Africa Safari 2022| Rwanda and Tanzania safari + Zanzibar island

Itinerary

Days 1-7 (June 10th to 16th) Rwanda [PRE-EXTENSION TRIP - $2495] Day by Day Itinerary

Your fist 7 days of this adventure will immerse your senses in the magical country of Rwanda, the ‘land of a thousand hills’. This country is known for its remarkable transformation, from the devastating genocide to becoming the most enlightened country in Africa and perhaps the world. You will see gender equality and conservation in action. Rwandas main attraction is the Silverback Gorilla – one of the most endangered primates in the planet with only 800 left in existence. However, just as amazing is the country’s majestic volcanoes, extensive rain forest and inland beaches which make the geography a diverse paradise. Pair that with the people and the most incredible story of forgiveness and unification I have ever seen, and you can’t help but have this country change the way you see the world and more importantly, the way you react in it.
Minimum group size requirement: 4 travelers

Day 1-2

Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali tour

Day 3-4

Akagera Game Lodge, Rwanda

Akagara Game reserve

Day 5-6

Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri, Rwanda

Kigali and Volcanos park

DAY 1

Arrival

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

We will arrive in the evening at Kigali Airport, where you will be welcomed by our local guide. After your transfer to the luxurious Boutique Hotel in Kigali, We will savor an early dinner, as you get to know your fellow travelers.

DAY 2

Millennium Village and Kigali City Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The next morning we will drive to the capital of Nyamata: Bugesera, an untapped historical gem. We will arrive at the Nyamata Genocide Memorial to learn about the history of the Rwandan genocide, and continue on to the reconciliation Village at the Millennium village project. This relatively short visit will be one of the most powerful testaments to humanity you will witness in your life. We will hear how re-integrated perpetrators as they call them, live and work alongside the people whom lives they have torn apart. Both have forgiven each other and Each will tell their story, opening us to the possibility of true forgiveness.

The next stop is just as inspiring. We will visit the Rwanda Nziza Women’s Weaving cooperative and shop for beautiful hand made gifts that support survivors, where we will offer 5 to 15 more years of sustenance for them and their families, by donating simple reading glasses that will allow these survivors to feed their family by being able to see to create the intricate weaving that is their livelihood. At $1 for a pair of glasses (in the U.S.), it is incredible that these inexpensive basics that are not available at any price in this country, can create many years of livelihood for these craftswomen. See a video of my last trip HERE

In the afternoon you will have a traditional lunch in a villager’s home. We will drive back to Kigali inspired by the power of forgiveness and the inspiration of knowing that we have changed the course of many peoples lives today.

As you drift off in your comfortable accommodation, you will feel the power of being a traveler with a purpose, not a tourist

DAY 3-4

Kigali - Akagera Game Park Safari & Boat Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning as the dawn breaks, the beautiful rural landscapes of Akagera National Park will emerge. This miracle is Africa’s largest protected wetland. The area is dominated by swamps and small lakes from the River Kagera, creating a remarkable eco-system.

We will go on on a boat safari tour of Lake Tanganyika. You will be surrounded by cultivated hills and be able to spot elephants, zebras and giraffes up close.

Tonight Ruzizi Tented Lodge will be our home. This quiet intimate retreat powered entirely by solar will rejuvenate your mind and body.

The next afternoon we will go on an adventurous game drive and view the natural habitat of creatures ranging from baboons to Mongoose to hippos to crocodiles. The highlands, lakes, and papyrus swamps allow for the diversity in wildlife.

We will then drive back to Kigali and arrive for dinner. Our stay is at Hotel Chez Lando, a fresh and vibrant home away from home.

DAY 5

Kigali - Lake Kivu - Cup tour / Banana market - Volcanoes

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A boat ride through the tranquil waters of this huge lake deliver you to Kinunu Island for a ‘From Crop to Cup’ Lake Kivu coffee experience to discover some of the world’s best coffee!

The rich, volcanic shores of lake Kivu are particularly fertile and host a range of plantations where some of the best coffee in the world is grown. In early 2008, NDA started to collaborate with Ingoboka, a local cooperative of coffee farming families. We have trained some of their members to provide a very personal introduction to coffee growing that will teach you everything you need to know about this complicated process from crop to cup.

On Nyamirundi Island, you will visit the plantation of one of Ingoboka’s member families. Each coffee plant is hand-raised and cared for by the farmer. Combined with the volcanic soils of the area, this special treatment gives the coffee a full-bodied, yet non-acidic flavor. Ingoboka has a total of 350 members, all of whom own small coffee farms on or close to the shores of the lake.

After learning about the coffee creation process from plantations we will enjoy a warm cup of coffee and lunch. We will then proceed by boat to Rubavu, a waterfront town with an easygoing tropical character. There we will explore the banana market – a unique experience where people all over Rwanda, and neighboring countries, come to pick up homegrown bananas.

In the later afternoon we will arrive at Nirvana Hotel at the shores of Lake Kivu.

