12-Day Great Plains & Great Apes

12-Day Great Plains & Great Apes
12 Days in South Africa

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Let the exquisite landscapes of the Ngorongoro Crater knock your binoculars off, as you game drive in one of the best wildlife areas on the continent. Walk with the big cats in a secret corner of the Eastern Serengeti, where vehicles are rare and the game is prolific and superb. Few experiences will ever top the moment you come face to face with a magnificent silverback mountain gorilla in his natural habitat. And what better place to do it than the National Parc des Volcans in beautiful Rwanda.

Tour Summary

You'll go to Tanzania & Rwanda

You'll visit Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Kigali & Volcanoes NP

This tour starts in Arusha & ends in Kigali - Getting there

Tour Features

Luxury tour

This luxury tour uses lodges and tented camps.

Private tour

This tour will be organized exclusively for you. However, wildlife viewing activities are run by the lodges/camps and will be shared with others.

Can start any day

If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.

Can be customized

You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.

Suitable for solo travelers

Solo travelers can book this private tour.

Minimum age of 15 years

The minimum age for this tour is 15 years.

Activities & Transportation

Activities: game drives, evening/night game drives, gorilla trekking, walking safaris (with an armed guide) & nature hikes/walks

Game drives: open-sided 4x4 vehicle

Getting around: open-sided 4x4 vehicle, normal 4x4 vehicle & air transfer

This operator can help select your international flights, but you'll have to book them yourself help

A transfer from and back to the airport is included

Accommodation & Meals

Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost

Day	Accommodation	Meals
1	Arusha Coffee Lodge Luxury lodge in or near Arusha (Tanzania)	Breakfast Included
2-4	The Highlands Luxury+ tented camp bordering Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) without fences	All Meals Included
5-7	Namiri Plains Luxury+ tented camp inside Serengeti NP (Tanzania)	All Meals Included
8	Kigali Serena Hotel Luxury hotel in or near Kigali (Rwanda)	Breakfast Included
9-11	Virunga Lodge Luxury lodge outside Volcanoes NP (Rwanda)	All Meals Included
12	End of tour (No accommodation)	Breakfast & Lunch Included

Next:Day by Day

Arrival

(See Getting there for more details)

You'll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1 A night in Arusha

You'll be transferred from the airport to Arusha Coffee Lodge. As the name suggests, coffee is a running theme and the lodge is nestled into the lush emerald bushes of Tanzania’s largest plantation in the foothills of Mt Meru and well-located for flight connections. Radiating warmth and charm, this is an elegant and relaxing stopover choice with a number of activities to keep you busy… and possibly the freshest cup of coffee you will ever taste. When you’ve sampled enough coffee, wander into Arusha town and visit the Maasai market on Faya Road or the Tanzanite museum for some souvenirs of the glittering kind. There’s also a wonderful organisation at the lodge, Shanga Shangaa, which employs local people with disabilities to create beautiful pieces of jewellery, glassware and artwork and is a fun way to spend the morning. Otherwise, soak up the tranquillity of the gardens, tour the plantation and get ready for your safari adventure!

Main Destination:	Arusha (Tanzania)
Accommodation:	Arusha Coffee Lodge Luxury lodge located in or near Arusha
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2-4 Explore the Ngorongoro Crater

You will be met at Arusha Coffee Lodge and directed to your connecting charter flight, taking you to The Highlands Camp. This creative and unique camp is set on the slopes of the Olmoti Volcano, in a prime location known for its exclusivity, away from the other camps in the region. Inspired by the local Maasai bomas, the dome shaped tents provide stylish comfort, a stone's throw from ‘Africa’s Eden’, the Ngorongoro Crater. The suites are generously spaced, offering privacy and spectacular sweeping views of the Crater floor and Serengeti beyond. Game drives are the key to safari success in the Ngorongoro Crater allowing you to spend a full day reveling in the extraordinary wildlife found in the region. Walks and hikes are a great way to vary your experience and explore the spectacular scenery. While a Maasai cultural walk will introduce you to the local customs, traditional plant uses and ancient stories of the tribal people that call this region home.

