8-Day Tanzania Safari & Rwanda Gorillas
The best of both: five days on Tanzania's northern circuit, then a flight to Rwanda to trek to the mountain gorillas of the Virunga volcanoes.
About this safari
The best of both: five days on Tanzania's northern circuit, then a flight to Rwanda to trek to the mountain gorillas of the Virunga volcanoes.
This 8 days private safari starts in Arusha and takes you to Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, Flight from Kilimanjaro to Kigali, Gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, Private guides in both countries. Your own vehicle and guide set the pace, and every stay and transfer is confirmed around your dates.
Safari snapshot
A quick look at the route, day by day.
| Day | Place | Highlights | Hotel options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Arusha | Arrival · guide briefing · rest in Arusha | Arusha hotel |
| Day 2 | Tarangire National Park | Elephant herds · baobabs · Tarangire River game drive | Lodge near Tarangire |
| Day 3 | Into the Serengeti | Full-day game drives · lions and leopards · migration in season | Tented camp in the central Serengeti |
| Day 4 | A full day in the Serengeti | Full-day game drives · lions and leopards · migration in season | Tented camp in the central Serengeti |
| Day 5 | Ngorongoro Crater | Crater floor game drive · black rhino · Lerai forest | Lodge in Karatu |
| Day 6 | Fly to Kigali and drive to the Volcanoes | Game drives with your private guide | Lodge near Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park |
| Day 7 | Gorilla trekking | Game drives with your private guide | Lodge near Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park |
| Day 8 | Back to Kigali and departure | Game drives with your private guide | Departure |
Ways to customise this trip
- Add a night in the bush, a cultural visit or a balloon flight
- Upgrade your stays or finish with beach time in Zanzibar
Route
- Day 1Arusha
- Day 2Tarangire
- Day 3Serengeti
- Day 4Serengeti
- Day 5Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 6Volcanoes National Park
- Day 7Volcanoes National Park
- Day 8Kigali
Day by day
Here is how the days run. We can adjust the route around your dates and the pace you want.
1Day 1Arrive in ArushaArusha hotel / Dinner
Airport welcome at Kilimanjaro and transfer to your Arusha hotel to rest and meet your guide. Arusha sits on the green slopes of Mount Meru and is the starting point for northern Tanzania safaris. The pace is gentle: time to rest after your flight, meet your guide for a briefing on the route ahead, and settle in at your hotel. The evening is spent at Arusha hotel: a hot shower, sundowners as the light fades, and dinner while you compare the day's sightings. Dinner is included today.
- Main stop
- Arusha
- Accommodation
- Arusha hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
2Day 2Tarangire National ParkLodge near Tarangire / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A full game drive among Tarangire's elephants and baobabs, with lunch in the park. The park's ancient baobabs, some many centuries old, make Tarangire one of the most photogenic places in Tanzania. Game drives follow the river valley and the edges of the Silale swamp, where elephants, buffalo and waterbuck gather and lions and leopards hunt. It is quieter than the Serengeti, so sightings often feel private. A packed lunch is eaten out in the park, often within sight of grazing herds. You return to your lodge near Tarangire as the sun drops, with time to rest before dinner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Tarangire
- Accommodation
- Lodge near Tarangire
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3Day 3Into the SerengetiTented camp in the central Serengeti / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Over the Ngorongoro highlands and onto the Serengeti plains, game driving to camp. The Serengeti covers almost 15,000 km² of grassland, woodland and kopjes. Over the day your guide follows the wildlife rather than a fixed route — where the migration herds are depends on the month, but lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and giraffe live here all year. An optional sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti can be booked for this morning (extra cost). Lunch is a picnic in the park, usually at a viewpoint or under a big tree, so no time is lost driving back to camp. In the late afternoon you check in at your tented camp in the central Serengeti, with time to freshen up before dinner and a briefing from your guide about tomorrow. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Serengeti
- Accommodation
- Tented camp in the central Serengeti
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4Day 4A full day in the SerengetiTented camp in the central Serengeti / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Big cats, elephants and, in season, the migration herds — a whole day to explore. Game drives in the Serengeti have an easy rhythm: out at first light when predators are most active, back to the vehicle's shade for a picnic, and a long afternoon drive as the light turns golden. Your guide is in radio contact with other guides and knows where the herds have moved. Your guide picks a shady spot for a picnic lunch in the field, keeping the whole middle of the day for wildlife. The evening is spent at your tented camp in the central Serengeti: a hot shower, sundowners as the light fades, and dinner while you compare the day's sightings. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Serengeti
- Accommodation
- Tented camp in the central Serengeti
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5Day 5Ngorongoro CraterLodge in Karatu / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro rim and descend onto the crater floor for the afternoon, then on to Karatu for the night. You descend 600 metres down the crater wall to the floor of Ngorongoro, a 260 km² caldera that holds one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Over the morning you look for lions, spotted hyenas, buffalo, zebra, elephant bulls and the rare black rhino, with flamingos on Lake Magadi and hippos at the Ngoitoktok spring. You return to your lodge in Karatu as the sun drops, with time to rest before dinner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Accommodation
- Lodge in Karatu
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6Day 6Fly to Kigali and drive to the VolcanoesLodge near Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park / Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for the flight to Kigali. Your Rwandan guide meets you and drives you about two and a half hours to the foot of the Virunga volcanoes. Your guide or driver meets you and handles the transfer to your hotel in Arusha, where the rest of the day is yours to recover from the journey, change money or walk to a local café. In the late afternoon you check in at your lodge near Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park, with time to freshen up before dinner and a briefing from your guide about tomorrow. Breakfast and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Volcanoes National Park
- Accommodation
- Lodge near Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
7Day 7Gorilla trekkingLodge near Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Early briefing at Kinigi, then the trek through bamboo forest to your assigned gorilla family and an hour in their company. The afternoon is free to rest. The evening is spent at your lodge near Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park: a hot shower, sundowners as the light fades, and dinner while you compare the day's sightings. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Volcanoes National Park
- Accommodation
- Lodge near Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8Day 8Back to Kigali and departureBreakfast
Drive back to Kigali for your flight home, with time for the Genocide Memorial if your flight allows. In the afternoon your guide drives you back for your drop-off — your hotel, the airport for your onward flight, or a connection to Zanzibar. We can add an extra night or a beach stay if you would like more time.
