Day 1 Arusha, TanzaniaArrive Arusha, Tanzania

Tour begins: Gran Meliá Arusha. A transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Gran Meliá Arusha is included. Welcome to Tanzania and the start of your African safari; your hotel is set out on 18 acres of beautifully landscaped coffee and tea plantations; dine at the hotel this evening.

Set out for a five-night safari to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti plains, traveling through Lake Manyara National Park - a lush reserve known for its tree-climbing lions and extraordinary birdlife, from flamingos to raptors. Continue on to your lodge in the Ngorongoro highlands, set on a historic coffee estate bordering the eastern rim of the crater, home to some 30,000 large mammals. Settle into your surroundings and take in the crisp highland air, the scent of coffee blossoms, and the distant call of wildlife drifting up from the plains. Please join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at the lodge, where views of the surrounding hills and highland gardens create a serene beginning to your adventure.

Thought by some to be Africa's original "Garden of Eden," Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest calderas in the world and shelters a remarkable range of ecosystems - from grasslands and acacia forests to freshwater lakes shimmering with flamingos. Within this natural amphitheater lies one of Africa's densest concentrations of wildlife, where predators and grazers share the same ancient landscape. Your custom-built Tauck four-wheel-drive vehicle serves as an ideal viewing platform for observing vast herds of zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles, as well as the Big Five - elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhinoceros. Midday, pause for a gourmet picnic lunch served in a scenic clearing within the crater, surrounded by breathtaking views and the quiet pulse of the wild - a setting as unforgettable as the landscape itself.

A morning flight from Lake Manyara carries you into the heart of Serengeti National Park, with aerial views of the vast plains unfolding below. En route, fly over Oldupai Gorge, where more than half a century ago Louis and Mary Leakey uncovered fossilized remains of early human ancestors dating back nearly 1.8 million years. Arrive at your safari lodge in the Serengeti for a three-night stay, where upgraded rooms are thoughtfully positioned for elevated views of the plains and nearby watering hole. Interiors reflect a contemporary African aesthetic - warm earth tones, natural textures, and refined wood accents that create a luxurious yet authentic sense of place. After an afternoon game drive through the Serengeti, join us this evening for a special barbecue dinner at the lodge's open-air Boma Grill, accompanied by a Maasai dance performance that celebrates the stories and traditions of this remarkable place.

Look for wildlife in the heart of the vast savanna of the Serengeti today on both morning and afternoon game drives. Sightings might include lions, zebras, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, jackals, gazelles, and giraffes. When the sunset paints the sky in the evening, watch the show from the luxury of your lodge in Serengeti National Park; tonight, indulge in a fine dining experience at the "Divai" wine cellar & chef's table.

Begin the day with an early morning game drive through the Serengeti, when the light is soft and the air still cool — a time when the plains come alive with movement. Watch the savanna awaken as elephants and giraffes browse the acacia trees and big cats emerge from the tall grass. Return to your lodge for breakfast and time to relax, perhaps taking in the wide views from the pool deck or simply enjoying the stillness that settles over the landscape at midday. Later, set out again as the sun begins to lower, the sky deepening in color as wildlife gathers near the waterholes. This evening, gather at the open-air Boma for a festive barbecue dinner under the stars, accompanied by Maasai music and the warm glow of the fire.

An early start today as you bid farewell to the Serengeti and drive to the Seronera airstrip for your morning flight to Arusha. En route, the landscape unfolds in broad sweeps of grassland and acacia, giving way to the volcanic highlands of northern Tanzania. Stop for lunch at the Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha before continuing by road to the Kenyan border and onward to Amboseli National Park, arriving late in the afternoon. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli is renowned for its great elephant herds and sweeping vistas that seem to stretch to eternity. This evening, gather for a private lecture and reception introducing the region's elephant families and Kenya's leading conservation efforts, followed by dinner at your lodge - a tranquil ending to a day of discovery and travel.

Tauck's private safari game drives in Amboseli National Park offer unmatched opportunities to observe wildlife against one of Africa's most iconic backdrops — the snow-capped summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park's open plains and marshlands draw an extraordinary range of animals: vast herds of elephants, hippos and buffaloes cooling in the shallows, and elegant antelopes grazing in the tall grass. Begin the day with an early visit to a Maasai village, where you'll learn about local traditions and daily life in this remarkable landscape, followed by a morning game drive through the park's varied terrain. Return to your lodge late morning to relax and enjoy the tranquil setting before lunch. Later, head out again as the light softens and the animals return to the waterholes, offering superb viewing and photography. This evening, dine at your leisure and enjoy the serenity of the African night from your lodge in Amboseli.

Today, a morning flight brings you to your next destination - Mount Kenya - and your home for the next two nights at the legendary Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, the former retreat of actor William Holden. Founded in 1959, the club was once a gathering place for some of the era's most distinguished names, including Winston Churchill and Bing Crosby, and it still carries the charm and refinement of its storied past. En route, stop for lunch at Sweetwaters Serena Camp within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Once part of a colonial-era cattle ranch, Sweetwaters retains the character of its early days, with sweeping views of Mount Kenya and a waterhole that attracts a steady procession of wildlife. Ol Pejeta is East Africa's largest black rhino sanctuary, now home to more than 150 individuals, and it plays a vital role in protecting the world's last two remaining northern white rhinos - a living symbol of resilience and hope. Following lunch, continue your exploration of the conservancy on a game drive, with Tauck's special access to a secure compound where endangered black rhinos are bred and protected. Later, return to your hotel in the foothills of Mount Kenya, where an Equatorial Ceremony - marking your position on the line that divides the hemispheres - precedes dinner at the hotel this evening.