DAY 6

Volcanoes National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Deep in the heart of Rwanda’s thousand hills exists a creature so precious and rare that travelers the world over come each year to catch a glimpse. It is the critically endangered mountain gorilla, and more than half of the almost 700 remaining in the world make their home in Rwanda’s stunning Volcanoes National Park.

These highly sociable primates sleep in trees but spend most of their waking hours on the ground, moving less than 1km a day and remaining easily accessible.

Let an experienced gorilla tracker guide you through the towering Hagenia and Bamboo trees, weaving vines, and flowering Lobelias of the park to their tiny oasis, where you will spend an hour face to face with man’s closest living relatives in their remarkable natural habitat.

Visitors can follow one of the park’s seven habituated gorilla families as they go about their daily lives in troops of anywhere between 8 and 39.

During your hour with the gorillas you will come to experience the inspiration for the film Gorillas in the Mist and understand why the late American primatologist Dian Fossey made it her life’s mission to live with, study, and protect these gentle giants.

Others of us will take an amazing but managable trek to the heart of Volcanoes National Park to see golden monkeys, buffalo, bush duiker and a vast array of bird species.

This day you will choose from one of the three activities:

(1) Gorilla Trekking – one of the highlights of Rwanda. A rare opportunity to support local economies, witness a fascinating creature, and deter poaching. While this will be undoubtedly one of the most amazing experiences of your lifetime, the $1,500 permit for the experience is worth a pause for considering.

(2) Golden Monkey Trekking (the ‘Old world monkey’). Learn about the unique characteristics of these creatures, from the yellow patches on their bodies to the upwards facing nostrils on their noses.

(3) Volunteering at the Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund Museum. Receive a behind the scenes look at conservation.

We will stay overnight at the beautiful Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, enjoying their ambience and excellent cuisine.

DAY 7

Kigali Airport

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bright and early we will enjoy a great breakfas and relax for a 2.5 hour drive to the Kigali airport , either departing for Tanzania or your home destination. If you are continuing for our Tanzania adventure, We pick up the airfare to Tanzania!

Day by Day Itinerary

Days 7-15 (June 16th to 24th) Tanzania Safari [MAIN PACKAGE - $3495] Day by Day Itinerary

For the next 8 days we will be in Tanzania, the land of safaris. Wildlife, fascinating cultures, beaches, and the unbelievable Ngorongoro Crater. Unlike so many safaris today, this will truly bring you into an “Out Of Africa” experience as we go deep into the bush in true tented Safari camps, replete with the luxuries you would still expect. Elephants make their way amongst the migrational routes, Black Rhino are often sited, while thousands of wildebeest attempt dangerous river crossings. Enjoy hospitality from the welcoming Masai warriors, spend a day with the last hunter and gatherers on earth, and learn the rhythms of the traditional dance.

Minimum group size requirement: 4 travelers

DAY 7

JRO – Arusha Town

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

You will arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport enjoying a smooth transport to the charming Arumeru Lodge.

DAY 8

Arusha town - Arusha National park walking safari

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we will take our packed lunches to Arusha National park, a popular destination for longer circuit safaris. An armed ranger will be with us as we embark on a safe but thrilling walking safari, where you will see a rich variety of wildlife. giraffes, buffalo, and zebras will likely be a stones throw away.

We will then head back to Arumeru River Lodge for a sumptuous dinner.

DAY 9

Arusha town – Tarangaire National park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will travel over from Arusha towards Serengeti to the Tarangaire National park, famous for its prolific elephants. The park has a lot of migratory movement because of its huge Tarangaire ecosystem. You will go on a full day game drive to notice the lush and diverse terrain and interact with the animals.

Overnight we will stay at Manyara Wildlife Camp, which is nested overlooking the Lake Manyara park.

DAY 10

Manyara – Lake Eyasi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we will drive to Lake Eyasi for the Hadzabe tribe – one of the last hunter gatherer tribes in Tanzania – and experience their way of life. Afterwards we will visit the Datoga tribe, and you will marvel at their blacksmith experience. The Datoga tribe create everything from arrowheads to jewelry with spare metal, some handmade instruments, and a hole in the ground.

We will eat dinner and stay overnight at Bashay Rift Lodge

DAY 11

Ngorongoro crater – Serengeti National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will leave early after breakfast for Ngorongoro crater, the largest un-flooded and unbroken caldera in the world. The crater formed 3 million years ago from a large volcanic explosion.

After lunch we will have a game en-route towards the mighty Serengeti park. we will make camp at Olduvai Camp, luxurious tent in the bush, surrounded by the rich vegetation and animal life of the area.

DAY 12-13

Full game drives into the Serengeti . . . And saving lives

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

These two days and nights will make memories that will be with you forever as we game drive into the heart of the Serengeti. As we approach Seronera we will likely have an opportunity to see a member of the large population of felines s (lions, leopards, cheetahs) that inhabit this part of the Serengeti. In the afternoon we will settle into Ronjo Camp, readying ourselves for an evening game drive if so inclined. Our home for the next couple days is Ronjo Camp. This camp is the perfect jumping off point to see the migration this time of year. This seasonal camp is true safari, with the benefit of in suite restrooms and plenty of hot water. At night you will hear the wildlife around you, staying connected to the wilds you have traveled so far to be in.

