A 15-Day Gorillas, Chimps, Serengeti And Ngorongoro Crater Itinerary

This 15-day Gorillas, Chimps, Serengeti And Ngorongoro Crater safari offers some of the most impressive wildlife encounters in East Africa and is one of our most biodiverse itineraries. The Gorillas, Chimps, Serengeti And Ngorongoro Crater tour begins with a comfortable overnight stay in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Then, you’ll go on a trekking expedition in search of mountain gorillas in the equatorial rainforests of Rwanda. From there, you’ll be flown to Lake Victoria and given exclusive access to Rubondo Island, an island home to chimpanzees, the tiny suni antelope, and other forest animals like giraffes and elephants.

As you soar to the Serengeti and subsequently the Ngorongoro Crater, the wooded scenery gives way to a savannah one. During migration season, you may also expect to see tens of thousands of wildebeest on the Serengeti grasslands, in addition to fantastic Big 5 animal viewing. Throughout the tour, you will have fantastic general wildlife viewing possibilities, including carnivores, smaller animals, birds, and reptiles. You will also have nearly endless opportunity to photograph wildlife.

Long car trips are mostly unnecessary because of the convenience of flying between destinations. Arriving at the camps prepared to strategise the next days with your hosts, you will be greeted and aided with your flights at the many airports and airstrips. Tented camps on safari often have no more than ten tents, allowing for more individualised care and a more authentic safari experience. This Gorillas, Chimps, Serengeti And Ngorongoro Crater tour, which starts in Kigali, Rwanda, and ends in Arusha, Tanzania, is ideal for honeymooners, culture vultures, and those seeking the East African equivalent of a bucket list.

Highlights & Activities

What’s on offer whilst on this itinerary?

Diverse wildlife experiences – amazing for keen photographers
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
Intimate safari lodges that are ideal for romantic or honeymoon travel
Explore Rubondo Island and trek for habituated chimpanzees
Fly-in, easy-paced itinerary that is perfect for discerning travellers
Big 5 viewing in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater

Expert Opinion

An exploration of the most biologically varied regions in East Africa, including a visit to Rwanda’s rainforests to see gorillas, a stay on the exclusive Rubondo Island, and visits to the world-famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Experience the thrill of spotting the Big Five, witness the magnificent wildebeest migrations, and capture breathtaking photography moments. Apt for honeymooners or those seeking the pinnacle of East African adventure.

A Detailed 15-Day Gorillas, Chimps, Serengeti And Ngorongoro Crater

Day 1: A Night in Kigali | 1 Nights

When you land at Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport, your journey through East Africa officially starts. After being greeted, you will be driven to the nearby Heaven Boutique Hotel. Ideally situated on a residential street and enveloped by verdant gardens, the guesthouse offers all the amenities necessary for a rejuvenating stay after a long journey.

Guests can make advantage of the on-site spa, swimming pool, lounge, and high-speed Wi-Fi while they are here. The restaurant of the hotel serves a menu that expertly combines Rwandan and African cuisines, with an emphasis on using high-quality foods grown in the hotel’s organic garden or purchased from nearby farmers.

If you happen to have any free time in Kigali, the knowledgeable concierges at Heaven can arrange for you to see local markets and villages where you may learn traditional Rwandan crafts like basket weaving, drumming, and urwagwa (banana beer).

Days 2-4: Gorilla Trekking | 3 Nights

Gather at the foyer of the Heaven Boutique Hotel to meet your driver after breakfast. Your private vehicle and guide will then take you out of Kigali. Volcanoes National Park is the next thrilling stop on the exciting journey that begins with a fascinating city tour of Kigali and lasts for two to three hours. You will be staying at The Bishop’s House for the next three nights while you go gorilla trekking. Situated in verdant Rwandan gardens, this stately mansion is just 25 minutes away from Volcanoes National Park.

You may take your time getting comfortable in the lobby and using the amenities before retiring to your apartment, which comes with its own private bathroom. The following day, you’ll get the opportunity to go on a gorilla hike, where you can see habituated gorilla families in their natural habitat and maybe even spot lesser primates, unique birds, and butterfly swarms in the Rwandan forests.

To relax weary legs after a walk, nothing beats a spa massage. Make an appointment in advance at Bishop’s House’s massage parlour. While you’re there, have a bite to eat at the restaurant and relax in the pool.

