14 Days East Africa’s Gorillas, Big 5 & Beach
Destinations visited: Tanzania, Rwanda, Zanzibar, Serengeti, and Kigali 14-day adventure safari features gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Great Migration mobile safari in Serengeti & island R&R off Zanzibar.
This 14-day adventure safari features three of East Africa’s top travel experiences: gorilla& golden monkey trekking in Rwanda, following the Great Migration on a classic mobile safari in the Serengeti and private beach living on the island of Mnemba, off the coast of Zanzibar.
It is an ideal safari for travellers who like their adventure served with plenty of comfort, good food and great service. This tour can be tailored for a couple or a group of friends and will suit families with teens. Groups of up to 18 people can book exclusive use of all accommodations in the itinerary. Tick off three of East Africa’s top bucket list travel experiences: gorilla trekking, witnessing the Great Migration and Crusoe-chic living on a private tropical island.
Day to Day Itinerary:
- Day 1: Arrival Rwanda.
- Day 2 – 4: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
- Day 4 – 5: Kigali
- Day 5- 8: Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
- Day 8 – 9: Stone town, Zanzibar
- Day 9 – 12: Mnemba Island paradise.
- Day 13- 14: Dar-es Salaam + Departure.
14 Days East Africa’s Gorillas, Big 5 & Beach
Day 1 – 4: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
Close Encounters: A 3-hour road transfer ferries you from arrival in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, to the edge of Volcanoes National Park. Your home for the next three nights is a Conde Nast Top 100 Hotel, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Set in the foothills of the majestic Virungas, the lodge has incredible views of the dormant volcanoes and surrounding countryside. Guest suites are spacious, ranch-chic cottages and the main lodge offers a beautiful communal space – Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is an ideal base for exploring this unique and remote African wilderness.
Two treks; A gorilla trek & golden monkey trek are included in your stay. In the company of qualified rangers, you set off on foot from the park’s nearby offices to trek the lush, tropical mountains to see Rwanda’s rare mountain gorillas. Since these highly endangered creatures do not breed in captivity, encountering a silverback gorilla and his family in the wild is one of the most poignant and thrilling wildlife experiences in the world.
Day 4 – 5: Serena Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda
You overnight at the popular Serena Hotel in Kigali, which features a mix of modern amenities and traditional Rwandan art and culture. The focus is on relaxation, which means lounging beside the pool, indulging in spa treatments or doing some curio shopping at Caplaki Handicrafts Co-operation.
Day 5 – 8: Under Canvas Mobile Camp in the Serengeti, Tanzania
The next morning fly direct from Kigali to the Serengeti where you are met on arrival and transferred to your home for the next four nights: Serengeti under Canvas, a luxurious semi-permanent tented camp that follows the Great Migration. By anticipating the movements of the wildebeest – never a certain science – the camp offers guests one of the few opportunities to be in the midst of the massive herds. Rustic but comfortable, Serengeti under Canvas camps have only nine tents, and feature private butlers, comfortable beds, hot bucket showers and flush toilets. It is an ideal balance between creature comforts and an authentic safari experience.
Activities include morning and afternoon game drives to see the superb resident wildlife and big cat sightings.
Depending on the location (which depends on the time of year), game viewing highlights can include the Grumeti or Mara River crossings or the mass calving of wildebeest. Your safari includes a dawn hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti– one Africa’s most iconic experiences. Depending on the location of the camp when you travel, pre-book a recommended day tour to either Lake Victoria (if in the Grumeti region) or Olduvai Gorge (if in Ndutu).
Day 8 – 9: The Mashariki Palace Hotel in Stone Town, Zanzibar
Your scheduled charter flight makes its way from the Serengeti to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the spice island of Zanzibar. You overnight in the island’s historic capital of Stone Town, at one of the first sultan’s palaces, the Mashariki Palace Hotel. A quiet retreat, the palace has been elegantly refurbished to offer a romantic taste of old Zanzibar with modern comforts. Expect cool Moorish interiors, a jade green courtyard fit for a princess, and a mix of Arabian, Indian and African antiques and decor. The next day, you leave with the tide on a scheduled boat transfer to Mnemba Island.
