13 Days Mountain Gorillas, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach

13 Days Mountain Gorillas, Serengeti, and Zanzibar Beach.

This 13 Days Mountain Gorillas, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach combines wildlife and beach activities, taking you on an incredible African safari experience where you will meet mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and see various animals on a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Plains.

Then fly to the beautiful islands of Zanzibar, a beach paradise for a beach vacation. White sandy beaches and clear blue waters make the ideal end to an unforgettable African safari.

Highlights from 13 Days Mountain Gorillas, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach

Day One: Arrive in Kigali.

Day 2: Volcanoes National Park, Diane Fossey Research Camp and Genocide Memorial

Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Day 4: Return to Kigali.

Day 5: Fly to Arusha.

Day 6: Full-day Game Drive.

Day 7: Cultural Experience and Walk in the Bush

Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge.

 

Day 9: Full Day in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 10: Zanzibar, Mnemba Private Island Lodge.

Day 11: Yoga and snorkelling.

Day 12: Island Walk with Picnic Lunch.

Day 13: Departure.

Detailed itinerary for 13 Days Mountain Gorillas, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach

Day 1: Arrive in Kigali.

Welcome to Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills. Upon arrival in Kigali, transfer to your hotel. Settle in and relax with a swim in the large outdoor pool and a leisurely dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Kigali Heaven Retreat.

Day 2: Volcanoes National Park, Diane Fossey Research Camp and Genocide Memorial

After breakfast, take a Kigali city tour. Visit the Genocide Museum, the final resting place for over 250,000 victims, which features excellent exhibitions documenting the genocide. Following the tour, you will be transferred to Volcanoes National Park.

Check in at your lodge for lunch; then, take a walk to the Dian Fossey Research Centre and tour the surrounding area and communities. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight in Bisate Lodge.

Day 3: gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Get up early and set out on foot to see mountain gorillas. Tracking can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours, depending on how the gorillas move and where they spent the night before. As you make your way through the dense forest to see the gorillas, you will be accompanied by a guide and several trackers. Once you’ve found them, you’ll have the opportunity to spend one magical hour observing these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge for a relaxing afternoon, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

Stay overnight at Bisate Lodge.

Day 4: Return to Kigali.

After morning coffee, embark on a day of trekking. Today, you will visit a different family group and follow the same procedures as the day before. This afternoon, you will be transferred back to Kigali for an overnight stay.

Overnight at the retreat.

Day 5: Fly to Arusha.

After breakfast, fly to Arusha’s Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be met by our guide and transferred to Arusha Airport for your domestic flight to Serengeti National Park.

Our knowledgeable guide will pick you up and transport you to your campsite. Spend the afternoon relaxing in the spa, or take a game drive before dinner.

Overnight in Singita Faru Faru.

Day 6: Full-day Game Drive.

Today, leave with your guide and a picnic lunch for a full day of exploring the Serengeti Plains on the private Singita Conservancy. With such close proximity to the river and plains, take advantage of this one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect with nature. Return to the campsite for dinner under the stars.

Overnight in Singita Faru Faru.

Day 7: Cultural Experience and Walk in the Bush

After an early morning game drive, stop by one of the nearby local villages to interact with the community. Return to the campsite for lunch. This afternoon, set out on foot with an armed guide. Walking in the remote wilderness is thrilling and provides an opportunity to encounter some of the African bush’s smaller creatures. Return to camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

Overnight in Singita Faru Faru.

Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge.

After breakfast, drive east through the Serengeti to the airstrip, where you will board your bush flight to Lake Manyara; your guide will meet you and transport you to your lodge. Enjoy a light lunch with breathtaking views before departing with your guide to the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, where the first human remains were discovered. This evening, gather around the campfire to share safari stories, followed by a delicious, hearty meal.

Overnight at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.

Day 9: Full Day in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Set out early in a safari vehicle to the nearby Ngorongoro Crater for a full game drive. Ngorongoro Crater is a massive volcanic caldera formed approximately 2.5 million years ago when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed on itself. The Big Five are visible in abundance here, with the crater walls serving as a stunning backdrop. Have a gourmet picnic lunch on the crater floor. Return to the campsite for dinner and an overnight stay.

Overnight at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.

Day 10: Zanzibar, Mnemba Private Island Lodge.

Following an early morning breakfast, you will fly from Lake Manyara to Zanzibar. You will be met and driven through the lush spice plantations to the water’s edge for a brief boat ride across the pristine waters to Mnemba Private Island Lodge. Settle in and enjoy a sundowner cocktail on your private beach sala before indulging in a delectable seafood platter served in a remote beach setting.

Day 11: Yoga and snorkelling.

Enjoy a private yoga session before indulging in a delicious brunch. This afternoon, experience the wonders of the ocean with a snorkel to a nearby house reef, followed by canapés and sundowners.

Day 12: Island Walk with Picnic Lunch.

After breakfast, take a walk around the island, where you may see the Suni Antelope, Ader’s duiker, seasonal turtle hatchlings, and rare coconut crabs. Return for a delicious picnic on the beach, followed by a relaxing massage on your private deck. This evening, enjoy a seafood banquet beneath the stars.

Day 13: Departure.

This morning, have a light breakfast before being transferred to the airport to catch your international flight home.

End of 13 Days Mountain Gorillas, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach