The 7 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Zanzibar combines a safari to see mountain gorillas and a beach experience in Zanzibar. For gorilla trekking, you will immerse yourself in the jungles of Volcanoes National Park, Northwestern Rwanda, and enjoy relaxation at Zanzibar in Tanzania.
Volcanoes National Park is the premier destination in the Northern Province of Rwanda, where gorilla trekking is conducted. The park was gazetted in 1925, making it the oldest in Rwanda, occupying a land area of 160 sq. kms and home to up to 12 habituated gorilla families.
Zanzibar lies on the East coast of Africa, along the Indian Ocean, about 25 to 50 kms away from mainland Tanzania. It comprises numerous beautiful white sand beaches, totaling about 25. The Zanzibar archipelago is home to Pemba and Unguja Islands, featuring popular beaches such as Paje, Nungwi, Jambiani, Kiwengwa, Matemwe, Pingwe, Kendwa, and more. Zanzibar is also renowned for its historic town, Stone Town.
Detailed Safari
Day 1: Gorilla Tour to Volcanoes National Park
Before embarking on your journey to Volcanoes National Park, meet and greet your tour leader in Kigali. Afterward, a short Kigali city tour will follow, taking about 2 hours, exploring Kigali or the Gisozi Genocide Center, which provides deep insight into the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Visit Kimironko market, ideal for fruit lovers to grab freshly harvested fruits, and other places within the city center before settling for lunch. After lunch, depart Kigali for Volcanoes National Park, a journey expected to take 2-3 hours to the Northern Province of Rwanda, known for its rolling hills.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda Volcanoes NP & Cultural Walk
Enjoy breakfast at your respective accommodation. Join other guests for a briefing on Rwanda gorilla trekking rules/guidelines starting at 7:00 am. Before visiting mountain gorillas, you will be assigned to a gorilla group and a park guide. At 8:00 am, equipped with your gear, packed lunch, and sufficient drinking water, follow the park guide on a 2 to 6 hours’ gorilla trek through the bamboo forest.
Upon encountering your assigned gorilla family, enjoy 1 hour for a close encounter. Witness gorilla behavior, body gestures, and capture photos. Afterward, walk back through the forest and meet the driver at Kinigi for transfer to the lodge. Relax, refresh, and later embark on a cultural walk in the Iby’Iwacu village to explore and experience unique Rwandan cultures.
Day 3: Return to Kigali, Fly to Tanzania
After a hearty breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet the driver guide for the return journey to Kigali. From Kigali Airport, fly to Zanzibar, where you will be picked up and transferred to your respective lodges/boutique hotels.
Day 4: Zanzibar Island Expedition
Wake up early, enjoy a delicious breakfast, and spend a leisurely day at the beach. Find a palm tree or settle at a shady beach bar, relax with a book, or explore the island on foot. Optional activities include snorkeling or diving tours. Enjoy meals and overnight at luxurious accommodation.
Day 5: Snorkeling Tour at Nungwi
Depart the boutique hotel early for Nungwi beach, where you will embark on a snorkeling experience. Sail in a traditional dhow to access reefs, observing marine life residing in Zanzibar corals.
Day 6: Full Day Exploring Zanzibar
Begin the day with a tour of Stone Town, a mystical historical town built in the 19th-20th century along the West coast, 1-2 hours away from the coast. It is Zanzibar’s busiest town, visiting iconic historical and cultural centers including Sultan’s Palace, House of Wonders, Old Fort, Old Slave Market, and exploring labyrinthine streets. The tour also includes a Spice Tour, visiting one of Zanzibar’s largest spice plantations to explore various spices grown here.
Day 7: Departure
Enjoy a hearty breakfast, then meet the driver guide and transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for departure home or to another destination.