Day 9 – 12: Mnemba Island Lodge on Mnemba Island, Zanzibar
You arrive at your private tropical retreat of Mnemba Island, just off the north-eastern coast of Zanzibar, for four nights of bliss. This restful hideaway has only 10 beachside cottages, all overlooking the Mnemba atoll. It is a beach lover’s paradise with superb scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and kayaking. Learn to dive at the PADI dive school and explore a range of dive sites, starting with the house reef, which can be reached without a boat. For total rest and relaxation it is hard to beat a massage on the beach…
Unpretentious but with every comfort provided, this private island retreat offers a tranquil finale to your action-packed safari.
Day 13 -14:
Transfer by first class ferry to Dar-es-Salaam, enjoy this vibrant night city life as you pack up and prepare for your departure flight the next day.
Dar-es-Salaam International Airport: Tanzania’s main airport is the gateway to the Indian Ocean coast and Zanzibar
This marks the end of what we hope will be an adventurous trip- Thank you very much!!
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Sun Africa Expeditions Terms & Conditions
Luggage
PLEASE be reminded that the luggage allowance on our inbound schedule flights is strictly 15KGS PER PERSON and that SOFT BAGS are highly recommended, if not essential. In light aircraft the baggage area and weight allowance is limited. Hard Samsonite type suitcases do not fit into the cargo compartment easily, if at all. Due to limited space available for storage in safari vehicles, we strongly recommend use soft duffle bags rather than hard suitcases.
Your contract
A binding contract will come into existence once Sun Africa Expeditions and yourself agree on the itinerary and quote provided for the same. The booking will then be considered confirmed when an invoice is issued. Your contract for the services chosen will be direct with the relevant supplier(s). Your supplier contact will be governed by the laws of the country in which the supplier is located and will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of that country.
Reservations, Payment and Deposits
When Sun Africa Expeditions has accepted your booking, the date of the confirmation invoice activates the terms and conditions of the contract. Confirmation of services is subject to payment of a non-refundable deposit of 15% of the total invoiced amount. The balance is to be paid not later than 30 days prior to commencement of the services. When bookings are made within 30 days prior to the departure date, full payment is required immediately on written confirmation.
All bookings are subject to availability at the time of booking and cannot be guaranteed except for scheduled departures.
Prices
Prices are quoted in US dollars. All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Should prices or costs from suppliers increase due to inflation, currency depreciation and fuel surcharges, then Sun Africa Expeditions will not have any other option than to pass on the same to you. All suppliers reserve the right to increase prices at any time of the year when costs increase outside the control of the supplier. Please note that when the clients’ itinerary overlaps two seasons, the price will be prorated over the two seasons.
Rates include but are not limited to the following services specified in the itinerary. Accommodation with meals, tours, transport, driver/guide, park entrance fees, hotel taxes and service charges.
Rates exclude (Unless otherwise specified), Medical Air Rescue services, Porter-age, domestic Air Charters, Visa fees, beverages, laundry, telephone calls, scheduled flights, gratuities and all expenses of personal nature.
NB: Flying doctor services are Optional at USD 25 per pax (Subject to change and vendor terms & conditions).
Child rate: – is only applicable to one or two children under 12 years sharing a room with 2 adults. In the case of 02 children sharing a room with parents, the two children will share a bed, as most hotels/lodges cannot accommodate a fourth bed. 01 child sharing a room with 01 adult will be charged full adult rate.
Single Room Policy
Single rooms are available at supplementary cost but the suppliers do not guarantee singles. Single rooms are scarce and cannot be guaranteed even if paid for at twin sole use rate. Where this occurs an appropriate refund will be made by the supplier to the client. Suppliers will only allow a maximum of 3 single rooms per group at a single room rate except for high end luxury camps where single rooms are limited to only 02 singles.
Cancellation Policy
Should you wish to cancel your confirmed booking, you must advise the company in writing.
Reservations that are cancelled, reduced in length of stay or reduced in numbers (hereinafter collectively called a CANCELLATION) are subject to Cancellation and No Show fees if cancelled within 30 days of the arrival date:
55 days to 41 days prior to arrival: 25%
40 days to 22 days prior to arrival: 35%
21 days to 15 days prior to arrival: 50%
14 days to 07 days prior to arrival: 65%
06 days to 03 days prior to arrival: 80%
Within 48 hours and after commencement of holiday: 100%. Once the holiday has commenced no refund will be made. The figures expressed are percentage of the total tour price.
Cancellation: Although it rarely happens, and Sun Africa Expeditions will do their utmost to avoid doing so. Sun Africa Expeditions must reserve the right to cancel tours and other arrangements. Where your holiday is cancelled (other than due to your default in payment) due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control e.g. Natural disaster or over booking, Sun Africa Expeditions will offer you the choice of purchasing an alternative holiday.
