Offbeat Safari Rwanda – Tanzania

Duration

14 Days

Minimum Age

-

Fitness Level

-

Accomodation

5x - Lodge
5x - Hotel
3x - Camp

Overview

This is an extra ordinary offbeat route which combines Rwanda and Tanzania. After visiting the highlights in Rwanda like Volcano and Akagera National Park we cross via Rusoma Border to Bukoba for a Ferry ride over Lake Victoria to Mwanza. We then proceed to Serengeti, Ngorongoro National Park and the offbeat Lake Natron. The tour ends at the mystic power place to rejuvenate body and soul between Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru at Africa Amini Maasai Lodge, which offers Maasai cultural activities as a way to learn about the African culture.

 

Tour Map

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Tour Plan

Day 1 Transfer to Hotel

Upon arrival at Kigali International airport we are received by a Kibo Slopes representative and drive to Mythos Hotel to check in and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mythos Hotel

Meal Plan: B B

Day 2 Kigali City Tour

After breakfast we embark on a tour of Kigali which is ranked as the cleanest city in Africa. During this tour we will visit historical places like the Richard Kandt Museum which was the first modern house in Kigali, the Genocide memorial to have a better understanding the tragedy that happened in 1994. The tour through the old and new Kigali takes us to cultural and artistic places like the Inema Arts Centre and pass through Nyamirambo, the most vibrant area in Kigali. We have lunch at Hotel de Milles Colines and finally drive to north to Ruhengeri where we spent the night at Le Bamboo Hotel close to the Volcano Park boundary with spectacular views over the Virunga volcanoes.

Accommodation: Le Bamboo Hotel

Meal Plan: B L D

Day 3 Golden Monkey trekking, Dian Fossey Hike, Cultural Village

After breakfast, we drive to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for briefing which starts at 7 am for our Golden Monkey Trek.

(We have the option to do instead a Gorilla trek at an additional cost of US$ 1400/-.  This has however to be arranged before the safari)

The monkeys are easily found since most of them live just right below the Volcanoes Mountain and can be seen swinging from the bamboo trees in the forest.  We get to see monkeys for an hour and get to know about their different characteristics from the experienced  guide. The easiest way to track them down is by following the left over bamboo shoots which are always left by the monkeys after eating. After the trek we visit the Gorilla campus of Ellen De Generes to learn more about the conservation of this endangered species and its environment. After lunch at the campus we have a village tour at Iby’ iwacu Village. The visit offers an adventurous stay in a traditional rural Rwandan village that has existed for centuries living with and next to mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National park. From that wonderful village tour, we drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight at le Bamboo.

Accommodation: Le Bamboo

Meal Plan: B L D

Day 4 Drive to Akagera National Park, Boat cruise

After breakfast, we take a long drive through the many hills from the Congo border in the west to close to the Tanzanian border in the east. The 170km drive takes about 4 hours through intensely cultivated farmland.  For lunch we arrive at the Epic Hotel at about 1.00pm.  Another 2 hour drive down south takes us to Akagera Rhino Lodge just in time for a nature walk and a sunset canoe cruise on Lake Ihema. We have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife on the lake shores – often herds of buffalo wander down to the lakeshores, hippos and some crocodiles.

Accommodation: Akagera Rhino Lodge

Meal Plan: B L D

Day 5 Full day game drives at Akagera

After an early breakfast with packed lunch, we go for a game drive within Akagera National park with the chance to meet the big five (elephants, rhinos, buffalos, leopards, lions). Beside the big five, Akagera NP offers beautiful landscapes and plenty other animals like zebras, bushbuck, antelopes and primates like olive baboons, velvets and secretive blue monkey which are seen during the day. Akagera NP is also home to over 500 birds’ species. The games drive starts from the South gate and exit in the North gate.  For Dinner and overnight we return to the Akagera  Rhino Lodge.

Accommodation: Akagera Rhino Lodge

Meal Plan: B L D

Day 6 Rusomo Border to Tanzania on MV Victoria Ferry

Today our Rwanda days are ending. With packed lunch we head 90 km down south to the Rusomo Border to cross over to Tanzania. We clear with the immigration officials and drive North towards Bukoba which lies on the shores of Lake Victoria. We’ll have dinner at a local restaurant in Bukoba as we prepare to board the MV Victoria Ferry for an overnight ride to Mwanza. The MV New Victoria has been upgraded and sails across Lake Victoria between Bukoba and Mwanza providing an enjoyable way to travel. We will arrive in the morning and can opt for a breakfast before we proceed with our safari.

Accommodation: Overnight ride on Ferry
Meal Plan: L D

Day 7 Mwanza – Spekebay Gulf

Today we leave Mwanza, the capital city of the area on the shores of the lake. The historical port city is one of the most important centers of Tanzania’s economy. We pass by historic places like the crumbling Robert Koch House. The 1935 Indian Public Library, mosques and Hindu temples reflect Indian influence in the area. After lunch we proceed along the Lake shore to Spekebay gulf. We visit a local fishing village by boat where we get to experience this local tradition. Dinner and overnight at the Spekebay Hotel.

