16-days highlights of Africa
Tour overview
This 16-days highlights of Africa starts in Kigali and ends in Kasane. The trip will take you to Volcanoes National Park and while there, you will have fun meeting the mountain gorillas that share 99% DNA with humans. During the gorilla trek, you will have a great time meeting the gentle giants. While on this tour, you will go golden monkey trekking. This trip will also offer you an opportunity to explore Kigali city with a city tour which will include visiting the genocide memorial and the Belgium museum. On the sixth day of the adventure, you will proceed to Serengeti national park where you will have a great time meeting the wild beasts and wildlife. This adventure will continue to Zanzibar where you will take part in water activities and also enjoy the beach life.
The trip will continue to Victoria Falls, which is the world’s greatest waterfall, and is one of the Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. While at Victoria falls, you will go for a sunset dinner cruise along river Zambezi. The cruise will go down the River Zambezi so you will likely see hippos, crocodiles and birdlife while having cocktails. You can go for the Victoria Falls helicopter flight which is the best way to view the Victoria Falls from the sky.
Finally, the trip will take you to Chobe National Park and while there, you will take a 2-3 hour scenic boat trip on the Chobe River. One of the best ways to view animals is from a riverboat on the Chobe. You will also go for a game drive which will offer an opportunity to spot the big cats and wild canines.
Detailed itinerary of 16-days highlights of Africa
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport.
Upon arrival, you will be met and greeted by your English-speaking driver guide. He will briefly take you through the trip plan and then transfer you to the hotel in Kigali for relaxation and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Governor’s Residence (Luxury) / Hotel Des Mille Collines (Midrange)
Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Kigali City Tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you will visit the firehouse, which is the area where the plane that was carrying president Habyarima was brought down, that late sparked the famous 1994 Rwanda genocide. You will also visit the Gisozi genocide museum where you will learn more about what transpired during the April 1994 genocide that claimed 1000s of lives. After the city tour, you will checkout from the lodge and transfer to volcanoes national park where you will check in at the lodge upon arrival.
Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and Cultural tour
In the morning, you will an early enjoy breakfast at the lodge, and pack for a day in the park: water, jacket, camera, and a packed lunch. you will start at the park headquarters at 7:00 am to check in and learn about the park and the different gorilla families. After a briefing together with your trekking guide, it is a brief drive to the forest trail to begin the trek. While hiking to the gorillas you will enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the rainforest. After enjoying a majestic one-hour stay with the gorillas, you hike back out of the park for lunch. After lunch, you will be driven to of Ibwiwachu community the gorilla guidance community. This afternoon you will visit the Ibwiwachu community where you will be introduced to traditional Rwanda through traditional; dances, poems, dressing codes among others.
Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking and boat ride along the twin lakes
Wake up for an early breakfast and transfer to the park head office in Kinigi by 7.00am. Join up with the other Golden Monkey trekkers, meet the ranger guide for a few minutes of talk about the activity and the park, and by 8.00am you’ll transfer to the trail head just outside the park. Enjoy great views of the mountain scenery as you start your trek into the park to find the golden monkeys. The golden monkeys live near the edge of the park in the bamboo forests where the ground is relatively flat and easy to trek.
Find the monkeys and follow them as they feed, notice how they skilfully pick the young bamboo leaves from the tip of the bamboo tree. They may also move out of the park into the potato fields and how they love the potatoes! Afterwards, head back to your Lodge for lunch and in the afternoon head to the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo. Its deep blue waters ringed by steep hills and tall waterfalls with the outlines of the nearby Virunga Volcanoes provide a spectacular backdrop overnight.
Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 5 Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kilimanjaro
After breakfast, you will checkout from the lodge and transfer to the airport for your flight to Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro, our guide will transfer you to the hotel in Arusha for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Mount Meru hotel (Luxury)/ Tulia boutique hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Bed & breakfast
Day 6: Fly to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, you will be driven to the airport for your flight to the flight to Serengeti national park. Tanzania’s oldest and most frequently visited national park and also a world heritage site which was recently branded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Serengeti National Park is celebrated for the yearly migration of the herds and ever-growing wildlife population. We will enjoy a picnic lunch on one of the kopjes (rock outcroppings). Our game drive will set off further into the park. After the game drive, we will proceed to the lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge (Luxury) / Serengeti Heritage (Mid-range)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 7: Full day game drive
After an early breakfast, with the help of your guide you will depart for a full day game drive to explore the majestic Serengeti.
The day will start in the centre of the majestic Serengeti. Since we have a full day game drive, you will probably see hundreds of different animals that are harbored by the the Serengeti’s endless plains. This day will probably offer you sightings of the African mammals that make the park famous – lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs and water buffalo, all within a few feet of the jeep. Visitors will also have the chance to view some of the park’s lesser known, but equally majestic animals including, elands, hyenas, gazelles, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos and antelope.
Depending on the time of year, visitors will also have the chance to view thousands of zebras and wildebeest on their Great Migration. The hundreds of bird species, both endemic and migrating from the Eurasian region, are a special bonus for bird-watchers. Guests will enjoy a fresh and delicious dinner at another spot well known for animal sightings.
