Your 13-day journey through Tanzania and Rwanda safari invites you to step into a world of timeless beauty, where golden plains meet mist-shrouded mountains, and wildlife reigns supreme. From the endless horizons of the Serengeti to the lush volcanic slopes of the Virunga Massif, this expedition blends luxury, discovery, and connection — creating a truly transformative African experience.
Your adventure begins in Tanzania, the land of legends. Here, the Serengeti National Park awaits with its vast savannahs teeming with life — lions on the prowl, elephants in herds, and the eternal rhythm of the wild. You’ll descend into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheater and home to the Big Five, where every encounter feels like a scene from nature’s masterpiece.
Crossing into Rwanda, the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” the journey deepens into the mystical heart of Africa. Amidst emerald tea plantations and forested volcanoes, you will trek through the ancient bamboo trails of Volcanoes National Park in search of mountain gorillas, one of Earth’s most profound wildlife encounters. Each step in the mist carries a sense of reverence — a meeting not only with these gentle giants but with nature’s raw grace and resilience.
Throughout this journey, you’ll experience East Africa in exquisite comfort — from boutique lodges overlooking the plains to luxury retreats nestled in the rainforest. Your days will be guided by expert naturalists, storytellers of the land who bring to life the secrets of the savannah and the whispers of the forest. This is more than a safari; it’s an odyssey through landscapes that have inspired explorers, photographers, and dreamers for generations. It’s where adventure meets elegance, and where every moment becomes a memory etched into your soul.
Welcome to the legends, luxury, and majesty of East Africa — where your story becomes part of Africa’s eternal rhythm
Detailed itinerary
You will land at Kilimanjaro International airport, which is an iconic peak gazing down at the landscape below with a sense of adventure. Open plains surround the airport, and you will immediately understand the season, whether the parched, dusty ground of the dry months or the lush green that follows from April to June. You will be greeted by our Nyumbu Beyond Journeys safari guide at the airport and transferred west towards Arusha where your lodge will be perched amid a forest and above the city. Up here, you will hear bush babies and tropical birds, which are sounds that alert you to the safari that is to come. So, you can check-in, take a stroll around the gardens and get some rest because this time tomorrow you will be in elephant country.
After breakfast the journey traveling to the west, you will leave mountain peaks behind as the road cuts onto open plains and a migratory wildlife route. Tarangire will be initially hidden with a swathe of high vegetation cutting the park off from the world. You can venture inside, and there may be an initial feeling of disappointment. Animals are very difficult to spot around the park gate and park perimeter. For better sightings, you will need to venture deeper into the park towards the area around your lodge. Elephants will soon start to dominate, marching in herds of up to 60, and baobab trees will mark the horizon, which are resting places for primates and leopards. Soon, the rest of the world will disappear, and it will be just you and the animals. Within two hours of being in Tarangire, your senses will have been tuned to the wilderness.
You will stay within the national park, and you can explore areas that are inaccessible to day visitors. By following a river to the south, you will feast on inimitable sights. Lions will lounge beneath the trees, lazing away most of the day, giraffes will be conspicuous, and zebras will start to blur into the landscape. Hippos will belch and grunt from the river as elephants splash from the riverside with their giant trunks nestling on the water. Sometimes you will stop on a trail to allow an elephant herd to pass, sometimes waiting for up to 20 minutes for all of the animals to pass. Then, back at the lodge, these sights will keep coming with animals drinking from a floodlit waterhole below.
Today, a game drive will take you out of Tarangire, through Lake Manyara, and into a thick and mysterious forest. The going will be slow here with muddy trails and plenty of wildlife blocking the way. You will travel deeper and deeper until the lush green foliage becomes incredibly thick. Lake Manyara has the world’s largest baboon population, and they can cause a racket with troops quarreling by bashing on trees and yelping loudly. Within an hour in the park, you will have seen hundreds of them from raucous large males to tiny babies.
It may seem like the forest has no end, but with a few more turns the lake will appear. Now there will be thousands of animals in a single panorama although you will not get as close as you were in the forest. Hippos will fill the lake, buffalo will graze, and baboons will scurry about in large gangs. The forest is sparser on the opposite side of the park, and it is here where you will search for lions. They will lounge upon branches, sleepily watching the savanna below.
Sometimes an entire pride will fill a tree with a dozen lions watching patrolling the landscape for prey. There are only a couple of places in Africa where lions do this, adding exclusivity to your encounter in what is the continent’s most picturesque park. At other destinations like the Serengeti, you will need to maximize the early morning and late afternoon, going on game drives when the animals are the most active. That will not be as important in Lake Manyara, so you can explore throughout the day before exiting to the north and continuing into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Your lodge will be positioned on the crater rim and will be perfect for making you the first visitor into the crater tomorrow morning.
As dawn breaks, you will travel through the mist as the road descends sharply into the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. At this early hour, the predators will be prowling, and lions and leopards will commonly be spotted on the plains, using the mist as a veil to hunt. Gradually the mist will clear, and the lakes will appear. Into a forest you will venture, passing some of Africa’s largest tusked elephants on your way. Then, back out on the plains, you will make out the remains of a hunt with lions lounging around a carcass. Black rhinos will trot past, keeping clear of the commotion, and buffalos will graze in large numbers as zebras skip clear of hyena.
