Kigali to Zanzibar Overland Tours
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Price
£2710
What's Included
• Gorilla permit• Serengeti National Park
• Ngorongoro Crater
• The Grumeti Reserve
• Maasai village
• Lake Victoria
• Brkfast & dinner whilst travelling on the truck
• Two pre-prepared barbecues
• 11 nights camping with the truck, 3 nights dorm stay, 4 nights B&B
• One way ferry to Zanzibar
• Transfers on the island with the group & a spice tour
• Fully equipped expedition truck incl - fridge, gas, tents, sleep mats
• Services of Absolute Crew
• Ongoing advice
• All road tolls & taxes are paid
Countries Visited
Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania
Kigali to Zanzibar Safari Overview
From the dense Afromontane forest of the Virungas to the warm tropical azure blue waters off Zanzibar, head out on a gorilla trek, safari through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, snorkel amongst tropical fish at Mnemba Atol, sip fruit cocktails at sunset at Africa House, and at the end of your trip relax on the white sand beaches of Zanzibar Island.
Kigali to Zanzibar Safari Add-ons
Itinerary
Day 1
RWANDA - UGANDA
Meet up in Kigali, Rwanda's capital city, transfer to Kisoro.
Optionals: Coffee tour or Pygmy (Batwa) village visit or Lake Mutande.
Days 2 -3
UGANDA - RWANDA
Kisoro, mountain gorilla trek, Musanze
Optionals: Golden monkeys trek or orphanage visit. Batwa (Pygmy) village visit or coffee tour. Lake Mutande. Trek to Dian Fosseys grave. Basket weaving. Banana beer making.
Day 4- 5
RWANDA
Kigali, night out in Kigali, Genocide Museum and Memorial
Optionals: Basket weaving, Banana beer making.
Days 6 - 8
TANZANIA
Rusomo Falls, Mwanza, Lake Victoria, Bunda.
Optional: Hill walk
Days 9 - 11
TANZANIA
The Grumeti, Afternoon and morning game drives in the Serengeti, Maasai village, game drives in Ngorongoro Crater, evening celebratory barbecue on our arrival in Arusha.
Optionals: Balloon safari.
Days 12 - 14
TANZANIA
Marangu at the foot of Kilimanjaro, the Indian Ocean Coast, seafood meal and preparations for Zanzibar Island on reaching the coast.
Optionals: Hiking around the base of Kilimanjaro and in the village of Marangu
Days 15 - 18
TANZANIA
Four night stay on Zanzibar Island - Incl. one night in Stone Town, three nights at Kendwa Beach, transfers to the beach and back and a spice tour
Optionals: Snorkelling and scuba diving on Zanzibar's untouched coral reefs, a visit to Prison Island famous for its giant tortoise population and to Jozani Forest to see the red colobus monkeys.
Note: You can fly out from Zanzibar or take the ferry back to Dar es Salaam the day after the tour ends
Please note safari itineraries are given as a guide only. A safari is a journey and true journeys in Africa unfold and are of an adventurous nature. The unexpected can arise, so do allow for this.
Feel free to give us a call about your safari plans. We look forward to your further enquiries.
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Budgeting Summary
Kigali to Zanzibar Budget
The costs to consider when travelling overland are:
What's included
Your safari price and local payment covers:
ENTRANCE AND GAME DRIVES IN THE CORE GAME PARKS AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDING:
* Gorilla permit
* Serengeti National Park
* Ngorongoro Crater
* Maasai village
* The Grumeti Reserve
* Lake Victoria
* Kigali Genocide Memorial and Museum
* Spice tour and transfers on Zanzibar Island
CAMPING, BREAKFAST AND DINNER i.e.
Includes 14 Breakfasts and 14 dinners
- 11 nights camping, 3 nights dorm stay, 3 nights in simple Zanzibar beach accommodation and 1 night in a simple local lodge in traditional Stone Town.
- 14 breakfast and 14 evening meals including a local meal and a pre-prepared barbecue in Arusha.
Transport in a fully equipped and dieseled expedition truck/vehicle including all camping and cooking gear, a fridge, gas cooker, tents, sleeping mats etc.
Services of a driver and safari leader
The ongoing advice and back up from The Absolute Team
All road tolls and taxes are paid
Optional excursions
A recommended typical budget for your optional excursions that you might pay for once in Africa would be: US$200 - US$400
Some clients spend more, some less. The above is a typical estimate selecting from the following main choices during this tour. Do re-check your budget looking at what might tempt you. A friendly reminder as well that the below list provides an approximate guide only for the most popular excursions currently available for this tour. Excursions are operated by local operators and authorities and their pricing is out of our control (Jan 25)
| PAID BEFORE DEPARTURE | |
| One way ferry back to the mainland | £35 |
| PAID IN AFRICA | |
| Visit to a local orphanage (transport) | US$10 |
| Lake Mutande incl. canoeing | US$25 |
| Batwa village visit, from | US$35 |
| Visit to the Golden Monkeys (not including transfers) | US$100 |
| Trek to Dian Fossey's grave (not including transfers) | US$75 |
| Genocide Memorial audio guide ( entry is free of charge) | US$20 |
| Morning safari Serengeti in 4x4 vehicle ( min 5 people) , from | US$170 |
| Base hike Kilimanjaro | US$125 |
| Scuba diving (single dive) off Kendwa | US$65 |
| Snorkelling (3 hours) off Kendwa | US$15 |
| Jozani Forest, half day excursion to see the red colobus monkeys incl entry and transfers, from | US$40 |
| Sunset cruise, Zanzibar, from | US$30 |
| Prison Island with the aldabra tortoises | US$25 |
| ALSO TO CONSIDER DURING YOUR TOUR | |
| Balloon safari in the Serengeti | £480 |
| TO CONSIDER AFTER YOUR SAFARI | |
| Scuba Diving Padi Course, from | US$499 |
Spending Money
You will need spending money to cover drinks, lunch and souvenirs and different small incidental costs whilst on tour such as cheap excursions costing under U$20 like the visit to the Maasai in the Serengeti.
Other costs to note are those times we dont cover meals or accommodation on the tour, as well as tipping, extra transfers and upgrades.
Be aware during the trip tour there are busy times where we dont cover meals and/or accommodation as during these sections most people are away from camp doing their own thing on different excursions. It is then impractical to cover meals or accommodation.
The times to note on the Rainforests and Reefs tour are when the truck parks up for a few days at Zanzibar so please ensure you have enough money to cover meals during this time. And note as well spending money is needed to cover camping on the off-chance you chose to stay back on the overnight excursions. The overnight excursion on this tour is the Zanzibar Island break (x4 nights).
Tipping is customary in Africa, so budget for gratuities if you wish for guides or drivers who provide good service such as on game drives or guided tours. Again it is at your discretion, but your tour leader and driver will appreciate a tip to acknowledge their hard work during your tour.
For some excursions extra transport is needed to get to the start point such as to the gorillas, and lastly some campsites en route also have simple huts or chalets on site. If you feel like a break from camping and youd like an upgrade at some point it is well worth having a little bit of money budgeted accordingly.
The recommended spending money for Rainforests and Reefs is: US$380 - US$455
Visa
Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6-9 months after your trip finishes. Ensure as well you have adequate pages in your passport for each country you visit. Up to 2 consecutive blank pages can be required. If you have dual nationality you can only use one passport for the entire trip, whilst bringing both is wise as a back up. More information can be found in the different country listings on the FCO's website under entry requirements.Below is an estimation of current visa requirements and their costs. If your passport is not detailed below please don't hesitate to contact us for further details of your requirements.
For those nationals that need to pay for a Rwandan visa, it is recommended to purchase the East African Tourist visa on arrival at Kigali airport. This will save you time and money and allows entry into both Rwanda and Uganda.
For those passport holders not needing to pay for a visa for Rwanda, you will need to apply ahead of time to Uganda for an online visa.
For this trip for most passport holders, the visa for Tanzania can be arranged en route at the border.
Note that visas on the ground can only be paid for in US Dollars cash.
This information is given as a guide only. Visa requirements can change without prior notice. We recommended you also check your personal current visa requirements with the relevant embassies well in advance before you travel.
Budget for all visas US$50 - US$200 depending on nationality
| VISA CHART | Kenya | Rwanda | Uganda | Tanzania | Malawi | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Botswana | Namibia | South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PASSPORT | ||||||||||
| Australian | - | - | $50 | $50 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| New Zealand | - | - | $50 | $50 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| South Africa | - | - | $50 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Canadian | - | - | $50 | $50 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| American | - | $100 | - | $100 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| British | - | - | $50 | $50 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| German | - | $100 | - | $50 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dutch | - | $100 | - | $50 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Irish | - | $60 | - | $100 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Pre and post safari please click here.
