Welcome to Tanzania
Your East African adventure begins as you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by your CURAH Africa representative before transferring to your luxury lodge in Arusha. Set beneath the slopes of Mount Meru, this vibrant safari gateway offers the perfect place to unwind before your journey into the wild.
Spend the afternoon relaxing in beautiful surroundings, recovering from your international flight, or enjoying the gardens and amenities of your lodge. This evening, meet your safari guide for a welcome briefing and an introduction to the remarkable adventure that lies ahead.
Tomorrow, you’ll travel into Tanzania’s scenic northern highlands as your safari truly begins.
Overnight: Arusha
Meals: Dinner
Through the Great Rift Valley
After breakfast, depart Arusha and journey through the spectacular landscapes of the Great Rift Valley toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. Along the way, enjoy game viewing in Lake Manyara National Park, where lush groundwater forests, open plains, and the alkaline lake attract elephants, giraffes, hippos, flamingos, and an impressive variety of birdlife.
Continue climbing into the cool highlands, passing coffee plantations and fertile farmland before arriving at your elegant lodge overlooking one of Africa’s most remarkable conservation areas.
Enjoy a relaxing evening surrounded by sweeping views as you prepare for tomorrow’s unforgettable descent into the Ngorongoro Crater.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Highlands
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The Garden of Eden
Rise early for an unforgettable safari inside the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called Africa’s Garden of Eden. Protected within the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, this extraordinary ecosystem supports one of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the continent.
Search for lions, elephants, buffalo, black rhino, hyenas, hippos, and countless plains game while enjoying a scenic picnic lunch beside a tranquil hippo pool. The crater’s dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife make every moment unforgettable.
Later this afternoon, ascend back to the crater rim and return to your lodge for a relaxing evening overlooking the surrounding highlands.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Highlands
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Fly into the Serengeti
Following breakfast, transfer to the nearby airstrip for a scenic bush flight into the legendary Serengeti National Park. As you soar above vast plains and winding rivers, appreciate the sheer scale of one of Africa’s most celebrated wilderness areas.
Upon landing, your safari begins immediately with game viewing en route to your luxury lodge. Depending on the season, witness immense herds of wildebeest and zebra, while lions, cheetahs, elephants, and giraffes roam the surrounding savannah.
Settle into your safari lodge this evening and enjoy spectacular views across the Serengeti as the sounds of Africa surround you.
Overnight: Serengeti National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Wildlife of the Serengeti
Spend a full day exploring the endless plains of Serengeti National Park, home to one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on Earth. Morning and afternoon game drives reveal an ever-changing landscape where every safari offers something new.
Track predators across the grasslands, observe elephant families beneath ancient acacia trees, and search for elusive leopards resting among rocky kopjes. Throughout the year, your guide will adapt each drive to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities.
Between adventures, relax at your lodge while taking in sweeping views of the surrounding wilderness.
Overnight: Serengeti National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Another Day in the Wild
Another full day allows you to explore different regions of the Serengeti, discovering new habitats and wildlife behaviors that make every safari unique. Whether witnessing dramatic predator encounters or peaceful moments among grazing herbivores, each drive deepens your appreciation for this remarkable ecosystem.
Your expert guide will share insights into the intricate balance of life that has shaped these plains for thousands of years.
As the sun sets over the savannah, gather for another memorable evening in one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations.
Overnight: Serengeti National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Kenya’s Amboseli National Park
This morning, journey north into neighboring Kenya and continue to Amboseli National Park, renowned for its large elephant herds and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro rising just across the border in Tanzania.
Enjoy an afternoon game drive through open plains, marshes, and acacia woodlands while searching for elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes, and abundant birdlife. On clear days, Kilimanjaro provides one of Africa’s most iconic backdrops.
Return to camp as the evening light casts a golden glow across the landscape.
Overnight: Amboseli National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Amboseli & Maasai Traditions
Morning and afternoon game drives provide additional opportunities to explore Amboseli’s diverse habitats and encounter its famous elephant families up close. The park’s open terrain offers exceptional wildlife viewing throughout the day.
