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11-day Gorilla Safari and Zanzibar Beach

11-day Gorilla Safari and Zanzibar Beach

11 Days: Gorillas, the Serengeti & Zanzibar

11 DaysDuration Rwanda & TanzaniaCountries PrivateGroup type
Overview Highlights Daily itinerary Accommodation Inclusions
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Overview

11 Days: Gorillas, the Serengeti & Zanzibar

This 11-day journey is divided into three distinct chapters, each allowing ample time to savor the experience rather than rushing through it. The adventure begins with gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, followed by three full days of wildlife tracking across the plains of the Serengeti. The journey concludes with three leisurely days on the beautiful coast of Zanzibar. Travel between regions is done by air, which keeps transfer days short and maximizes your time on the ground.

This itinerary is designed for travelers seeking a complete experience of East Africa, encompassing forest, savannah, and sea. It is perfect for both first-time visitors and repeat travelers who desire a slower, more thorough exploration of the classic gorilla-and-safari route. The pacing and accommodation options can be adjusted to suit individual preferences.

At a glance

  • Duration11 Days
  • CountriesRwanda & Tanzania
  • Group typePrivate

Activities

Some activities which can be added to this circuit — tell us which interest you.

Gorilla Trekking
Game Drives
Guided Nature Walks
Snorkeling (optional, Zanzibar)
Dhow Cruise (optional, Zanzibar)
Photography
Moments to note

Why This Route

Forest, savannah, and sea — each given room to breathe

I

Mountain Gorilla Trekking

A full hour with a habituated gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park.

II

Three Full Days in the Serengeti

One of the greatest concentrations of wildlife left on the planet, tracked at an unhurried pace.

III

A Curated Mix of Stays

Boutique city hotels, forest lodges, tented camps, and beachfront properties

IV

Private Guiding Throughout

A guide who reads the bush by instinct, from vulture movement to grass patterns

V

Fly Between Regions

Short travel days by air, leaving more time on the ground in each location.

VI

Three Days on Zanzibar

The trip closes on the coast, not with another game drive

Day by day

How the days break down

A starting shape: pace, order and length of each stage are all adjustable.

Day
01
Kigali
International arrival → Kigali

A gentle start in Rwanda's capital.

Private airport transfer to your hotel, with the rest of the day free to recover from travel. Optional visits to Kimironko Market or the Kigali Genocide Memorial. A welcome dinner introduces Rwandan food and the days ahead.

Day
02
Volcanoes National Park
Kigali → Volcanoes

Into the Land of a Thousand Hills

Drive north through Rwanda's terraced hillsides as the Virunga volcanoes appear on the horizon. Arrive at your lodge on the park's edge for lunch, with the afternoon free for rest or a guided walk to spot golden monkeys in the bamboo. Dinner briefing covers tomorrow's trek.

Day
03
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes

Gorilla Trekking Day

After a trackers' briefing, trek into highland forest thick with bamboo and birdsong — anywhere from one to several hours depending on the family's location. The encounter itself lasts a full hour. A quiet afternoon precedes a celebratory dinner.

Day
04
Kigali
Volcanoes NP → Kigali ·

One last look at the volcanoes

A relaxed morning before the drive back to Kigali, with an optional stop at a local cooperative. The afternoon is free — laundry, a spa treatment, or a last wander through the city before tomorrow's flight east.

Day
05
Serengeti
Kigali → Serengeti

From volcanic highland to open plains

A morning flight into northern Tanzania places you at the center of one of Africa's most storied ecosystems. Settle into camp for lunch, then head straight into an afternoon game drive — lion and cheetah sightings are common even on arrival day. Dinner under an open sky.

Day
06-07
Serengeti
Serengeti

Serengeti in Depth

Morning and late-afternoon game drives timed to when animals are most active. In migration season, expect herds of wildebeest and zebra, sometimes with river crossings nearby. An optional walking safari with an armed ranger offers a slower pace. Sundowners on a rocky outcrop both evenings.