Remember you then need to budget for flights, insurance, vaccination costs and any equipment you might need such as a sleeping bag.
Any queries? Call our office on +44 (0) 208 742 0226, email us at absaf@absoluteafrica.com or skype us on skypeabsoluteafrica
Back to topDates
Kigali to Zanzibar
| Start Kigali | Finish Zanzibar | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 7 Jun 2025 | Tue 24 Jun 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Mon 7 Jul 2025 | Thu 24 Jul 2025 | £2710 | 3 Seats available
check with us first if a gorilla permit would be available |
Book Now | |
| Tue 12 Aug 2025 | Sat 29 Aug 2026 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Thu 11 Sep 2025 | Sun 28 Sep 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Tue 7 Oct 2025 | Fri 24 Oct 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Fri 31 Oct 2025 | Mon 17 Nov 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Sun 21 Dec 2025 | Tue 7 Jan 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available
Xmas in Kigali. New Years Snake Park, Arusha |
Book Now | |
| Tue 10 Feb 2026 | Fri 27 Feb 2026 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Thu 12 Mar 2026 | Sun 29 Mar 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Wed 6 May 2026 | Sat 23 May 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Tue 16 Jun 2026 | Fri 3 Jul 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Thu 16 Jul 2026 | Sun 2 Aug 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Mon 10 Aug 2026 | Thu 27 Aug 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Wed 9 Sep 2026 | Sat 26 Sep 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Wed 7 Oct 2026 | Sat 24 Oct 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Tue 17 Nov 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | Book Now | |
| Mon 21 Dec 2026 | Thu 7 Jan 2027 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available
Xmas in Kigali. New Years Snake Park, Arusha |
Book Now |
Before You Go
Kigali to Zanzibar
Click on the link below to download the predeparture dossier for this overland trip "Rainforests and Reefs" - to Zanzibar.
Rainforests and Reefs - pre departure packThis information has been developed over 30 years of experience overlanding in Africa.
It includes all you might need to know to prepare for this trip and more. We know many people love to plan their trip in detail and we hope you will find lots of "stuff" in here to help!
We also send out personal updates about 6 weeks before departure to all participants heading out on each departure date. This includes final confirmations of pre safari transfers and accommodation and other details relating to your specific travel arrangements so you can check all is as you need.
We recommend once booked on a Kigali to Zanzibar trip that you periodically check back here as this information is regularly updated. It is also a good idea to keep an eye on the news area of this site.
And if you are not excited enough about heading to Africa already, check out our facebook page, listen out for our tweets and keep up to date with our blog to stay up to date with all that is happening on the road on the trucks.
Overlanding in Africa is a very different destination from your usual package holiday! You may find some information in this dossier different from what you expected. Whatever your question don't hesitate to ask. We are here to help so feel free to get back to us.
We are more than happy to advise as to what is the best plan for your particular Africa travel needs.
Give us a call, or skype or email. We look forward to planning your trip to Africa with you.
Book your Kigali to Zanzibar Safari
| Start Kigali | Finish Zanzibar | Price | Local Payment | Departure details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Now | Sat 7 Jun 2025 | Tue 24 Jun 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Mon 7 Jul 2025 | Thu 24 Jul 2025 | £2710 | 3 Seats available
check with us first if a gorilla permit would be available |
|
| Book Now | Tue 12 Aug 2025 | Sat 29 Aug 2026 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Thu 11 Sep 2025 | Sun 28 Sep 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Tue 7 Oct 2025 | Fri 24 Oct 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Fri 31 Oct 2025 | Mon 17 Nov 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Sun 21 Dec 2025 | Tue 7 Jan 2025 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available
Xmas in Kigali. New Years Snake Park, Arusha |
|
| Book Now | Tue 10 Feb 2026 | Fri 27 Feb 2026 | £2710 | 4+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Thu 12 Mar 2026 | Sun 29 Mar 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Wed 6 May 2026 | Sat 23 May 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Tue 16 Jun 2026 | Fri 3 Jul 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Thu 16 Jul 2026 | Sun 2 Aug 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Mon 10 Aug 2026 | Thu 27 Aug 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Wed 9 Sep 2026 | Sat 26 Sep 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Wed 7 Oct 2026 | Sat 24 Oct 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Tue 17 Nov 2026 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available | |
| Book Now | Mon 21 Dec 2026 | Thu 7 Jan 2027 | £2710 | 8+ Seats available
Xmas in Kigali. New Years Snake Park, Arusha |