After the game drives, you will be driven back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge (Luxury) / Serengeti Heritage (Mid-range)
Meal plan: Full board
Day : 8: Fly to Zanzibar
After breakfast, you will checkout from the lodge and transfer to the airport for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel by our guide.
Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Zanzibar Bay resort (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 9: Spice farm and Jozani forest trip
Today you go on an excursion to the spice and fruit plantations close to Stone town for the famous Spice Tour. We have developed a special Spice Tour with in depth information not only about spices, but also organically grown herbs and a detailed description about their traditional uses in medicine, cosmetics and cooking. After the tour we invite you for an opulent lunch at our guides’ home, where you can taste the spices and fruits. After experiencing all about spice tour you will be back at hotel for your hot lunch.
on the way you pass Jozani Forest, the last habitat of the rare endemic Red Colobus Monkey. With a local guide, you stroll through Jozani Chwaka National Park and look at the rare monkeys. If you wish, you can even wander down the boardwalk to the fascinating Mangrove Ecosystem.
Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Zanzibar Bay resort (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 10: Full day at leisure.
On this day, you will take part in the hotel in house games and activities such as relaxing at the beach, swimming, gym and massage.
Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Zanzibar Bay resort (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 11: Fly to Victoria falls.
After breakfast, you will checkout from the lodge and drive to the airport for your flight to Victoria falls. Upon arrival at the airport, the driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel for relaxation, overnight stay and dinner.
Accommodation: Victoria Falls Hotel (Luxury)/ N I hotel & campsite Victoria falls
(Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 12: Walk to the falls and sunset cruise on river Zambezi
After breakfast, you will head out to explore the Victoria Falls on a 2-hour walking tour. While on this tour, you will discover one of the world’s most magnificent waterfalls. Victoria falls is listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. After the walk to the top of the falls, you will head back to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will go for the sunset dinner cruise along river Zambezi. The cruise will go down the River Zambezi so you will likely see hippos, crocodiles and birdlife while having cocktails. After the sunset cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Victoria falls hotel (Luxury)/ N I hotel & campsite Victoria falls (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 13: Cross to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe side with a walk to the falls & evening boma food cuisine festival
After breakfast, you will cross to Victoria falls Zimbabwe side for a walk to the falls. During this walk, you will head out to explore the Victoria Falls on a 2-hour walking tour. While on this tour, you will discover one of the world’s most magnificent waterfalls. After the walk to the falls, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation in preparation for the boma food cuisine festival in the evening.
During the boma food cuisine festival, you will experience the essence of Africa. You will enjoy the mouth-watering feast featuring Zimbabwean specialties like game meats and hearty stews. The adventurous eater can also dive in to some Mopani worms. While dining under the stars in a lively atmosphere, you will feel the rhythm of African drums beating in the air.
If you feel like it, you can join in the fun with interactive drumming sessions where you will take part of the music and dance. This event blends food, music, and culture and offers you an engaging and memorable taste of African traditions and entertainment.
Accommodation: Victoria falls hotel (Luxury)/ N I hotel & campsite Victoria falls (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 14: Drive to Chobe with a game drive and sunset boat cruise
After breakfast, you will checkout from the lodge and transfer to Chobe National Park. The distance from Livingstone to Chobe National Park is 60 kilometers. Upon arrival at the park, you will go for a mid-morning game drive. Big cats and wild canines are more likely to be sighted around this time of day because they are still active and out and about. After the game drive, you will have lunch in preparation for your sunset boat cruise.
In the afternoon, you will be driven to the docking point to board the boat and start the 3-hour sunset boat cruise into the Chobe National Park. The river cruise is considered one of the highlights of the trip as the clients get the opportunity to get up close and personal with fantastic bird-life, hippos, crocodiles, and of course scores of elephant and Cape buffalo that make their way down to the river to quench their thirst. After the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Cresta Mowana resort (Luxury)/ Sandpiper villas (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 15: Game drive at Chobe National Park
Have the morning at leisure and taking part of hotel inhouse activities like swimming. After lunch, you will embark on an afternoon game drive. You will travel in our specially adapted open 4X4 vehicles. Drives are along the waterfront where animals assemble to quench their thirst. Commonly sighted animals include elephants, buffaloes, eland and elephants. Leopards are more difficult to see but if lucky, you can see them. This is a unique opportunity to experience some of the best game viewing in Africa.
Accommodation: Cresta Mowana resort (Luxury)/ Sandpiper villas (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 16: Transfer to the airport for your flight.
After breakfast you will checkout from the lodge and transfer to the airport for you international back home.
End of tour
Inclusions
- Transportation
- English speaking guide
- Accommodation as mentioned above
- Meals as mentioned above
- Gorilla permit
- Golden monkey permit
- City tour
- Park entrance fees
- Game drives
- Boat cruises
- Spice farm trip
- Jozani forest trip
- All transfers
- All activities mentioned above
Excludes
- Air tickets
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips & gratuities
- All activities not mentioned in the itinerary