18 days Rwanda primates and Tanzania big five self drive safari
This itinerary is designed for an experienced self-drive traveler with interest to explore Rwanda’s primates across the rolling hills and popular big five animals (lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalos and elephants) that are commonly found in the different Tanzania parks. With a reliable 4×4 high ground clearance, spacious, comfortable vehicle, expect the best adventure of these two East African countries through Kigali, Nyungwe, National Park Volcanoes National Park, Lake Victoria, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park until you drop off in Arusha.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
When you get to Kigali International Airport, go through the immigration procedures, then meet your rental company representative, from Self Drive Rwanda, sign the rental agreement and, check the vehicle and the company driver will handover the rented car keys. Later transfer to your hotel where you will spend the rest of the day and over night stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Following an early morning breakfast, set off for Nyungwe national park. A favorite stop over spot is Nyanza king’s palace for Rwanda culture and lunch as well. Arrival in the evening, check in for dinner and night stay.
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
In the early morning of this third day of these 18 days trip, head to Uwinka park centre for a briefing but chimpanzee tracking. Later venture into the forest with the lead of park guides to look for the busy and playful primates in Nyungwe forest. It’s easy to see the chimpanzees because they chatter and laugh as they jump from tree to tree. It takes about three hours to track the chimpanzees. Spend an hour taking pictures and video clips of them when you find them. After this amazing moment return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon do the canopy walk, enjoy a swing on a suspended bridge as you view the forest at a bird’s eye view. Dinner and over night at the accommodation.
Day 4: Colobus monkey tracking and Gisakura tea plantation
Black and whit colobus monkeys are among the 12 interesting primate species that call Nyungwe forest park home. After a briefing from experienced rangers and guides, start your trek into the park jungles and the edges of the forest where they are best spotted. You will luckily spot other monkey types like the blue monkeys, owl faced monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red- tailed monkeys, velvet monkeys among others. After the adventure that takes 3-4 hours, return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon visit Gisakura tea plantation where you will be taken through tea production (farm to cup experience). Wind up your tour with tasting a cup of Rwandan tea. Dinner and overnight at the accommodation.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After a relaxed breakfast, make your way to Volcanoes National park with a lunch stopover on Lake Kivu shores in Gisenyi. Arrival will be in the late afternoon. Check in and spend the evening relaxing at the accommodation. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Gorilla tracking
following an early morning breakfast, head to Kinigi park centre for code of conduct for tracking gorillas. Gorilla tracking is a once in life-time experience. The park guides and rangers will lead you into the jungles to find the allocated gorilla family. Through steep terrain, bushes and slippery grounds, you will have a trek of 2- 5 hours depending on the location of the gorillas, this time includes one fruitful hour of interacting with the gorillas. After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch, where you will relax for the rest of the day.
Day 7: Golden Monkey tracking and Ibyiwachu cultural tour
Wake up to early breakfast, head to the park centre for briefing about golden monkey tracking. hike through the bamboo forested zones and the edges of the park. The activity lasts for 3-4 hours. return to the lodge for lunch and refreshment. In the afternoon visit the gorilla guardian village to experience the best of Rwandan culture and tradition. Enjoy the Intore dance and other cultural exhibitions. At the end of your visit, you can buy some of their crafts as souvenirs to support their well being. Dinner and overnight at the accommodation.
Day 8: Transfer to Kigali
Start your day with a brief visit to the Ellen De Generes to learn more about Dian Fossey and her efforts towards mountain gorilla protection and the ongoing conservation efforts to maintain the multiplication of mountain gorillas in their natural home.
Later proceed to Kigali as you enjoy a scenic drive through Rwanda’s rolling hills and terraced landscape at the sides. Lunch will be at your accommodation in Kigali. Optional city tour in the evening hours to places like, Genocide memorial sites, Kimironko market or Art galleries.
Day 9: Transfer to Tanzania (Mwanza)- Via Rusumo border
With an early morning drive connect from Rwanda to Tanzania via Rusumo border. Expect to a stopover at the border for personal and vehicle verification with the immigration sectors of both countries. (must have a passport, Tanzania Visa, proper vehicle documents including COMESA). Over night in Mwanza.
Day 10: Mwanza to Serengeti
From Mwanza, drive through Lamadi with scenic views of Lake Victoria, village markets, homesteads and wildlife sightings and get to Serengeti through Ndabaka gate. if time is by your side, go on a late evening game drive where you will luckily spot day hunters and herbivores returning to their hideouts and the night dwellers starting to spot their prey. Accommodation can be in public or tented campsites.
Day 11 &12: Full day game drive (Central and Northern Serengeti)
Serengeti National Park as the best vacation spot, mostly because this is where the Great Migration happens. The park has over 4,000 lions, 225 cheetahs, 1,000 leopards, 3,500 hyenas, and hundreds of wild dogs living here. The huge herds that charge at each other are also amazing. Spend these two days in this park spending most of the time in the central and northern, explore the Seronera valley, Hippo pool, and the Moru Kopjes.
Your flexibility will largely depend on the animal movements. this park provides a rewarding adventure.
Day 13: Serengeti to Ngorongoro
With your packed lunch on this new day during your trip, drive south wards through Serengeti as you spot more wildlife that you may have missed in the previous game drives.
Stop over can be made a t Olduvai Gorge for archaeological explorations. In the evening hours drive along the crater rim viewpoints as for clear park views, wildlife spotting as you head to your accommodation.
Day 14: Ngorongoro Conservation area – Including the crater
The Ngorongoro crater is one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. Two million years ago, a huge volcano exploded and made the crater. The fertile lava has made a unique environment that is now home to more animals than any other place in Africa.
Once in the crater expect to see thousands of wildlife including lions, zebras, buffalos and black rhinos. The experience is breathtaking.
Day 15: Lake Manyara National Park
From The scenic Ngorongoro crater, this other for adventure takes you to Lake Manyara national park. With your picnic lunch, set out for a full day game drive. this place is also known for being home to the tree climbing lions, flamingos, forest elephants thus a offering a different scenery from the vast plains of Serengeti. During the game drive watch out for buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, baboons and the blue monkeys. A post game drive as you head to your accommodation.
Day 16: Tarangire national park
A full day exploration in Tarangire national park exposes you to landscape with diverse vegetation zones, with massive herds of different animals, ancient baobab trees and other unique plant species and many birds. The Tarangire river attracts different animals and on a lucky day you can spot giraffes, lions, antelopes and zebras. this park is known for hosting the highest population of elephants, once you find them, observe their family interactions, movements as you capture the scenery for future memories and postings.
Day 17: Tarangire to Arusha
As you come towards the end of you or trip, on day 17, after a luscious breakfast, have a scenic game drive from Tarangire national park as you head to Arusha. You will spot some of the wildlife you may have missed on the previous of your trip. Here you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, Oryx, eland, giraffe and zebra among others. By mid day, wind up your park adventures and head to Arusha where you will arrive in the late evening.
Day 18: Departure
Depending on the arrangements with your rental company, you will drop off the vehicle at Kilimanjaro airport or at an agreed location.