Wild Tanzania & Gorillas

14 days
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5/5 Excellent
76 reviews  
99%
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Private Guided
Nature lovers will be in paradise with this itinerary that blends Tanzania and Rwanda to visit five national parks, giving you the chance to encounter lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino, but also to track rare mountain gorillas. In the company of excellent professional guides, you will not only be able to tick off the attractions on your wish list, bu...
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • A trip bookended by mountains starting with Tanzania’s second highest peak, Mount Meru
    • Discover Tanzania’s hidden gem, Tarangire National Park, with its high density of game, including elephant and buffalo
    • Visit small but perfectly formed Lake Manyara National Park with its contrasting landscapes
    • Track lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and wildebeest on the sweeping Serengeti plains
    • Fall asleep under canvas at Serengeti Bush Camp
    • Fly over Lake Victoria, Africa’s biggest lake
    • Track mountain gorilla in Volcanoes National Park and spend an unforgettable hour with these great apes
    • Hike the majestic Muhavura and Visoke volcanoes
    • Awaken to jaw-dropping vistas across Ruhondo and Bulera lakes from Virugna Lodge
    • A 14-day safari vacation of epic proportions takes you to East Africa’s finest camps and lodges

What's this trip about?

    Nature lovers will be in paradise with this itinerary that blends Tanzania and Rwanda to visit five national parks, giving you the chance to encounter lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino, but also to track rare mountain gorillas. In the company of excellent professional guides, you will not only be able to tick off the attractions on your wish list, but also stay in the finest safari camps and lodges along the way.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizePrivate - your group only
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityKilimanjaro
End CityKigali

Travel Themes

  • Birding
  • Family Friendly
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Safari

Destinations

  • Africa

Attractions

  • Arusha
  • Kigali
  • Lake Manyara National Park
  • Mt. Kilimanjaro
  • Serengeti National Park
  • Tarangire National Park

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Game drive
  • Nature
  • Relaxing Retreat
  • Safari
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Internal flights (note: strict 33lbs baggage allowance per person including hand luggage)
    • Passenger and airport taxes
    • Airport transfers
    • Other transfers
    • Accommodation and meals as stated
    • Drinks as stated
    • Laundry as stated
    • Activities as stated
    • National Park and concession fees
    • Two gorilla permits per person

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Day 1

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Rivertrees Country Inn

On arrival into Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania today you will be met and driven to Rivertrees Country Inn where you stay overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.

An intimate, fam...

Day 2
This morning you will be collected from Rivertrees and driven to Arusha in time to take a scheduled light aircraft flight to Tarangire. You will be met on arrival at Tarangire airstrip and driven to Olivers Camp where you stay for three nights on a full board basis inclu...
Day 5
A scheduled light aircraft flight will take you from Tarangire to Lake Manyara airstrip today when you will be met and driven to Gibbs Farm. The next two nights will be spent at Gibbs Farm on a full board basis to include all meals.

Brimming with colonial charm and ch...

Day 7
This morning you will be driven to Lake Manyara airstrip, where you will meet your onward flight to Kogatende. You will be met on arrival at the airstrip and transferred by a game drive to Serengeti Safari Camp.

Your three-night stay at Serengeti Safari Camp is on a f...

Day 10

Meals: Breakfast

 Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel

A scheduled light aircraft this morning will depart from Kogatende to Kigali where you will be welcomed by a guide and driven to Kigali Serena Hotel. Your overnight stay here is on a bed and breakfast basis.

Located close to the heart of Rwanda's capital city, Kigali,...

Day 11

Accommodation: Virunga Lodge

This morning you will be collected from the Kigali Serena Hotel by your guide, who will brief you on your safari before setting off to Volcanoes National Park.  Your journey north will take you through the beautiful terraced hillsid...

Day 14
Today, you leave for Kigali. Time permitting, you can go for a tour of the city including a visit to the market, a pottery project, handicraft shops, and the genocide memorial, before heading to the airport to meet your onward international flight, or continue with another African adventure.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $14,642
Price per day$1,046
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Aardvark Safaris.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Aardvark Safaris Reviews & Ratings

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Elyse and Alex

Nov 2019

Provided byAardvark Safaris

We enjoyed every minute of it

It was our first experience in Africa and we loved it, we will for s...

W

Will & Amy

Nov 2019

Provided byAardvark Safaris

We loved every second of our trip

We loved every second of our trip. It was the perfect way to get back to the origins of safari and truly enjoy the beautiful surroundings and wildlife. Thanks so muc...

