Glorious Two-Week Safari: Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda

Nestled beneath the twin peaks of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha is a Tanzanian city that will introduce you to the epic grandeur of East Africa’s mountainous landscapes as you touch down at the international airport and transfer to your accommodation. Beyond being a gateway to Tanzania’s untamed safari reserves, Arusha boasts a fascinating culture for you to discover through tours of its vibrant food markets, artistic museums, and neighboring villages. This evening, you will marvel at the African sunset over Arusha that lights up the commanding mountainscape.

En route to the second destination of your vacation, you will stop by the mesmerizing Lake Manyara, a conservation area pinned beneath the rolling wall of the Rift Valley. Towering reddish cliffs hang over the outskirts of the green band of the national park, and an ancient soda lake spreads across the landscape stretching from the other side of the valley floor. You will explore the wonders of Lake Manyara today, from encounters with the indigenous wildlife to adventures across flowered paths, before arriving at your accommodation in the stunning Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Affectionately dubbed ‘Africa’s Garden of Eden,’ the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a spectacular natural paradise constituting a massive crater that serves as the focal point and beating heart of the immaculate surroundings. You will spend the day wandering around the crater, capturing photos of the thousands of animal species proudly calling this paradise home and potentially spotting Africa’s iconic Big Five along the way. In the evening, you will return to camp for stargazing in the clear night sky, an activity superior here to many other destinations as little light pollution hinders one’s views of the cosmos.

The Serengeti’s sprawling savanna plains are a stage on which an incredible series of natural spectacles take place, the most mesmerizing being the Great Migration, a Natural Wonder of the World. If you are fortunate enough to visit the Serengeti at the right time of the year, you will bear witness to this extraordinary wildlife display in which millions of wildebeest, gazelle, zebra, and other animals race across the parched plains towards greener pastures. While hurtling over the landscapes and swimming across rivers, the migrating animals must avoid deadly predators waiting to catch them off guard.

The Serengeti boasts iconic African scenes such as sunrises and sunsets flooding the skies in orange hues and silhouetting the grazing animals wandering between shady acacia trees. You will witness these spectacles during your stay and treasure opportunities to encounter the fascinating indigenous flora and fauna during guided safari drives across the bushveld. Depending on the day, you may spot big cats sunbathing on desolate pastures, elephant herds lapping up the refreshing river waters, and giraffes picking at the leaves of acacias. Breathtaking panoramas of the northern Serengeti will accompany all these game sightings.

Should you wish to witness the Serengeti’s idyllic environments from a unique vantage point, you may float towards the clouds in a hot air balloon as the sunrise streams over the savanna. With access to professional photography equipment, you may capture surreal scenes of diverse animal herds gathering around waterholes and hovering vultures scanning the plains for fresh kills from intriguing angles before descending towards the treeline and spotting animals hiding in the canopy. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is complete with sips of champagne and a hearty breakfast enjoyed in the wild.

History buffs will be thrilled to discover one of the Serengeti’s claims to fame during a day tour of the Olduvai Gorge and a safari circling its beautiful surroundings. Sharing vistas of the unfolding landscapes and a look into the history of humankind, the Olduvai Museum’s famous paleoanthropological site is a marvelous destination that is as gorgeous as it is educational. A knowledgeable ranger will detail the iconic findings of the Olduvai Gorge and trace back its significance in our understanding of the human evolutionary process.

Masai Mara National Reserve represents the pinnacle of Kenya’s preserved savanna wilderness, a dreamy escape you will discover from your gorgeous accommodation hugged by the bushveld. Upon arrival, you will join an experienced tracker and relish a game drive across the region’s rugged landscapes to viewpoints and hides, bringing you closer to the country’s bewitching environments and the creatures dwelling in these diverse habitats. You will likely spot cheetah and leopards hanging around acacia trees, elephant herds stomping across the plains, and birds of prey gliding through the sky while you explore Masai Mara for the Big Five and more.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to witness the Great Migration, you may be in luck during your travels through Masai Mara. The Mara River is one of the region’s highlights, as filmmakers and tourists flock to its banks to watch the phenomenal migration of millions of animals across the river’s breadth. Whether visiting to see the spectacle or not, the Mara River presents a rich tapestry of wildlife sightings backdropped by brilliant, dense foliage along its nourishing banks.

The marvelous Masai Mara National Reserve remains home to many native Maasai people who own large portions of the untouched wilderness. Traditional villages pepper Masai Mara’s staggeringly beautiful wildlife sanctuaries and a tour of these local communities will share insight into the traditions and heritage of Africa’s tribal people. You will tuck into unique delicacies, learn about the villagers’ historic practices, and expand your knowledge about the wilderness and its inhabitants during your tour of the ancient settlements. In the evening, you will enjoy a sensational dinner prepared around the campfire as the sunset illuminates Masai Mara.

Before venturing deeper into Rwanda’s enrapturing wilderness, you will stopover for an evening in its capital city, Kigali. With the afternoon laid out whichever way you choose, you may slowly appreciate the moments of relaxation at your lovely accommodation in the heart of the city. Explore nearby museums, dazzling markets, or traditional villages to unearth the fascinating distinctions of this developing destination before you return to your hotel for a delightful supper backdropped by the sunset over Kigali’s cityscape.

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is an emerald paradise of rainforest that veils the region’s Virunga Mountain Range. Today, you will transfer to a lodge hemmed in the luxuriant wilderness beneath the range and enjoy moments of leisure amongst the forest and its singing birds. In the afternoon, you will relish a walking tour across the forest floor beneath the towering olive-green canopy to capture the wondrous wildlife up close. A melodic soundtrack provided by the birds and whimsical scenes shared within the green will make for a peaceful retreat in Rwanda.

The steep slopes of the Virunga Mountain Range are home to many curious creatures, with the standout being the rare mountain gorillas that have found refuge within the preserved park. You will meet your ranger this morning, who possesses a wealth of experience in tracking gorillas, and enter the sprawling forest in search of Silverbacks and other iconic primates. These massive apes will wander through the greenery with babies clinging to their chests and will rest peacefully under the shade of the trees for your viewing pleasure.

The wind will rustle through the rainforest this morning and the sunshine will envelop Volcanoes National Park’s viridian landscape, creating a spectacular backdrop you will cherish while dipping biscuits in your coffee and savoring a perfectly prepared breakfast spread. You will check out of your accommodation shortly after, transferring to Kigali, where you may visit the dramatic commemorative exhibits of the Genocide Museum. Such experiences will fill you with a great appreciation for the African spirit and the diverse cultures sweeping this enchanting continent before you head to the airport and say goodbye to Africa.