Date
Jun 6, 2027 - Jun 18, 2027
Trip Type
By Land

Group Size: 7 - 18 participants
Price: Starting from $17,495 per person, double occupancy 
Co-sponsored with: Harvard Exclusive

Activity Level
4

Trip Overview

Starting from Arusha, fly to Tanzania's famed Serengeti National Park. Over the next three days, delve deep into the savannah, wooded grasslands and riverine forests in search of lion, leopard, cheetah, and thousands of hoofed mammals. Next, fly to the Ngorongoro Highlands for a two-night stay at the award-winning Gibb's Farm where the food is literally farm fresh and a wide range of activities and spa services await. From Gibb's Farm, you will venture to Ngorongoro Crater in search of the Big Five ( lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo). Finally, take a quick flight over to Rwanda in search for the endangered silverback gorillas. Trek through dense forest with a team of guides and rangers to find these massive beauties for an awe-inspiring end to your African adventure!

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Schedule by Day

Click each drop-down below to view a detailed itinerary. For a full view, please select the "print page" button above.

Depart home city for Kilimanjaro Airport on independently arranged flights.

Arrive into Kilimanjaro Airport where you will be met and transferred to your lodge in Arusha. 

Overnight: Arusha Hotel

Fly from the busy town of Arusha to the quiet, open plains of the Serengeti. There are often stunning views during the one-hour flight over the farm-dotted highlands and valleys below. Upon landing in the Serengeti, you will be greeted by your guide and begin your safari adventure. The word “Serengeti” derives from the Maasai “Siringet” and has been artistically translated as “the land that flows on forever”. Serengeti National Park covers thousands of miles of pristine land and offers not only expansive vistas but the largest migration of mammals on earth, including 1.5 million wildebeest.

Enjoy the journey to your next Nyumba camp, as there will be plenty to see along the way. Perhaps you will come across a chase between predator and prey; maybe you will spot a wake of vultures; or maybe you will be lucky enough to find a leopard relaxing high in the limbs of an acacia tree.

Spend an afternoon wildlife viewing in the Serengeti. The big cats often spend these hours lying drowsily about the plains and up in the trees while many antelope and other animals continue to graze.

After dinner, head to the campfire to swap the best adventures and photos from your day with your fellow travelers.

Overnight: Serengeti Nyumba

Meals: B, L, D

Those with advance reservations will have the opportunity to balloon across the plains during one of your mornings in the Serengeti. A pre-dawn wake-up call leaves you time to drive to the balloon launch site in order to catch the most dramatic light. Then take to the skies just as the sun rises. Glide over the plains and acacia treetops, taking in spectacular views of the Seronera River Valley and the surrounding plains. After your descent, enjoy a magnificent champagne breakfast right in the midst of the Serengeti wilderness.

Go on a late afternoon walk around your camp and enjoy the sunset. You may see signs of wildlife in the area by identifying spoor, searching for broken branches, and finding animal tracks in the sandy soil.

Spend some time at your Nyumba in the Serengeti this evening. Before dinner, enjoy a workout, utilizing the Nyumba’s Keep Fit Kit, or just put your feet up and relax in and around the dining tent, exchanging safari tales with your fellow travelers.

Overnight: Serengeti Nyumba

Meals: B, L, D

Embark on a full-day excursion into the Serengeti plains. Your expert guide will seek out the unique and diverse flora and fauna of the Serengeti, including the iconic herds of wildebeest and zebra as they migrate across Tanzania.

Spend more time seeking out wildlife and exploring the Serengeti's rich landscapes. The so called Big Five and the Great Migration are the most well-known of the Serengeti's offerings, but there is much more to see. Thousands of equally fascinating dramas of a smaller scale play themselves out on these endless plains.

Don't forget to look up! You won’t need a telescope to see the bright constellations in Tanzania’s pristine night sky.

Overnight: Serengeti Nyumba

Meals: B, L, D

Bid farewell to the flat grass plains of the Serengeti; your next stop is the Ngorongoro Highlands. Known for its red soil and lush landscapes, the Highlands sprawl over hills and valleys. Everywhere you look will unveil a new view, a new beauty, and a new adventure.