Accommodation: Spekebay Hotel
Mealplan: B L D

Day 8 Canoe-trip to a fishing village and drive with lunchboxes to Serengeti

After breakfast we will be picked up in a colorful canoe at the Lodge's beach by fishermen and brought to Mwaburugu, their village. We explore the village shortly with our guide describing the different methods of fishing, the way of life in the village. After the visit we return back to the lodge pick-up lunch boxes and leave for the world famous Serengeti plains to check-in at the Central Acacia Camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Central Acacia Camp

Meals: B L D

Day 9 Serengeti game drives

Early after breakfast, we leave the camp with our lunch boxes to explore the beautiful environment of Serengeti national park. The day starts early in the morning with yet another amazing opportunity to explore this wildlife sanctuary. Today maybe our lucky day to experience some thrilling hunts from the predators particularly lion, leopard and cheetah. The Central Serengeti is also studded with many rocky granite hills (kopjes) like the Simba Kopje, which inspired Pride Rock in the Disney Film, “The Lion King”. We also spot some lions lying on these rocks.  Then in the afternoon you will get a stop for lunch, and then get back to game drive until evening, when you go back to the Camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Central Acacia Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Crater tour with lunchboxes

We pack our bags and leave after an early breakfast.  Our destination is the Ngorongoro Crater which is also termed the “Garden of Eden” or the latest “Wonder of the World”. Our drive takes us up the slopes of the huge volcano before we descend into the 20 km in diameter large caldera, arguably the largest in the world. Here we find a selection of almost all wildlife species which are found in East Africa. Herds of elephants, buffaloes, rhinos and lions mingle with plains game like zebras, gazelles and giraffes.  The small lake Magadi harbors hundreds of flamingoes besides other water birds and some pools are home to Hippo families and crocodiles. After lunch we again climb up the steep caldera wall and leave the park to spent the night in Karatu at the Bougainvilea Lodge.

Accommodation: Bougainvillea Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 Lake Natron Activities

Today we continue our Tanzanian Adventure Tour to another off beat place - Lake Natron.  A 3 to 4 hours’ drive along the Ngorongoro slopes past the ancient Engaruka irrigation scheme take us to the shores of Lake Natron.  The views over Kermasi and Oldonyo Lengai – the Holy Mountain of the Maasai – are breathtaking. We arrive at the Natron River camp for lunch and spend the afternoon with a waterfall visit and a lake shore walk to see the flamingoes which have chosen this area to be their preferred breeding place.  Dinner and overnight will be at the Natron River camp.

Accommodation: Lake Natron River Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12 Drive to Amini Life Maasai Lodge

Today we have a rather long drive ahead of us.  We drive past Mount Gelai to Longido a small Maasai Settlement on the foot of the mountain.  Here we stop for lunch and can opt to visit a cultural Maasai Village nearby.  After lunch we continue on the busy Nairobi – Arusha road to a mystic place of power between Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro. As the sun sets over Mount Meru we enjoy our dinner at the Original Maasai Lodge.

Accommodation: Amini Life Maasai Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13 Maasai Activities, Relaxation, Rejuvenation

There are 16 earth houses, which stand in different places in a replicated Maasai village. Each bungalow is powered by solar energy and offers European standard, a toilet and shower with hot water. Every day we can experience the sunrise behind Kilimanjaro on the terrace, in the midst of the African nature. International and traditional Swahili dishes are refined with home-grown herbs and served in the restaurant. Free activities such as spear throwing, dances, nature walks or campfire conversations allow us to interact with the Maasai. To relax, there is a rest area, a massage room as well as a pool and sauna. To enjoy Tanzania up close in the midst of the Maasai, and the endless expanse of the African steppe all around offers a unique experience.

Accommodation: Amini Life Maasai Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14 Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport

Depending with our International flight time our driver /guide will meet us for a transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for departure.

Included

  • Meal plan as specified –BB (bed and Breakfast), HB (Half board; breakfast and dinner), FB (Full board; breakfast, lunch and dinner) in the hotels
  • Airport transfers and safari on 4x4 vehicles
  • English speaking driver guides
  • Park Fees
  • Kigali city tour with Genocide memorial and Richards Kandt, Ethnographic Museum & Kings Palace entry fees
  • Sunset Cruise at Akagera
  • Ellen Degeneres Gorilla Campus
  • 1 ltr of drinking water while on safari per day
  • MV Victoria Ferry
  • Fishing Village

Excluded

  • International arrival and departure
  • Drinks in hotels and lodges/ telephone/ laundry/visa fees/ tips
  • Visa fees
  • Expenses of personal nature
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Tips & Gratitudes
  • Gorilla/ Golden Monkey Fee


Price

From - Pax $5,340.00 p.p.s

*Residents and Citizens discount available


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