13 Days Wildlife and Gorilla Trek Expedition

Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and assisted transfer to Arusha Coffee Lodge. The aptly named Arusha Coffee Lodge lies hidden amongst the sprawling grounds of Tanzania’s largest coffee plantation, set below the rugged peaks of Mt Meru. Guests can unwind in one of the lodge’s exclusive Plantation Suites, which each boast a romantic four-poster bed draped in Egyptian cotton linen, a split-level sitting area, ensuite bathroom, an open fireplace, a personal bar and a private veranda that looks out onto rows and rows of berry-laden coffee bushes.

After breakfast, you will be picked up by your safari guide and transfer by road to Tarangire National Park. Upon arrival you will check in at the luxurious Nimali Tarangire. Nimali Tarangire is a permanent, lodge-style tented camp that opened in 2015 on the north-eastern boundary of Tarangire National Park. Built on a private concession, it is located on the pretty banks of a seasonal river in the Radilen Wildlife Management Area. The lodge is situated alongside the riverbed and well hidden amongst the acacia & baobab trees. Natural materials are merged with contemporary decor, to provide guests with a unique and unforgettable bush experience. The main areas comprise of a spacious lounge, library and a central dining area that overlooks the swimming pool and a waterhole that attracts wildlife. Selections of safari books are available for guests to read. Every evening, guests are able to relax in the lounge and have sundowners by the fireplace.

Tarangire National Park features sun-kissed granite mountains, sparkling river valleys, prolific bushveld, and free-roaming wildlife you will behold from the moment you touch down in Tanzania and transfer to your decadent suite overlooking the park’s boundless wilds.

Morning game drive in Tarangire. Return to your lodge for lunch. This afternoon you will continue with your guide through the scenic escarpment and your lodge, perched on the edge of the Rift Valley. You will check in at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge - designed to exert minimal impact on the environment and provide a tranquil haven, the Lodge offers an exclusive interpretive safari in a more remote area of the National Park. Gentle Tanzanian hospitality is exuded from the team, who have a passion for delighting guests, whether you are on honeymoon or a family safari. The ultimate spot to rejuvenate mind, body and soul, wellness is a pivotal thread at the Lodge and the lush forest environment is an idyllic cocoon to recharge. Holistically centred, enjoy healing therapies, organic practices and connecting with nature. Dine on nourishing dishes with our food-to-table philosophy, sip the freshest juices and smoothies. Work out in your room with our convenient Gym in a Basket and unwind with a massage in the massage sala.

Lake Manyara National Park offers a wilderness experience in diverse habitats, from its Rift Valley soda lake to dense woodlands and steep mountainsides. Apart from a spectacular setting, the park is famous for its unusual tree-climbing lions and the vast elephant herds it was established to protect. The shores of the lake, encrusted with pink flamingo, attract more than 400 species of birds, many of them waterfowl or migrants. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives through this diverse habitat to look for tree climbing lions. Explore areas of the park that cannot be reached by day visitors and are undisturbed by others. You will traverse a mosaic of acacia woodlands, grassy floodplains and tall forest in search of wildlife.

Your adventure continues in to the Serengeti where you will make your way to &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas to follow the thundering wildebeest migration. Go on a game drive to look for the herds, and the predatory cats that often follow them Experience the breath-taking beauty of the Serengeti National Park on a once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon flight. At dawn, rise as the sun greets the day and float in whichever direction the winds of the morning take you. Enjoy dinner under the stars and stories around the camp fire

Experience a classic tented safari in soothing solitude and spectacular comfort, with only the canvas walls of your tent separating you from the wonders of the Serengeti. Moving five times a year the camps attempt to anticipate the movements of the Great Migration, bringing guests as close as possible to the wildebeest action, as well as exploring magnificent resident game. With just nine tents nestled at each private campsite, enjoy the luxury of complete contentment and nights spent in the African bush.

After breakfast proceed to Ngorongoro Crater, game driving on the way. Enjoy a picnic lunch enroute. You will check in at the Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge. Set in 50 acres of virgin Tanzanian bush in the Ngorongoro volcanic landscape, this all suites wood log cabin style retreat is located a few steps from the Game Reserve Gate and 20 minutes drive away from the Ngorongoro Crater that is said to have the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa. This all-inclusive property features 20 spacious private log cabins with a fireplace, a restaurant, a bar, and conference facilities. Indulge in moments of relaxation at the swimming pool or at the Earth & Rain Spa after a full-day game drive. The property has 20 luxury suites.

The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area is home to more than 30 000 protected animals. It is an area of spectacular beauty and excellent game viewing, an utterly unique safari destination in Africa for couples in love. The Ngorongoro Crater, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. Wake early to the views of the Crater, and after breakfast head off for a full day game drive on the Crater floor, abundant with wildlife – view black rhino that are protected within its rim, giant tusked elephants, big-maned lions stalking the grasslands, and bright pink flamingos crowding the soda lakes, an extraordinary experience awaits you both here.

Depart this morning by vehicle to Arusha where you will enjoy lunch before continuing to the Kilimanjaro Airport. Board your scheduled inter-Africa flight to Nairobi an onward to Kigali, Rwanda. On arrival you will be met and transfer to Kigali Serena Hotel. The elegant Kigali Serena Hotel is perfectly situated within one of the city’s most vibrant boulevards. Here, guests are welcomed into a gleaming granite atrium, adorned with fantastic Rwandan artworks, where they are then ushered to contemporary rooms that feature air conditioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, a satellite television, and a lovely ensuite bathroom. The hotel offers a wonderful selection of dining options; from the Milima Restaurant that overlooks the sparkling swimming pool to the Sokoni Restaurant that has become a popular meeting place for both locals and travellers alike. In the evenings retreat to the hotel’s convivial lounge where two bar areas await.

Following a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and a short drive through the city, depart with your driver-guide and transfer to Ingagi Parkview lodge in Musanze and Volcanoes National Park. Your gorilla trekking adventure will begin i earnest. Here you will be met by your tracker and proceed for your first gorilla visit with the day spent tracking the mountain gorillas. You have a choice between a golden monkey trek or experience your second gorilla trek. Following your trek, savor the memories of the morning hike and gorilla encounter with a relaxing afternoon at leisure visiting the farmlands, villages and markets that surround Kinigi and Musanze towns.

Ingagi is a Kinyarwanda word meaning “Gorilla“, so the name may be interpreted in English as Gorilla Park View Lodge - located on the foothills of the volcanic mountains, a short distance to the main entrance of the Volcanoes National Park where mountain gorilla trekking starts, offering spectacular views of a chain of 15,000ft volcanoes stretching through Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ingagi Park View Lodge is a comfortable base for a few days exploring the incredible Volcanoes National Park. You are just five minutes from the ranger post here and 10 minutes from the main park gates so your location is excellent. The lodge itself is Rwandan owned and run and the staff go about everything with pride and are very kind and welcoming. The gardens are beautiful and sundowners around the firepit looking towards the Virunga Massif is delightful. The bedrooms are big and comfortable and more than you need for a good nights rest.

This morning you will have a Kigali City Tour including a visit to the Genocide Museum and the local market. A visit to the Women Organization can also be arranged. You will be transferred back to Kigali airport to connect on your international flight.