Take in your last glimpses of wildlife in the Serengeti on your way to the airstrip for a flight to Manyara.

Savor lunch at Gibb's Farm, where nearly every ingredient comes fresh from the estate's organic farm. With delicacies to suit every palate, this is sure to be a memorable meal.

Take a guided tour of Gibb’s garden, a sloping 10 acres of vegetables and fruit gardens, growing everything from artichoke to zucchini and providing most of the ingredients for the delicious organic meals enjoyed by guests. Learn about other sustainable practices at Gibb’s as your tour passes through a pig and dairy farm where you can even try your hands at milking a cow. You can also walk through the famed coffee bean fields that gave the farm its start over 80 years ago.

Take some time to catch your breath in your private cottage. Unwind with an outdoor shower, listen to the birds from your patio, or enjoy a drink as twilight fades in over the Ngorongoro Highlands.

Overnight: Gibb's Farm

Meals: B, L, D

Visit the Ngorongoro Crater, where you are likely to find an abundance of wildlife. With luck, you might even see rhinoceros and big cats, such as lion and cheetah. The diversity of species often inspires awe, from baboons and elephants in the Lerai Forest to wildebeest and mountain reedbuck over the crater’s grassy floor.

If you haven't spotted them already, spend the rest of the day trying to check the Big Five off your list! Lion, Cape Buffalo, Black Rhino, Leopard, and Elephant all live in the Crater - so you might see them all before you leave!

This evening, sip complementary sundowners on the poolside terrace and enjoy the night’s entertainment. Choirs, instrumentalists or storytellers may perform, depending on the evening, as the sun sets in picturesque fashion over the coffee farm. With comfortable seating and variety of drinks, it offers a wonderful place for conversation and stargazing.

Overnight: Gibb's Farm

Meals: B, L, D

Breakfast at Gibb's is a great way to start the day. Enjoy local fruits, homemade yogurts and fresh cheeses, and made-to-order breakfast classics like omelettes or pancakes. Everything is made with the freshest ingredients.

Flight from Manyara to Kigali. Enjoy a quiet dinner at the lodge this evening.

Overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel - Deluxe Room

Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, take a tour of Kigali with your guide. While in the city of Kigali, visit the Rwandan Genocide Memorial, where you can peruse the interior exhibits as well as the beautiful memorial gardens. En route through Kigali, you will stop for lunch in the city.

This afternoon, you will head on a three hour journey across Rwanda's rolling green hills and farmland up to the Virunga Volcanoes where, on clear days, you can see up to five volcanic peaks. Settle into your rooms at the lodge where you can relax for the afternoon.

Overnight: Virunga Inn Resort

Meals: B, L, D

Head into the lush forest with a guide to search out troupes of Golden Monkey and observe them as they leap from branch to branch in the forest canopy. The Golden Monkey, a relative of the much more common Sykes Monkey, is playful and very curious. Two habituated troupes can be seen, numbering between 80 and 100 individuals. Once you find them, your time with the monkeys is limited to one hour of observation as they interact, play, groom and move gracefully through their forested surroundings.

For 55 years, the Fossey Fund has been working to help conserve wild mountain gorilla populations and support the people who share the gorillas’ forest home. Beginning in Diane Fossey's rudimentary tented camp in 1967, the fund shifted from one rented office to another until in 2022, when global icon Ellen DeGeneres funded the creation of a state-of-the-art campus. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the the multi-acre, eco-friendly facility set at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes.

Overnight: Virunga Inn Resort

Meals: B, L, D

Before you set foot on the trail, your guide will brief you on what to expect and how to behave in the presence of the gorillas. As they are an extremely rare species living in a fragile environment, it is extraordinarily important for you to observe some simple rules. Please note that anyone suffering from cold or flu symptoms, or any other infectious conditions will not be permitted on the trek.

With your guide leading the way, explore the lush, dense forest in search of gorillas. Trekking conditions may be strenuous, so please be prepared with the proper equipment provided in your packing list. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend a maximum of one hour in their presence, during which any thoughts of strenuous hiking will be forgotten!