S

Susan

Nov 2019

Provided byAardvark Safaris

Absolutely fantastic

Absolutely fantastic – I’m going back for the third time this fall! Philip and Gerti are outstanding horsepeople and hosts. I’ve ridden elsewhere in Africa, and I mu...

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Aardvark Safaris

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At Aardvark, you’ll find that we don’t sell any camps or lodges that we haven’t visited ourselves and that after more than 16 years in the business, we’re still passionate about creating customized safaris that will introduce you to the Africa we know and love.

From a one room, two man enterprise, we now have four small offices in the US and UK that are well stocked with smart, dedicated, patient safari consultants who know their stuff. When we’re not riding through the Okavango Delta, hopping on helicopters in Zambia, climbing sand dunes in Namibia, on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, exploring Kenya’s wildlife with our own children, self-driving in South Africa or sneaking photo opportunities with gorillas, we’re arranging the best customized safaris in the business.

Whether you’re a safari first timer or a veteran, it’s great to know you’re in safe hands. Read on to find out that you won’t pay more for our expertise than if you booked the safari yourself, and that we work hard to give back to the animals and people that make Africa so special. We’re proud to be a small, dynamic company. We’ve stayed close to our roots and we think you’ll find that makes all the difference.

Why Aardvark

At Aardvark Safaris, we know that no two clients are alike, that bigger isn’t better and tailor-made is best. From out and out adventure to the lap of luxury, we bring your dreams to life using our expertise to create unforgettable journeys. Hidden gems, extraordinary access, out of the way places — that’s the Aardvark way. That’s Africa, your way.

A safari is a once in a lifetime experience and we want your safari to be perfect…for you.  We won’t suggest a camp or lodge to you until we get to know your wishes and requirements. And we won’t recommend it unless one of our specialists has been there, has walked with the guides, eaten the food and slept in the beds.

We travel every few months to see new properties and to re-visit old favorites. It is only by spending time on the ground that we can be sure we are offering you the best advice.

Where possible, we will use small, owner run camps and lodges that are ideally located so you can enjoy the bush off the beaten track. We also understand that a guide can make or break your trip. The small camps we use employ better guides with more experience, charisma and unmatched local knowledge.

Our approach combines decades of experience with an exceptional service. We’ll be with you every step of the way, from designing your itinerary to advising you what to pack to monitoring your progress as you travel. More than 70% of our clients come from repeat business or word of mouth and we strive to exceed expectations, every time.

We’ll get you away from the crowds during the wildebeest migration, introduce you to the gorilla vets in Rwanda, find you Botswana’s top specialist guides, create unscripted and meaningful cultural exchanges in townships, villages, schools and clinics, get you into the top restaurants in Cape Town and ensure you have the finest pilot for your Namibian flying safari.

On your return, we want to hear about your trip and find that client feedback (both good and occasionally bad) helps keep us abreast of changes on the ground.

We’re passionate about safaris and know that travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. Whether you are a single traveler, couple, multi-generational family or a group, we can help you plan an itinerary with insider access and experiences that surprise and delight to ensure that you enjoy the real Africa with absolute confidence and security.

 

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International and regional flights
    • Visas
    • Travel insurance
    • Tips and gratuities
    • Other personal spending
    • If you weigh over 220lbs then you may be charged for a second seat on light aircraft flights, please let us
    • know if this is likely to affect you.

