6 day Rwanda gorilla trekking from Serengeti safari tour and Ngorongoro

Tour Company: Dav safaris
Website: www.davsafaris.com
Email: info@davsafaris.com
Tel: +256701412430 / +25675779578

This 6-day trip combines a Serengeti safari tour in Tanzania with Rwanda gorilla trekking in the Virunga mountains. You start in Ngorongoro Crater for Big Five tracking, then fly to Rwanda to trek mountain gorillas. The itinerary covers savannah wildlife and forest primates in one efficient loop from Arusha to Kigali

Day 1: Pick up from Arusha and transfer to Ngorongoro for first game drive
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Arusha at 7 AM. The drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area takes about 3.5 hours on a paved road. You stop at the crater rim viewpoint for photos before descending onto the crater floor. The first game drive lasts 4 to 5 hours. You see zebras, wildebeest, elephants, and maybe lions. This Serengeti safari tour section starts here, even though you are in Ngorongoro. The crater is a collapsed volcano with flat ground, so driving is easy. Your Rwanda gorilla trekking part comes later, so use this day to spot open-country animals. Pack a lunch box because no restaurants exist on the crater floor. After the drive, you drive to a lodge on the crater rim for dinner and sleep. The altitude is 2,200 meters, so dress warmly for the night.

Day 2: Focus on big five tracking and transfer to Serengeti
Wake up early and descend into Ngorongoro Crater again by 6:30 AM. This morning drive focuses on finding the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos. Black rhinos are easier to spot here than anywhere else in East Africa. You drive near the Gorigor swamp area where rhinos feed. After a 4-hour drive, you exit the crater and drive west toward the Serengeti. The transfer takes 3 hours including a stop at Olduvai Gorge museum. Your Serengeti safari tour continues as you enter the park gates around noon. You start seeing large herds of wildebeest and zebras on the short grass plains. This Rwanda gorilla trekking trip will later move to forest terrain, so enjoy the open skies now. Check into your camp inside the Serengeti. Rest before dinner.

Day 3: Full day game drives in Serengeti
Your Serengeti safari tour gives you a full day on the plains. Start at 6:30 AM with a sunrise drive when predators are most active. The Seronera Valley has many lions and leopards resting in acacia trees. You also see cheetahs on the eastern plains. Take a break at a picnic site for lunch. In the afternoon, drive toward the Hippo Pool to see large pods of hippos packed in the water. If your visit falls between July and October, ask your guide to check for river crossings in the northern Serengeti. Your Rwanda gorilla trekking part starts tomorrow, so pack your bags tonight. Return to camp before sunset. You can book a hot air balloon ride for this morning, but it costs extra. Wear neutral-colored clothes to avoid scaring animals. Carry a dust mask because dry season roads get very dusty.

Day 4: Fly to Rwanda and transfer to volcanoes
After breakfast, your Serengeti safari tour ends with a drive to a local airstrip. You take a small plane to Kilimanjaro Airport (1 hour), then a connecting flight to Kigali (another hour). In Kigali, a new guide meets you. You drive 2.5 hours northwest to Volcanoes National Park. The road passes through tea farms and green hills. Check into your lodge near the park headquarters. This Rwanda gorilla trekking portion of your trip starts here. Rest in the afternoon and prepare your gear for tomorrow. You need waterproof boots, gardening gloves, a rain jacket, and a daypack with water and snacks. Your guide confirms the trek briefing time (usually 6:30 AM). Eat a solid dinner because the trek burns many calories. Do not drink alcohol tonight because altitude affects sleep.

Day 5: Gorilla trekking and cultural tour
Wake up at 5 AM and go to park headquarters by 6:30 AM. Rangers assign you to a gorilla family based on your fitness. The Rwanda gorilla trekking walk takes 1 to 5 hours through bamboo forest and muddy trails. You can hire a porter at the trailhead for $20 to carry your bag. Once you find the gorillas, you get one hour with them. Stay 7 meters away, do not use flash, and whisper only. Watch the silverback eat and mothers groom babies. After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, go to Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village, where former poachers show you traditional dances, banana beer brewing, and fire making. This Rwanda gorilla trekking day ends with a hot shower and dinner. Tip your porters and guides directly in cash. Bring small bills (USD or Rwandan francs).

Day 6: Kigali city tour and departure
Drive back to Kigali after breakfast (2.5 hours). You take a city tour before your flight. First stop is the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which teaches you about the 1994 events. Then visit Inema Arts Center to see local paintings and crafts. Your Rwanda gorilla trekking and Serengeti safari tour trip ends at Kigali Airport. Your guide helps you check in. Book your departure flight for late afternoon or evening to allow enough time for the tour. Pack your souvenirs in checked luggage because carry-on limits are strict. The airport has small shops for last-minute gifts like coffee or tea. Keep your passport and permit receipts handy. Say goodbye to your guide and leave with photos and memories of both savannah and forest animals