Compare Mountain Gorillas, Craters & Serengeti Explorer by Rothschild Safaris vs 6 Days Rwanda Safari with Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife by Dav Safaris

Day 1: Rwanda: Kigali - Kigali Serena Hotel, Standard Room

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel

A special meet & greet has been arranged for your arrival to assist you through customs, immigration and to collect your bags. Please look out for an airport representative with your name on a signboard. You will be assisted to meet with your driver for your private road transfer to your Kigali accommodation.

Accommodation

Ideally located in a secure area on one of Kigali's most charming boulevards, Kigali Serena Hotel is conveniently situated in central Kigali Rwanda, just 6 miles (10 km) from Kigali International Airport and a 5 minute walk from the Central Business District. With a selection of rooms ranging from Standard, Superior, Deluxe to Junior Suites, Prime, Executive, and Presidential Suites, you will be spoilt with choice. All rooms are en-suite and have air conditioning. Facilities include a swimming pool, numerous bars and restaurants, health club, events center and gift shop.

Inclusions:

Your 1 night stay includes:

Activities:

City tour of Kigali. Note: activities are shared unless otherwise stated.

Day 2 to 3: Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park - Virunga Lodge, Standard Room

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Virunga Lodge

This morning, you will be picked up at your accommodation for your Kigali City Tour. After your tour, you will be transferred to your next accommodation.

Accommodation

Virunga Lodge is located about 1 hour's drive from the headquarters of Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, Virunga Lodge is currently one of the area's top lodges. It certainly has one of the most spectacular locations of any camp in Africa – high on a ridge overlooking the twin lakes of Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo. The magnificent Virunga Lodge consists of 10 Bandas. Each en-suite Banda has its own terrace, and bathrooms include toilets, double vanity, shower with hot and cold running water. The camp is run on solar power to maintain a crucial sensitivity to the environment.

Inclusions:

Your 2 night stay includes:

• Local beverages (house wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks)

• Laundry - Please allow 24 hours for your laundry to be returned to you

• WiFi - Signal strength can be intermittent

Activities:

Visit to Mwiko Primary School. Optional activities for an additional cost: Golden monkey trekking, visit Dian Fosseys grave, volcano hikes. Note: activities are shared unless otherwise stated.

Day 2: Kigali Museums and Art Experience

Visit the Genocide Memorial Museum. The memorial was built in 2004 on the burial site of 250,000 genocide victims. The site includes an exhibit documenting the genocide, a children’s memorial and an exhibit on the history of genocide around the world. Visit the Kandt House Museum, the first part presents Rwandan life in all its aspects: social, economic and political – before the colonial period. The second part of the museum traces the experience of the Rwandan people during the colonial period and the third part covers the history of Kigali, before, during and after the colonial era. Visit to The Parliamentary Campaign against Genocide Museum which contains well researched and documented history of the Campaign Against Genocide. The Inema Art Center is a collective of Rwandan creative artists, which provides artists to explore their creative talent. Specializing in contemporary African Arts, Crafts, Music, and Dance. The Center is home to programmes, projects, and initiatives that expand creative arts in Rwanda. Take part in workshops, trainings, and hands on classes, providing a space to fuel creative expression. (some entrance fees payable direct)

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking

During your stay enjoy gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Each day begins with a delicious full spread breakfast and a hot cup of Rwandan coffee. You then venture into the park just minutes from your lodge for gorilla trekking - one of the most thrilling wildlife experiences in the world. Meet up with your guides and trackers to begin your trekking excursion. The trek can take from one to six hours and you can reach altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike can be physically demanding at times, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make it all worthwhile. Once you locate the gorillas, you will be overwhelmed by the whole experience as you get to enjoy one intimate hour with them. Time permitting, you can visit Ruhengeri and its bustling market or the Dian Fossey research center later in the afternoon.

