11 Days Tanzania Rwanda Safari

11 Days Tanzania Rwanda Safari takes you to Tanzania and Rwanda’s main tourist destinations for wildlife viewing in Tanzania and primates 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 the nature’s best animals including the Big 5 game, the wildlife migration if you travel in the months between July to August. This package also features Rwanda 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 and it’s a habituated for 13 primates species including the chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkey, Angola colobus monkey, Grey cheeked Mangabey, the Silver monkey, Hamlyn’s monkey, Vervet monkey, Olive Baboon and the Red tailed monkey to mention but a few. Flights from Tanzania to Rwanda are available and you can either make your own flight booking or flights can be 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 possible to have enough time to arrive and drive to Lake Manyara which takes about 2 to 3 hours on a road drive from Arusha. Best recommended airport to arrive in is either Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport however; it is about one and a half hours drive from Kilimanjaro airport to Arusha.
Transfer to Lake Manyara national park: Upon arrival in Kilimanjaro/Arusha airport, you will be welcomed by our company safari guide who will help with you 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 flamingo birds and large numbers of baboons and incredible breath-taking views. It also rich in wildlife including the Elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, Zebras, Hippos and on a lucky day you can spot the tree climbing lions. It’s a about 130kms (2 hours’ drive) from Arusha to Lake Manyara.
Upon arrival at the park, proceed to check-in 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 kms (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, 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 game drive 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 drive 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 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 2 -3 hours’ drive from 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, Leopards among others. After your 2 hours 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 Bontique Hotel and Spa
Mid-range option: Mount Meru Hotel
Bugdget 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 in 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 your hotel for lunch and spend your afternoon at leisure relaxing at the hotel or on a city tour where you will visit 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, 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 other 12 primates’ species. The park is located in the south western part of Rwanda bordering Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the western part of Rwanda. It is about 6-7 hours’ drive from Kigali to Nyungwe via Butare and Huye for en-route visit of the Rwanda National Museum and King Nyanzi Palace with your served hotel lunch. Proceed to Nyungwe forest to your 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 for 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% GAURANTEED 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 night fall, you will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight 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 with 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 en-route lunch. 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: Wakeup to an early morning breakfast and connect to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing and allocation of Gorilla trekking groups. With your trekking gears, head into the cold and misty forested slopes of Virunga national park on your Gorilla trekking experience. The trek can take between 2 to 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 Ibya cuwa community village. Dinner and overnight stay at either lodge as 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 Days Tanzania Rwanda Safari