Between safari activities, visit a traditional Maasai community to learn about their enduring customs, colorful traditions, and deep connection to the surrounding landscape.
This evening, relax beneath the stars while reflecting on another extraordinary day in Kenya.
Overnight: Amboseli National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Into Kenya’s Highlands
Travel north into the lush foothills of Mount Kenya, where cool mountain air and forested landscapes provide a refreshing contrast to the open savannah. Upon arrival at your elegant lodge, enjoy time to explore the beautiful grounds and take in views of Africa’s second-highest mountain.
Later, visit the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, where rescued and endangered animals are cared for while supporting important conservation and education initiatives.
The peaceful surroundings offer the perfect opportunity to recharge before the next chapter of your safari.
Overnight: Mount Kenya Region
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Conservation & Local Culture
Enjoy a leisurely morning exploring the Mount Kenya region, where conservation efforts and local communities work together to protect this unique environment. Learn more about the area’s remarkable wildlife while experiencing the slower pace of Kenya’s central highlands.
Spend time enjoying the lodge’s exceptional amenities or participate in optional activities before another relaxing evening surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery.
Tomorrow, you’ll continue to one of Africa’s greatest wildlife destinations—the legendary Maasai Mara.
Overnight: Mount Kenya Region
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The Legendary Maasai Mara
Following breakfast, fly to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. Upon arrival, enjoy an afternoon game drive across rolling grasslands where abundant wildlife thrives throughout the year.
Search for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, and vast herds of plains game while your expert guide interprets the remarkable ecosystems that define this extraordinary reserve.
Return to camp as the African sunset transforms the Mara into a sea of golden light.
Overnight: Maasai Mara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Balloon Safari over the Mara
Before sunrise, experience one of Africa’s most unforgettable adventures with a hot air balloon safari above the Maasai Mara. Drift silently over the awakening savannah before celebrating your flight with a traditional champagne bush breakfast.
Later, continue exploring the reserve during afternoon game drives, discovering new corners of this remarkable wilderness and searching for the incredible wildlife that calls the Mara home.
As evening falls, gather around the campfire for another memorable night in the African bush.
Overnight: Maasai Mara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Welcome to Rwanda
This morning, fly to Kigali, one of Africa’s cleanest and most vibrant capital cities. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided introduction to Rwanda’s remarkable story of resilience, innovation, and conservation before settling into your elegant hotel.
Depending on your arrival time, there may be an opportunity to visit local artisan markets or enjoy the city’s thriving culinary scene.
Tomorrow, you’ll journey into the mist-covered Virunga Mountains, home to the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Overnight: Kigali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Into the Virunga Mountains
After breakfast, travel through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside to Volcanoes National Park, where rolling hills gradually give way to the dramatic volcanic peaks of the Virunga range.
Along the journey, gain insight into Rwanda’s internationally recognized conservation efforts that have helped protect the endangered mountain gorilla while creating meaningful benefits for surrounding communities.
Arrive at your luxury lodge nestled along the forest’s edge and spend the remainder of the day relaxing and preparing for tomorrow’s life-changing gorilla trek.
Overnight: Volcanoes National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Today is the highlight of your East African journey. After an early breakfast and briefing by park rangers, venture into the rainforest in search of one of the world’s last remaining families of endangered mountain gorillas.
Guided by experienced trackers, your trek may take you through bamboo forests, dense vegetation, and mountain slopes before culminating in an unforgettable hour spent observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Watching gorillas interact with one another is an experience few travelers ever forget.
Return to your lodge this afternoon to relax and celebrate one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters on Earth.
Overnight: Volcanoes National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Farewell to East Africa
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before returning to Kigali for your international departure.
As your journey comes to a close, reflect on an extraordinary adventure spanning four of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations—from the endless plains of Tanzania and Kenya to the mist-covered mountains of Rwanda. The memories of unforgettable safaris, remarkable landscapes, and your intimate encounter with the mountain gorillas will remain with you long after you return home.
Meals: Breakfast
