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.
Days 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.
Days 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.
Days 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).
Days 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.
Days 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.
Days 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!!