- Main stop
- Kigali
- Meals
- Breakfast
Accommodation
Where you stay on this trip. We can move the comfort level up or down when we plan your dates.
Day 1Arusha hotel
Day 2Lodge near Tarangire
Days 3, 4Tented camp in the central Serengeti
Day 5Lodge in Karatu
Days 6, 7Lodge near Kinigi, Volcanoes National ParkTour rates
Your price depends on your dates, group size and the stays you choose. We confirm it in writing once we have checked availability.
Prices are per person and assume shared rooms. Season, park fees, group size, flights and lodge availability all affect the final quote.
Get my exact quoteWhat’s included
Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Park entrance and conservation fees for the itinerary
- Accommodation as listed, or similar
- Meals as listed and bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Airport or hotel transfers at the start and end
- Gorilla trekking permit for Volcanoes National Park
- Rwanda driver-guide and transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides and lodge staff
- Drinks at lodges and personal expenses
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Flight Kilimanjaro – Kigali (we book it for you)
- Rwanda visa
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Read guideFrequently asked questions
Can this 8 days itinerary be changed?
Yes. We can review your dates, daily pace, room preferences and interests, then build a specific proposal. Changes to flights, activities or park nights may affect cost and availability.
Which accommodation will I stay in?
Your proposal will name the properties and room categories for each night. Any stays shown here are planning options and remain subject to availability; alternative properties are agreed before confirmation.
What wildlife will we see?
On this route, look out for — Serengeti: wildebeest, lion, leopard; Ngorongoro Crater: black rhino, lion, spotted hyena; Tarangire: elephant, lion, yellow-collared lovebird. Sightings depend on the season and the animals themselves, so particular species, migration movements and river crossings can't be guaranteed.
Can I change the route and accommodation?
Yes. The published routes are starting points. Tell us your dates, interests and preferred comfort level so we can adjust nights, transfers and activities before quoting.
What determines the final price?
The travel season, number of travellers sharing a vehicle, park fees, room arrangements, lodge availability and domestic flights all affect cost. Your written proposal will identify inclusions and optional extras.
Can the safari finish in Zanzibar?
A mainland safari can connect with Zanzibar by a separately arranged domestic flight. Leave enough time for the transfer and confirm baggage allowances before booking flights.
When is the best time to do this safari?
For the places on this route — Serengeti: Year-round; calving Jan–Mar, river crossings Jul–Oct. Ngorongoro Crater: Year-round; driest June to October. Tarangire: June to October for the elephant herds. Tell us your month and we will set the route and camps to match.
How many days do I need?
Two or three days suit Tarangire and Ngorongoro. Four to six days let you add the Serengeti without rushing, and seven or more give time for extra parks, a cultural visit or the coast. Fewer long drives usually means a better trip.
Is the safari private?
Our tailor-made safaris are private: your own vehicle and guide, and a daily pace set around your group. Shared departures can sometimes be arranged for solo travellers — ask us and we’ll explain the options.
What vehicle will we travel in?
Game drives are in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for viewing and photography. Your proposal confirms the vehicle and seating for your group size.
Is a safari suitable for children?
Yes, with the right planning. We keep drives shorter, choose family-friendly rooms and build in rest time. Some camps and activities have minimum ages, so please share each child’s age when you enquire.
Can you cater for dietary needs?
Most lodges and camps can prepare vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other meals with notice. Tell us about allergies or requirements when you enquire and we’ll pass them to every property on your route.
Do I need vaccinations or malaria tablets?
Requirements depend on your nationality and recent travel, and a yellow fever certificate may be needed if you arrive from certain countries. Malaria precautions are generally advised. Please check with a travel health clinic before you go.
What should I budget for tips?
Tipping is not compulsory but is customary for guides and lodge staff. We include current guidance with your proposal so you can plan for it in advance.
Will there be Wi-Fi and charging?
Many lodges and camps offer charging points and some Wi-Fi, but the connection can be slow or limited to main areas in remote parks. A spare power bank is useful on game drives.
How far in advance should I book?
For July to October and the holiday season, three to nine months ahead gives the best choice of camps. Shorter notice is often possible — send us your dates and we’ll check availability.
Photography credits
Photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and converted to WebP. Display crops adapt to the screen.
- A female mountain gorilla resting among the leaves — Charles J. Sharp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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A few details.
A good beginning.
Tell us who is coming and what you would love to find here. We’ll send back a route you can read, question and make your own.
- Planned around your dates and interests
- Midrange or luxury, at your pace
- A personal conversation with our local team