 6: Transfer to Serengeti national park

Wake up at leisure and settle for a breakfast at the hotel before setting off for the northern Tanzania circuit. On arrival in Serengeti, check in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Serengeti Ark lodge (Luxury)/ Seronera wildlife lodge (midrange)/ Heritage lodge Serengeti (Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 7: Full day game drive in Central Serengeti

Enjoy a full day exploring the vast plains of Central Serengeti. This game drive will start at sun rise game drive, a bush breakfast, a picnic lunch in the park and an afternoon game drive before returning to your lodge for an evening of relaxation.

Accommodation: Serengeti Ark lodge (Luxury)/ Seronera wildlife lodge (midrange)/ Heritage lodge Serengeti (Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

central Serengeti National Park

Day 8: Another day of game viewing in Serengeti

Today you will have another day of game viewing in the Serengeti allowing you more game viewing and birdwatching opportunities. Wake up to a breakfast at the lodge then check out for a morning game drive. Return to the lodge for lunch after which you will spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying a relaxation in the wilderness.

Accommodation: Serengeti Ark lodge (Luxury)/ Seronera wildlife lodge (midrange)/ Heritage lodge Serengeti (Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 9: Ngorongoro crater experience

Early morning, check out of the lodge and transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. At the crater, stopover at the crater rim for a view of the crater floor before descending into the Ngorongoro Crater, a 260-square-kilometre volcanic caldera, one of Africa’s densest concentrations of wildlife.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa lodge (Luxury)/ Ngorongoro safari lodge (midrange)/ Ngorongoro Rhino lodge (budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 10: Fly to Victoria Falls

After breakfast, check out of the lodge and proceed to Arusha where you will catch your transfer flight to Victoria falls. There is no direct flight between northern Tanzania and Victoria falls.

Day 11: Arrival at Victoria Falls and tour of the falls on the Zambia side

Upon arrival at Livingstone Airport, your designated driver guide will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your lodge for check in and relaxation. In the afternoon, head out for a walk for the first close-up view of the Victoria falls via the rain forest walk. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Royal Livingstone hotel(luxury)/ Protea Hotel(midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 12: Flight over the Victoria falls, Boat cruise and Evening Boma dinner & drum show

Today you will have a full day of activities. After your breakfast, proceed on a helicopter tour famously known as the flight of angels over the Victoria falls during which you will enjoy the breathtaking views of the Victoria falls.  Following the helicopter tour, enjoy the stunning views of the falls up close on a relaxing 2- hours boat cruise on the Zambezi River. The evening will wind up the day with an unforgettable mouth-watering local cuisines and energetic dance performances.

Accommodation: Royal Livingstone hotel(luxury)/ Protea Hotel(midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 13: Chobe day trip

After an early breakfast at the lodge, take a day trip into Chobe National Park in Botswana where you will enjoy an amazing game viewing experience both by land and water on a boat cruise excursion. Chobe national park is famous for offering one of the best wildlife viewing opportunities and its enormous elephant herds along the Chobe River.

Accommodation: Victoria Falls hotel(luxury)/ Ilala hotel(midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 14: Tour on the Victoria falls from the Zimbabwe side and departure

Depending on your departure flight schedule, wake up at leisure and after breakfast go for a visit to the Victoria falls to enjoy the view of the falls from the Zimbabwe side. Return to the lodge for relaxation then later you will be transferred to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward flight, typically connecting through Johannesburg.

End of tour

Tour inclusions

  • -Transportation
  • -English speaking guide
  • -Gorilla permits
  • -Victoria falls activities
  • -Golden monkey permits
  • -Agreed upon accommodation
  • -Full board meal at accommodation
  • -Cultural tour
  • -City tour
  • -Boat ride
  • -Park entrances
  • -Concession fees
  • -Helicopter tour
  • -Government taxes
  • -All activities mentioned above

 

Tour Exclusions

  • -Transfer flights
  • -International flights
  • -All items that are not mentioned above
  • -Tips and gratuities
  • -Visa fees
  • -Alcoholic drinks
  • -Air tickets

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