During the day in between Safaris, we will do a special project, visiting a local village and participating in a project that will save the lives of hundreds of women and children.

A small village nearby has a problem ubiquitous with many from this continent: smoke inhalation from cooking. We will modify one of the huts to simply create an overhang in the roof that will allow smoke from the cooking fire to escape.

It turns out the World Health Organization (WHO), has demonstrated that smoke-induced diseases are responsible for the death of 4.3 million people every year. That is more deaths than are caused by tuberculosis or malaria—making it one of the most lethal environmental health risks worldwide. 500,000 of those deaths are children under five that die due to acute respiratory infections (ARI). We are very excited to start creating change, one village at a time!

The great news is by simply creating an opening on the top of their huts, they can dramatically remove this risk. By taking this trip, your funds will contribute to hiring a carpenter to create a low cost, repeatable solution. We will witness a demonstration and village meeting where we will make a true difference, hopefully for generations to come. See more on this from this great article

DAY 14

Walking Safari

This morning will be an early departure for a walking safari with a guide who will share the local fauna.
After 2 – 3 hours of hiking, you will have a breakfast in the bush, complete with tables and linen!

As we arrive to Grumeti hills, we will check in and you can slip into the swimming pool and the nice spa. This is a lovely reset after our adventures in the bush.

There will still be time in the day for a short cultural excursion to Mugumu, Ikomacastle.

The fun is not over. Get ready for a night safari between 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm.
During a night safari, we observe different unique species such as galagos, genette, chive and others such as hyenas, leopards, elephants…
Dinner and Overnight at Grumeti Hills

DAY 15

Morning Game en-route to the airstrip and fly out to JRO or post-extension trip

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will do a game en-route to the airstrip. For those traveling home you will depart from JRO to your own destination. Otherwise you will be traveling to Zanzibar for Sun, sand and exotic relaxation.

Day by Day Itinerary

Days 15-19 (June 24th to 28th) Zanzibar [POST-EXTENSION TRIP - $1895 including flight] Day by Day Itinerary

Zanzibar archipelago is a beach paradise in the idyllic Indian Ocean. It has been the hub for intrepid explorers, big game hunters, and spice merchants for hundreds of years. The country is comprised of several small islands just off the east coast of Africa. Few places are as exotic and entrancing as this equatorial utopia.

Minimum group size requirement: 2 travelers

DAY 15

ARRIVE IN ZANZIBAR -STONE TOWN

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Once you land in Zanzibar in the afternoon, we will embark on an fascinating tour of Old Town . After breakfast, you will be collected by our knowledgeable and informative guide and go on a half day tour of this mystical town that is the cultural and historical heart of Zanzibar. The tour is a journey dedicated to the discovery of the ancient life of this mysterious city. Some of the historical sites you will visit include, the market, the historic fort, and the old slave market.

After this tour, we will sample some fantastic seafood at a great local restaurant.

With a full day behind us, we will settle in to a beutiful hotel in the historic district.

DAY 16

Zanzibar beach-Nuncwii

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Today we will have a leasurely breakfast and head to our beautiful beachfront paradise. our island getaway offers tropical scented gardens, beautiful swimming pools and relaxing lounges. You will stay this peaceful hotel for the rest of your nights in Zanzibar. The island is an enchanting destination, a melting pot of cultures combining Indian, Arabic and African customs and traditions.you have an option of just relaxing at your gorgeous white sandy beach, alternatively you can decide indulge in some activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, swim with the dolphins, shopping, sunset cruise, and many sport activities.( additional costs). Pristine surroundings await, from white sandy beaches to breathtaking sunsets.

DAY 17

Active at the Zanzibar beach - nungwi

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

This morning we will dive into the Bathtub warm crystal clear waters heading out on a morning snorkle tour to the famous Mnemba Atoll while the water is calm and the visibility is astounding. You may even get a chance to get a visit with a pod of dolphins!

We will depart the underwater world of Zanzibar and head to Mnarania Quarium. This organization is the biggest Marine turtle conservation lagoon on Zanzibar. We will learn about turtle conservation and perhaps have a chance to release some of the hatchlings into the sea!

Dinner is on us at a great seaside restaurant.

DAY 18

Relax at the beach

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Enjoy a day of pure relaxation day or your option to explore the spice tour/cooking class (Optional), This half day tour is a great option if you want to learn and see more of this intriguing island and catch the market in the AM. Other optional adventures await, TBD.

DAY 19

BEACH morning and TRANSFER BACK TO STONE TOWN - FLY HOME

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

After a final swim in these warm crystal clear waters, you can get in some last minute shopping before our driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you back to stone Town, on arrival you will proceed to the airport where you will board your scheduled flight.