Accommodation

,RIVERTREES COUNTRY INN An intimate, family run guesthouse, Rivertrees Country Inn in Tanzania rests at the foot of Mount Meru near the Usa River. Equidistant from Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha, the inn is positioned within ten acres of beautiful gardens. Planted by owner Martina Gerken-Trappe, the garden comes to life with an abundance of colorful exotic flowers.  Accommodation & Facilities Blending old world charm with African country style and hospitality, accommodation at Rivertrees Country Inn comprises 18 individually styled garden rooms and two spacious riverside cottages with decking and a fireplace. The recently built River House contains two elegantly decorated bedrooms, which can be booked individually or exclusively. The inn has an on-site pool, and relaxing bar and restaurant. If you so wish, you can dine in privacy at the original house or on a quiet terrace with views across the river.  Activities Rivertrees Country Inn in Tanzania is perfect if you want to relax for a night or two prior to or following your safari. During your stay, you enjoy trips into Arusha National Park, visits to the nearby town, or you can simply relax prior to the more demanding leg of your trip. OLIVER’S CAMP The long established Oliver’s Camp has moved several times over the years but has finally settled in one of the most amazing sites in northern Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park. Lying in the center of Masailand, with views across a flood plain of Minyonyo Pools, a section of the Tarangire River, a stay at the camp gives you breathtaking vistas and close contact to the wilderness. Accommodation & Facilities Oliver’s Camp provides low impact accommodation with an authentic cozy style and outstanding personal service. You sleep in one of ten tents equipped with solid wooden furniture, soft linens and en-suite facilities. After a day of game viewing, relax with a drink in the dining room or retreat with a good book into the library tent. Wildlife & Activities During your stay at Oliver’s Camp, you enjoy guided walking safaris and mobile safaris that enable you to fly camp and spend a night under the stars. Your excellent guides help you encounter the vast array of birds and animals local to this part of Tanzania. This abundance of wildlife makes game drives in open 4x4s an exhilarating experience. GIBB’S FARM Brimming with colonial charm and character, Gibb’s Farm in Tanzania is an old farmhouse that forms the center of a working African farm. Positioned centrally between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, the farm enjoys amazing views across the coffee plantation and access to the forested Ngorongoro Conservation Area behind. Exquisitely manicured gardens look out across the Great Rift Escarpment. Accommodation & Facilities Eighteen airy chalets make up Gibb’s Farm Lodge. Each is quietly hidden amid a private flower garden and is complete with en-suite bathroom, inviting fireplace, and uninterrupted views which you enjoy from your secluded terrace. Meals at this Tanzanian farm are a hearty, homegrown affair using fresh, organic produce and served in the welcoming rustic dining room. Wildlife & Activities You are free to explore the vast floral and medicinal gardens, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area forest, and over 30 acres of surrounding farmland. If you want to extend your horizons during your stay then consider a tour of nearby Lake Manyara or Ngorongoro Crater. SERENGETI SAFARI CAMP Serengeti Safari Camp is a luxury mobile camp which moves throughout the Serengeti National Park to take advantage of the best area as the seasons change. From December to March the camp is situated in the south and from June heads into the central and northern areas. Accommodation & Facilities The camp comprises six elegantly furnished tents, one of which is a family tent with two bedrooms and an adjoining sitting area. Your tent has all modern ensuite conveniences including a traditional bucket shower and an eco-flush toilet. Meals are shared under the night sky or inside the dining tent. The staff at this small, friendly camp is available at all times to ensure you have everything you need. Wildlife & Activities Often, when people imagine African safaris, it’s the the wide open plains of the Serengeti that come to mind. The park is renowned for its wealth of resident game, including many predators, and the spectacle of the annual wildebeest and zebra migration. With the camp’s superb guides, you’ll have a front row seat. KIGALI SERENA HOTEL Located close to the heart of Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali, the Serena Hotel is a luxurious five star hotel a 15 minute taxi ride from the airport. It is ideal as a comfortable stopover for a night or two at the beginning or end of your Rwandan safari. Accommodation & Facilities Serena Hotel comprises 148 excellent en-suite rooms. You can choose between standard, deluxe, and superior rooms, as well as junior, executive and presidential suites. The hotel is fully equipped with modern conveniences as well as a lovely swimming pool, great restaurant and relaxing bar. Activities There is a poignant genocide memorial in Kigali, not far from Serena Hotel in Rwanda, which you are free to visit. VIRUNGA LODGE Perched high on a ridge, Virunga Lodge gives you inspirational views across the Virunga Volcano range as well as Lakes Ruhondo and Bulera. Just three hours’ drive from Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali, and an hour from the Ugandan border, Virunga Lodge is less than an hour away from the gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans (PNV). Accommodation & Facilities Virunga Lodge comprises eight spacious and luxuriously furnished standard ensuite cottages equipped with a private ensuite bathroom with flushing toilet, double vanity and showers with hot and cold running water. There are also two newly built larger deluxe cottages, Ibiyaga and Ibirunga, complete with their own sitting room and fireplace and a modern adjoining bathroom. Each cottage has its own secluded terrace, which enjoys views across the valley, lakes and volcanoes, as do the lounge, bar and dining room. 24 hour electricity is generated solely by solar panels. Please note that the pathways to and from the lodge are steep. Wildlife & Activities Rwanda’s Parc National des Volcans lies adjacent to national parks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and gets its name from the string of volcanoes that lie within it. The park is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Tracking the resident gorilla families, made up of between seven and 35 members, is the focus for most visitors. When you are not watching gorillas, you can climb the Visoke or Karisimbi volcanoes (5-6 hours), track a troop of golden monkeys (2-3 hours), visit the remains of the Karisoke center (3-4 hours) founded by Dr. Dian Fossey, visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village, the Buhanga Sacred Forest, or Musanze Caves, or take a quiet walk around the beautiful villages near the lakes. Visits to the nearby Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project are also possible at additional cost.
Travel Insurance
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Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
aardva-WilTanAar

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