Overnight: Virunga Inn Resort

Meals: B, L, D

Your guide will drive you back to the city of Kigali at the end of your Rwandan adventure. Enjoy a day room in Kigali, resting up and readying yourself for departure. Transfer to the Kigali Airport for your flight home. 

Day Room: Kigali Serena Hotel

Meals: B

Arrive home city

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Pricing

Double Occupancy

Single Occupancy

$17,495 per person

$19,995

Optional Hot Air Balloon Excursion: $599 per person

Teen discount (12 - 15 years old at the time of departure): $500

Accommodations as noted in itinerary with access to assorted camp amenities; meals as noted in itinerary; all park fees; complete preparation materials (including helpful tips, packing list, expectations, resources for your trip; etc.); safari briefings and lectures throughout your trip; services of professional safari guides and drivers; services of camp staff; land transportation in a customized, 4-wheel drive safari vehicle (unlimited mileage and guaranteed window seat); village, school, and cultural visits as noted in itinerary; internal flight(s) as noted in itinerary—please note that travelers must be able to safely and comfortably fit in a seat slightly smaller than a standard coach seat; or if not, are required to purchase an additional seat for each leg of their itinerary; guided walks with a naturalist, when available; complimentary drinking water in your vehicle throughout your safari; $220 per person nature refuge conservation fee; one golden monkey permit per traveler; one gorilla tracking permit per person; airport transfers for Delta/KLM Flights on scheduled arrival and departure days; baggage handling (Tanzania only); laundry services (at Gibb's Farm only); tips for guides, drivers, and camp staff.

International flight from home city and related fees (fuel, baggage, seat assignments, etc.); meals and beverages not listed in the itinerary; fees for passport, visa, or immunizations; cost of hospitalization or evacuation*; laundry (except at Gibb’s Farm), phone, internet, and items of a personal nature; beer, wine, spirits, and soda unless otherwise specified; baggage handling in Rwanda

To reserve a space on this program, a $4,000 deposit is required per person. Final payment is due 120 days before departure (February 6, 2027) payable by check or wire transfer. Participants will receive an invoice directly from the tour operator, Thomson Safaris for all subsequent payments after the initial deposit.

Notification of cancellation must be received in writing by HAA from the participant. Cancellations received within 14 days of booking are eligible for a full refund, provided that initial deposits were made 121 days or more prior to departure. After 14 days, $1,000 per person becomes non-refundable.

The program terms and conditions can be found here and must be acknowledged upon registration.

 

Accommodations

  • The Arusha Hotel (one night)
  • Serengeti Nyumba* (three nights)
  • Gibb's Farm (two nights)
  • Kigali Serena Hotel (one night)
  • Virunga Inn Resort (three nights)

*The Serengeti Nyumba will afford you an ideal way to camp comfortably in the wilderness, while immersing yourself in one of Tanzania’s most spectacular ecosystems. The spacious, walk-in tents feature hand-crafted furnishings, cozy beds and fine linens as well as and en suite bathroom facilities including a gravity-fed shower and self-contained flush toilet. Oversized, fine-mesh windows allow the breezes to circulate while keeping any bugs out. At the front of your tent, enjoy a private veranda with a stunning view of the vast Serengeti plains.

What to Expect

Activity Level 4

activity iconTanzania - Most days will involve one or more of the following: A busy pace including walks on uneven terrain for up to 2 hours and long drives on bumpy, dusty roads.

Rwanda – Gorilla trekking requires a certain level of mobility, fitness and determination as it occurs on slippery, mountainous terrain with thick vegetation, insects and often steep inclines. Trek lengths vary depending on where the selected gorilla families are found. The average trek day requires 2 hours of trekking each way plus 1 hour of observation with the gorillas. Treks can be shorter or longer. We strongly recommend utilizing local porters to carry day packs and water. For guests in need of additional support, a litter basket can be hired.

Study Leader(s)

Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences; C.Y. Chan Professor of Arts and Sciences; Curator Of Mammals in the Museum of Comparative Zoology (on leave)

Related Trips

Mar 25, 2027 - Apr 11, 2027
Dec 26, 2026 - Jan 6, 2027

For More Information

Please email haatravels@harvard.edu or call our office at 800-422-1636 or 617-496-0806.