12-Day Adventurous Gorilla & Kenya Safari

Itinerary information

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, a private road transfer will take you to your overnight stay at Kigali Serena Hotel. Indulge in quiet sophistication, exploring the hotel's luxury amenities at your leisure. Here, you can book a therapeutic treatment to awaken your senses with aromatic hand-crafted therapy oils and invigorate your muscles with hot-stone massages.

Explore the city on foot, marvelling at local art galleries and historic museums, before retreating to the hotel for a relaxed afternoon, reclining by the pool. Treat yourself to an evening of fine dining at Sokoni Restaurant, renowned for its splendid variety of international cuisine designed to satisfy every palate. Retire to your deluxe room, savouring the comfort of a plush hotel bed and dreaming of safari adventures awaiting you.

Itinerary information

After indulging in a buffet breakfast, you’ll be transferred from the hotel to Volcanoes National Park, where you’ll spend three nights in a forest villa at Bisate Lodge. The architecture blends seamlessly into the surroundings, with thatched suites merging into the dense vegetative hillside. 

On your first full day, you'll embark on a 4×4 safari drive to a nearby forest trail, where an experienced guide will lead you along well-trodden footpaths and steep slopes for a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla observation experience. You'll have an hour to marvel at a family of gorillas as they interact in their natural environment, with young ones playing while the elders forage for food or resting. 

The next day, you'll have the chance to visit golden monkeys, smaller primates that make up for their diminutive size with high-energy, amusing antics. Commonly found in the bamboo forests, a dedicated ranger will guide you through the forest, affording you an opportunity to get a close encounter with these agile creatures in their protected habitat. You'll learn about the conservation efforts that have ensured their survival. 

Throughout your stay, you'll have access to shorter guided tours, including nature walks through the nursery and visits to the nearby community beehive project. You can also enjoy a complimentary 20-minute neck and shoulder massage to relieve muscle tension, and unwind in the day lounge after a day of exploring.

Itinerary information

The next day, a private road transfer will take you to Kigali International Airport, where you'll bid farewell to Rwanda before boarding your flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Upon arrival in Kenya, you'll spend one night in the sanctuary of a luxury double room at Manzili House. This charming bed-and-breakfast is located in the peaceful neighbourhood of Karen, a leafy suburb offering a welcome respite from your safari excursion. You're invited to explore the town’s rich history by visiting the Karen Blixen Museum or simply strolling through the courtyard before relaxing on a chaise longue with a cocktail, enjoying leisurely dips in the pool.

Savour a light dinner on the terrace, surrounded by the quiet whispers of trees swaying in the breeze, as a dark cover of stars blankets the sky. Then retreat to crisp white linens for a peaceful night's rest.

Itinerary information

In the morning, a light aircraft will fly you to Borana Conservancy, where you'll spend three nights in a cosy thatched cottage at Borana Lodge, surrounded by rugged hillsides and offering breathtaking views of Mount Kenya. 

As an active safari destination, you'll have access to mountain biking and horseback riding, exploring the rolling hills and marked trails with a gentle breeze tickling your cheeks. These full body engaging activities offer a sense of freedom and adventure, providing unique vantage points from which to enjoy the natural splendour. You can also opt for a bush walk and discover subtle wonders of the reserve—fresh footprints in the dirt and the activity of termites carving a home out of a tree stump. 

Day and night game drives allow you to sit back, covering large swathes of land, as you seek out wildlife, enjoying the simple pleasure of viewing elephants converging at a watering hole, or be treated to rare sightings of cheetahs traversing the grasslands, in search of prey. 

No trip is complete without enjoying lunch in private bliss under the shade of a fever tree, with refreshing cocktails at sunset to accompany the wide expanse of the sweeping hillsides and expansive grasslands.

Itinerary information

The following day, you'll board a light aircraft from Lewa Downs Airstrip to Mara North Airstrip for the final leg of your journey. You'll spend three nights at Ngare Serian Lodge, where you're invited to slow the pace, and breathe in the serenity of a secluded safari camp—its air of whimsy enhanced by a rope bridge, the only access to the campsite. 

Throughout your stay, you'll enjoy exclusive access to a 4WD vehicle and private guide, giving you the freedom to personalise your game viewing experience. Whether you wish to explore riverine forests at sunrise or watch wildlife graze across the vast savannah plains at midday, you'll have the flexibility to choose your landscapes and timing ensuring more curated sightings. You can also choose to time your activity to end near a rocky outcrop for a stunning sundowner experience, followed by a spot-lit night drive back to camp.

Your tented lodgings embody the timeless beauty of a classic safari getaway, offering sweeping views over the Mara River. You're also treated to an evening in ‘The Nest,’ a romantic treehouse retreat equipped with state-of-the-art night vision cameras, allowing you to observe nocturnal creatures stalking in the night.

Itinerary information

After a final bush breakfast, you’ll head back to the airstrip for a flight to Wilson Airport, continuing your journey onward while reflecting on the fond memories of an unforgettable East African safari.