Trip Itinerary
Arusha
Your journey begins at Arusha Coffee Lodge, a plantation-style lodge. Set on the outskirts of a working coffee estate, it’s an ideal spot to acclimatise before the Serengeti, with tropical gardens, friendly service, and all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay. The accommodations are tucked amongst coffee trees, each featuring a cosy log fire to ward off the chill of the highland evenings. At the main Plantation House, you can choose between an à la carte restaurant and a relaxed, all-day bistro with a pizza oven. Whether you’re browsing the artisan produce of the ‘Shanga’ shop, swimming in the outdoor pool, or enjoying a restorative massage, Arusha Coffee Lodge is a great place to spend a night before heading off on safari, conveniently located just a short distance from Arusha town and the airport.
The Serengeti
Wilderness Usawa is a mobile tented camp experience that aims to strategically position itself for the Great Migration. With access to nine key sites across the Serengeti, far removed from the busier areas, you’ll be in prime game-viewing territory while managing to avoid the peak-season safari crowds. This set-up gives you access to the centre of the migratory action while enjoying more privacy than at many other mobile migration camps. Here, you’ll go on morning and afternoon game drives, seeking out the Big Five and any other species that cross your path! Another stand-out of Usawa is its access to designated walking zones, where, unlike with most Serengeti camps, you can set off on guided walking safaris directly from camp at any of its locations. On these walks, you can focus on the smaller details of the bush, from animal tracks, plants, and insects, to discovering the Serengeti’s colourful birdlife. Depending on the weather and your camp's location, you could also take to the skies on a sunrise hot air balloon excursion (at an additional cost) for an aerial perspective of the Serengeti plains. Whichever way your days unfold, Usawa is an intimate, authentic base from which to explore one of Africa’s most formidable national parks.
Volcanoes National Park
Your journey ends with four nights at Wilderness Sabyinyo, Rwanda’s first community-owned lodge. Located just a short drive from the Volcanoes National Park headquarters, this puts you in an incredibly convenient position for gorilla trekking. The lodge has all the warmth and charm of a stylish country farmhouse, with a wonderful team on hand to take care of your every need. Guest cottages feature private verandas and warming fireplaces, with thoughtful touches like hot water bottles tucked into your bed and a boot-cleaning service that ensures you are ready for each new day on the muddy forest slopes. As you’ll spend four nights here, you have ample time to explore! Nothing quite prepares you for the delight of a gorilla encounter, where you’ll spend an hour observing the human-like qualities of these gentle giants. For a gentler pace, you can also track endemic golden monkeys on the lower slopes, visit Dian Fossey’s research site, or explore the scenic twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Since the lodge is owned by the Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association (SACOLA), your stay directly benefits the local community.