Enjoy a leisurely morning at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, surrounded by manicured lawns, forested slopes, and the distant peaks of Mount Kenya. After breakfast, visit the Spinners and Weavers Cooperative, where local women sustain a long-standing tradition of craftsmanship. Watch as wool is sheared, washed, dyed with natural pigments, and hand-woven into richly colored rugs, shawls, and sweaters - each piece a story of skill and community. Return to your hotel for lunch and time at leisure before this afternoon's visit to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, established in the 1960s by actor William Holden, famed safari outfitter Don Hunt, and scientist Stephanie Dolrenry as part of Holden's vision for responsible wildlife stewardship. The conservancy is best known for its breeding and rehabilitation work with endangered species, including the mountain bongo antelope, and for re-wilding animals back into Kenya's national parks. Stroll the shaded grounds and learn how its pioneering programs have helped shape conservation across East Africa. As evening falls, gather on the lawns of the Safari Club for a private barbecue dinner under the stars, a festive close to your time in Kenya's highlands - with good company, gentle night air, and Mount Kenya outlined against the southern sky.

Pack your Tauck duffle bag and fly to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya's most iconic safari landscape, where golden plains stretch to the horizon and wildlife roams in breathtaking abundance. On arrival, you'll be greeted in true Maasai fashion - a warm welcome of song, color, and tradition - before continuing to your home for the next two nights at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp. Set on a private concession along the Saparingo River on the edge of the Oloololo Escarpment, the camp offers sweeping views over the Mara plains and an atmosphere that feels both timeless and refined. Have lunch upon arrival, then settle into the easy rhythm of life in camp - perhaps relax by the pool overlooking the savanna or simply watch the passing wildlife from your veranda. Later this afternoon, head out on a game drive across the Maasai Mara, where the drama of the plains unfolds in every direction. Lions rest in the shade, elephants move in stately procession, and herds of zebra and antelope trace paths across the grasslands. Return to camp as the sun sets and lanterns are lit, gathering for a briefing on tomorrow's hot air balloon flight, followed by dinner beneath the acacia trees and a sky bright with stars.

Today will be one that you'll always remember, as you arise before dawn to board a hot air balloon* and float over the Maasai Mara's awakening plains below as the sun rises. When you land, a special champagne breakfast will be awaiting you right there in the bush! Spectacular isn't quite strong enough a word to describe such an experience, a Tauck Exclusive on your Kenya safari! Back on the ground, look for lions, impalas, cheetahs, giraffes, and the other animals you've come to love as you return overland to the camp for lunch and an afternoon at leisure - later on, enjoy an early evening game drive in the bush.

After breakfast, board your flight from the Maasai Mara airstrip to Nairobi's Wilson Airport, with a final look at the vast savanna from the air — the herds and winding rivers receding into the distance. On arrival, drive across the city to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where a light lunch is provided before your afternoon flight to Kigali, Rwanda. Touch down in the land of a thousand hills, a country celebrated for its striking landscapes and inspiring commitment to conservation. Kigali, the nation's vibrant capital, blends forward-looking energy with quiet reflection, set among rolling green hills that seem to stretch endlessly in every direction. On arrival, you'll transfer to the elegant Kigali Serena Hotel, where warm Rwandan hospitality welcomes you after a day of travel. Dinner this evening is at leisure at your hotel - a chance to unwind before tomorrow's journey into the highlands and the legendary Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas.

Depart Kigali this morning for a scenic drive through Rwanda's lush countryside, where terraced hillsides and small villages give way to the rising peaks of the Virunga Volcano range. Your destination is Musanze, gateway to Volcanoes National Park, a landscape defined by eight ancient volcanoes and the misty forests that shelter endangered mountain gorillas. Arrive at your lodge - the luxurious One&Only Gorilla's Nest - set amid a grove of eucalyptus trees at the park's edge, where you'll have lunch surrounded by views of the forested slopes. This afternoon, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, a world-class center for conservation, research, and education. Here, learn about Fossey's pioneering work to protect the mountain gorilla, explore exhibits on the species' complex social behavior, and hear how her legacy continues through the foundation's ongoing research and community initiatives. Return to your lodge for dinner at leisure, with the sounds of the forest all around and tomorrow's trek already stirring in anticipation.

Rise early for one of the most extraordinary experiences on Earth - a rare encounter with the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park. After breakfast and a lively cultural performance at park headquarters, your expert trackers and guides will brief you on the morning ahead, describing the terrain, the gorilla families that inhabit these slopes, and the delicate balance of protection and research that allows visitors to share this sacred space. Drive to the trailhead and begin your trek into the misty forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, a realm of tangled vines, moss-draped trees, and rich volcanic soil. Porters will assist with your gear and camera equipment as you ascend through the forest's shifting light and birdsong. When your gorilla family is found, time seems to still - silverbacks standing watch, mothers cradling their young, juveniles tumbling through the undergrowth in quiet play. For one precious hour, you'll observe their world at arm's length, connected by gesture, gaze, and a shared sense of calm. Return to your lodge for lunch and a leisurely afternoon of reflection. Later, a local conservation expert shares deeper insight into the gorillas' fragile existence and the ongoing work that safeguards them for generations to come. This evening, gather for a farewell reception and dinner at the lodge, celebrating the unforgettable privilege of having walked in the company of the mountain gorillas.

Tour ends: Kigali. Depart your hotel after breakfast for your journey back to Kigali, stopping en route to visit the Genocide Memorial Museum. Pay tribute to the 800,000 Rwandans who lost their lives during the atrocities of 1994 and discover how Rwanda was able to come together, heal and move forward into the future with hope and resilience. Continue to the Kigali Serena Hotel where Tauck has reserved day rooms for you until your flight home this evening. Airport transfers are included from Kigali Serena Hotel to Kigali International Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check in at the airport.