Women's Only Africa Adventure (50+): Chimps, Safari & Gorillas

19 days · Tanzania, Rwanda & Uganda · Women aged 50+ · From AU$11,425 per person

Tour Women’s Only Africa Adventure (50+): Chimps, Safari & Gorillas

Trip overview

This 19-day small-group adventure is just for women aged 50 and over. You’ll trek with Jane Goodall’s chimpanzees in Gombe, follow the Great Migration through Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, and spend time at the School of St Jude, one of the inspirations behind Adventure Out Loud. Then you’ll cross into Uganda to trek with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys from beautiful Lake Mutanda.

You can join the whole trip or just the chimp, safari or gorilla section. Our African team looks after every transfer, permit and camp, so you can simply enjoy it with a group of like-minded women.

Highlights

Day-by-day itinerary

Every day is planned and guided, with free time to rest. Meals and overnight stays are listed for each day.

By roadBy air

1
Dar es Salaam · Day 2
2
Gombe National Park · Days 3 to 5
3
Kigoma · Days 3 and 5
4
Arusha and the School of St Jude · Days 6 and 12 to 13
5
Tarangire National Park · Day 7
6
Ngorongoro Crater · Day 8
7
Central Serengeti · Days 8 to 9
8
Northern Serengeti, Mara River · Days 10 to 12
9
Kigali, Rwanda · Days 14 and 19 to 20
10
Lake Mutanda, Uganda · Days 15 to 18
11
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park · Day 16
12
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest · Day 17

Travel day
Fly to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Fly to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. International flights aren't included, but we'll help you plan them, and you'll get reminders to complete your pre-trip tasks.
Day 1
Arrive in Dar es Salaam
- Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Overnight: CBD Hotel
You're met at Julius Nyerere International Airport and transferred to your hotel to settle in. We recommend the Indian restaurant at the hotel for dinner.
Day 2
Fly to Kigoma and boat to Gombe
- Location: Gombe National Park, Tanzania
- Overnight: Gombe luxury tented camp
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Fly to Kigoma on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, where our local guide meets you, then take a boat along the lake to Gombe National Park. Relax at your tented camp with the sound of the lake.
Day 3
Trekking with chimpanzees
- Location: Gombe National Park, Tanzania
- Overnight: Gombe luxury tented camp
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Head into the forest with a ranger to find Jane Goodall's famous chimpanzees. Treks take up to about 6 hours depending on where the chimps are, often passing a waterfall and historic research sites. Spend the afternoon relaxing or kayaking on the lake.
Day 4
Chimp trek and boat back to Kigoma
- Location: Kigoma, Tanzania
- Overnight: Kigoma Hilltop Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
A second morning with the chimpanzees, then lunch and a private boat back to Kigoma Hilltop Hotel before the lake turns rougher in the late afternoon.
Day 5
Welcome to the School of St Jude
- Location: Arusha, Tanzania
- Overnight: School of St Jude guest house (single rooms)
- Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Fly via Dar es Salaam to Arusha, where the St Jude team meets you. Settle into the school's guest house, wander the grounds or unwind at the Waterhole Bar.
Day 6
Safari in Tarangire National Park
- Location: Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
- Overnight: Country Lodge Karatu
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Your private 4WD safari begins in Tarangire, one of Tanzania's best-kept secrets, known for its huge elephant herds, baobab trees and more than 450 bird species. Continue to Karatu for the night.
Day 7
Ngorongoro Crater and a Maasai village
- Location: Ngorongoro Crater to the Central Serengeti
- Overnight: Tanzania Bush Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
An early game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater, with its 600m walls and excellent big game, followed by a picnic lunch. On the way to the Serengeti, visit a Maasai boma to learn about their culture and traditions.
Day 8
Central Serengeti
- Location: Central Serengeti, Tanzania
- Overnight: Tanzania Bush Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Morning and afternoon game drives in the Central Serengeti, known for year-round wildlife and big cats such as lions, leopards and cheetahs.
Day 9
Drive to the Northern Serengeti
- Location: Northern Serengeti, Tanzania
- Overnight: Tanzania Bush Camp (migration camp)
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Game drive north with a picnic lunch to your migration camp near the Mara River, which moves with the herds to give you a front-row seat to the wild.
Day 10
The Great Migration
- Location: Northern Serengeti, Tanzania
- Overnight: Tanzania Bush Camp (migration camp)
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
A full day with the Great Migration, when wildebeest and zebra gather along the Mara River and predators follow. You can add a sunrise hot air balloon safari with a champagne bush breakfast.
Day 11
Last game drive and fly to Arusha
- Location: Arusha, Tanzania
- Overnight: School of St Jude guest house (single rooms)
- Meals: Breakfast and dinner
One more morning game drive, then a light-aircraft flight back to Arusha (included, with a 20kg luggage limit) and lunch at Shanga before returning to St Jude.
Day 12
A day with the School of St Jude
- Location: Arusha, Tanzania
- Overnight: School of St Jude guest house (single rooms)
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Tour the school, join a music or art class, have lunch with the students and visit a student's family at home with a translator. It's a highlight of the trip for many travellers.
Day 13
Fly to Kigali, Rwanda
- Location: Kigali, Rwanda
- Overnight: Akira Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast
Fly from Kilimanjaro to Kigali, where your private driver welcomes you and takes you to your boutique hotel for a relaxed evening.
Day 14
Drive to Lake Mutanda, Uganda
- Location: Lake Mutanda, Uganda
- Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort
- Meals: Breakfast and dinner
You can visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial in the morning, then drive through Rwanda's green hills and across the border to Lake Mutanda, with views of the Virunga volcanoes.
Day 15
Golden monkey trek
- Location: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
- Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort
- Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Track golden monkeys, bright orange-backed primates found only in the Virunga volcanoes, in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, then return to the lake for a free afternoon.
Day 16
Trek with mountain gorillas
- Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
- Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort
- Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
The highlight of the trip: an hour with a family of mountain gorillas. Treks take 1 to 6 hours through thick forest, groups are capped at 8 people, and we try to place less mobile travellers with the closer families.
Day 17
Make your own adventure
- Location: Lake Mutanda, Uganda
- Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
A free day to kayak, swim, read by the pool or enjoy a cocktail with a view. The resort can also arrange optional activities.
Day 18
Return to Kigali
- Location: Kigali, Rwanda
- Overnight: Akira Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast
Drive back to Kigali with a free afternoon to explore, such as the Inema Arts Centre, Kimironko Market or Hotel des Mille Collines.
Day 19
Fly home
- Location: Kigali, Rwanda
- Meals: Breakfast
Transfer to Kigali International Airport for your flight home, with memories of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

