Rwanda – Tanzania – Zanzibar Trip

Day 1 – Arrival Kigali

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our representative, outside the airport arrivals section and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation at Flame Tree Village.

Day 2 – Kigali City Tour – Drive to Volcanoes Park

Breakfast at the hotel. Thereafter enjoy a City Tour of Kigali. (Cost of city tour included) The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare.

Visit the Kandt museum, see old Kigali and the craft centres then visit the genocide memorial site. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. Lunch in Kigali.

Later, depart Kigali and drive to Ruhengeri.  Approximately 2.5 hrs arriving in the early evening at the Volcanoes National park. Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking day – Evening drive back to Kigali

Breakfast at the lodge. 0700 hrs: Registration is a simple process where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening. There are a total of 88 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group.

Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s Lead Guide briefs the trekkers of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point.

Trekking can take from 2 to 6 or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way.   After the trek, rejoin your driver Guide for a transfer to your lodge for lunch.

After lunch, depart from foothills of the volcanoes and drive south past coffee, tea and banana plantations on a scenic drive to Kigali. Everything and everywhere, sheer green and hanging on the hills; Rwanda truly – land of a thousand fertile green hills. (Approximately 2.5 hrs).  Overnight Kigali – Flame Tree Village.

Day 4: Fly Kigali to Kilimanjaro – Drive to Arusha

Early breakfast at your hotel in Kigali. Thereafter, transfer to the airport for flight to Kilimanjaro International airport. Upon arrival, you are met by our representative in Tanzania  and drive to Arusha town.  Check in at the Mount Meru Hotel. Rest of the time at your leisure.   Overnight at Country Lodge Kararu.

Day 5: Lake Manyara Safaris. Drive to Ngorongoro

Early breakfast at you hotel in Moshi.  Then depart for Lake Manyara for a full day safari with picnic lunch boxes.

Game drive in the park till early evening when you  depart for Karatu, arriving at your lodge in the late afternoon.  The lodge is located at Karatu area.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Tour

Today you’ll depart early on a morning game drive down into the crater. Discover the diverse areas of forest, swamplands, lakes and open grasslands in this volcanic caldera that’s home to the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa.

There is good game viewing year-round, as most animals do not leave the crater. You might also spot Maasai tribesmen guiding their cattle down the steep crater walls to graze. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Drive Ngorongoro to Serengeti

Drive to Serengeti National Park via Olduvai Gorge, the site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s renowned archaeological discoveries. Their findings include some of the man’s earliest known ancestral remains. Lunch at the lodge in Serengeti.

You will have an afternoon game drive in the endless plains of the Serengeti for a chance to see the great herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles or a pride of lions lounging in the shade. Dinner and overnight at the Serengeti  Mawe  Camp.

Day 8: Safaris in Serengeti

Full day  of game viewing in the Serengeti. Meals and overnight at the Serengeti Mawe Tented Camp in the Serengeti National Park.

Wildlife populations double during the migration season, but outside of the migration season, wildlife populations are still some of the densest on the African continent year round.  They include substantial populations of plains game including buffalo, giraffe, and warthog; as well as a wide range of antelope species including dik dik, bushbuck, waterbuck, eland, impala, and topi. With so many prey animals available all year round, predators can manage smaller territories.

Big cat viewing is superb in this region of the Serengeti. Cats include lion, leopard, and cheetah. There are actually twelve different lion prides living within driving distance of the river. Not to be forgotten, the smaller cats such as caracals, servals, and African wild cats definitely make their presence known.

Day 9: Drive Serengeti – Tarangire

After breakfast at your hotel, depart for Tarangire National Park arriving in time for lunch and an afternoon of game viewing. Lesser kudu, eland, lion and gerenuk can be found in this beautiful park, noted for its multitude of baobab trees and its tree-climbing lions.

Dinner and overnight at the Tarangire Maramboi Tented Camp.

Day 10: Drive Tarangire to Arusha  –  Flight  Arusha to Zanzibar

After breakfast, drive back to Arusha to arrive in time for lunch. After lunch, transfer to the airport for flight to Zanzibar.  On arrival in Zanzibar you will be met by Hallmark Travel Planner’s representative and transferred to Zanzibar Palace Hotel.

Day 11: Days at the beach in Zanzibar

After breakfast, depart for a Tour of the Stone Town and Spice Island.

In the late afternoon, drive to the beach resort – Neptune Pwani Beach Resort and Spa

Days 12  and 13: Beach Rest and Relaxation

Spend the days enjoying beaches of Zanzibar and the Swahili way of living or at the resorts swimming pool. Scuba diving or diving course for beginners are available (at an Extra cost) at most of the beach resorts in Zanzibar.

Dinner and Overnight at your hotel – Neptune Pwani Beach Resort and Spa.

Day 14. Flight to Arusha or Nairobi – Depart

Morning in Zanzibar till lunch time. After lunch,  check out and transfer to Zanzibar Airport for your flight out of East Africa.

2024 Tour Price Per Person

2025 Tour Price Per Person

Rates are subject to change without notice.

Important to Know

• This tour can’t be booked by solo travelers.
• Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
• Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. Flights may cost more, depending on travel dates. If so, your quote will reflect this.