12 Days Wildebeest Migration & Congo Safari (Ends in Rwanda)

12 Days Wildebeest Migration & Congo Safari features Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya and Serengeti national park in Tanzania to experience the great wildebeest migration in either of the park depending on your time of travel. Wildebeest Migration experience is a “ must do” activity for anyone who is interested in wildlife in both Kenya and Tanzania. This trip allows you to enjoy the great wildebeest migration in either Masai Mara national reserve or Serengeti national park but not both. People all over the world travel to either Kenya or Tanzania to witness a live movement of animals mainly about 1.5 million wildebeest and thousands of Zebras, gazelles and elands for purposes of searching for water and pasture. This activity takes place throughout the year in the Serengeti eco-system, a 40,000 square mile area defined by Masai Mara national reserve in the north, Ndutu in the south, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Maswa Game reserve in Tanzania. While in Masai Mara, the wildebeest migration is best experienced from the month of July to August and remains until October when they return to Serengeti national park, in Serengeti national park, the migration is best experienced from the month of December to May, keeping in mind that the migration is driven by rains which are unpredictable so the migration is not guaranteed for a specific month and doesn’t operate on a set schedule.

This safari features Virunga’s Le Petit Mikeno package which is a luxury gorilla package provided by Virunga national park. Le Petit Virunga package includes the three nights’ stay in Virunga National Park: two nights’ accommodation at Mikeno Lodge, Mountain gorilla trek, Volcano trek and one night on Nyiragongo volcano. This package departs Goma 13:00 am on Fridays so visitors must ensure they are in Goma by the provided time.

Safari highlights of the 12 Days Wildebeest Migration & Congo Safari

• Day 1: Pick-up Nairobi – Transfer to Masai Mara

• Day 2: Masai Mara full day game drive

• Day 3: Morning game drive and Transfer to Serengeti National park

• Day 4: Serengeti national park full day game drive

• Day 5: Transfer to Ngorongoro conservation area  – Explore the crater

• Day 6: Transfer to Arusha

• Day 7: Fly to Kigali – Rwanda

• Day 8: Transfer to Virunga national park – Congo

• Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience

• Day 10: Hike mount Nyiragongo

• Day 11: Descend and transfer to Gisenyi – Rwanda

• Day 12: Transfer back to Kigali/Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick-up Nairobi – Transfer to Masai Mara national reserve

• Pick-up Nairobi: This safari starts with your pick-up in Nairobi – Kenya, you are recommended to book a flight a day before this first day of your safari. Book your own accommodation in Nairobi and advise where you will be staying for an early morning pick-up.

• Transfer to Masai Mara: Depending on your location in Nairobi, you will be met by our company safari guide who will help with you your luggage and also brief you about your Safari. Then set off to connect to Masai Mara national reserve.  Masai Mara national reserve covers an area of about 1,510 square kilometres in the south-western part of Kenya. It is also in the northern most section of the Masai – Serengeti ecosystem bordering Serengeti national park in the south, Siria escarpments in the west and Masai pastoral ranches in the North, East and West. Together with Serengeti national park, Masai Mara forms Africa’s most fascinating and interesting eco-systems and world’s top big game eco-system.

• It is a 5-6 hours’ drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara with en-route visit of the Masai community market, proceed to enter the park and connect to your lodge for lunch after check-in. Later evening, connect for a game drive in the wild plains of the Masai Mara to find some of the predators including the lions, leopards, cheetahs, and other animals like the elephants, buffaloes, Hyenas,  Thompson’s gazelle to mention but a few. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

• Luxury option: Masai Sopa lodge

• Mid-range option: Mara Simba lodge

• Budget option: Ol Moran tented camp

Day 2: Masai Mara full day game drive

• Masai Mara full day game drive: Wake up early for your breakfast and set off to explore the Masai Mara plains for game drive that will get you quite close to different wildlife species in big numbers. From solitary buffaloes to copulating lions, birds and small game of all types; you will see it all on a game drive in Masai Mara! Be keen enough as you observe the popularly known wildebeest migration from Serengeti crossing to Masai Mara via Mara River. This migration only takes place in July to October. Animals such as the wildebeest, Zebras, Lions, Cheetah, Elephants, Hyenas, Thompson’s gazelle to mention but a few can be spotted. After your game drive, drive to sleep at one of the lodges closer to Oloololo gate. Dinner and overnight stay at;

• Luxury option: Mara Serena lodge

• Mid-range option: Mara River lodge

• Budget option: Mara camp

Day 3: Morning Game drive and transfer Serengeti National Park

• Morning Game drive: After breakfast, connect for an early morning game drive to explore some of the missed animals. Thereafter, embark on your journey to Serengeti national park. It is about 8-9 hours’ drive crossing via Isabenia border.

