13 DAYS KENYA AND RWANDA SAFARI
13 Days Kenya And Rwanda Safari : This 13 Days combined Rwanda and Kenya Safari takes you to Rwanda’s main attractions and Congo’s most visited national park. It features visiting Volcanoes national park which is a home of the endangered mountain gorillas, and Nyungwe forest national park on the other hand is a home to the wild chimpanzees and other primates of Nyungwe forest with a bit of relaxation during the trip at Lake Kivu. Volcanoes national park is the most popular park unique for gorilla trekking along with other 2 parks in Uganda and 1 in Congo. Apart from gorilla trekking, Volcanoes national park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys and a few of the forest animals and the park hosts about 200 different bird species. Nyungwe forest national park on the other hands is home to the endangered chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. Trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest is one of the most scenic experiences under the montane rainforest and walking on a canopy above the forest is an added beautiful experience.
While in Kenya, explore Masai Mara national reserve which is the most famous and popular safari destination in Kenya and anywhere in Africa. It is located in the southwestern of Kenya bordering Serengeti national park in Tanzania which is the best wildlife national park in Africa. Masai mara is comprised of a medley rolling hills, open grassland and acacia woodland supporting quite an incredible profusion and variety of wildlife. The reserve truly blossoms between August and October, when the legendary wildebeest migration, the world’s most breath taking wildlife crossing into Kenya from Tanzania.
Amboseli National Park is located in the southern part of Kenya close to the border with Tanzania covering an area of about 392 square kilometres. Amboseli national park has the most iconic and a beautiful view of the world’s highest in Africa Mountain Kilimanjaro on the north-west of Mount Kilimanjaro. Amboseli national park is home to the renowned Big 5 game (Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, Rhinos and Elephants). The Elephants are the main tourist attraction in this park with the largest terrestrial herds with numbers more than 100 individuals from wise old matriarchs to tiny calves. Other animals to find include; the Wildebeests, Cheetahs, Plain Zebras, Crocodiles, Giraffes as well as Hyenas. You will find an impressive different bird species living within the park boundaries. Other attractions include; Amboseli Observation Hill, a hill of volcanic origin and the only high point of the park offering a breath taking panorama that sweeps from the arid and dusty prairie to the green springs and swamps beloved by elephants, hippos and buffalos and, on clear days, especially at dawn and dusk, the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Arrival in Rwanda – Kigali international airport
Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 3: Gorilla trekking
Day 4: Golden monkey tracking – Lake Kivu
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy walk
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali – Fly to Nairobi
Day 8: Transfer to Amboseli national park
Day 9: Full day game drive in Amboseli national park
Day 10: Transfer to Masai Mara national reserve
Day 11: Full day game drive Masai Mara
Day 12: Another day in Masai Mara
Day 13: Return to Nairobi – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Rwanda – Kigali international airport
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be welcomed by our company representative and transfer to your booked accommodation in Nairobi. Meals and overnight stay at Des Mille Collins Hote/Step Town Motel/Marriot Serena Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
After breakfast, depart the hotel to transfer to Volcanoes national park. This is Rwanda’s best tourist destination for primates especially for endangered mountain gorilla trekking. It is a 3 hours’ drive from Kigali driving through the rolling hills of Rwanda. Upon arrival at Musanze, connect to your booked accommodation where you will check-in, have lunch and spend your evening at leisure as you prepare for next day activity while you wait for dinner and overnight stay at 5 Volcanoes Gorilla Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Hotel/ Mid-range option: Le Bambou Gorilla lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla lodge/ Budget option: Hotel Muhabura/Kiningi Guesthouse
Day 3: Gorilla trekking
Wakeup to an early morning breakfast and connect to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing and allocation of Gorilla trekking groups. With your trekking gears, head into the cold and misty forested slopes of Virunga national park on your Gorilla trekking experience. The trek can take between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the Gorillas and on finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to see and take photos after which you will exit the forest. Meet your driver / guide and transfer back to the lodge. If you still feel strong, you may opt for a village walk or a community tour in Ibya cuwa community village or return to relax at the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at either lodge as above.
Day 4: Golden monkey tracking – Lake Kivu
After an early breakfast, you will again transfer to the Park Headquarters for briefing about the Golden Monkey tracking. Golden Monkeys are rare species of primates in Africa and only a few populations can be seen in the Virunga forests of Volcanoes National park. You will take about 2-5 hours finding the golden monkeys, on meeting them; you will take an hour viewing them as instructions are followed.
