Compare Gorillas of Rwanda by Lion World Travel vs Mountain Gorillas, Craters & Serengeti Explorer by Rothschild Safaris

Day 1: Kigali

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel - Standard Room 

We will welcome you at Kigali airport and transfer you to your city hotel. The 5-star Kigali Serena features newly-renovated rooms decorated in typically pan-African style with all the comforts you would expect to allow for a night of relaxation before your exciting gorilla trekking experience.

Day 2: Kinigi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View OR Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

This morning take a poignant and moving tour of the Genocide Memorial Centre, a permanent memorial for victims of the genocide of 1994. The Centre is built on a site where over 250,000 people are buried, and is a place where many people who lost loved ones in the genocide go to remember and grieve. Then enjoy a scenic drive to Kinigi at the base of Sabinyo Mountains, with excellent views of the Virunga Volcanoes Mountains, a World Heritage site and home to approximately 200 of the world's remaining 790 Mountain Gorillas.

Accommodations are at your choice of either the deluxe Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or luxurious Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Mountain Gorilla View Lodge has an eco-tourist approach where Natural Conservation is a priority and the local community is empowered. Cottages are spacious with stoned rooms kept warm with a fire-place, and designed in contemporary African furniture.

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge affords wonderful views of the volcanoes.  Beautifully appointed cottages feature large sitting areas, fireplaces and stylish en-suite bathrooms.

Day 3: Kinigi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View OR Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge A physically demanding hike rewards you with the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as you gaze into the eyes of a gorilla, one of the most profound experiences in the world.

Day 4: Kinigi/Kigali

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel - Standard Room

Today experience a second gorilla tracking day or take the option of viewing playful and inquisitive golden monkeys who often spend their time leaping from bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor.

Then leaving the mountains and volcanoes behind you will travel back to Kigali and overnight at the Kigali Serena Hotel.

Day 5: Depart

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight arrangements.

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