Now it will be the middle of the morning, and the whole caldera floor will be in view. With a single glance, you can see upwards of 10,000 animals. Over 30,000 wild mammals live here, and they represent almost all of Africa’s famous species. The only big one that will not be present is the giraffe because the caldera slopes are too steep for them to walk down. You are allowed six hours in Ngorongoro, meaning you will ascend around midday. The rest of the day will be very at your leisure, admiring caldera views from your lodge and watching the odd mammal en route to the lakes.
Day 6: Journey into the Serengeti home The Endless Plains of Life
After breakfast, your journey continues northwest into the heart of Tanzania’s most celebrated wilderness the Serengeti National Park. As you descend from the Ngorongoro highlands, the landscape opens into vast golden grasslands stretching endlessly beneath the African sky. From afar, the plains seem empty, but as you draw closer, movement fills the horizon the silhouettes of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles dancing in the shimmering light.
Your first Serengeti game drive begins en route to your camp. The deeper you venture, the richer the wilderness becomes elephants ambling through acacia woodlands, towering giraffes browsing from thorn trees, and the haunting call of a distant hyena echoing across the plains. This is where Africa’s great migration unfolds, where life and survival play out in raw, unfiltered beauty.
Arrive at your luxury safari camp in time for lunch and a moment to settle in. Later, as the sun begins to dip, head out on an evening game drive, when predators awaken and the golden light sets the landscape ablaze. Lions stir from their slumber, scanning the plains, while graceful gazelles stand alert. As dusk turns to night, return to camp, welcomed by lanterns
Awaken to the soft light of dawn and the distant roar of a lion echoing across the plains. After an early breakfast, set off on a full-day safari adventure through the Serengeti’s vast ecosystem — a realm of drama and survival that defines the African wilderness.
You’ll explore different regions of the park, tracking the great herds as they graze and migrate. Your guide reads the landscape like a book, following fresh paw prints or alarm calls that may lead to a hidden predator. Soon, you may find yourself witnessing nature’s most primal moments — a cheetah scanning the horizon for prey, a pride of lions resting in the shade, or a leopard lounging high in an acacia tree.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wild. The afternoon reveals new scenes: elephants gathering by the riverbanks, buffalo herds marching across the plains, and countless bird species painting the sky. By evening, return to your camp for sundowners overlooking the savannah — the horizon glowing crimson as night settles over the Serengeti.
Day 8: Serengeti from the Skies – Hot Air Balloon Safari & Sunrise Magic
Before dawn, you’ll set out for a once-in-a-lifetime experience — a hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti. As the burners ignite, your balloon gently lifts into the cool morning air. Below you, the plains come alive — giraffes casting long shadows, herds of wildebeest moving like rivers across the land, and the sun rising in a spectacular blaze of gold and pink. It’s a moment of pure serenity and wonder — the Serengeti as few ever see it.
Upon landing, celebrate with a champagne bush breakfast, served in true safari tradition amid the open wilderness. Later, return to camp for relaxation or a mid-morning game drive, exploring new corners of the park and observing the smaller details often missed — a dung beetle rolling its prize, a secretary bird stalking through the grass, or a pair of ostriches performing their courtship dance.
In the afternoon, take a final game drive through the central plains, where the rhythm of life continues — predator and prey locked in an endless, beautiful cycle. As night falls, gather around the campfire beneath a starlit sky, reflecting on your days spent in one of the world’s greatest natural theaters.
Day 9: Fly into Kigali Rwanda & Connect Volcanoes National Park home to the Mountain Gorillas
Serengeti to Volcanoes National Park is the easiest and shortest route between any famous East African big-game safari and the gorillas. You will board a direct flight from the Serengeti to Kigali, which is Rwanda’s capital city. After this three-hour journey, it is a further two and a half hours by road, crossing green hills to a rainforest in the northwest of the country. If you wanted to see the gorillas in Uganda, then this will still be the quickest route. After the morning passes, you will be gazing over the rainforest the early afternoon, watching the mist swirl and imagining tomorrow’s adventure.
After an early breakfast at your lodge, you’ll be transferred to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for your pre-trek briefing with the park rangers. The air is crisp, the forest veiled in mist, and anticipation fills the morning as you prepare to meet one of Earth’s most extraordinary creatures — the mountain gorilla.
Once grouped and assigned your gorilla family, you’ll begin your trek through a mosaic of bamboo forest, ferns, and tangled vines. The trail winds through volcanic foothills alive with birdsong and the occasional rustle of forest life. Your guide leads the way, occasionally clearing a path with a machete as you climb deeper into the gorillas’ territory.
Then, through the dense green, you’ll catch a glimpse — a flash of black fur moving gracefully through the foliage. You’ve found them. A gorilla mother rests nearby, casting a gentle, curious gaze before uttering a soft grunt — a sign of approval. Slowly, you step closer, and the forest opens to reveal an entire troop: a silverback presiding over his family, juveniles tumbling playfully, and infants clinging to their mothers’ backs.
