16 Days Highlights Of Africa Best Itinerary For First Timers.

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda On your 16 Days Highlights Of Africa, Touring Serengeti in Tanzania, Zanzibar Beach Holiday, Victoria Falls Experience, and Chobe National Park Game drives on your 16 Days Highlights Of Africa Safari Tour.

Tour Overview

This 16-day highlight of Africa starts in Kigali and ends in Kasane. The trip will take you to Volcanoes National Park and while there, you will have fun meeting the mountain gorillas that share 99% of DNA with humans. You will have a great time meeting the gentle giants during the gorilla trek. While on this tour, you will go Golden Monkey trekking. This trip will also offer you an opportunity to explore Kigali city with a city tour, including visiting the genocide memorial and the Belgium museum. On the sixth day of the adventure, you will proceed to Serengeti National Park where you will have a great time meeting the wildebeests and wildlife. This adventure will continue to Zanzibar where you will participate in water activities and enjoy the beach life.

The 16 Days Highlights Of Africa will continue to Victoria Falls which is the world’s greatest falling water and is one of the Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. While at Victoria Falls, you will go for the sunset dinner cruise along the river Zambezi. The cruise will go down to River Zambezi so you will likely see hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife while having cocktails. You will go for the Victoria Falls helicopter flight which is the best way to view Victoria Falls from the sky.

Finally, the 16 Days Highlights Of Africa will take you to Chobe National Park, and while there, you will take a 2-3 hour scenic boat trip on the Chobe River. One of the best ways to view animals is from a riverboat on the Chobe. You will also go for a game drive which will offer an opportunity to see the big cats and wild canines.

Safari Gallery: 16 Days Highlights Of Africa.

Detailed itinerary: 16 Days Highlights Of Africa

Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport.

Upon arrival, you will be met and greeted by your English-speaking driver guide. He will briefly take you through the trip plan and then transfer you to the hotel in Kigali for relaxation and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Governor’s residence (Luxury)/ Hotel Des Mille Collin (Midrange)

Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Kigali city tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, you will visit the firehouse which is the area where the plane that was carrying President Habyarima was brought down, that late sparked the famous 1994 Rwanda genocide. You will also visit the Gisozi Genocide Museum where you will learn more about what transpired during the April 1994 genocide that claimed 1000s of lives. After the city tour, you will check out at the lodge and transfer to Volcanoes National Park where you will check in at the lodge upon arrival.

Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 3: Gorilla trekking and Cultural tour

In the morning, you will an early enjoy breakfast at the lodge early and pack for a day in the park: water, jacket, camera, and a packed lunch. you will start at the park headquarters at 7:00 am to check in and learn about the park and different gorilla families.  After a briefing together with your trekking guide, it is a brief drive to the forest trail to begin the trek. While hiking to the gorillas you will enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the rainforest. After enjoying a majestic one-hour stay with the gorillas, you hike back out of the park for lunch. After lunch, you will be driven to of Ibwiwachu community the gorilla guidance community. This afternoon you will visit the Ibwiwachu community where you will be introduced to traditional Rwanda through traditional; dances, poems, and dressing codes among others.

Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 4: Golden monkey trekking and boat ride along the Twin Lakes

Wake up for early breakfast and transfer to the park head offices in Kinigi by 7.00 am. Join up with the other Golden Monkeys trekkers, meet the ranger guide for a few minutes talk about the activity and the park, and by 8.00 am you transfer to the trailhead just outside the park. Enjoy great views of the mountain scenery as you start your trek into the park to find the golden monkeys. The golden monkeys live near the edge of the park in the bamboo forests where the ground is relatively flat and easy to trek.

Find the monkeys and follow them as they feed, notice how they skilfully pick the young bamboo leaves from the tip of the bamboo tree. They may also move out of the park into the potato fields and how they love the potatoes! Afterward, head back to your Lodge for lunch, and in the afternoon head to the twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo. Their deep blue waters ringed by steep hills and tall waterfalls with the outlines of the nearby Virunga Volcanoes provide a spectacular backdrop overnight.

Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 5 Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kilimanjaro

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and transfer to the airport for your flight to Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro, our guide will transfer you to the hotel in Arusha for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mount Meru hotel (Luxury)/ Tulia boutique hotel (Midrange)

Meal plan: Bed & breakfast

Day 6: Fly to Serengeti national park

After breakfast, you will be driven to the airport for your flight to the flight to Serengeti National Park. Tanzania’s oldest and most frequently visited national park and also a world heritage site which was recently branded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  Serengeti National Park is celebrated for the yearly migration of the herds and the ever-growing wildlife population. We will enjoy a picnic lunch on one of the kopjes (rock outcropping). Our game drive will set off further into the park. After the game drive, we will proceed to the lodge for dinner, relaxation, and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Serengeti Serena lodge (Luxury)/ Serengeti Heritage (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 7: Full-day game drive

After an early breakfast, with the help of your guide, you will continue with your 16 Days Highlights Of Africa Tour and depart for a full-day game drive to explore the majestic Serengeti.

The day will start in the center of the majestic Serengeti. Since we have a full-day game drive, you will probably see hundreds of the different animals that are harbored by the Serengeti’s endless plains. This day will probably offer you sightings of the African mammals that make the park famous- lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs, and water buffalo, all within a few feet of the jeep. Visitors will also have the chance to view some of the park’s lesser-known, but equally majestic animals including, elands, hyenas, gazelles, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, and antelope.