What's included

Included

18 nights of accommodation, twin share (single rooms at St Jude)
Gorilla and golden monkey trekking permits
Guided chimpanzee treks and Gombe National Park fees
Private 4WD safari with an experienced guide, plus all park and conservation fees
Light-aircraft flight from the Serengeti to Arusha
School of St Jude tour, lunch with students and a home visit
Boat transfers on Lake Tanganyika, all airport and road transfers
Meals as listed for each day

Not included

Where you'll stay

Gombe luxury tented camp
Gombe, 2 nights: tents on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, steps from chimp country.
School of St Jude guest house
Arusha, 3 nights: simple rooms on the Sisia campus, free single rooms.
Tanzania Bush Camp
Serengeti, 4 nights: tented camps in big cat country, then on the migration.
Akira Hotel
Kigali, 2 nights: a modern hotel in Rwanda's capital.
Mutanda Lake Resort
Uganda, 4 nights: lakeside cottages beneath the Virunga volcanoes.

Dates and prices

Departs 10 September 2027 (leave home) and returns 29 September 2027. Register before 9 June 2027 to hold your spot. Prices are per person, twin share, in Australian dollars, and depend on the number of confirmed travellers. Enquire if you only want to do one part of the trip.

All prices in AUD (Australian dollars), per person, twin share

Travellers	2027	2028*
2	$14,875	$16,370
3	$13,675	$15,050
4	$12,425	$13,670
5	$11,975	$13,180
6	$11,425	$12,570

*2028 prices are estimates and will be confirmed when 2028 departure dates are released.

Pay 25% within 14 days of your place being confirmed, 25% by 30 April 2027 and the balance by 26 June 2027. A single supplement is available.

Travel that makes a difference

Adventure Out Loud gives 50% of its profits to education and conservation projects in East Africa. On this trip you stay at the School of St Jude, which gives free, high-quality education to bright students from poor families. You’ll meet the students, visit a family at home and can choose to sponsor a student through school.

What our travellers say

Adventure Out Loud made our trip of a life time to Africa so easy. Visiting Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Botswana, seeing and experiencing everything from a air balloon over the Masa Mara to paddling in a canoe in the Okavango Delta. The transport and flights went without an issue so good. The safari’s and accommodation were incredible.

We highly recommend Adventure Out Loud to our friends.

Adventure Out Loud planned our dream 5-week honeymoon in Kenya and Tanzania. Our itinerary was perfectly organised, immersive, and stress-free every step of the way.

AOL planned a perfect Tanzania and Kenya trip, it was a great mix of safari, adventure, and cultural experiences, with attentive support throughout.

Frequently asked questions

Who is this trip for?

It is a small-group adventure for women aged 50 and over, with between two and six travellers. It suits women travelling solo or with friends who want a well-organised trip with like-minded company.

Can I join just part of the trip?

Yes. You can join the chimpanzee section in Gombe, the safari and School of St Jude section, the gorilla section in Uganda and Rwanda, or any combination. Each section is priced separately in the table above.

How fit do I need to be?

You need moderate fitness. The chimpanzee treks in Gombe can take up to about 6 hours on steep forest paths, and the gorilla and golden monkey treks take 1 to 6 hours. The safari days are easy, with most of the time spent in a 4WD vehicle.

Are the gorilla and chimpanzee permits included?

Yes. Your mountain gorilla permit, golden monkey permit, guided chimpanzee treks and all national park and conservation fees are included in the price.

Which flights are not included?

International flights and three regional flights are not included: Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, Kigoma to Arusha (via Dar es Salaam) and Kilimanjaro to Kigali. We will tell you which flights to book after you register. The light-aircraft flight from the Serengeti to Arusha is included.

Can I have my own room?

Prices are twin share, and a single supplement is available if you would like your own room. Rooms at the School of St Jude are single rooms at no extra cost.

How do I book?

Fill out and submit the Hold My Spot or other enquiry form. You then have 14 days to pay a 25% deposit, a second 25% by 30 April 2027 and the balance by 26 June 2027.