Your East Africa sojourn begins with your arrival at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. You will be met and transferred to Heaven Boutique Hotel, a short drive away. Centrally located on a residential street and surrounded by lush gardens, the guesthouse has everything you need to relax and unwind after your journey.

There is a swimming pool, lounge and high-speed Wi-Fi, as well as an in-house spa which you can enjoy during your stay. The hotel restaurant offers cuisine that is delicately fused with Rwandan and African flavours with the focus on quality ingredients sourced from local farmers or cultivated in the on-site organic garden.

If you have some time to explore Kigali, Heaven’s expert concierge team can plan a unique and memorable experience for you – from immersing yourself in Rwandan culture at farmers’ markets and a local village to learn basket weaving, drumming or how to prepare urwagwa (local banana beer).

After breakfast at Heaven Boutique Hotel, meet your driver at reception and depart Kigali with your private vehicle and guide. After a fascinating city tour through Kigali, the drive continues for between two to three hours towards your next and exciting destination, Volcanoes National Park.  For the next three nights, as you take on gorilla trekking, your home base will be The Bishop’s House. A grand old house set in lush Rwandan gardens, a mere 25-minute drive from the Volcanoes National Park.

There is time to settle in and enjoy the facilities before enjoying the comforts of your suite, complete with private bathroom. You have a gorilla trek early the next day, your chance to come face to face with a habituated gorilla family in their natural environment, as well as look for other residents of the Rwandan forests – smaller primates, exotic birds and flocks of butterflies.

A post-trek massage in the spa is a terrific way to soothe tired legs! Bishop’s House does have a massage parlour, so ensure to book a slot. Enjoy some time in the swimming pool and savour a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant.

On day four, you’ll head out to tour the Ellen Degeneres Campus for Dian Fossey where you’ll see not just a beautiful, eco-friendly campus, but learn how they are moulding the next generation of conservationists.

Transfer to Kigali’s Airport for your flight to Lake Victoria and its hidden gem: Rubondo Island. While much of the lakeshore has been turned over to agriculture, Rubondo is a haven for wildlife and is justifiably becoming one of the best places to visit for biodiversity. There is only one lodge on the island – Rubondo Island Camp – and you arrive in time for lunch and to plan your days ahead.

Top of the list of activities is trekking for the island’s chimpanzees and forest elephants, and there are hippos and crocodiles in the shallow waters. This is also a destination to spot rare and unusual creatures – keep a lookout for the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope and spotted-necked otter as well as the suni (one of Africa’s smallest antelopes) and the exquisitely-patterned bushbuck. Game drives are combined with forest walks, canoe and boat trips to provide a comprehensive experience.

A flight from Rubondo takes you over stunning Rift Valley scenery before landing at an airstrip in the Serengeti. The wildlife viewing begins as you sit back in the transfer vehicle to your accommodation, Dunia Camp. You arrive at camp in time for lunch and time to settle into your tented suite before heading out on your first afternoon drive. You then have two full days to explore Tanzania’s flagship reserve, on the lookout for big cats, elephants and buffalo as well as antelope and zebra. During the annual Great Migration, vast herds of wildebeest move right through the camp. Dunia only has eight tents, each with an en-suite bathroom with a hot-water shower and a bath with USB plugs to charge your devices.

Breakfast on the Serengeti savannah starts the day, followed by a flight to the Ngorongoro region and three nights at Gibb’s Farm, a beautiful property nestled in the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Karatu and on a working farm which includes a coffee plantation.

Check in and settle into your cottage before taking a stroll through the farm grounds. Enjoy a fresh meal made with farm-fresh ingredients and perhaps take a quick dip in the swimming pool or cosy up next to the fireplace with a book and a warm drink.

You have a full-day safari in the Ngorongoro Crater to look forward to, giving you an excellent chance of seeing lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo, as well as a nature hike in the Olmoti Crater. Now it is time to take in the smaller details—animal tracks, birds and medicinal plants—as well as enjoying panoramic views and a hot lunch on the crater floor. Your second full day sees you enjoying Gibb’s Farm and the surrounding conservation area. Make use of the surrounding trails and explore on foot or bicycle, participate in the various farm activities, such as vegetable harvesting, visit the artists on site and learn how they make beaded jewellery and various other handcrafted items.

Savour a last morning in the lush surrounds of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before your road transfer to Arusha. Check in to Arusha Coffee Lodge, set on a lush coffee plantation with the perfect amenities to ensure you’re relaxed and ready to end off your safari holiday.

Spend your afternoon at the spa, on a pool lounger, enjoying delicious meals alfresco, drinking the freshest coffee and strolling through the gardens. After another scrumptious breakfast on day 15, you’ll be collected for your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport where you’ll begin your journey home.