Mountain Gorilla Safari: Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda

Tour begins: Gran Meliá Arusha. A transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Gran Meliá Arusha is included. Welcome to Tanzania and the start of your African safari; your hotel is set out on 18 acres of beautifully landscaped coffee and tea plantations; dine at the hotel this evening.

Set out for a five-night safari to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti plains, traveling through Lake Manyara National Park – a lush reserve known for its tree-climbing lions and extraordinary birdlife, from flamingos to raptors. Continue on to your lodge in the Ngorongoro highlands, set on a historic coffee estate bordering the eastern rim of the crater, home to some 30,000 large mammals. Settle into your surroundings and take in the crisp highland air, the scent of coffee blossoms, and the distant call of wildlife drifting up from the plains. Please join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at the lodge, where views of the surrounding hills and highland gardens create a serene beginning to your adventure.

Thought by some to be Africa's original "Garden of Eden," Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest calderas in the world and shelters a remarkable range of ecosystems – from grasslands and acacia forests to freshwater lakes shimmering with flamingos. Within this natural amphitheater lies one of Africa's densest concentrations of wildlife, where predators and grazers share the same ancient landscape. Your custom-built Tauck four-wheel-drive vehicle serves as an ideal viewing platform for observing vast herds of zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles, as well as the Big Five – elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhinoceros. Midday, pause for a gourmet picnic lunch served in a scenic clearing within the crater, surrounded by breathtaking views and the quiet pulse of the wild – a setting as unforgettable as the landscape itself.

A morning flight from Lake Manyara carries you into the heart of Serengeti National Park, with aerial views of the vast plains unfolding below. En route, fly over Oldupai Gorge, where more than half a century ago Louis and Mary Leakey uncovered fossilized remains of early human ancestors dating back nearly 1.8 million years. Arrive at your safari lodge in the Serengeti for a three-night stay, where upgraded rooms are thoughtfully positioned for elevated views of the plains and nearby watering hole. Interiors reflect a contemporary African aesthetic – warm earth tones, natural textures, and refined wood accents that create a luxurious yet authentic sense of place. After an afternoon game drive through the Serengeti, join us this evening for a special barbecue dinner at the lodge's open-air Boma Grill, accompanied by a Maasai dance performance that celebrates the stories and traditions of this remarkable place.

Look for wildlife in the heart of the vast savanna of the Serengeti today on both morning and afternoon game drives. Sightings might include lions, zebras, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, jackals, gazelles, and giraffes. When the sunset paints the sky in the evening, watch the show from the luxury of your lodge in Serengeti National Park; tonight, indulge in a fine dining experience at the "Divai" wine cellar & chef's table.

Spend another glorious day exploring the vast and untamed Serengeti, beginning before dawn with one of Africa's most unforgettable experiences – a hot-air balloon flight* over the awakening plains. As the sun rises, float above the grasslands washed in gold, watching the landscape come to life below – herds moving across the savanna, wildlife gathering near water, and the endless expanse of the Serengeti stretching toward the horizon. After landing, celebrate with a champagne toast, followed by a special breakfast served in the bush. Continue your wildlife viewing on a game drive back to camp, keeping watch for lions, cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, and the many other animals that call these plains home. Enjoy lunch at your lodge and an afternoon at leisure; perhaps take a swim, relax on your veranda, or simply savor the views as the heat of the day settles in. In the late afternoon, venture out again as the light softens and the shadows lengthen, revealing another side of the Serengeti – elephants dusting themselves at sunset, lions stirring in the tall grass, and giraffes silhouetted against a sky of burnished color. This evening, enjoy dinner at your lodge, reflecting on the day's discoveries as night falls across the plains.

Leave the Serengeti behind as you fly to Arusha, Tanzania, en route to Kenya. After landing in Arusha, enjoy lunch at the Cultural Heritage Center before boarding a flight to Isiolo in northern Kenya. Continue by safari vehicle into Samburu National Reserve, where rugged hills, acacia-dotted plains, and the winding Ewaso Nyiro River create a strikingly different landscape from the Serengeti. A game drive en route to your lodge offers your first opportunity to spot the region's distinctive wildlife, including the Samburu Special Five. Settle in for a two-night stay at your lodge along the river, with time to relax before dinner at your leisure this evening.

Begin your day with a visit to a local Samburu village, where you'll learn about the traditions and way of life of the Samburu people, whose pastoral heritage remains an important part of the region's cultural identity. Continue with a game drive through Samburu National Reserve, home to elephants, lions, leopards, and the Samburu Special Five – Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich – species especially associated with northern Kenya's dry landscapes. Return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax before heading out on another game drive in the late afternoon. As the day draws to a close, enjoy a sundowner overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River and surrounding wilderness before returning to the lodge for dinner.

Today, a morning flight brings you to your next destination – Mount Kenya – and your home for the next two nights at the legendary Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, the former retreat of actor William Holden. Founded in 1959, the club was once a gathering place for some of the era's most distinguished names, including Winston Churchill and Bing Crosby, and it still carries the charm and refinement of its storied past. En route, stop for lunch at Sweetwaters Serena Camp within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Once part of a colonial-era cattle ranch, Sweetwaters retains the character of its early days, with sweeping views of Mount Kenya and a waterhole that attracts a steady procession of wildlife. Ol Pejeta is East Africa's largest black rhino sanctuary, now home to more than 150 individuals, and it plays a vital role in protecting the world's last two remaining northern white rhinos – a living symbol of resilience and hope. Following lunch, continue your exploration of the conservancy on a game drive, with Tauck's special access to a secure compound where endangered black rhinos are bred and protected. Later, return to your hotel in the foothills of Mount Kenya, where an Equatorial Ceremony – marking your position on the line that divides the hemispheres – precedes dinner at the hotel this evening.