Day 4: Rwanda: Kigali - Kigali Serena Hotel, Standard Room

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel

This morning you will be met by your guide for a day of gorilla trekking. After the trek, you depart for the 2 hour drive back to Kigali and your accommodation for the evening.

Accommodation

Ideally located in a secure area on one of Kigali's most charming boulevards, Kigali Serena Hotel is conveniently situated in central Kigali Rwanda, just 6 miles (10 km) from Kigali International Airport and a 5 minute walk from the Central Business District. With a selection of rooms ranging from Standard, Superior, Deluxe to Junior Suites, Prime, Executive, and Presidential Suites, you will be spoilt with choice. All rooms are en-suite and have air conditioning. Facilities include a swimming pool, numerous bars and restaurants, health club, events center and gift shop.

Inclusions:

Your 1 night stay includes:

Activities:

City tour of Kigali. Note: activities are shared unless otherwise stated.

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking

After breakfast, take a short drive to Park Headquarters for your second day of gorilla trekking. You will meet the excellent local guides and trackers who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. You will then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point.

Day 5 to 7: Tanzania: Serengeti National Park - Olakira Mobile Camp, Luxury Tent

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Olakira Mobile Camp

This morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Kigali Airport for your flight out.

Kigali - Serengeti National Park, Scheduled Flight

On arrival, you will be transferred by road from the local airstrip to your accommodation.

Accommodation

Olakira Camp follows moves twice a year between carefully chosen campsites, allowing for superb game viewing at all times. Whilst Olakira is known for its superb locations during the Migration, the camp has one more surprise that awaits you – stargazing tents. This camp captures the essence of classic mobile tented safaris with 9 spacious and comfortable tents. Each tented room features an en-suite bathroom with running hot-water showers and flushing toilets.

Inclusions:

Your 3 night stay includes:

• Local beverages (house wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks)

• Laundry - Please allow 24 hours for your laundry to be returned to you

• WiFi - Signal strength can be intermittent

Activities:

Morning and afternoon game drives, bush breakfast and picnics, cultural visit. Optional activities for an additional cost: Hot air balloon safari. Note: activities are shared unless otherwise stated.

Day 8 & 9: Tanzania: Ngorongoro Crater - Gibb’s Farm, Cottage

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Gibb’s Farm

After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the local airstrip for your flight to Lake Manyara, then by road to your next accommodation.

Serengeti National Park - Lake Manyara, Scheduled Flight

On arrival, you will be transferred by road from the local airstrip to your accommodation.

Accommodation

Gibb's Farm is a charming rustic working farmhouse built in 1929 is surrounded by fields of crops. Each of the 18 spacious cottages overlooking the abundant quaint gardens. All cottages have private patios, indoor and outdoor showers. This stunning working farm boasts an on-site dairy, acres of organic produce, herbs and fresh coffee. Enjoy local and seasonal farm-to-table produce daily, bakery-fresh breads and ingredients straight from the field making mealtimes extra special.

Inclusions:

Your 2 night stay includes:

• WiFi - Signal strength can be intermittent.

Activities:

Morning or afternoon game drives, farm life experiences, bread making, coffee roasting, vegetable harvesting, afternoon high tea, walks (including a farm walk, medicinal walk, forest walk, and village walk) and Tloma Primary School Visit. Optional activities for an additional cost: Hippo Pools sunset drive, crater walk, waterfall & elephant caves hike, village cycle tour, mountain biking, town tour, spa treatments. Note: activities are shared unless otherwise stated.

Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater Drive

Today you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact, unflooded caldera in the world. The crater is a World Heritage Site, commonly considered the 8th Wonder 0f The World. The enduring charm of Ngorongoro Crater stems from its overwhelming physical beauty and the abundance of wildlife that permanently reside on the crater floor.