Day four brings a visit of Dian Fossey’s Ellen DeGeneres Campus, where you’ll see an environmentally conscious facility and hear about their efforts to inspire future generations to protect our planet.

Days 5-7: An African Island | 3 Nights

Get a flight to Rubondo Island, a little-known jewel in Lake Victoria, from Kigali International Airport. Rubondo is a refuge for animals and is rightfully gaining a reputation as one of the top destinations to visit for biodiversity, despite the fact that most of the shoreline has been converted to cultivation. You get to Rubondo Island Camp, the island’s sole lodge, just in time for lunch and to start making plans for the next days.

Primate and woodland elephant trekking is the most popular activity on the island, where visitors may also see hippos and crocodiles in the shallow waterways. In addition to seeing the suni, one of the tiniest antelopes in Africa, and the exquisitely-patterned bushbuck, this is a great place to see rare and uncommon wildlife like the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope and spotted-necked otter. To make it all-encompassing, game drives are paired with forest hikes, canoe rides, and boat excursions.

Days 8-10: Fly to the Serengeti | 3 Nights

A aeroplane departing from Rubondo flies over the breathtaking landscape of the Rift Valley en route to a Serengeti airstrip for landing. As you relax in the transfer vehicle on the way to Dunia Camp, the wildlife viewing experience starts. With plenty of time to eat lunch and get comfortable in your tented room, you reach camp just in time for lunch before setting out on your first drive of the afternoon. After that, you’ll have two whole days to roam Tanzania’s most famous reserve, where you can see antelope, zebra, elephants, buffalo, and big cats. Every year, during the Great Migration, the camp is traversed by enormous herds of wildebeest. The eight tents at Dunia each have their own private bathroom, complete with a hot water shower and a tub that has USB outlets for charging your electronics.

Days 11-13: A Big 5 Finale | 3 Nights

Today begins with breakfast on the Serengeti grassland, then a flight to the Ngorongoro region. Spend the next three nights at Gibb’s Farm, a picturesque property situated in the forested hills of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area near Karatu. The farm is a working one, with a coffee crop among its many facets.

Make yourself at home in your cottage and then go for a walk about the farm. Indulge in a home-cooked lunch prepared with seasonal, farm-fresh ingredients while you relax in the pool or curl up with a good book and a hot beverage by the fire.

An exciting day of safari awaits you in the Ngorongoro Crater, where you can spot lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo; another highlight is a nature walk in the Olmoti Crater. As you savour a delicious meal on the crater floor and take in the panoramic vistas, it’s time to pay attention to the finer details, such animal trails, birds, and medicinal plants. You get to spend your second full day exploring Gibb’s Farm and the nearby conservation area. Visit the on-site artists and learn how they manufacture beaded jewellery and other homemade things, ride your bike or walk the paths and explore the area, or take part in the farm’s many activities like vegetable harvesting.

Day 14-15: Overnight in Arusha Before Heading Home | 1 Nights

Before your vehicle journey to Arusha, take one last morning to enjoy the verdant surroundings of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arrive at Arusha Coffee Lodge, a tranquil retreat on a verdant coffee plantation, where you may unwind and prepare to bid farewell to your safari vacation.

Lounge on a poolside lounger while indulging in a spa treatment, a gourmet outdoor lunch, a cup of freshly brewed coffee, and a leisurely stroll through the grounds. On day 15, after another delicious breakfast, you will be picked up to be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your trip home will begin.

End of the 15-Day Gorillas, Chimps, Serengeti And Ngorongoro Crater

What’s Included?

14 nights accommodation
Meals:
Heaven Boutique Hotel : Bed & Breakfast
The Bishop’s House : Fully Inclusive (All Meals, Selected Beverages)
Rubondo Island Camp : Enquire for confirmation
Dunia Camp : Enquire for confirmation
Gibb’s Farm : Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Arusha Coffee Lodge : Bed & Breakfast
All necessary permits, conservancy and park fees
All activities specified, including morning and evening game drives each full day on safari
Emergency evacuation insurance for guests under 70 years of age
Park fees
Scheduled game drives and walking safaris
Flights and transfers as specified
Kigali city tour
Gorilla trek permits for 2x adults
Visit to the Ellen Degeneres Campus for Dian Fossey
Ngorongoro Crater Tour
All transfers during your itinerary
24/7 assistance and support during your trip