When is the best time to view the migration?

The prime time to visit the Serengeti in Tanzania is usually regarded as being from late November through to March when the big herds of wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelle and zebra head on to the southern plains of the Serengeti. To get the best viewing on the other hand in Kenya's Masai Mara July through to September are usually regarded as the best months.

What is the local payment?

The local payment is a separate payment from the initial price you pay before you leave. If a local payment is required it will be shown with the trip price. This second payment is made in Africa at the start of your trip. It is payable in USD. The local payment provides us with the means for expenses that need to be paid in cash to local businesses en route to be arranged in the most cost effective manner possible, a saving we can then pass on to you. It also means we can operate in a way that directly supports local businesses and wildlife authorities as we travel. Local Payment will not be changed once you have booked your travel arrangements.

How much will this tour really cost me?

The costs to consider when travelling overland are: Safari price & Local payment, Optional excursions, Personal spending money, Visas. We are always very transparent about what a tour will cost and are happy to go through personal, tailored budgets to give you a very realistic idea of what you will spend on your tour - whether you are an adrenaline junkie, souvenir-shopaholic or travelling on a shoestring…

From

NZ $5,679

Gorillas to Zanzibar

34 days

•

From Kigali to Zanzibar

4.8

2 traveler reviews

From

NZ $5,679

Find this price

+ $997 Local Payment

Payment plan $1,136 now + easy payments of $303 Learn More

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Plan your adventure:

Overland Truck
Camping
Wildlife
Gorilla Trekking
Big Five
Group
Fully Guided

Operator: Absolute Africa
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Guided in English
Group Size 4 - 28
Age range 18 to 80

Places You’ll See

Kigali
Kampala
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Naivasha
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Nairobi
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Marangu
Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

Explore Kigali and the Genocide memorial
Trek with mountain gorillas in Musanze
Embark on a chimpanzee trek in Kalinzu
Enjoy game drives and boat cruises in Mburo
Experience whitewater rafting on the White Nile

Itinerary

Expand All

Introduction

Day 1-2 RWANDA
Day 3-5 RWANDA - UGANDA
Day 6 UGANDA
Day 7-10 UGANDA
Day 11-13 UGANDA
Day 14-16 UGANDA - KENYA
Day 17-19 KENYA
Day 20-23 KENYA
Day 24 TANZANIA
Day 25-27 TANZANIA
Day 28-30 TANZANIA
Day 31-34 TANZANIA

What's Included

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Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport
Free eSIM
TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Operated by

Absolute Africa

4.5

(180 reviews)

Number of tours

Age Range

18 to 80 years old

Response time

9 hours

Response rate

100%

With over thirty years of experience running safaris from London to Cape Town...

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
Excellent
4.8
Guide
Excellent
5.0
Transport
Excellent
4.5
Accommodation
Good
3.5
Food
Excellent
5.0
Tour Operator
Absolute Africa
4.5

Nicola
· November 18th, 2015
I had such a great time. Phillips is an amazing tour leader, always there for you, and willing to help where she can - from helping put up tents, to cooking for us, to telling us where the best chappatis are. The tour is awesome. If you're looking to hit the highlights of East Africa, including seeing the gorillas in Uganda, the Masai mara, the Serengeti, then this is a great trip to do. We also found time to white water raft on the Nile and cycle in Hells Gate... Initially I was unsure about paying extra to do certain activities like the Serengeti, and I thought it would be better if it was included in the total price. After doing the trip I think differently. It gave people the option to opt into just the things/activities they wanted to do. The big yellow truck was good to travel in. Big ups to Steve, our driver. He manoeuvred that truck like it was a mini!
Show more
Absolute Africa commented on this review
Lovely to hear you had a fabulous time on your trip and thanks so much for your feedback Nicola.
Trip date: September 2015
PJ
Phil
· March 11th, 2015
Fantastic tour with great support from the guides and drivers. Started with the mountain gorilla trek, then safaris including the Masai Mara and Serengeti. Finished at the beautiful island of Zanzibar. Fond memories that will last forever.
Show more
Absolute Africa commented on this review
Thank you for such a kind review, it is lovely to hear you left the trip with such fond memories!
Trip date: February 2015

Dates & Availability

34 days

Gorillas to Zanzibar

From Kigali to Zanzibar

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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

When is the best time to view the migration?
The prime time to visit the Serengeti in Tanzania is usually regarded as being from late November through to March when the big herds of wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelle and zebra head on to the southern plains of the Serengeti.

To get the best viewing on the other hand in Kenya's Masai Mara July through to September are usually regarded as the best months.
February 19, 2016 • Other
What is the local payment?
The local payment is a separate payment from the initial price you pay before you leave. If a local payment is required it will be shown with the trip price. This second payment is made in Africa at the start of your trip. It is payable in USD. The local payment provides us with the means for expenses that need to be paid in cash to local businesses en route to be arranged in the most cost effective manner possible, a saving we can then pass on to you. It also means we can operate in a way that directly supports local businesses and wildlife authorities as we travel. Local Payment will not be changed once you have booked your travel arrangements.
February 15, 2016 • Other
How much will this tour really cost me?
The costs to consider when travelling overland are:

Safari price & Local payment,
Optional excursions,
Personal spending money,
Visas.

We are always very transparent about what a tour will cost and are happy to go through personal, tailored budgets to give you a very realistic idea of what you will spend on your tour - whether you are an adrenaline junkie, souvenir-shopaholic or travelling on a shoestring…
February 15, 2016 • Price / Availability

Good to Know

Tour ID: 57067

Currencies
Sh
Kenyan Shilling
Kenya
Fr
Rwanda Franc
Rwanda
Sh
Tanzanian Shilling
Tanzania
Sh
Uganda Shilling
Uganda
Plugs & Adapters
As a traveler from New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types G, J.
Type G
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
Type J
Rwanda
Vaccines
- These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
- Typhoid - Recommended for Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Hepatitis A - Recommended for Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Cholera - Recommended for Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
- Tuberculosis - Recommended for Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Ideally 3 months before travel.
- Hepatitis B - Recommended for Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Ideally 2 months before travel.
- Rabies - Recommended for Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Ideally 1 month before travel.
- Meningococcal meningitis - Recommended for Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Ideally 3 weeks before travel.
- Yellow fever - Recommended for Kenya. Yellow fever - Required for entrance into the country for Rwanda. Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Uganda. Ideally 10 days before travel.
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before June 27th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 27th, 2025, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Absolute Africa. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and Absolute Africa will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Absolute Africa" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Absolute Africa. Please familiarize yourself with the Absolute Africa payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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