Depending on the season, populations of approximately 25,000 to 30,000 large animals live in the crater. This includes, reputedly, the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa. An astonishing 55 different species of mammal have been counted in the crater together with over 400 species of birds, so your wildlife viewing is going to be spectacular. Aside from herds of zebra, gazelle, and wildebeest, the crater is home to the "Big Five" of rhinoceros, lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. Hyenas are the most numerous predators and are constantly at war with the lion. There are also ongoing skirmishes between buffalo and lion.

Day 10

This morning you will transfer to the local airstrip for your flight to Arusha. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to Rivertrees Country Inn where you will have a day use room to refresh and relax as well as lunch. Later this evening you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro in time to connect with your international departure flight.

Lake Manyara - Arusha, Shared Charter flight

Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Rusizi Tented Camp

Following a delicious breakfast in Kigali, you will drive to Akagera National Park the only wildlife park in the whole of Rwanda yet the smallest of the three national Parks. You will arrive at your lodge – Akagera Game Lodge in time for lunch, where you will check-in, have lunch, rest, and later have a game drive in the evening looking for Elephants, Gazelles, Antelopes, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Impalas, Leopards, Zebras, Bush Babies, Topis and Baboons among others. Head back to Akagera Game Lodge where you will dine and spend the night.

Day 2: Game Drive And Boat Cruise On Lake Ihema

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Rusizi Tented Camp

You’ll have a hot Cup of coffee or tea in the early morning thereafter set out for a game drive in the early morning to see the early risers as well as other animals which you could have missed out on the game drive the day before. Among the animals you will see are Masai Giraffes, Leopards, Antelopes, Zebra, Buffaloes, African Elephants, and many more. You will return to the lodge to relax, have some refreshments and lunch. In the evening you will enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Ihema to see Crocodiles and Hippos plus various birds such as the Kingfisher, the uncommon Shoebill Stork as well as the Fish Eagle among others. Head back to Akagera Game Lodge where you will dine and spend the night.

Day 3: Transfer To Nyungwe Forest National Park

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hotel

Soon after breakfast, you’ll drive to the fascinating Nyungwe forest National Park through Kigali. On the way to the Park, you’ll visit a number of tourist attractions like the traditional Rwanda King’s palace found in Nyanza as well as the Cultural Museum found in Butare. Afterward, drive through the hilly countryside past the tea fields scattered with tiny wooden houses up to Nyungwe. Dine and slumber at the lodge

Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer To Lake Kivu

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Bethanie

Following breakfast, you’ll go for an early Chimpanzee tracking experience in the forest to look for the closest friends to man. The Forest Ranger will guide you through the various forest trails. This tracking activity takes approximately 3 to 5 hours after which you will return to your lodge for a delicious lunch and then in the afternoon, you’ll drive to Kibuye town found on Lake Kivu’sFemale gorilla shores. Dine and slumber at Hotel Bethanie

Day 5: Transfer To Volcanoes National Park

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Soon after breakfast, you’ll depart from Kibuye town and drive to Ruhengeri through Gisenyi. The drive will unveil to you the beautiful countryside especially the Kayove as well as the Gisovu tea growing regions. Arrive in Ruhengeri and then dine and slumber at the lodge.

Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Volcanoes National Park

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

On having breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters arriving by 8:00 am for a briefing as well as distribution into Gorilla Tracking Groups. You will then head out into the forest and begin tracking mountain gorillas. In Africa, mountain gorillas are found only in two places: in Rwanda and in Uganda’s Bwindi forest. You should have packed drinking water because the trekking may be rough at times particularly in the dry season since the Gorillas move long distances. In contrast to Uganda, Rwanda Gorilla tracking may take between 2 and 7 hours based on the Gorilla Movement. You will be permitted to spend the utmost one hour with the Gorillas and there you can take photos and even videos but as per the park regulations. After one hour, you’ll go back to the lodge for some refreshments and a delicious Lunch. you’ll return to Kigali in the evening dine and slumber at Step Town Motel or at Hotel Chezlando or straightaway be transferred to Kigali airport for your departure flight. (Based on the time of flight)