Signature Trans Africa Safari: Rwanda, Tanzania, Victoria Falls and Botswana

Tourists of safari watching an elephant cross the river in Chobe National Park, Botswana

What to expect on this itinerary

Africa’s great safari experiences vary wildly, yet they all share an authenticity that goes beyond the imagination. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, the elephants of Chobe, the herds in the Serengeti, the Big Five of Ngorongoro, the Okavango oasis and the spectacle of Victoria Falls each bring unique perspectives and experiences. With a span of four countries and 18 days, this safari will showcase the continent’s major highlights for the ultimate first-time adventure into a continent untouched, and you will be amazed by how close you get.

Countries Visited

Botswana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia

Places Visited

Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Kigali, National Genocide Memorial, Volcanoes National Park, Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve

Suggested Duration

18 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Arusha - Arrive Beneath Mount Kilimanjaro

Relax on the lodge verandah as you settle into your first night in East Africa. Bushbabies are hooting, their strange shouts echoing from the forest while Mount Kilimanjaro glistens in the distance, its snowy peak clearing of clouds as sunset approaches. A garden of tea and exotic flowers extends below, with your view continuing further into a raw and dusty valley. Your safari has not yet started, but you can immediately feel the allure of nature and the atmosphere of a landscape so alien from what you would have seen before. After a greeting at Kilimanjaro Airport, the lodge is a short transfer away, where dinner is included, and the bushbabies keep you company after dark.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Dinner
Day 2

Ngorongoro Crater - Walk Past Baboons and Tree-Climbing Lions to the Crater

Day 3

Ngorongoro Crater - A Sublime Morning Safari in Africa’s Eden

Day 4

Serengeti National Park - Tracking the Predators and the Herds

Day 5

Serengeti National Park - Slow Game Drives Through the Serengeti

Day 6

Serengeti National Park - Exploring the Central Serengeti

Day 7

Volcanoes National Park - Game Drive, Moving History, and Onwards to the Gorillas

Day 8

Volcanoes National Park - An Astonishing Gorilla Trekking Experience

Day 9

Livingstone - A Second Gorilla Trek and Overnight Flight

Day 10

Livingstone - Travel and Rest by the Smoke That Thunders

Day 11

Livingstone - Helicopter Above Victoria Falls and Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi

Day 12

Chobe National Park - Surrounded by the Elephants

Day 13

Chobe National Park - Morning, Afternoon, or Evening Drives

Day 14

Linyanti Concession - The Intimacy of Private Concession Safari

Day 15

Linyanti Concession - Experience the African Bush at Your Pace

Day 16

Moremi Game Reserve - Spectacular Flight Over the Delta

Day 17

Moremi Game Reserve - Final Big-Game Safari Memoirs

Day 18

Maun - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Stand before a troop of wild mountain gorillas, amazed at how close you get to the world’s largest primates and then return the next day for a second gorilla trekking experience
  • Spend several days exploring the vast grasslands of the Serengeti, in awe at the size of the herds and your intimacy with the predators
  • Helicopter above Victoria Falls and then cruise along the Zambezi River as the hippos come out to graze at sunset
  • Be surrounded by pachyderms in Botswana’s Chobe National Park, home of the world’s greatest abundance of elephants as some researchers believe there are more than 100,000 in the region
  • Descend into Africa’s most surreal environment with a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater, an authentic way to experience Africa’s Big Five
  • Gain a sense of history and perspective in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, where the stories can be heartwarming as well as haunting
  • Experience the thrill of a private concession safari with a couple of days in Botswana’s Linyanti Concession, for a remarkably close view of Africa’s most famous mammals
  • Fly over the epic Okavango Delta, and then settle into a two-day safari in the heart of the oasis, Moremi Game Reserve
  • Make incredible memories as your African adventure is about the journey, and there are many memoirs on route including the baboons and tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara, the charms of the Land of a Thousand Hills and the rivers that preserve so much life on the continent

Starting Price

$32,200 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1013 reviews

Carolyn T.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe Trip Review: Wildlife, Local Cuisine, 13-Day Trip

Wow, I ran out of superlatives–fantastic, awesome, amazing. Everything was well organized and the recommended accommodations were all top-notch. The guides were so expert in their field. Every activity was well worth the time. Every meal was delicious.

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Scott K.
Tanzania, Kenya Vacation Review: Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Maasai Mara, Zanzibar, Nairobi, Elephant Experience, Wildlife, Nature, 16-Day Trip

The trip to Kenya and Tanzania was absolutely amazing! The itinerary chosen for us was perfect and checked off all the things I wanted to accomplish on our first safari. Zicasso's tour agency was the best to work with. They offered great suggestions and were very responsive to all our questions and concerns!

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Glen B.
Tanzania Tour Review: 11 Nights

We had a wonderful time in Tanzania. Zicasso's travel expert and her support staff provided all the necessary information we needed. Our driver in Tanzania was friendly and well informed.

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Judy E.
Kenya, Tanzania Tour Review: Wildlife, Plane Rides, 2 Weeks

We received excellent communication from Zicasso's travel agents. They were very prompt and proactive. The itinerary was prepared to meet our requests and matched our interests. Comprehensive planning and preparation for the trip were provided and all logistics were taken care of.

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Anil M.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Tour Review: 10 Nights

Our first trip to southern Africa was amazing, exceeding all expectations. We saw everything we came to see, and more. The game rides were well structured and safe, the visuals were unbelievable, and taking a side trip to Victoria Falls was a great idea. The accommodations were quite luxurious, despite being considered mid-range. There was always someone there to greet us and guide us at every travel point.

Zicasso's tour operator tailored our itinerary to our wishes and was wonderful to work with. Things couldn’t have gone better.

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John G.
Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania Vacation Review: Great Migration, 12 Nights

We can't speak highly enough about using Zicasso's travel specialist and her company. They put together a complicated package covering three completely separate areas and were able to connect us with local guides in each place. The guides they worked with were all fabulous, as were the locations we stayed at.

At one point, the airline that was handling our trip out changed the flight due to local conditions. I learned of this first through our specialist, who was immediately on the situation and kept us apprised of the change. The company provided us with an online portal that covered every part of our trip. It was constantly updated and we always knew who the next contact was in the new area.

Throughout the process, we had constant questions and changes. Our travel company was very pleasant and accommodating of our concerns. Their work was in the middle of a larger trip. Even though they were not handling the stops before and after their portion, they were more than happy to help out with those portions and added that information to our itinerary at no cost.

In a word, they were fabulous. If you want more detail on their work and my unqualified recommendation of them, please reach out and I'm happy to provide you with more information.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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