Enjoy a leisurely morning at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, surrounded by manicured lawns, forested slopes, and the distant peaks of Mount Kenya. After breakfast, visit the Spinners and Weavers Cooperative, where local women sustain a long-standing tradition of craftsmanship. Watch as wool is sheared, washed, dyed with natural pigments, and hand-woven into richly colored rugs, shawls, and sweaters – each piece a story of skill and community. Return to your hotel for lunch and time at leisure before this afternoon's visit to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, established in the 1960s by actor William Holden, famed safari outfitter Don Hunt, and scientist Stephanie Dolrenry as part of Holden's vision for responsible wildlife stewardship. The conservancy is best known for its breeding and rehabilitation work with endangered species, including the mountain bongo antelope, and for re-wilding animals back into Kenya's national parks. Stroll the shaded grounds and learn how its pioneering programs have helped shape conservation across East Africa. As evening falls, gather on the lawns of the Safari Club for a private barbecue dinner under the stars, a festive close to your time in Kenya's highlands – with good company, gentle night air, and Mount Kenya outlined against the southern sky.

Pack your Tauck duffel bag and fly from Nanyuki to the Maasai Mara region of southern Kenya, where you'll be welcomed by Maasai warriors. Your destination is a new safari camp in the Olderkesi Conservancy, a secluded 24,700-acre wilderness bordering the southeastern edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Here, open plains and acacia woodlands provide important habitat for the region's remarkable wildlife, far from the busier safari routes. Enjoy lunch at camp, followed by some free time to settle in and take in your surroundings. Late this afternoon, venture into the conservancy on a game drive, exploring its varied landscapes in search of lions, elephants, antelope, zebras, and other animals that roam this protected wilderness. Return to camp as evening approaches, with time to relax before dinner.

Your last full day on safari offers two different ways to experience the remarkable landscapes, wildlife, and people of Kenya's greater Maasai Mara ecosystem. For those eager to spend more time in the bush, set out on a full-day game drive, venturing across open grasslands and acacia-dotted plains in search of lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and the great herds of antelope and zebra that roam this region. With a picnic lunch along the way, you'll have plenty of time to explore, following the tracks of wildlife and discovering the ever-changing rhythms of life on the savanna. Alternatively, enjoy a more leisurely morning with a visit to a local Maasai community, where you'll learn about traditions, daily life, and the longstanding relationship between the Maasai people and the land they call home. Return to camp for lunch, followed by a free afternoon to relax and enjoy your surroundings. This evening, gather back at your safari camp for a farewell reception and dinner, sharing memories of the remarkable places and experiences that have made your journey through Kenya so special.

After breakfast, board your flight from the Maasai Mara airstrip to Nairobi's Wilson Airport, with a final look at the vast savanna from the air — the herds and winding rivers receding into the distance. On arrival, drive across the city to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where a light lunch is provided before your afternoon flight to Kigali, Rwanda. Touch down in the land of a thousand hills, a country celebrated for its striking landscapes and inspiring commitment to conservation. Kigali, the nation's vibrant capital, blends forward-looking energy with quiet reflection, set among rolling green hills that seem to stretch endlessly in every direction. Dinner this evening is at leisure at your hotel – a chance to unwind before tomorrow's journey into the highlands and the legendary Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas.

Depart Kigali this morning for a scenic drive through Rwanda's lush countryside, where terraced hillsides and small villages give way to the rising peaks of the Virunga Volcano range. Your destination is Musanze, gateway to Volcanoes National Park, a landscape defined by eight ancient volcanoes and the misty forests that shelter endangered mountain gorillas. Arrive at your lodge – the luxurious One&Only Gorilla's Nest – set amid a grove of eucalyptus trees at the park's edge, where you'll have lunch surrounded by views of the forested slopes. This afternoon, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, a world-class center for conservation, research, and education. Here, learn about Fossey's pioneering work to protect the mountain gorilla, explore exhibits on the species' complex social behavior, and hear how her legacy continues through the foundation's ongoing research and community initiatives. Return to your lodge for dinner at leisure, with the sounds of the forest all around and tomorrow's trek already stirring in anticipation.

Rise early for one of the most extraordinary experiences on Earth – a rare encounter with the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park. After breakfast and a lively cultural performance at park headquarters, your expert trackers and guides will brief you on the morning ahead, describing the terrain, the gorilla families that inhabit these slopes, and the delicate balance of protection and research that allows visitors to share this sacred space. Drive to the trailhead and begin your trek into the misty forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, a realm of tangled vines, moss-draped trees, and rich volcanic soil. Porters will assist with your gear and camera equipment as you ascend through the forest's shifting light and birdsong. When your gorilla family is found, time seems to still – silverbacks standing watch, mothers cradling their young, juveniles tumbling through the undergrowth in quiet play. For one precious hour, you'll observe their world at arm's length, connected by gesture, gaze, and a shared sense of calm. Return to your lodge for lunch and a leisurely afternoon of reflection. Later, a local conservation expert shares deeper insight into the gorillas' fragile existence and the ongoing work that safeguards them for generations to come. This evening, gather for a farewell reception and dinner at the lodge, celebrating the unforgettable privilege of having walked in the company of the mountain gorillas.

Tour ends: Kigali. Depart your hotel after breakfast for your journey back to Kigali, stopping en route to visit the Genocide Memorial Museum. Pay tribute to the 800,000 Rwandans who lost their lives during the atrocities of 1994 and discover how Rwanda was able to come together, heal and move forward into the future with hope and resilience. Continue to the Kigali Marriott Hotel where Tauck has reserved day rooms for you until your flight home this evening. Airport transfers are included from Kigali Marriott Hotel to Kigali International Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check in at the airport.