• transfer Serengeti National Park: Upon crossing the border and finalising with the customs office with clearance, you’re your Tanzania safari guide to proceed to Serengeti national park.  and continue to your accommodation with en-route game drive as you enjoy the plains of Serengeti. Serengeti national park is a home of the big five game and other wildlife and it is best known for its wildebeest migration that happens every year. Dinner and overnight at your booked accommodation at

• Luxury option: Serengeti Serena Lodge/Mbalangeti lodge

• Mid-range option: Osinon Camps and lodges/Serengeti Heritage lodge

• Budget option: Ikoma Safari Camp

Day 4: Serengeti National Park – Full day game drive

• Serengeti National Park – Full day game drive: After breakfast, you will drive to Central Serengeti for game drive for a full day game drive. This area has a lot of animals to explore at your disposal with your picnic lunch. Expect to have an opportunity of seeing the big five game (Lions, Elephants, Cape buffaloes, Leopards and Rhinos), Cheetahs, Hyenas, Giraffes, different Antelopes and other wildlife. Late afternoon after your full day game drive, return to your lodge as above

Day 5: Explore Ngorongoro crater

• Explore Ngorongoro crater: After breakfast, check-out of the lodge, enjoy a brief game drive then transfer to Ngorongoro conservation area which is a home of the Ngorongoro crater formed 2.5 million years ago as a result of a volcanic mountain sinking due to inactivity. This crater is a unique and important part of the eco-system in Tanzania measuring about 22.5 kilometers across and rim walls standing at about 600meters high. The crater is actually a caldera and it’s a home of over 30,000 animals and large variety of birds which rarely move out of the crater given the availability of water throughout the year. Expect to have an opportunity of seeing the big five game (Lions, Elephants, Cape buffaloes, Leopards and Rhinos), Cheetahs, Hyenas, Giraffes, different Antelopes and other wildlife. Later in the evening, connect to your booked lodge for check-in, dinner and overnight stay;

• Luxury option: Ngorongoro Serene lodge

• Mid-range option: Ihando lodge

• Budget option: Rhino Lodge

Day 6: Transfer to Arusha

• Transfer to Arusha: After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and embark on your journey back to Arusha. It’s a 5-6 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Your safari guide will drop you off at the hotel for check-in; have dinner and overnight stay at

• Luxury option; Tulia Bontique Hotel and Spa

• Mid-range option: Mount Meru Hotel

• Budget option: Runako Hotel

Day 7: Fly to Kigali – Rwanda

• Fly to Kigali – Rwanda: Wake up early, have breakfast and depending on your flight schedule, your safari guide will pick you up and drop you off at Arusha airport for your onward flight to Kigali – Rwanda. On arrival in Kigali airport, you will meet our Rwanda safari guide. He will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Kigali city. Kigali city is one of the best and neatest cities in Africa. Proceed to Check-in your hotel for lunch and spend your afternoon at leisure relaxing at the hotel or on a city tour where you will visit Kigali genocide memorial and Kimoronko market. Dinner and overnight at;

• Luxury option: Kigali Marriot Hotel

• Mid-range option: Des Mille Collins Hotel

• Budget option: Step town motel

Day 8: Transfer to Virunga national park – Congo

• Transfer to Virunga: After breakfast, you will be picked up by your safari guide to embark on your journey to cross to Congo. Depart as early as 8 am so as to arrive Goma border by 11 am.

• After crossing to Goma, meet your Congo guide and connect to the Grande Barriere border post building by 11:30 am where the Virunga tourism office is conveniently located opposite passport control. Check-in by providing your booked gorilla and volcano trek permits. These permits must be presented before the start of each trek. After check-in, you will be transferred to your lodge. On arrival to Mikeno lodge, you will be served your lunch and spend your afternoon at leisure with incredible views of the Virunga mountains for example bird watching or take a nature walk. Dinner and overnight stay at Mikeno lodge

Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience

• Gorilla trekking experience: After breakfast, together with other guests, set off for the gorilla trekking activity by transferring to the Bukima Ranger Post and meet your Ranger guides and local posters and receive a briefing in relation to expectations required during the gorilla trek. After briefing, start the gorilla trek with your guides and porters. Gorilla trekking takes about 2-8 hours’ depending on the location of the gorilla family being visited and the difficulty of the terrains. On meeting the creatures, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour in the presence of the gorillas and be able to take pictures and videos. Later return to Bukima camp where you will connect back to your lodge and relax at the lodge with great memories of the trek.

12 Days Wildebeest Migration & Congo Safari

Day 10: Hike Mount Nyiragongo

• Hike Mount Nyiragongo: After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Kibati for about 15kms for briefing about the hike by 8 am. With your trekking gears, depart to start the hike, this is a full day hike, spending a night at the peak with great views of the boiling lava, as the experience is more effective in the night. Camp at the top of the volcano

Day 11: Descend and transfer to Gisenyi – Rwanda

• Descend and transfer to Gisenyi – Rwanda: You will descend the Volcano and head down to Kibati by 11:00 am, meet your guide and head to transfer to Goma then cross back to Rwanda – Gisenyi. Your safari guide will be waiting at the border to transfer you and check-in at a hotel around Lake Kivu, have lunch and later afternoon, spend your day at leisure relaxing at the beach or take a boat trip on some of the islands at the lake. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay

• Luxury option: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

• Mid-range option: Palm Garden Hotel

• Budget option: Paradise Malahide Hotel

Day 12: Return to Kigali/Departure

• Return to Kigali/Departure: After breakfast, transfer back to Kigali, it takes about 2-3 hours to drive from Virunga national park to Kigali. Upon arrival, you will either be dropped at your own booked hotel or dropped off at Kigali airport for your onward flight back home.