Rwanda and Kenya Safari: Gorillas, Nyungwe and the Masai Mara

Arrive in Kigali, where you will be met on arrival and transferred privately to your hotel. Depending on your flight time, the remainder of the day is open to rest, settle in, and take in your first impressions of Rwanda's remarkably clean and green capital.

Wake early for a morning game drive through Akagera's varied terrain of open plains, acacia woodland, and low wetlands. This is Rwanda's classic safari landscape, where elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, and a wide range of plains game move through a surprisingly beautiful and uncrowded setting. Later in the day, trade the safari vehicle for a boat on Lake Ihema. Cruising quietly along the shoreline offers a completely different perspective on the park, with hippos crowding the water, crocodiles stretched along the banks, and birdlife constantly in motion overhead.

Travel south through Rwanda's endlessly green countryside toward Nyungwe Forest National Park. The drive itself is one of the pleasures of the country, passing tea fields, terraced hillsides, and small communities tucked into the landscape. Along the way, make selected cultural and historical stops before continuing into the rainforest region. By late afternoon, arrive at your lodge near Nyungwe, where cool forest air and sweeping views mark a complete shift in atmosphere from the savannah.

Continue north toward Lake Kivu, where Rwanda's dramatic hills fall away to one of Africa's Great Lakes. The route hugs the lakeshore in places, revealing a softer, more tranquil side of the country. Arrive with time to settle into your lakeside setting and enjoy the change of pace. This is a scenic pause built into the itinerary, giving the journey room to breathe before the excitement of the Volcanoes region.

Today is the defining moment of the Rwanda journey. After an early breakfast, transfer to park headquarters for briefing before setting out with your guides and trackers. The trek moves from farmland into dense forest on the slopes of the Virungas, with the route and duration shaped by the location of your assigned gorilla family. When you finally come upon the gorillas, the effect is immediate and unforgettable. You will spend one extraordinary hour observing them at close range before returning to the lodge.

Transfer back to Kigali for your onward flight to Nairobi. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is left light, allowing time to rest and prepare for the Kenya portion of the journey.

Transfer to Wilson Airport for your scheduled light aircraft flight to the Masai Mara. From the air, the landscape opens into one of Africa's most famous safari regions: wide plains, winding rivers, and endless horizon. On arrival, transfer to your camp and settle in before heading out on your first afternoon game drive. This is your introduction to the Mara's extraordinary wildlife density and the thrill of being out in the field at golden hour.

Begin before sunrise with the option to float above the Mara in a hot air balloon, one of East Africa's most iconic safari experiences. Watching the plains unfold from above at first light is unforgettable, and the morning ends with a bush breakfast in a spectacular setting. The rest of the day continues with game drives, ensuring the balloon experience enhances rather than replaces time in the field.

After breakfast, transfer to the local airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi. On arrival, connect onward to your international departure with coordinated transfer support.