12-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Serengeti Safari & Zanzibar Beach

Have a full trip in three East African countries in just 12 days with this 12-Day Rwanda Tanzania Safari.

Explore wildlife, primates, and beach relaxation in some of the world’s most famous places: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Serengeti National Park, and the Zanzibar archipelago in Tanzania.

12-Day Rwanda Tanzania Safari Highlights

• Visit Akagera National Park for game drives and a boat cruise
• See lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and many other animals
• Travel to Volcanoes National Park and visit the Musanze Caves
• Trek mountain gorillas and spend one hour with them
• Drive to Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee tracking
• Walk on the Nyungwe forest canopy bridge
• Fly to Serengeti National Park for full-day wildlife viewing
• See many animals including lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, and zebras
• Visit Olduvai Gorge for early human history
• Meet the Maasai community and learn about their culture
• Fly to Zanzibar for beach relaxation
• Tour Stone Town and visit Prison Island with giant tortoises
• Start the trip in Rwanda and end in Tanzania

Brief 12-Day Rwanda Tanzania Safari Itinerary

• Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park after Kigali city tour
• Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise on Lake Ihema
• Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and visit Musanze Caves
• Day 4: Gorilla trekking
• Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
• Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
• Day 7: Fly to Serengeti National Park
• Day 8: Full day game drive
• Day 9: Olduvai Gorge, Maasai cultural villages, overnight in Ngorongoro Crater
• Day 10: Flight transfer to Zanzibar
• Day 11: Stone Town tour
• Day 12: Departure

Detailed 12-Day Rwanda Tanzania Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park after Kigali city tour

Wake up early for breakfast and get ready for pickup by your professional driver, who will explain the plan for your 12-day safari. Enjoy a short city tour in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Visit the Presidential Palace and the National Museum of Rwanda to learn about the country’s history and the 1994 genocide that led to the death of over 800,000 people.

After lunch, drive to Akagera National Park where you will spend the evening resting before dinner.

Day 2: Game drive & boat cruise on Lake Ihema

Have breakfast on time and go for a morning game drive in the park. You will see many animals such as lions, zebras, elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, giraffes, and more in their natural home.

After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Ihema to see more animals and plants that live in the park. Return to your hotel for rest.

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park & visit Musanze Caves

After a warm cup of tea, travel to Volcanoes National Park for your next adventure in Rwanda. Arrive in time for lunch, then visit the Musanze Caves.

Hiking to these historic caves is worth it as you will learn why they were used as crowning places for the ancient kings of the Banyarwanda people. After the visit, return to the hotel to rest.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in PNV

Prepare for one of the main highlights of the trip: gorilla trekking. Volcanoes National Park has more than 10 habituated gorilla families ready to be visited.

After breakfast, go to the park headquarters for a briefing on rules to follow while trekking mountain gorillas. The trek can take 2 to 6 hours as you search for your assigned gorilla family.

When you find them, spend one hour watching the gorillas feed, play, and rest in their nests.

Take pictures and videos as they go about their normal life. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park

After breakfast, drive south from Volcanoes National Park and enjoy Rwanda’s beautiful landscape.

Stop at Lake Kivu for a boat ride with great views of the land of a thousand hills. Have lunch there before continuing to Nyungwe National Park, where you will spend the night.

Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk

Experience another primate adventure by tracking chimpanzees, our close relatives. After a short briefing, find a habituated chimpanzee troop and spend one hour watching their daily life, feeding, grooming, wrestling, and more.

Return to the lodge for lunch, then enjoy a canopy walk on a 70-meter high and 160-meter long suspension bridge above Nyungwe Forest.

This walk offers views of butterflies, primates, trees, and the forest below. Relax at the lodge before dinner.

Day 7: Fly to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, return to Kigali for a regional flight to Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania. The park is famous for the large annual migration of zebras and wildebeests.

Arrive in time for lunch and relax at your lodge.

Day 8: Full day game drive

Wake early for a game drive in Serengeti National Park. See animals such as impalas, giraffes, zebras, leopards, lions, buffaloes, cheetahs, and more.

You will also see many bird species. After the game drive, return to the lodge and rest until evening.

Day 9: Olduvai Gorge, Maasai cultural villages, overnight in Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, visit Olduvai Gorge, where the oldest remains of humans were found by archaeologist Dr. Louis Leakey.

Then visit Maasai villages near Karatu to learn about their traditions, rituals, and beliefs. Spend the night in Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 10: Flight transfer to Zanzibar

Drive from Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha Airport for a regional flight to Zanzibar, on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Arrive in time for lunch and relax at your accommodation.

Day 11: Stone Town tour

After breakfast, tour the historic Stone Town. Visit the old dispensary and fort and explore the city’s beautiful architecture and history.

After lunch, visit Prison Island to swim in the white sand and clear ocean water, and see the giant tortoises. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Departure

After 12 full days exploring these amazing East African destinations, your trip ends. After breakfast, drive to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

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