Extraordinary Journeys Offers Cheetah Sightings & Gorilla Trekking in Tanzania & Rwanda

Introducing Namiri Plains, a property set on a private concession in the Central-Eastern Serengeti that for twenty years was a private cheetah sanctuary, Extraordinary Journeys offers guests the opportunity to explore an areas with one of the highest densities of big cats (cheetah, leopards and lions) in East Africa. After the Serengeti, populations of virtually undisturbed elephants, chimpanzees and abundant Nile Perch await on Rubondo Island where all game-watching activities are eco-sensitive and a newly built treehouse at the Rubondo Island Camp offers spectacular views of the surrounding Lake Victoria. Yet perhaps nothing is as extraordinary as the chance for guests to join local trackers on a gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, the biggest sanctuary for Rwanda's rare mountain gorilla.

All Extraordinary Journeys clients who book by August 31st earn a complimentary massage at Rubondo Island Camp.

Pricing begins at $9,000 per person and includes accommodations in Tanzania: Arusha Coffee Lodge, Namiri Plains Camp (Serengeti), Rubondo Island Camp (Lake Victoria) and Rwanda: Kigali Serena Hotel and Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Package includes most meals, intra-continental transportation and most activities. Gorilla permits are an additional $750 per person, per trek. International flights are not included.

Highlights Include:

• Stay at Namiri Plains, a brand new property with exclusive access to a private concession in the Central-Eastern Serengeti, with the best cheetah viewing in Tanzania
• Stay at Rubondo Island Camp on Lake Victoria, offering a brand new treehouse and sleep out experience;
• Guided gorilla-trekking in Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda's highest concentration of rare mountain gorillas;
• Convenient flight from Arusha to the Serengeti to Kigali, enabling guests to maximize safari viewing time;
• Free massage at Rubondo for all Extraordinary Journeys clients who book by August 31st!

The adventure begins in Arusha, where guests will spend their first night in Tanzania at the cozy, boutique Arusha Coffee Lodge; 18 cottages built among coffee trees with private decks to reflect the colonial style of the original plantation homes.

The following morning they will fly to Serengeti National Park and have the unique experience of staying three nights at the brand new Namiri Plains Camp, built on a private concession that was closed to public access for twenty years! During that time, the Frankfort Zoological Society worked tirelessly to create a safe haven for cheetah breeding and research. Thanks to their efforts, today Namiri is home to many leopards, lions and the highest density of cheetah in East Africa! Guests of Namiri have exclusive access to the concession and will enjoy spotting these big cats on game drives led by expert guides and may have the opportunity to chat with local researchers who frequently join the camp dinner table to share their insights.

On the fifth day, travelers will depart the Serengeti for Mwanza, on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa's biggest lake and the source of its biggest river, the Nile. From here, they will head by boat to Rubondo Island, the largest island national park on the continent and all but untouched by man. For those seeking exceptional adventure experiences, Rubondo Island might just be the most unique destination in Africa for its wild populations of elephants, chimpanzees and iconic Nile Perch and the wide array of eco-sensitive activities available: forest walks, game-watching, birding, canoeing and catch-and-release fishing. Rubondo Island Camp has recently unveiled a brand new treehouse with spectacular views of Lake Victoria, alfresco showers and luxurious beds set right in the wilderness canopy, where guests can spend a night being lulled to sleep by the music of the rainforest.

As day eight dawns, adventurers will continue on to Rwanda where they will spend a day at Kigali, a vibrant city at Rwanda's geographical center that has grown into a thriving modern metropolis and is known to be one of the safest and friendliest of African capitals. Guests will spend the night at the five-star Kigali Serena Hotel, ideally located on one of Kigali's most charming boulevards and the perfect jumping off point to explore the city including the moving Genocide Memorial Center.

The last few days of the trip will be spent in Volcanoes National Park, set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the Virunga Mountains, and culminate in arguably one of the most profound natural history experiences in the world. Volcanoes National Park is a sanctuary for the rare mountain gorilla; there are little more than 650 of these magnificent creatures left! From their two-night base at the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, travelers may join a Gorilla Trek*, led by local guides and trackers, for the chance to observe these majestic primates in their natural habit - and maybe even the possibility of catching this once-in-a-lifetime sighting** on camera.

Returning for a last visit to Kigali on the eleventh day, visitors will spend one more night at the Kigali Serena Hotel before flying home.

For more information, please visit: https://www.extraordinaryjourneys.net/blog/serengeti-lake-victoria-rwanda-special/

*Gorilla permits are mandatory for trekking and cost $750 per person, per trek.

**Due to the nature of the wild environment, Extraordinary Journeys cannot guarantee gorilla sightings.