Day
08
Zanzibar
Serengeti → Zanzibar (via Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam)

From dry grassland to turquoise water

A final morning game drive before flying to the coast. The shift is immediate — private transfer to your beachfront hotel, where the rest of the day is free after eight days of early starts.

Day
09-10
Zanzibar
Zanzibar Beach

Two days with no fixed schedule

Swim, read on the sand, or book optional snorkeling, a spice tour, or a sunset dhow cruise through your hotel. Stone Town is a short drive away, with its Swahili, Arab, and Indian trading history layered into one old quarter.

Day
11
Departure
Zanzibar → international flight

One last morning on the beach

A final morning by the water before your private transfer to the airport for your onward or international flight, closing an itinerary that spanned forest, savannah, and sea

What you'll likely see

Key species on this route

Based on past travellers' sightings, here's roughly what to expect on this specific route.

· · · · · · ·
Lion
Lion
85% chance
Cheetah
Cheetah
60% chance
Leopard
Leopard
45% chance
Elephant
Elephant
85% chance
Giraffe
Giraffe
85% chance
Zebra
Zebra
85% chance
The details

What's included

What's included

  • All accommodation as per itinerary
  • All meals as specified
  • Private guide and driver throughout the safari portion
  • Gorilla trekking permit (Volcanoes National Park)
  • All park and conservation area entrance fees
  • Internal flights as specified in the itinerary
  • All road and airport transfers
  • Bottled water during game drives and transfers
  • Government taxes and levies

What's not included

  • International flights to and from Africa
  • Visas for Rwanda and Tanzania as applicable
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional Zanzibar activities (spice tours, snorkeling, dhow cruises)
  • Alcoholic beverages and premium drinks (unless specified)
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Personal expenses (spa, laundry, souvenirs)
  • Vaccinations and medical costs

Notes about this trip

  • Gorilla trekking permits typically require a minimum age of 15; families with younger children may need to adjust that portion.
  • Migration timing varies by rainfall — the July–October window improves the odds of a river crossing but doesn't guarantee one.
  • Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the Rwanda and Serengeti portions — consult your doctor before travel.
Responsible travel

Responsible Travel

Conservation and community ties are built into this route, from the permit fees that protect Volcanoes National Park to how properties on Zanzibar are chosen.

I

Gorilla Permits Fund Conservation

Trekking permit fees directly support the ongoing protection of Volcanoes National Park and its mountain gorilla population

II

Low-Impact Serengeti Camps

Camps on this route operate under strict low-impact guidelines, employing local staff and minimizing footprint through solar power and careful water use

III

Community-Tied Zanzibar Stays

Beachfront properties are chosen for their ties to the local community, from staffing to sourcing.

Make it mine

Every element of this route can shift — an extra day on the beach, a walking safari added in the Serengeti, a slower start in Kigali, or honeymoon touches throughout.

Tell us your dates, pace, and priorities — we'll adjust the route around them.

Start tailoring this safari
If this isn't quite right

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Common questions

Before you enquire

June through September offers dry conditions ideal for gorilla trekking and good Serengeti game viewing; July through October adds the chance of migration river crossings.

It depends on the gorilla family’s location that day — anywhere from a gentle hour-long walk to a strenuous four-to-six-hour hike. Porters are available to help.

Yes — the pace is comfortable throughout, with expert guiding at every stage.

Yes — private dinners, beachfront suite upgrades in Zanzibar, and romantic touches throughout the safari portion are all easy to add.

One permit per person for a single trek in Volcanoes National Park.

Gorilla permits typically require a minimum age of 15, so families with younger children may want to adjust that portion.

Ready when you are

Ask about 11-day Gorilla Safari and Zanzibar Beach

Tell us your dates and we'll confirm whether the timing works, then adjust the route from there.

Start planning this trip