13 Days Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania Wildlife Safari

East Africa is home to one of the thrilling vacations in Africa, this phenomenal region is blessed with Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, mountains, Lakes, Rivers, and abundant wildlife, our 12 Days safari will take you to Burundi for an adventure and Rwanda for gorilla trekking and Tanzania for wildlife viewing in some of Africa’s finest reserves.

Safari highlights

Boat cruise and waterfall hike in Burundi
Chimpanzee and gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Wildlife viewing in Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro crater

Detailed safari itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Bujumbura international airport

On arrival at Bujumbura international airport, you will be received by a representative from Wilderness Explorers Africa and transferred to your hotel in the city for relaxation and overnight.

Day 2: Boat cruise on Rusizi River

After morning breakfast you will drive to Rusizi national park where you will do a boat cruise where you expect to encounter wildlife like hippopotamus, antelopes, and monkeys along with numerous species of beautiful birds and later you will also visit Lake Tanganyika for lunch on the beach and later return to the lodge for overnight

Day 3: Primate trekking in Kibira national park and transfer Nyungwe forest national park

After early morning breakfast, you will depart Bujumbura for Kibira national park for your ultimate primate walk, the park is a habitat to 98 mammal species, a dozen primates (numerous families of chimpanzees, baboons, red-tailed monkeys, black colobus, and some 200 species of birdlife and after you will be transferred to the border of Rwanda where you will cross over and meet our guide from Rwanda and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park for an overnight.

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe forest

With a lot of excitement, you will start the day early with a packed breakfast and drive to the Gisekura park office to meet the rangers, After meeting the rangers you will then drive to Cyamudongo where you will trek the chimpanzees on foot in the dense forest cover, after locating the chimpanzees you will spend 1 hour with them and later return to the lodge for relaxation.

Day 5: Drive from Nyungwe forest to Volcanoes national park

After morning breakfast you will depart Nyungwe forest for volcanoes national park, this is Rwanda’s most popular safari destination home to the endangered Mountain gorillas, upon arrival, you will check-in for relaxation, and later in the afternoon, you will drive to the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo for canoeing experience and later return to the lodge for overnight.

Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience in volcanoes national park

After morning breakfast full dressed in your trekking gear, you will transfer to Park headquarters in Kinigi where you will have a full gorilla briefing by the park guides in your respective gorilla family group and after you will drive to the park boundary to start your trek on foot, depending on the location of the gorilla family you will spend 1 hour with the mountain gorillas in the rainforest and later return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight, gorilla trekking experience can take anything from 2 hours to 8 hours.

Day 7: Drive to Kigali for connecting flight to Kilimanjaro

After morning breakfast depending on your flight schedule you will be driven to Kigali for your connecting flight to Kilimanjaro on arrival you will be transferred to Arusha for overnight.

Day 8: Drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara national park

After your first breakfast, you will start your drive to one of the most spectacular safari parks located at the edge of the rift valley, upon arrival you will check in to your lodge for relaxation and later in the evening you will head to the park for a game drive in search of wildlife, birds and if you’re lucky you may spot the famous tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara and later you will return to the lodge for overnight.

Day 9: Drive from Lake Manyara to Serengeti national park

After breakfast, enjoy a delightful game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Keep your eyes open for the fascinating wildlife that populates this lake region and marvel at its staggering natural beauty before heading back to the camp for lunch. After Lunch depart Lake Manyara as your journey continues across the stunning hilly countryside of the highlands. Admire the wheat and coffee plantations as you head towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From here lie the vast plains of the Serengeti, where you’ll hopefully start spotting game well before you get into the park.

Day 10: Full day game drives in Serengeti national park

The Serengeti is famed for being home to millions of animals and the annual Great Migration of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles. And yet, the dramatic landscapes in which this wildlife prowls are themselves worthy of admiration. Riverine forests and woodlands, rocky outcrops called kopjes, and an imposing volcano is just some of the backdrops in which the animals can be spotted during the morning and afternoon game drives. With some luck, here you will see the Big Five and, with greater luck, the harder-to-spot species grouped as the Little Five: the antlion, the rhino beetle, the elephant shrew, the buffalo weaver, and the leopard tortoise. Birds and reptiles are also plentiful in the Serengeti National Park. An optional balloon safari is also available, departing the lodge before sunrise, with hour-long flights at different levels to give you both an overview of Serengeti National Park and a close look at the wildlife.

Day 11: Drive from Serengeti national park to Ngorongoro conservation area

After early morning breakfast, you will depart for the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater while still viewing the game as you drive across the vast Serengeti plains. Stop for a picnic lunch along the way and continue the journey to your lodge, set at the base of the conservation area in or near the village of Karatu.

Day 12: Full day game drives in Ngorongoro conservation area

A highlight awaits you this morning as you depart to explore what is commonly referred to as the ‘world’s largest wildlife zoo.’ After breakfast, descend with a picnic lunch through the early morning mists 600 meters into the crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Due to its size and diversity, the crater floor is comprised of several distinct areas, ranging from forest, swamps, lakes, and springs, to open grassland and some beautiful sand dunes. It’s an unforgettable wildlife experience. A picnic lunch is served overlooking a small lake populated with hippos. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon.

Day 13: Depart Ngorongoro Crater for Arusha

After lazily morning breakfast you will depart for Arusha, upon arrival in Arusha you will be transferred to your day room for lunch and relaxation depending on your flight time you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport, catch your international departure flight.

Trip includes

Activities in Burundi
Gorilla and chimpanzee permits
wildlife viewing in Tanzania
Park entrance fees
Accommodation
All the transportation
Guide
Fuel
Government Taxes

Trip excludes

International flights
Tourist Visa for Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania
Travel insurance
Tips for guides and hotels
Personal expenses like Alcoholic drinks

When to book this safari itinerary

We recommend 1 year in advance.

Best time to visit East Africa for gorillas and wildlife safari

The dry season from June to October is regarded as the best time to visit East Africa, here the forest trails are dry and the wildebeest migration is taking place in Serengeti national park.