TANZANIA · RWANDA · UGANDA · 15 DAYS · AUG 22–SEP 5, 2027
Witness the Mara River crossings in the Serengeti, then trek mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Uganda. Two of Africa's greatest wildlife spectacles in one small-group journey.
From US$7,100 per person
Dates
Aug 22 – Sep 5, 2027
Wildlife
Big Five, migration, gorillas
Group size
2–6 travelers
Join part of it
Safari or gorillas only
Late August is prime time for the Great Migration in the northern Serengeti, when wildebeest and zebra brave the crocodile-filled Mara River. This tour pairs a classic Tanzania safari through Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti with time at the inspiring School of St Jude, before flying to Rwanda for golden monkeys and gorillas in Uganda.
Highlights
✓ Game drives in Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti
✓ A migration camp near the Mara River crossings
✓ A day at the School of St Jude, including a student home visit
✓ Golden monkey and gorilla treks from Lake Mutanda
✓ Half of our profits keep disadvantaged students in school
Your safari starts at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania, and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. Safari timings are flexible and follow the wildlife.
Accommodation: School of St Jude guesthouse
Transport: Airport transfer
Meals: Lunch & dinner
Not included: International flight to Kilimanjaro (check flights on Google Flights)
Arrive at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to the School of St Jude, where you'll stay in comfortable guesthouse rooms.
Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge, Karatu
Activities: Game drive in Tarangire, national park and conservation fees, experienced English-speaking safari guide
Transport: Luxury 4WD safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch & dinner
Drive to Tarangire, famous for its huge elephant herds and baobab trees, for a game drive and picnic lunch by the river. Overnight at Marera Valley Lodge, Karatu.
Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem. The Tarangire River winds through the park and supports lion, cheetah, leopard, wildebeest, zebra, oryx, impala, gazelle and more than 450 bird species.
Our favorite thing about Tarangire? The huge herds of elephants.
Accommodation: Tented camp, Central Serengeti
Activities: Morning game drive in the crater, national park and conservation fees, experienced English-speaking safari guide
Transport: Luxury 4WD safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Not included: Optional Maasai village visit (about US$50 per vehicle, paid in cash)
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive among some of Africa's densest wildlife, then continue to the Central Serengeti, with an optional Maasai village visit on the way.
Up early, you drive to the Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic lunch for a morning safari. The crater is one of the most unique game parks in Africa, with an other-worldly feel, 2,000-foot (600m) walls and some of the best big game spotting anywhere.
After lunch you start the drive to the Serengeti, with the option to stop at a Maasai boma (village) on the way. The Maasai are a semi-nomadic people known for their colorful clothing, traditions and large herds of cattle, sheep and goats. Take a tour of the boma, see inside a traditional mud hut and meet the families who live there. Entry is paid in cash at the gate (about US$50 per vehicle).
Accommodation: Tented camp, Central Serengeti
Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives, national park and conservation fees, experienced English-speaking safari guide
Transport: Luxury 4WD safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Morning and afternoon game drives across the Serengeti's open plains, home to lions, cheetahs and elephants year-round.
Accommodation: Migration camp, Northern Serengeti
Activities: Game drive, national park and conservation fees, experienced English-speaking safari guide
Transport: Luxury 4WD safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Game drive north to your migration camp near the Mara River, a front-row seat to the action.
Accommodation: Migration camp, Northern Serengeti
Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives, national park and conservation fees, experienced English-speaking safari guide
Transport: Luxury 4WD safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Spend the day searching for river crossings, as herds of wildebeest and zebra plunge past waiting crocodiles.
Accommodation: School of St Jude guesthouse
Activities: Morning game drive, national park and conservation fees, experienced English-speaking safari guide
Transport: Luxury 4WD safari vehicle, flight from the Serengeti to Arusha
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
A final morning game drive, then a scenic light-aircraft flight back to Arusha and the School of St Jude.
Accommodation: School of St Jude guesthouse
Activities: School tour, student home visit
Transport: Transfers to and from the home visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Tour the school, join a music or art class, share lunch with students and visit a student's family at home. A heart-warming look at how education is changing lives.
Today you immerse yourself in the life-changing School of St Jude. Tour the school, meet the students, join an art or music class and visit the home of a bright young student. If you sponsor a student, you'll visit your sponsored student at home, so ask us how to sponsor.
It's a heart-warming day that introduces you to Tanzanian culture: you'll learn a little Swahili, try some local food and see the difference your trip makes, as half of our profits help keep disadvantaged children in school.
Accommodation: Boutique hotel, Kigali
Transport: Airport transfer
Meals: Breakfast
Not included: Flight from Kilimanjaro to Kigali (check flights on Google Flights)
Fly from Kilimanjaro to Kigali, where your driver-guide meets you and takes you to your boutique hotel.
Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort
Transport: Private 4WD vehicle
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
An optional morning visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, then drive through the hills into Uganda and on to Lake Mutanda. The drive takes about 4–6 hours and includes an international border crossing, where you exit Rwanda and enter Uganda.
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a powerful and moving visit that offers insight into Rwanda's history, its resilience and its remarkable journey of reconciliation.
Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort
Activities: Guided golden monkey trek, golden monkey permit
Transport: Private 4WD vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch & dinner
Track golden monkeys through the bamboo forests of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort
Activities: Guided gorilla trek, gorilla permit and park fees
Transport: Private 4WD vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch & dinner
Trek into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for an unforgettable hour with a mountain gorilla family.
How long you trek depends on how far away the gorillas are, and can be anywhere from 1 to 6 hours. We do our best to send you to one of the closer, easier-to-reach families.
The trek is often through thick forest, so wear hiking boots, a long-sleeved shirt and hiking pants. You'll also need rain gear. We send you a full packing list when you register, and our fitness and packing guide has more tips.
Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Kayak, swim or simply relax with views of the Virunga volcanoes.
Accommodation: Boutique hotel, Kigali
Transport: Private 4WD vehicle
Meals: Breakfast
Drive back to Kigali in the morning. The drive takes about 4–6 hours and includes an international border crossing, where you exit Uganda and enter Rwanda. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the city.
Transport: Transfer to Kigali International Airport
Meals: Breakfast
Not included: Flight home from Kigali (check flights on Google Flights)
Transfer to Kigali International Airport for your flight home.
Want to make it your own?
Arrive early, stay on for a beach break or add extra activities around this departure. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll tailor it for you.
per person · 2 travelers US$9,200
per person · up to US$5,900
per person · up to US$3,300
US$9,200
US$8,500
US$7,800
US$7,400
US$7,100
US$700
US$600
All prices are per person, twin share, in US dollars.
✓ All accommodation as listed
✓ Private 4WD safari vehicle and expert guide
✓ Park fees, gorilla and golden monkey permits
✓ Serengeti to Arusha flight
✓ School of St Jude visit and home visit
✓ Airport transfers and meals as listed
✗ International flights to Kilimanjaro (check flights on Google Flights) and home from Kigali (check flights on Google Flights)
✗ Flight from Kilimanjaro to Kigali (check flights on Google Flights)
✗ Visas and travel insurance (compulsory)
✗ Porters, tips and personal spending
✗ Optional activities and Maasai village entry
“Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda!!! They did not disappoint!… The cultural immersion and connection to local people was very special and something we will treasure. We always felt safe and at ease.”
“We had the most incredible five week experience in Africa made all the better by the professionalism, personalized attention and great organization of Nate and his local teams… everything went smoothly.”
Places are limited and gorilla permits sell out early. Ask us to hold a spot or join just the safari or gorilla section.
Inquire now