Best of Tanzania and Rwanda Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival in Kigali
Upon arrival in Kigali, you'll be met by your Shadows of Africa driver and begin the ninety minute drive to Musanze, Rwanda's second largest city. Located in the foothills surrounding the famous Volcanoes National Park, Musanze is a dynamic town with a variety of dining and entertainment options.
Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to visit one of the local lakes or participate in cultural activities at the nearby Red Rocks Cultural Centre.
DAY 2: Gorilla Trekking
After an early breakfast at your hotel, you'll proceed directly to the Volcanoes National Park's headquarters to meet your guides. After completing the briefing, we'll embark on the once in a lifetime experience of tracking the enigmatic mountain gorillas.
There is no guarantee how long or difficult your tracking experience will be as it depends on where the family of gorillas is and on weather conditions, and it can take anywhere from two up to six hours of trekking through the mountain forest at relatively high altitudes. Fitness is definitely recommended for those wishing to undertake the excursion.
One of the most memorable experiences you're likely to ever have, you'll be allowed an hour of close contact with the gorillas once you've found them. You'll be privileged enough to come within mere metres of a family of these rare and beautiful animals, observing their family dynamics and getting to learn a bit about each gorilla's distinct personality in serene silence.
Once your time with the gorillas is done, you'll return to your hotel for lunch.
If time allows, you may wish to pay a visit to the nearby Twin Lakes or to the Iby Iwacu Cultural Village during the afternoon. You may, of course, simply wish to relax at your lodge.
DAY 3: Kigali - Arusha
You'll return to Kigali in time for lunch in the Rwandan capital before participating in a complimentary city tour including the Genocide Memorial, the Presidential Palace Museum, and the local craft markets.
The opportunity to have lunch at the famous Miles Collins Hotel (Hotel Rwanda) is also a highlight of your day.
You'll fly to Tanzania's Kilimanjaro Airport in the afternoon/early evening and overnight in Arusha.
DAY 4: 
Departing from Arusha at 8am, the two hour drive to Lake Manyara takes you through the farming and market town of Mto Wa Mbu where souvenir hunters can practice their bartering skills with the local people
From here, we enter Lake Manywara National Park where photographers are in for a real treat. The park is teeming with wildlife including the world famous tree climbing lions, thousands of brightly coloured flamingos, and the largest baboon troops in Africa. Witness the sun setting over the Great Rift Valley as your day comes to an end, before retiring to your accommodation for the evening.
Dinner and overnight in the campsite/lodge according to the type of accommodation options requested.
DAY 5: Ngorongoro
After breakfast, we will proceed to Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day game drive.
Seen by many as the 8th Natural Wonder of the World, Ngorogoro Crater offers an unparralled opportunity to see the Big 5 in the wild. After a brief stop at the lip of the crater to take in the stunning panoramic view of the ancient caledera, we'll wind our way down to the valley floor where more than 120 species of mammals can be found. Ngorogoro Crater offers unmatched opportunities to see hippos wallowing in shady pools, vast flocks of flamingos feeding in shallow salt lakes, and even the chance to see the elusive black rhinoceros.
Bird-watchers will be amazed by the sheer variety of birds that call the crater home, while the vast herds of herbivores attract predators such as the cheetah and lion in numbers. Your guide will be an invaluable help to you during your day, spotting animals from some distance away and ensuring you get to see the many wild and wonderful animals that call the crater home.
DAY 6 - Tarangire National Park
You'll pay a visit to Tanzania's most underrated park on your way back to Arusha, spending the day exploring the park with Tanzania's largest elephant population.
It's not just elephants who call the beautiful park home, with baboons, lions, giraffes, zebra, pythons, antelopes, and more also calling this park home. After a picnic lunch in the park, you'll return to Arusha.
