Earth Journeys... Created by Tauck and BBC Earth. From the Big Five to silverbacked Mountain Gorillas, wildlife is the draw on this 16-day safari in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda where game drives and mountain treks reward with once-in-a-lifetime encounters with animals, both endemic and endangered. All departures are small groups, limited to 24 guests. Special experiences include custom film vignettes created by BBC Earth exclusively for Tauck; a private catered lunch in Ngorongoro Crater; private lecture on famous elephants of Amboseli and anti-poaching efforts; a hot air balloon ride at dawn followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush; and a guided gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park for a one-hour gorilla family visit and a private lecture on conservation programs underway in Rwanda. Highlights include: Tanzania – An overnight stay in Arusha, two nights overlooking Ngorongoro Crater and two nights at a safari lodge in the heart of the Serengeti set the stage for morning and afternoon game drives with ample opportunity to spot the Big Five: buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and the endangered rare black rhinoceros. Kenya – A two-night stay in Amboseli National Park, two nights at an elite safari club straddling the Equator and three nights in luxury tented accommodations in Masai Mara National Reserve include game drives, Maasai traditions, orphaned chimps, elephant insights, a hot air balloon ride, and a boma dinner. Rwanda – A strenuous but exhilarating trek in Volcanoes National Park leads to encounters few will ever have when silverback gorilla families share their natural habitat with the privileged few for a limited time. Visits to the Dian Fossey Museum, the Genocide Museum and a coffee cooperative and a lecture by a gorilla conservation expert enrich a three-night stay in Rwanda. Accommodations include Serena Safari Lodges in Ngorongoro Crater and Amboseli National Park; Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, ideally located in the heart of the park; Fairmont’s Mount Kenya and Masai Mara Clubs – elite, luxury accommodations; and two nights in Ruhengeri, Rwanda, at the base of Volcanoes National Park, for easy access to the gorilla trek and the Dian Fossey Museum. Please note: You should expect your gorilla trek to be strenuous. As the mountain gorillas’ habitat can only be reached by hiking up into the mountains (there are no roads), your inbound trek may range from 40 minutes to 4 hours, at a beginning altitude of approx. 7,000 feet (approx. 2,130 meters) above sea level, and increasing from there. See the special note in Pricing & Availability for further details.