11 Days Tanzania Rwanda Safari

The 11 days Tanzania-Rwanda safari takes you to Tanzania’s and Rwanda’s main tourist destinations for wildlife viewing in Tanzania and primate tours in Rwanda.

This safari features Lake Manyara National Park, where we find the tree-climbing lions and the flamingo birds; Serengeti National Park, which is Africa’s best wildlife destination; Ngorongoro Crater; and Tarangire National Park, where you will enjoy nature’s best animals, including the Big 5 game and the wildlife migration if you travel in the months between July and August.

This package also features Rwandan primates, including chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park.

Nyungwe Forest is the largest rainforest in East Africa and has existed for over 1000 years. It is home to 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, Angola colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, silver monkeys, Hamlyn’s monkeys, vervet monkeys, Olive Baboons, and red-tailed monkeys, among others.

Flights from Tanzania to Rwanda are available and you can either make your own flight booking or have flights arranged by our company.

Safari highlights of the 11 Days Tanzania-Rwanda Safari

Day 1: Transfer to Lake Manyara National park
Day 2: Transfer to Serengeti National Park
Day 3: Serengeti National Park – All-day game drive
Day 4: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater
Day 5: Game drive in Tarangire national park and Transfer to Arusha
Day 6: Fly to Kigali, Rwanda
Day 7: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 10: Gorilla trekking
Day 11: Transfer back to Kigali/Departure

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha and Transfer to Lake Manyara national park

Arrival in Arusha: This safari in Tanzania and Rwanda starts with your arrival in Tanzania. You are recommended to book a flight that arrives in Tanzania before 12 pm to possibly have enough time to arrive and drive to Lake Manyara, which takes about 2 to 3 hours on a road drive from Arusha. The best recommended airports to arrive in are either Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport; however, it is about a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha.
Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park: Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro/Arusha airport, you will be welcomed by our company’s safari guide, who will help you with your luggage and also brief you about your safari. Depart the airport and make your way to Lake Manyara National Park. This park is known for its huge soda lake filled with pink-hued flamingos and large numbers of baboons and incredible breathtaking views. It is also rich in wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, and hippos, and on a lucky day you can spot the tree-climbing lions. It’s about 130 km (2 hours’ drive) from Arusha to Lake Manyara.
Upon arrival at the park, proceed to check in to your lodge as you drive past some of the animals in the park; spend the rest of your evening relaxing at your lodge as you get rid of the tiredness or if you wish to do a game drive, connect for an evening one for chances of seeing the tree-climbing lions. Dinner will be served at your convenience and overnight stay at
Luxury option: Lake Manyara Sopa Lodge/Lake Manyara Serena Safari lodge
Mid-range option: Marera Valley lodge
Budget option: Lulimac Lake Manyara lodge

Day 2: Morning game drive and Transfer to Serengeti National Park

Morning game drive and Transfer to Serengeti National Park: After breakfast, connect for an early morning game drive to explore some of the animals available as listed on day 1. Thereafter, with your packed lunch, embark on your journey to Serengeti National Park. It is about 205 km (4-5 hours’ drive). Enter the park with an en-route game drive to find some of the animals. Serengeti National Park has a variety of animals to see, including the big prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, different Antelopes and other wildlife. Later in the evening, connect to your accommodation for check-in and have your dinner and overnight stay at either
Luxury option: Serengeti Serena Lodge/Mbalangeti lodge
Mid-range option: Osinon Camps and lodges
Budget option: Ikoma Safari Camp

Day 3: Serengeti National Park – Full-day game drive

Serengeti National Park: After breakfast, you will drive to Central Serengeti for a full-day game drive. This area has a lot of animals to explore at your disposal with your picnic lunch. Expect to have an opportunity of seeing the big five game (lions, elephants, Cape buffaloes, Leopards and rhinos), cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, different Antelopes and other wildlife. Late afternoon after your full-day game drive, return to your lodge as above

Day 4: Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater

Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater: After an early breakfast, connect to the Ngorongoro conservation area, where you will connect to Ngorongoro Crater with your picnic lunch for a full day of game driving in the crater. The crater has a good number of lions and cheetahs, and it is another good place to see the rare black rhino. In the late afternoon, visit a Masai village and enjoy the cultural experience before you connect to your lodge for check-in dinner and an overnight stay.
Luxury option: Ngorongoro Serene lodge
Mid-range option: Ihando lodge
Budget option: Rhino Lodge