For one unforgettable hour, you’ll share the forest with them — observing their quiet communication, the rustle of movement, the tenderness of a mother grooming her young. It’s an encounter that transcends words, offering a deep connection between species.
When your time is up, you’ll quietly make your way back down the trail, the rainforest echoing behind you. Upon return to your lodge, a warm lunch awaits. Spend your afternoon at leisure — reflecting on the morning’s magic, perhaps enjoying a nature walk, or relaxing by the fireplace with views of the Virunga volcanoes.
Day 11: Second Mountain Gorilla Trek – A Deeper Connection
After a restful night and another early breakfast, you’ll return to Volcanoes National Park for your second gorilla trekking adventure. Having already experienced your first encounter, today’s trek feels more familiar — your steps are steadier, your heart even more open to the forest’s rhythm.
This morning you’ll track a different gorilla family, perhaps one with a larger troop or multiple silverbacks. The trek may take you along steeper paths or across open bamboo slopes, each step unveiling new perspectives of this magnificent ecosystem.
When you finally find them, you’ll recognize the serenity of the moment — gorillas foraging, young ones playfully swinging through vines, a silverback sitting in quiet strength. This time, you’ll feel more at ease to simply observe — no rush for the perfect photo, just immersion in their world. Listen to their grunts, the soft rustle of leaves, the distant call of birds.
For one golden hour, time seems to pause. You are surrounded by beings that share over 98% of our DNA, yet remain wild, free, and deeply symbolic of conservation success. As you trek back, the realization sets in — you have been among the few who have encountered two distinct gorilla families in the wild, an experience that very few travelers on Earth can claim.
Back at your lodge, enjoy a relaxing afternoon or optional community visit, such as meeting the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, where former poachers share their journey of transformation through cultural preservation and conservation. End your day with a fireside dinner, recounting the moments that will forever define your connection to Rwanda’s rainforests.
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali from Volcanoes National Park & Cultural Encounters On Route to the Capital
After breakfast, bid farewell to the tranquil highlands of Volcanoes National Park as your journey transitions from the misty forests to the rolling hills of Rwanda’s heartland. Today’s drive to Kigali is far more than a simple transfer — it’s an intimate cultural journey through a country known for its resilience, warmth, and inspiring spirit of renewal.
Your Nyumbu Beyond Journeys guide will curate the day around authentic local encounters, offering a deeper look into Rwanda’s culture and everyday life. As you meander through the scenic countryside, lush with banana groves and terraced farmlands, you’ll stop at vibrant roadside markets where the rhythm of daily life unfolds in colors, smiles, and laughter. Visit a traditional weaving cooperative, where local women skillfully craft Agaseke peace baskets — powerful symbols of unity and hope. Here, you’ll learn about the stories woven into each pattern and have a chance to try your hand at the art, connecting with the artisans who keep this heritage alive.
Continue your journey through small towns and picturesque villages, where children wave as you pass and locals greet you with warm “Muraho” (hello). Depending on your interests, your guide may arrange an optional visit to:
• A community coffee farm to experience Rwanda’s celebrated coffee culture — from bean to cup.
• A local school or village initiative supported by community tourism projects.
• Or a farm-to-table lunch experience hosted by a Rwandan family, featuring traditional dishes such as Isombe, Ugali, and fresh tropical fruits.
As the afternoon unfolds, the road gently descends into Kigali, Rwanda’s modern, green, and bustling capital. Upon arrival, you’ll enjoy a short panoramic city tour — perhaps stopping at Kimironko Market or the Kigali Convention Centre, an architectural symbol of Rwanda’s progress and innovation. By evening, you’ll check in to your elegant city accommodation, where the warm hospitality continues. Reflect on your extraordinary journey through East Africa from the great plains of Tanzania to the mist-shrouded forests of Rwanda a journey filled with nature, connection, and transformation
Day 13: Kigali Rwanda & A Graceful Farewell to the Heart of Africa
After a relaxed breakfast at your lodge, take a moment to breathe in the tranquil Rwandan morning the mist slowly lifting over the hills, the soft hum of life awakening across the land. It’s your final day in the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” and the perfect time to reflect on the unforgettable experiences of your East African journey from the endless Serengeti plains to the mist-shrouded forests of Volcanoes National Park.
Depending on your flight schedule, your Nyumbu Beyond Journeys guide will escort you on a scenic drive back to Kigali, a city that beautifully embodies Rwanda’s transformation clean, vibrant, and full of heart. Along the way, you may stop for a local craft visit or cultural coffee experience, offering a last taste of Rwanda’s warmth and creativity.
Upon arrival in Kigali, enjoy a brief city tour if time allows perhaps visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an emotional yet deeply moving space that celebrates peace, resilience, and renewal; or explore the colorful Kimironko Market, where locals trade fresh produce and handmade crafts.
As the afternoon unfolds, you’ll be transferred to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight. Your Nyumbu Beyond Journeys team will assist with all departure arrangements, ensuring a smooth and heartfelt farewell. Though your East African safari comes to an end, the memories will linger the golden savannahs, the gaze of a mountain gorilla, the laughter of people, and the rhythm of the wild that connects us all.