Depending on the time of year, visitors will also have the chance to view thousands of zebras and wildebeest on their Great Migration. The hundreds of bird species, both endemic and migrating from the Eurasian region, are a special bonus for bird-watchers. Guests will enjoy a fresh and delicious dinner, at another spot well-known for animal sightings.

After the game drives, you will be driven back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Serengeti Serena lodge (Luxury)/ Serengeti Heritage (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day: 8: Fly to Zanzibar

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and transfer to the airport for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel by our guide.

Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Zanzibar Bay resort (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 9: Spice farm and Jozani forest trip

Today you go on an excursion to the spice and fruit plantations close to Stone Town for the famous Spice Tour. We have developed a special Spice Tour with in-depth information not only about spices, but also about organically grown herbs and a detailed description of their traditional uses in medicine cosmetics, and cooking. After the tour, we invite you for an opulent lunch at our guides’ home, where you can taste the spices and fruits. After experiencing all about the spice tour you will be back at the hotel for your hot lunch.
on the way you pass Jozani Forest, the last habitat of the rare endemic Red Colobus Monkey. With a local guide, you stroll through Jozani Chwaka National Park and look at the rare monkeys. If you wish you can even wander down the boardwalk to the fascinating Mangrove Ecosystem.

Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Zanzibar Bay resort (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board 

Day 10: Full day at leisure.

On this day, you will take part in the hotel’s house games and activities such as relaxing at the beach, swimming, gyming, and massage.

Accommodation: The residence Zanzibar (Luxury)/ Zanzibar Bay resort (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 11: Fly to Victoria Falls.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and continue with your 16 Days Highlights Of Africa Safari Tour, drive to the airport for your flight to Victoria Falls. Upon arrival at the airport, the driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel for relaxation, overnight stay, and dinner.

Accommodation: Victoria falls hotel (Luxury)/ N I hotel & campsite Victoria falls (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 12: Walk to the falls and sunset cruise on the river Zambezi

After breakfast, you will head out to explore Victoria Falls on a 2-hour walking tour.  While on this tour, you will discover one of the world’s most magnificent waterfalls. Victoria Falls is listed as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. After the walk to the top of the falls, you will head back to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will go for the sunset dinner cruise along river Zambezi. The cruise will go down to River Zambezi so you will likely see hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife while having cocktails. After the sunset cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner, relaxation, and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Victoria falls hotel (Luxury)/ N I hotel & campsite Victoria falls (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 13: Cross to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe side with a walk to the falls & evening Boma food cuisine festival

After breakfast, you will cross to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe side for the walk to the falls. During this walk, you will head out to explore the Victoria Falls on a 2-hour walking tour.  While on this tour, you will discover one of the world’s most magnificent waterfalls. After the walk to the falls, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation in preparation for the Boma food cuisine festival in the evening.

During the Boma food cuisine festival, you will experience the essence of Africa. You will enjoy the mouth-watering feast featuring Zimbabwean specialties like game meats and hearty stews. The adventurous eater can also dive into some Mopani worms. While dining under the stars in a lively atmosphere, you will feel the rhythm of African drums beating in the air.

If you feel like you can join the fun with interactive drumming sessions where you will take part in the music and dance. This event blends food, music, and culture and offers you an engaging and memorable taste of African traditions and entertainment.

Accommodation: Victoria falls hotel (Luxury)/ N I hotel & campsite Victoria falls (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 14: Drive to Chobe with a game drive and sunset boat cruise

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and transfer to Chobe National Park. The distance from Livingstone to Chobe National Park is 60 kilometers. Upon arrival at the park, you will go for a mid-morning game drive. Big cats and wild canines are more likely to be sighted around this time of day because they are still active and out and about. After the game drive, you will have lunch in preparation for your sunset boat cruise.

In the afternoon, you will be driven to the docking point to board the boat and start the 3-hour sunset boat cruise into the Chobe National Park. The river cruise is considered one of the highlights of the trip as the clients get the opportunity to get up close and personal with fantastic bird life, hippos, crocodiles, and of course scores of elephants and Cape buffalo that make their way down to the river to quench their thirst. After the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Cresta Mowana resort (Luxury)/ Sandpiper villas (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 15: Game drive at Chobe National Park

Have the morning at leisure and take part in hotel in-house activities like swimming. After lunch, you will embark on the afternoon game drive. You will take our specially adapted open 4X4 vehicles. Drives are along the waterfront where animals assemble to quench their thirst. Commonly sighted animals are elephants, buffaloes, eland and elephants. Leopards are more difficult to see but if lucky, you can see them. This is a unique chance to experience some of the best game viewing in Africa.

Accommodation: Cresta Mowana resort (Luxury)/ Sandpiper villas (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 16: Transfer to the airport for your flight.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and transfer to the airport for your international back home.

End of your 16 Days Highlights Of Africa

16 Days Highlights Of Africa Inclusions

• Transportation
• English speaking guide
• Accommodation as mentioned above
• Meals as mentioned above
• Gorilla permit
• Golden monkey permit
• City tour
• Park entrance fees
• Game drives
• Boat cruises
• Spice farm trip
• Jozani forest trip
• All transfers
• All activities mentioned above

16 Days Highlights Of Africa Excludes

• Air tickets
• Visa fees
• Personal expenses
• Tips & gratuities
• All activities not mentioned in the itinerary