Awaken Your Senses in Tanzania and Rwanda
Embark on a journey that begins as a slow, sensory awakening and builds to a profound, life-altering experience, taking you through Tanzania and Rwanda. This unplugged wilderness immersion includes gorilla trekking, storytelling and walking safaris.
Trip highlights
- Dine under the stars at your luxury lodge in Arusha
- Enjoy a bush dining experience under an ancient baobab tree
- Attend a blessing ceremony led by village elders in Lake Manyara
- Head out on a walking safari in the Serengeti
- Go gorilla trekking through the lush rainforests of Volcanoes National Park
- Plant a tree to help save the gorillas' habitat
Our bespoke trips include
We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Privately guided tours
- Private transfers
- Meticulously selected experiences
- Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Itinerary in detail
Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.
Days 1–2
Overnight in Arusha
Arusha is a thriving city in northern Tanzania and the main hub for anyone embarking on a safari in this game rich country. Take a moment to stop and unwind with a treatment at your lodge or simply take a book and relax in the lush gardens. As the sun sets, dine under the stars and take in the sounds around you as you look forward to the next step of your journey.
Days 2–5
Sensory reset in Lake Manyara
Your morning flight will take you to Chem Chem, where you’ll spend the afternoon relaxing, with the option of a sunset walk with a local guide. Set between Arusha and the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park runs along the Rift Valley escarpment where two-thirds of its hectarage lies under the waters of its alkaline lake. Spot baboons, blue monkeys and bushbuck in its evergreen forests and buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe and zebra on its flood plains. In turn, its acacia woodland is the best place to spot leopards and tree-climbing lions.
Where you could stay
Chem Chem Lodge
Make it mine
Cultural connection
Mind and body
Community and conservation
Blessing ceremony and bush dining
Attend a blessing ceremony led by village elders as they invite you to experience a sense of community and reveal some of their ancient heritage. Take that cultural connection further and join a Maasai guide to learn about age-old survival skills. Or delve deeper into the stories that run through the land during a bush dining experience beneath an ancient baobab.
Take a silent walk or try sunrise yoga
Embrace a slow safari philosophy on a silent walk that allows you to connect with your surroundings. Or head out on a sunrise hill walk with a Maasai guide, where the emphasis is on mental and spiritual renewal. You might also choose to begin the day with a wild yoga session outdoors, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the bush.
Sunflowers and bees
You’ll find various community and conservation projects that you can learn more about and even get involved with. Some of the programmes include sunflower farming and beekeeping as well as initiatives around the protection of Lake Burunge. This offers you the unique opportunity to move beyond traditional tourism and gain a profound, hands-on understanding of local sustainability efforts.
Days 5–9
Wilderness immersion in the Serengeti
Take a morning flight to the Serengeti and settle into your camp before enjoying sundowners out on the African plains later in the day. Dotted with umbrella acacia and tumescent baobabs, wandering giraffe, dozing lion prides, lumbering elephant herds and cheetahs on the lookout from atop termite mounds, this is the quintessential East African landscape. You’ll find yourself in a remote and uncrowded corner of the Serengeti, adding to your sense of solitude and space.
Into the wild
On foot
Fly camping
Storytelling
Go on a walking safari
A special way to experience the region is on a walking safari, away from the hum of vehicles. Tune into the silence of the savannah. Together with your expert guide, you’ll take your time looking for animal tracks, identifying plants and keeping a lookout for the smaller creatures that call the bush home.
Sleep under the stars
Spend an incredible night out under the inky black skies, strewn with twinkling stars. A fly camping experience is an optional extra that can add an immersive depth to you trip. Connect with nature and the night sky in a memorable way.
Connect around the campfire
Bring a day of wilderness exploring to a contemplative close around the campfire, connecting with your fellow adventurers and your guides through storytelling.
Days 9–12
Purpose-driven luxury in Volcanoes National Park
Begin the day with a morning flight to Kigali and a road transfer to Volcanoes National Park. Take a restorative wellness walk through the gardens at Wilderness Bisate Lodge to unwind from your travels. The park is one of the few remaining havens of the mountain gorilla, with gentler slopes and open bush allowing for effortless tracking and observation of these animals. Guided treks to track gorillas and golden monkeys are led by expert naturalist guides and always in a conscientious way for minimal impact on the lives and habitat of these creatures.
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking through the lush rainforests of Volcanoes National Park is a lifechanging experience. The physical challenge forces you to be full present and push your limits, giving you a powerful sense of achievement. Being in the presence of these remarkable creatures is a humbling and emotional experience. Seeing these gentle and intelligent gorillas in their natural habitat creates a sense profound connection both in terms of mental and spiritual restoration.
Experience more
New growth
Community art
Body and mind
Plant a tree
Experience reforestation and conservation first hand as you have the opportunity to plant trees. Through this project, you can directly contribute to helping to conserve the gorillas’ habitat. It’s a change to connect to something greater than yourself and give back in a meaningful way.
Visit artists and seamstresses
Spend some time connecting with the local communities, either by visiting nearby villages or simply sharing stories with your guides and lodge staff. You could also choose to enjoy an afternoon with a local artist or crafter and learn about how the natural environment inspires them. Or spend some time with the seamstresses who create the beautiful embroidered flowers you find on furniture around Wilderness Bisate Lodge.
Unwind in the Sanctuary
The Sanctuary, a dedicated wellness haven offers you a heated saltwater pool with views of the volcanic highlands and meditation pods for stillness and solitude. Around the Sanctuary and lodge itself, you’ll find plenty of areas designed for you to reconnect with nature. Enjoy sound baths, take a dip in an ice pool, admire the flowers along winding pathways and go on tree planting walks.
We enjoyed the trip of a lifetime Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and then going on Safari in Kenya. Our travel designer, David Drayton curated the most amazing trip for us. David was just wonderful to work with. He is professional, knowledgeable, and his passion for Africa is palpable. David chose the most incredible accommodations, activities and experiences for…
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive Impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
