13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Welcome to the spectacular 13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari an extraordinary adventure in the wild. This safari will take you through magical places for wildlife encounters. There is no place like Serengeti National Park when it comes to the great wildebeest migration experience. Serengeti National Park is home to multiple wildlife species. Some of these include; lions, wildebeests, elephants, cheetahs, hyenas, warthogs, zebras, and buffaloes. A game drive in this park will enable you to create a signature of everlasting memories. Other parks to be visited in Tanzania include; Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
In Rwanda, you will visit Volcanoes National Park in the northern province. Here, you will take part in activities like Golden Monkey trekking, mountain gorilla trekking, and the Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village Tour. An amazing Kigali City tour will introduce you to emotional stories of the tragic 1994 Rwanda Genocide. This involves visiting local markets and the Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum. Additionally, you will visit Nyungwe Forest National Park and have an amazing chimpanzee trekking experience. You will walk on top of the forest and enjoy a community tour in Gisakura.
Please note that this safari can be tailored to fit your budget. Whether you want to be designed in a budget-friendly manner or luxury or mid-range categories, simply let us know here. Below is a detailed itinerary for the 13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari.
Safari Summary
- Day 1: Arrive in Arusha – Tanzania
- Day 2: Transfer to Tarangire National Park and Afternoon game drive
- Day 3: Full-day Adventure in Tarangire National Park
- Day 4: Full-day adventure in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Day 5: Transfer to Central Serengeti National Park
- Day 6 & 7: Full-day adventure in Serengeti National Park (Wildebeest Migration Experience)
- Day 8: Transfer to Arusha (Fly to Kigali – Rwanda)
- Day 9: Kigali City Tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 10: Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village Tour
- Day 11: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 12: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walking
- Day 13: Gisakura Tea Plantation Tour and Transfer to Kigali – Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Arusha – Tanzania
Your 13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari starts as soon as you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be welcomed by our experienced safari guide. He or she will brief you about the 13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari. We assume you are tired from long flights. This is why we propose that you check in to your booked hotel in Arusha for relaxation. Have a delicious dinner and spend the night over. An optional city tour can be offered at an extra fee.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Tarangire National Park and Afternoon game drive
Wake up to a delicious meal, and meet your driver guide. You will enjoy your 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof as you drive to Tarangire National Park. Your eyes will be blessed with exceptional views of the surrounding true African wilderness. Many herdsmen pass by as they tend to their animals. Lunch will be at either your lodge or any hotel in Karatu. You may decide to do a game drive or visit Mto wa Mbu villages on a cycling tour. In the evening, you will check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Full-day Adventure in Tarangire National Park
Day 3 of the 13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari belongs to the vast plains of Tarangire National Park. The day starts with a delicious breakfast at your lodge. With your packed lunch, you will take a game drive in Tarangire National Park. The park has multiple wildlife and bird species. Some of the animals here include; lions, buffaloes, elephants, and many more. You will see multiple baobab trees before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Full-day adventure in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Welcome to Ngorongoro Conservation – the home to the history of mankind! A full—day adventure in this area introduces you to many animals like wildebeests, buffaloes, zebras, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas. Visit the Oduvai Gorge Museum and witness the remains of early man. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge either in Karatu or the park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Central Serengeti National Park
You are now headed for Tanzania’s largest national park – Serengeti National Park. After breakfast, check out of the lodge and take a drive to Serengeti National Park. Serengeti National Park is a big park and has different sectors. We are looking at exploring the central and northern sectors. This is where drama happens. You will have an en-route game drive as you head northward. Upon arrival, check in to your booked lodge for dinner and relaxation. You may as well do a community walk depending on how you feel. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6 & 7: Full-day adventure in Serengeti National Park (Wildebeest Migration Experience)
These two days of your 13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari are yours to explore Serengeti National Park. You will witness the great wildebeest migration. This will also involve magical moments like the Grumeti River crossing. You may as well see lions hunting. All these iconic moments are best for a safari of this nature.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8: Transfer to Arusha (Fly to Kigali – Rwanda)
Today, you will start with breakfast. Later on, drive to Arusha for a Rwanda-bound flight. Lunch will be along the way. Upon arrival at the Kigali International Airport, meet our guide. You will then transfer to a booked hotel. You may enjoy nightlife in the city to wash away your dust. Dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 9: Kigali City Tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Kigali is a city of history. After breakfast, you will enjoy a city tour. You will visit places like the King’s Palace, Genocide Museums, Nyamatta Church, and local markets. Have lunch before hitting the road to Volcanoes National Park – the home to Mountain gorillas. Upon arrival, check in to your lodge and relax. Dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 10: Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village Tour
This is the highlight of the 13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari. Parc National des Volcans is part of the Virunga Conservation Area which is shared between Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The only habitat to just over 1000 surviving mountain gorillas. Make a short drive to park headquarters this morning where you will meet your gorilla trekking guides. Ranger guides to be exact. They will give you a brief talk on the procedures and etiquette of gorilla tracking before you set off to the dense rainforest.
To give you a 90% probability of seeing these majestic primates, a team of trackers will be in the forest ahead of your departure. Their task is identifying where the gorillas were seen the night before and pursuing them to a point/climax—where you will be able to connect. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery makes the effort worthwhile in addition to the ultimate reward of getting a close-up with the gorillas; a profoundly moving wildlife encounter. Return to the lodge and relax as you watch the sun burry itself over the horizon – Virunga volcanoes.
In the afternoon, you will visit the neighboring Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village also known as the Gorilla Guardians Village. During this tour, you will interact with the local members of the villages near Volcanoes National Park. You will take part in activities like cooking, brewing local beer, and dancing traditional songs. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 11: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Golden monkey trekking is not the same as mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. The activity is more like gorilla trekking but here, you spend an hour in the presence of golden monkeys instead. After breakfast, report to the park headquarters for briefing. You will be assigned an armed ranger who will lead you through the activity. Upon meeting the golden monkeys, you will be allowed to spend one hour in their presence. Return to your lodge for lunch. Later on, you will embark on a drive to Nyungwe National Park – the home to chimpanzees. Upon arrival, check in to your lodge for dinner and over.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 12: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walking
This is yet another amazing day on the 13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari. Imagine spending time with the human-like chimpanzees. After breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a briefing. You will walk through the forest in search of chimpanzees. Upon meeting the chimps, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence. Make sure you strictly follow the chimpanzee trekking rules and regulations. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, you will go canopy walking on top of Nyungwe Forest. This is the best time for bird lovers to meet many bird species. In the evening, you will have dinner and spend the night at your lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 13: Gisakura Tea Plantation Tour and Transfer to Kigali – Departure
Today is the time to make your African tea. The day starts with an amazing breakfast. Later on, you will visit the Gisakura Tea Plantation near Nyungwe Forest National Park. Here, you will be led by local women and men and have an extraordinary tea experience. They take you through the process of growing, harvesting, and making tea. Imagine taking tea that is fresh from the garden! Later on, proceed to Kigali. You will have lunch and drive to the airport for an outbound flight. Bid farewell to our team. This will be the end of your 13 Days Tanzania wildebeest migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and lunch
