9 days Rwanda, Tanzania self-drive safari.
This 9 day Rwanda, Tanzania safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will take you through Rwanda, which is commonly known as the Land of a Thousand Hills. You will have a true experience of interacting with the mountain gorillas, endangered primate species in their natural habitat. Learn how to protect wild animals at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus Fund, and have a full immersion into African Culture in the Gorilla Guardians village (Ib’yiwachu)
From Rwanda, proceed with your journey to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Enjoy the incredibly vast savanna grasslands as you spot the big five animals in the wilderness and the natural setting of Ngorongoro crater.
Drive at your own pace, share knowledge and love for wildlife with colleagues you meet, and always follow the guidelines of conservationists, game guides, and park rangers for safe travels.
Tour highlights 9 days Rwanda, Tanzania self-drive safari
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
- Day 2: Kigali City tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 3: Gorilla tracking and Ib’yiwachu Cultural visit
- Day 4 : Ellen DeGeneres Campus and travel to Kigali
- Day 5: Transfer to Mwanza Via Rusumo border
- Day 6: Transfer to Serengeti National Park – evening game drive
- Day 7: Full-day game drive in Serengeti
- Day 8: Travel from Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Day 9: Transfer to Arusha and Departure.
Detailed Itinerary of 9 days Rwanda, Tanzania self-drive safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
On the first day of the nine-day Rwanda- Tanzania self-drive safari, you will arrive at Kigali International Airport. You will be welcomed by our knowledgeable driver guide who will brief you on the countries you wish to travel to and the rental agreement. After the briefing, you will sign the rental agreement, and later hand over the car keys to you. At your request, he can drop you at your hotel for lunch and relaxation. If time is by your side, explore some interesting spots like the local art galleries or the bustling market places in the city. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Kigali city tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
On the second day of your safari, after an early breakfast, embark on an educational experience to the Kigali Genocide Memorial site. In this place, you will find a deeper understanding of the tragic events of 1994. Take a moment of silence to pray and give respect to the lives of the innocent victims. From here return to the accommodation for lunch and then check out of the accommodation and travel to Volcanoes National Park.
Drive at your pace, enjoy the scenic views of the rolling hills and terraced landscape with farms in the countryside. On arrival, go to the lodge for rest, dinner, and a night stay.
Day 3: Gorilla tracking and Ib’yiwachu cultural visit
After a heavy early morning breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for a briefing about the gorilla tracking activity. After briefing you will join others in groups of eight and then led by a trained park ranger into the bamboo forest trails in the park. The ranger will enlighten you about gorillas’ ways of life and the measures taken to conserve and protect them as they thrive in their natural habitat. You will luckily spot some monkeys swinging on tree branches.
When you find the gorilla family, you will be allowed to spend one hour enjoying the mountain gorillas playing, feeding, and interacting with each other. Observe the way they react to human presence and use flash-less photography. After the trek return to the park center for trekking certificates then drive back to the lodge for lunch and rest.
If time allows, in the afternoon hours, visit the Ib’yiwachu Cultural Center for immersion n into Rwanda’s history, tradition, culture, and amazing entertainment. At the end of the day, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 : Visit Ellen Degeneres Campus Fund Travel back to Kigali
After a yummy breakfast, take a simple visit to the Ellen De Generes Campus. At this place, you will learn more about the efforts of Dian Fossey and her partner Portia de Rossi towards the conservation and protection of mountain gorillas. You will find displayed resources in the gallery, the research center, and a room preserved for workshops and training about mountain gorilla conservation. You will note that the buildings are made of local materials reflecting environmental protection and culture.
From there, have lunch and return to Kigali. Check into the hotel for dinner and a night’s stay.
Day 5 and 6: Travel from Kigali to Serengeti National Park via Rusumo border
On the fifth day of the nine days of your safari, you will set off for the long-distance drive to Serengeti National Park. The journey involves crossing from Rwanda to Tanzania via Rusumo border post, so you will need to have clear travel documents. Since the journey is so long, I suggest that you spend an overnight in Mwanza town on the shores of Lake Victoria.
On day 6, wake up at your leisure, have breakfast, and set off for a 5-hour journey to Serengeti National Park. on arrival, drive slowly through the park as you try spotting out some wildlife creatures. go to the lodge or campsite for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Full-day game drive in Serengeti
On this day, you will make a full exploration of the park as you search for different wild creatures. It’s time for the great wildebeest migration, you will watch thousands of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles and other wild animals trek through the park in the endless plains.
You will come to learn why this region was named so because the grassland savannah stretches from the north to the south with a mixture of kopjes. These kopjes are bizarre rock formations formed by the weathering of granite outcrops.
The plains are the perfect hunting grounds for leopards and other big cats; you will have a good chance to view these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat through the open roof of the vehicle. In the afternoon, you will traverse the Seronera Valley in the central Serengeti area. You will camp for the night and stay in safari tents enjoying a good meal in the middle of the African wilderness.
Day 8: Travel from Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater area
After breakfast, you will drive towards the Seronera Valley, heading to the Ngorongoro crater area. Watch out for more herds of wildebeest, zebras, lions, and other big cats such as leopards and cheetahs in the Serengeti Valley. After your picnic lunch, you will drive to the Ngorongoro Crater where you will observe the stunning views of the caldera. Enjoy the natural wonders in the area. Later in the evening, join others at a campsite at the edge of the crater, then dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Transfer to Arusha for departure
On the last day of the 9 day Rwanda – Tanzania safari, after an early morning breakfast, you will have an early morning game drive down the crater for about two hours. In this place, you will luckily spot the big five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard) plus other wild animals. Later, set off for Arusha International Airport for your flight.
End of safari