Force Majeure
The expression “force majeure” means any event which the supplier(s) in question could not have foreseen or avoided even with all due care. Such events may include war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, government action and all similar circumstances outside the suppliers’ control. In these circumstances the suppliers shall not be liable to pay any compensation or otherwise be responsible for any expenses or losses you incur where supplier is forced as a result to cancel, delay, curtail or change your holiday arrangements in any way or where the performance or prompt performance of the supplier’s contractual obligations is prevented or affected. Complaints
In the unlikely event that a tour member has a dispute whilst on safari this must immediately be brought to the attention (and put on record) of the local representative, Hotel, Lodge or Camp management. It is likely that the tour member’s complaint will be satisfactorily resolved there and then. If, however, this is not the case and the tour member wishes to pursue the matter on their return from safari, it is essential the complaint be communicated in writing to Sun Africa Expeditions within 21 days of the end of tour quoting tour reference, destination and departure date.
Responsibility of Sun Africa Expeditions
Sun Africa Expeditions acts only as the Agent for the suppliers and shall not in any event be liable for any negligence, breach of contract or acts of omission on the part of suppliers, their employees or any other Agent, it shall be the responsibility of all customers including (without limitations) Tour members, Tour Operators and Travel Agents, to read and familiarize themselves with the terms and conditions of suppliers. Sun Africa Expeditions liability for its own negligence or breach of contract shall be limited to the Tour price.
Transportation
Safari Minibuses, Cars, Land Cruisers and coaches will be provided according to the route and number of participants. Sun Africa Expeditions reserves the right to employ services of sub-contractors. Multi-lingual driver guides are provided on request. For flying packages, clients will share vehicles with other guests booked at the hotel. For exclusive use, please check with Sun Africa Expeditions for supplements, which will be subject to availability.
Insurance
The hazards of travelling in Africa may inevitably rise to some risks and dangers. It is therefore a condition of booking that all tour members must have sufficient and appropriate travel insurance for the duration of their tour. Such insurance (which is not supplied by Sun Africa Expeditions) should fully cover all personal requirements including death, personal injury, medical expenses, and repatriation in the event of accident or illness, cancellation or curtailment of the tour members’ personal property.
Special Requests
Any special requests (e.g. for single rooms or particular diet) must be notified in writing when the booking is made. Whilst the supplier will endeavour to meet such requests they cannot be guaranteed and any failure to comply will not be a breach of contract.
Sun Africa Expeditions services include flight re-confirmation and airport assistance within Africa if clients are provided all services by Sun Africa Expeditions. In cases whereby Sun Africa Expeditions is providing part of the services and the clients have other arrangements of their own, then Sun Africa Expeditions will only reconfirm where forwarding address or contacts are provided.
Itineraries
Demand for safaris can be high and may lead to shortage of lodge/hotel accommodation. All bookings will be confirmed, but no occasions changes may be necessary. Hotels/Lodges/camps, here specifically named are given as an indication of the category and rooms may be reserved at similar lodges/ hotels/camps. We undertake to advise you of any changes known to us prior to departure, but the possibility of change without notice, must be acceptable when booking. Where ever possible we book rooms with private baths showers throughout on the basis of two persons sharing a double room. Single rooms are available at supplementary cost but neither single rooms nor rooms with private bath/shower can be guaranteed.
Safari minibuses cars, four wheel drive vehicles or coaches will be provided according to the route and number of participants. The right is reserved to employ the services of subcontractors. Multi-lingual chauffer/guides are provided. Occasional mechanical problems, changes of lodge or adverse road conditions may in turn lead to a change of routing or game viewing without prior notice being given. We reserve the right to offer substitutes of equal value or to cancel the operation of any tour. In practice, very few itineraries are affected but a little flexibility on your part will ensure the tour is unique and rewarding.
Website and Brochure Description
Descriptions of accommodation facilities and services in our brochures are shown in good faith, it is however possible that certain facilities or services may be unavailable or limited due to maintenance , adverse weather, local conditions, seasonal restrictions etc.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this website/e-brochure at the time of printing, regrettably errors do occasionally occur. You must therefore check all details of your holiday booking with your travel agent or supplier at the time of presentation.
The company cannot therefore accept responsibility for any information not contained in this brochure, being confirmed verbally by its staff or representatives unless subsequently reconfirmed in writing by the company.