7 Days Ngorongoro crater and  gorillas in Rwanda

This 7-days safari to Rwanda and Tanzania will give you an incredible blend of the natural wonders of the world with a visit to two renowned parks in these destinations that is; Volcanoes National Park, located in Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills in the town of Kinigi and here you will come across one of the world’s most endangered species, the mountain gorillas and Ngorongoro crater where you will come across a large concentration of wildlife including Africa’s BIG 5 and the rare black rhinos and as well interact with the Masaai tribe of Tanzania, learn about their way of life, culture and traditions. During this safari you will come across at least 2 of the UNESCO’s world’s Heritage sites in Africa.

7 Days Ngorongoro crater and  gorillas in Rwanda Itinerary overview 7 Days Ngorongoro crater and  gorillas in Rwanda 

  • Day 1: Pick up from Arusha International Airport
  • Day 2: All day game drive with a picnic lunch
  • Day 3: Morning game drive and visit to the Masaai tribe
  • Day 4: Transfer to Kigali
  • Day 5: Kigali city tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
  • Day 6: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 7: Transfer to Kigali

Detailed Itinerary of 7 Days Ngorongoro crater and  gorillas in Rwanda 

Day 1: Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a professional destination driver guide will pick you up and take you for scenic drive to Karatu town where you will check into your hotel, enjoy a hot lunch and then spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing. Later in the evening dinner will be served then you can take your rest for the day.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation: Karatu Simba lodge

Day 2: All day game drive with a picnic lunch

Arise early morning, check out of the hotel, pick up a packed breakfast and lunch, then board your safari vehicle and head out for a full day of game viewing. This game drive will begin with a short drive that will take you to the Ngorongoro crater rim where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the crater before proceeding into it.

Once in the Ngorongoro crater, you will go through the different trails spotting a number of animals such as elephants, zebras, wildebeests, elands, baboons, buffaloes, warthogs, lions, among others. Since Ngorongoro crater is also a birding paradise with numerous bird species, you will spot a variety of birds such as flamingos, ostriches, grey-crowned cranes, among others. This game drive around the crater will lead you to the lake where you will spot more wildlife such as hippos. Near the lake you will have a stopover for a picnic lunch as you enjoy the magnificent view of the landscape and the water. After lunch, continue on yet another game drive for more wildlife viewing and this will come to a halt later in the evening with your arrival at a tented camp where you will have dinner and stay the night.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Simba Campsite A

Day 3: Morning game drive and visit to the Masaai tribe

The next morning arise for breakfast at the lodge then continue on another game drive during which you will explore more of the biodiversity of the Ngorongoro crater, spotting more wildlife including thousands of gazelles, zebras and wildebeests traversing the grassy plains as predators such as lions prey on them.

Stop over for a picnic lunch in the wilderness as you enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the wild. After lunch, proceed for a visit to the Masaai homesteads in the Ngorongoro highlands where you will interact with the unique Masaai tribe, a rich cultural heritage and learn more about their culture and way of life through stories, songs, dances and food.

Later in the evening you will proceed out of the crater to your hotel where you will have dinner and stay the night.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Karatu Simba lodge

Day 4: Transfer to Kigali

Very early in the morning, the lodge will provide you with a delicious breakfast after which your driver guide will pick you up and embark on a journey back to Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will board your transfer flight to Kigali International Airport, Rwanda.

Upon arrival in Kigali, you will meet your professional destination driver guide who will take you to your hotel in Kigali where dinner will be provided before you can take your night’s rest.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Five to Five Hotel

Day 5: Kigali city tour then transfer to Volcanoes National Park

In the morning, the hotel will provide you with a delicious breakfast then you will check out and proceed for a Kigali city tour during which you will visit the tourist attractions in Kigali such as the Kigali genocide memorial, the Kimironko local market, crafts shops, Belgian peacemaker’s museum, and the presidential museum among others.

After the city tour, stop over at a local restaurant for a hot, delicious lunch before proceeding on a 4 hour scenic drive to Kinigi, Musanze. Upon arrival in Kinigi, check into your lodge where dinner will be served, then you can rest for the night as you await the next day’s exciting gorilla adventure.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation: Da Vinci lodge

Day 6: Gorilla trekking

Wake up to a nourishing breakfast at 6:00 am at the lodge then the driver guide will pick you up at 6:15 am and set off for the park headquarters. At the park headquarters you will be welcomed with a cup of hot rich Rwanda coffee from the local manufacturers. This will be followed by a briefing about the code of conduct and what to expect when you go gorilla trekking. You will then be grouped into groups of 8 individuals and each group assigned a gorilla family to visit. Your driver guide will then pick you up and take you to the starting point of the trek.

At this point, feel free to hire a porter to assist with your luggage then in your group of 8 you will penetrate the forest in search of the assigned gorilla family. It will take you about 4 to 8 hours to locate the gorilla family and once you find it, you will be allowed 1 hour in their presence. After this you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the lodge or you can opt to take a visit to the Ibyi’wacu cultural village also known as the gorilla guardian village where you learn about the Rwandese culture, traditions and way of life. Then later return to the lodge for dinner and a night’s stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Kigali

Early morning, the lodge will provide you with breakfast, then your driver guide will pick you up and proceed on another scenic drive through the beautiful landscape of Rwanda back to Kigali where he will drop you off either at the hotel or Kigali International Airport where you will catch your flight to the next destination.

The 7 Days Ngorongoro crater and gorillas Trip inclusions

  • Ground transportation
  • Gorilla permits
  • Park entrances
  • Game drives
  • Meals
  • Accommodation
  • Bottled water
  • Flight from Arusha to Kigali

The  7 Days Ngorongoro crater and gorillas Trip exclusions

  • Tips
  • Donations
  • Laundry
  • Extra activities
  • Drinks and cigarettes
  • Visa and International flights