Day 5: Transfer to Tarangire – Arusha

Transfer to Tarangire – Arusha: After breakfast, connect to Tarangire National Park for a day’s excursion in the park. It’s about a 2-3 hour drive from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Tarangire National Park; enter for a game drive for some of the common animals in the park such as elephants, buffalos, antelopes, zebras, lions, and leopards, among others. After your 2-hour game drive, enjoy your picnic lunch, then embark on your journey back to Arusha. Your safari guide will drop you off at the hotel for check-in; have dinner and overnight stay at
Luxury option: Tulia Boutique Hotel and Spa
Mid-range option: Mount Meru Hotel
Budget option: Runako Hotel

Day 6: Fly to Kigali, Rwanda

Fly to Kigali, Rwanda: Wake up early, have breakfast and depending on your flight schedule, your safari guide will pick you up and drop you off at Arusha airport for your onward flight to Kigali, Rwanda. On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will meet our Rwanda safari guide. He will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Kigali City. Kigali City is one of the best and neatest cities in Africa. Proceed to check in at your hotel for lunch and spend your afternoon at leisure relaxing at the hotel or on a city tour where you will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and Kimoronko Market. Dinner and overnight at
Luxury option: Kigali Marriot Hotel
Mid-range option: Des Mille Collins Hotel
Budget option: Step town motel

Day 7: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park

Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park: After breakfast at your hotel and then check-out, meet your safari guide to transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Nyungwe Forest is best known for its habitat for wild chimpanzees and 12 other primate species. The park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda bordering Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the western part of Rwanda. It is about a 6-7 hour drive from Kigali to Nyungwe via Butare and Huye for an en route visit of the Rwanda National Museum and King Nyanzi Palace with your served hotel lunch. Proceed to Nyungwe Forest to connect to your accommodation with great views of the landscape. Locate your lodge for check-in and spend the rest of your evening at leisure as you wait for your dinner and overnight stay.
Luxury option: One and Only Nyungwe Hotel
Mid-range option: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
Budget option: Gisakura Guesthouse

Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk

Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk: Enjoy breakfast, then go for your briefing about the primates before entering the Nyungwe forest in search of the primates in Nyungwe forest. Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest are quite difficult to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, running away from visitors. This is because these chimpanzees are not really habituated so spending time with them is NOT 100% GUARANTEED; however, the ranger guides will do their best to ensure you spot them. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3-5 hours and 1 hour of being in their presence.
After tracking, return to your accommodation for lunch before you go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk, a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s-eye view, spotting wildlife moving about and below you. Before nightfall, you will return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay at either as above

Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes national park

Transfer to Volcanoes National Park: Wake up, enjoy your breakfast and embark on your journey to Volcanoes National Park. This park borders the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda on the Virunga Mountains. It is a 6-7 hours’ drive from Nyungwe Forest to Volcanoes National Park, driving through the rolling hills of Rwanda with lunch en route. Upon arrival at the park with sights of the Virunga Mountains, proceed to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay
Luxury option: 5 Volcanoes Gorilla Lodge/Bisate Lodge
Mid-range option: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla lodge
Budget option: Hotel Muhabura/Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 10: Gorilla trekking experience

Gorilla trekking experience: Wake up to an early morning breakfast and connect to Kinigi Park headquarters for a briefing and allocation of gorilla trekking groups. With your trekking gear, head into the cold and misty forested slopes of Virunga National Park on your gorilla trekking experience. The trek can take between 2 and 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and on finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to see and take photos, after which you will exit the forest. Meet your driver/guide and transfer back to the lodge. If you feel strong, you may opt for a village walk or a community tour in the Iby’iwacu community village. Dinner and an overnight stay at either lodge as described above.

Day 11: Return to Kigali/Departure

Return to Kigali/Departure: After breakfast, transfer back to Kigali; it takes about 2-3 hours to drive from Volcanoes National Park to Kigali. Upon arrival, you will either be dropped at your own booked hotel or dropped off at Kigali Airport for your onward flight back home.

End of the 11-Day Tanzania-Rwanda Safari