Main Destination:	Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania)
Best Time to Visit June to September (General wildlife viewing is best) High Season Most of the year – July to March (Expect crowds) Best Weather June to October (Rainfall is little to none) Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) Black Rhino Common Lion Common Cheetah Common Zebra Abundant Wildebeest Abundant Hyena Abundant Elephant Common Buffalo Common Hippo Common Giraffe Occasional Leopard Occasional Wild Dog Very Rare White Rhino None Show More
Accommodation:	The Highlands Luxury+ tented camp bordering Ngorongoro Crater without fences
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)

Day 5-7 Witness the Great Migration in the Serengeti

Leaving behind the herds of inquisitive travellers during the Great Migration is no small feat. And that is where Namiri Plains comes into its own. Open from June to April, this gem of a private camp sits in a secluded section of the Eastern Serengeti. It’s the perfect spot from which to watch the Great Migration and all the action that follows it, without compromising on privacy and authenticity. A one-hour-and-fifteen-minute drive from Seronera airstrip means you get to enjoy a game drive before you even arrive at camp. Namiri Plains offers game drives and, more recently, guided walking safaris, which are used to good effect, showcasing the big cats and the great migration which move through the area. The Namiri guides are extremely knowledgeable, so try to soak up as much insider information as you can. In short, you’re in for some of the best game viewing in one of the best national parks on the planet.

Main Destination:	Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)
Best Time to Visit June to February (Areas are best at different times) High Season July to March (The Seronera area is crowded) Best Weather June to October (Little to no rainfall) Wildlife in Serengeti National Park (Tanzania) Elephant Common Giraffe Common Lion Common Cheetah Common Zebra Abundant Wildebeest Abundant Buffalo Common Hippo Common Hyena Common Leopard Occasional Black Rhino Very Rare Wild Dog Rare White Rhino None Show More
Accommodation:	Namiri Plains Luxury+ tented camp located inside Serengeti NP
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)

Day 8 Indulge in some five-star pampering at Kigali Serena Hotel

You will fly to Kigali and be driven from the airport to this large, modern hotel in central Kigali which lies just 10 kilometres from Kigali International Airport. It's a large hotel, popular for weddings and conferences (held fortunately in a large stand-alone conference and events centre). The rooms are quiet though, so take some down time, enjoy the varied cuisine at the restaurants, wander around the lush gardens and laze around the pool. And do visit the blissful spa. If you're simply overnighting, you'll probably only have time to enjoy the food, the pool and maybe a treatment at the spa. For families with young children, there's also a baby pool. Staying a little longer? Explore Kigali (ask for advice at reception), visit the sobering Kigali Genocide Memorial and admire the bright artworks at the Inema Gallery.

Main Destination:	Kigali (Rwanda)
Accommodation:	Kigali Serena Hotel Luxury hotel located in or near Kigali
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 9-11 Track Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park

You will be chartered to Virunga Lodge. As wildlife encounters go, there’s not many more exhilarating, more spelling binding and more utterly mesmerising than coming face to face with a mighty mountain gorilla. And what better place to do it than in Rwanda’s gorilla hotspot, Volcanoes National Park, and from undoubtedly the hottest lodge in the area, Virunga. The location is, to put it bluntly, phenomenal with 10 bandas perched high on a hilltop, orbited by panoramic vistas of shimmering lakes Ruhondo and Burera and the spiky crests of the Virunga volcanoes. Add to this the ever-present layer of iridescent, swirling mist and the lodge is every bit as magical as the wildlife.  The focus at the lodge is to see the mountain  gorillas. An 'easy' trek can take from 30 minutes to an hour, a 'difficult' trek usually three or four hours. There are also guided treks in search of the golden monkeys and hikes to the neighbouring volcano and surrounding lakes.

Main Destination:	Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
Best Time to Visit Jun to Sep (It is drier and trails are easier to hike) High Season Jun to Sep (Permits are scarce) Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot) Wildlife in Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas) Common None Elephant Rare Buffalo Rare White Rhino None Black Rhino None Giraffe None Lion None Leopard None Cheetah None Zebra None Wildebeest None Hippo None Show More
Accommodation:	Virunga Lodge Luxury lodge located outside Volcanoes NP
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)

Day 12 End in Kigali

You will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.

Main Destination:	Kigali International Airport (Rwanda)
Accommodation:	No accommodation
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Non-alcoholic drinks

End of tour

(See Getting there for more details)

You'll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Next: Rates

Important to Know

Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour must be paid in US dollars (USD). The ZAR rates shown are converted for information purposes only. Disclaimer
This tour accepts children who are 15 years and older.
Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. Flights may cost more, depending on travel dates. If so, your quote will reflect this.

Rates Per Person

Inclusions

Rates Per Person

AUD

USD

ZAR

EUR

GBP

Start dates	Solo 1 room	2+ people Sharing rooms

Mar 29, 2020 - May 27, 2020	$11741	$10483
May 28, 2020 - Jun 30, 2020	$14509	$13251
Jul 1, 2020 - Aug 27, 2020	$15348	$14090

Aug 28, 2020 - Oct 27, 2020	$14928	$13670
Oct 28, 2020 - Nov 24, 2020	$14174	$12496
Nov 25, 2020 - Dec 15, 2020	$15096	$13838

Dec 16, 2020 - Dec 31, 2020	$17361	$15432