After trekking, transfer to Lake Kivu where you will first check-in at your lodge before you connect to explore the lake. Lake Kivu is the only fresh water lake in Rwanda shared with Congo. Take a boat trip on the different islands on the lake with different activities. Later evening return to your booked hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Kivu Serena hotel/Palm Garden Hotel
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and meet your driver to transfer to Nyungwe forest National park which is home to 13 species of primates including the chimpanzee. It’s a 6-7 hours’ drive via rolling hills of Rwanda with en-route lunch. Connect to your booked lodge for check-in and spend the rest of your day relaxing at the hotel. Alternatively, take an optional village visit to the Gisakura tea farms. Dinner and overnight at One and Only Nyungwe House/Mid-range: Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel/Budget option: Gisakura Visitor Centre
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy walk
After breakfast, drive to the park head office for briefing about the endangered Chimpanzees. With your trekking gears, enter Nyungwe forest to search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. Trekking chimpanzees takes about 2-5 hours depending in their location/movements. The Chimpanzees quite difficult to find given that they are not habituated however, you are guaranteed to see them with great efforts from the tracking team of Nyungwe. On finding them, you will enjoy seeing them as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Spend an hour with them while taking pictures and videos. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch.
Later afternoon, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before night fall, you will return to the lodge for dinner as above. Dinner and overnight at hotel as above
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali – Fly to Nairobi
Wake up early to a delicious breakfast then embark on your journey back to Kigali. This is a 6-7 hours’ drive with late lunch in Kigali city and a Kigali city tour. Later evening, you will be dropped off at Kigali airport for your onward flight to Nairobi.
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta international airport, you will be picked up by your safari guide to be transferred to your hotel for check-in, relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Park Inn Radisson Hotel/Hilton Hotel/Nairobi Serena Hotel
Day 8: Transfer to Amboseli national park
You will be meant by your guide after breakfast, you will set off your journey to Amboseli national park located in the southern part of Kenya. It’s a 6-7 hours’ drive from Masai Mara to Amboseli national park with en-route lunch.
Upon arrival, visit the observation hill that gives you an overall view of the whole park especially the swamp and some animals. In the evening, the clouds are usually vividly giving you chances of viewing the snow-capped dome of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in Africa. As your return to the lodge, enjoy an evening game drive. Dinner and overnight stay at AA Lodge Amboseli/Zebra Plains Amboseli Lodge/Kibo Safari Lodge
Day 9: Full day game drive in Amboseli national park
Have breakfast and explore Amboseli national park. This park is a home of the famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to the savannah elephants. Among other wildlife species include; the lions, cheetah, leopards, wildebeests, buffaloes, monkeys families and rare bird species. Spend your morning and afternoon on game drives also visiting the swamp below observation hill that hosts many elephants, hippos and a variety of water fowls like Pelican and Egyptian goose. Dinner and overnight stay at Lodge as above
Day 10: Transfer to Masai Mara national reserve
After breakfast at your lodge, embark on your drive to Masai Mara national reserve. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive with ne-route lunch. Drive through the floor of The Great Rift Valley, the longest rift in the crust of the earth to Masai Mara National Game Reserve. This is the world’s most famous reserve known for having the highest concentration of plains’ game together with their assorted predators. Bisecting is the Mara River with its populations of Hippos and Crocodiles. Upon arrival at the park, proceed to your booked accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Mara Simba lodge/Zebra Plains Lodges/AA Lodges and Camps
Day 11: Full day game drive Masai Mara
Wake up early for a morning game drive and return to camp for breakfast. After breakfast Full day in the park with packed lunch in search of its popular residents, The Masai Mara plains are full of wildebeest during migration season early July to end September, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle are regularly seen, leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes. Black rhino are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance if you are lucky. Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, which lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on their annual quest to find new pastures. Later Meals and overnight at lodge as above
Day 12: Another day in Masai Mara
After breakfast, you will head to the plains of the reserve for yet another morning game drive sighting more animals. After the game drive, you will head back to your lodge for lunch.
Later afternoon, you will head to the Maasai village/Masai Loita Hills for a cultural experience. On this experience you will enjoy getting a deeper insight into the Masai culture by interacting with the local Masai people, be entertained by local dancers, drama and Masai warriors; buy local Masai items such as local Masai shukas, beautifully made accessories such as necklaces and earrings and taste local cuisines. After the experience, you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight at lodge as above
Day 13: Return to Nairobi – Departure
After morning breakfast at your lodge, you will checkout of your lodge and embark on a journey back to Nairobi. It’s a 5-6 hours’ drive and you will either be dropped at a location you advise or off to Nairobi airport for your onward flight back home.
