Day-by-day itinerary
18 Days Tanzania Wildlife & Gorillas
Route map
Where you'll travel
Tap any stop to jump to that day in the itinerary.
Trip highlights
- Tarangire elephants
- Serengeti endless plains
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Volcanoes or Bwindi gorillas
Day 1
Arrival in Arusha →Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Transfer to Arusha for briefing and overnight.
Full day details →Day 2
Arusha to Lake Manyara NP →Game drive around Lake Manyara — tree-climbing lions, hippos, flamingos and forest elephants.
Full day details →Day 3
Manyara to Tarangire →Full-day Tarangire game drive along the river; giant baobabs and elephant herds.
Full day details →Day 4
Tarangire to Central Serengeti →Long drive through Ngorongoro into Seronera; afternoon game drive.
Full day details →Day 5
Serengeti big-cat day →Full day tracking lion prides, leopards on kopjes and cheetahs on the short grass plains.
Full day details →Day 6
Northern Serengeti / Mara River →Follow the Great Migration towards the Mara River (July–October) or explore Grumeti (May–June).
Full day details →Day 7
Serengeti to Ngorongoro →Morning game drive, transfer to crater rim lodge.
Full day details →Day 8
Ngorongoro Crater →Full-day crater floor game drive — Big Five in one bowl.
Full day details →Day 9
Ngorongoro to Arusha, fly Kigali →Fly to Kigali, road transfer to Musanze.
Full day details →Day 10
Volcanoes gorilla trek →Guided mountain gorilla trek — one hour with a habituated family.
Full day details →Day 11
Second gorilla trek OR golden monkey →Choice of second gorilla family trek or golden monkey trek.
Full day details →Day 12
Musanze to Lake Kivu →Scenic drive to Lake Kivu for lakeside relaxation and boat ride.
Full day details →Day 13
Lake Kivu leisure day →Kayak, swim, or visit a coffee plantation.
Full day details →Day 14
Kivu to Kigali →Drive to Kigali via scenic viewpoints; city tour.
Full day details →Day 15
Kigali cultural day →Genocide Memorial, Kimironko market, Inema Art Center and Nyamirambo Women's Center visit.
Full day details →Day 16
Flight to Zanzibar →Fly to Zanzibar; transfer to beach resort.
Full day details →Day 17
Zanzibar leisure →Stone Town spice tour or beach day.
Full day details →Day 18
Departure from Kilimanjaro →Breakfast at leisure. Transfer to Kilimanjaro/Zanzibar airport for your onward flight.
Full day details →
Before you book
What to know about travelling in Tanzania
Visas, permits, health requirements, seasons, money and tipping — everything specific to this destination.
Before you book · Tanzania
Travelling in Tanzania
- Visas & entry
- Single-entry tourist visa available online (e-visa) or on arrival — USD 50 for most nationalities, USD 100 for US passports. Passport valid 6+ months. Note: Tanzania is not part of the East Africa Tourist Visa, so a separate visa is needed even on combined trips.
- Arrival gateway
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for the northern circuit, Julius Nyerere (DAR) for the south and Zanzibar (ZNZ).
- Best time to travel
- June–October for dry-season game viewing and the Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti (Jul–Sep). December–March for the Ndutu calving season. April–May is the long rains with the lowest rates.
- Health & vaccinations
- Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an endemic country (including Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda). Malaria prophylaxis strongly recommended everywhere, including Zanzibar. Tsetse repellent useful in Tarangire and Ruaha.
- Money & payments
- Tanzanian Shilling (TZS); park fees and most lodges are quoted in USD. Cards are accepted at lodges but carry USD cash for tips, curios and Zanzibar markets.
- Weather & climate
- Serengeti and Ngorongoro are high and cool — crater-rim nights drop to 5–10°C. Tarangire and the coast are hot, 30°C+.
- Connectivity
- Reliable 4G in Arusha, Karatu and Zanzibar; patchy in the central Serengeti; usually none in Ruaha or Nyerere except lodge Wi-Fi.
- Tipping guideline
- USD 20–25 per vehicle per day for your guide, USD 10 per guest per day for camp staff, USD 15–20 per day for Kilimanjaro crew members.
- What to pack
- Layered safari clothing, warm jacket for the crater rim, buff for dust, swimwear for Zanzibar, modest cover-up for Stone Town, and a 15 kg soft bag for bush flights.
- Local etiquette
- Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim: cover shoulders and knees away from the beach, and avoid alcohol in public outside hotels. Greet with 'Jambo' or 'Habari' — it's always appreciated.
Requirements and fees change. We reconfirm current visa, permit and health rules in writing before you pay any balance.