Itinerary
- Day 1
Kigali
You'll arrive in Kigali and get picked up at the airport, then head to Hotel des Mille Collines. The hotel has significant historical importance, having protected over 1000 people during the 1994 genocide. If your flight gets in early, there's time to wander around on your own - you might check out Nyamirambo and try some grilled tilapia or find a local cafe for coffee. Later this evening, you'll join your leader for dinner at an East African restaurant where there's live music and good views of the city.
- Meals
- Dinner (East African restaurant with live music, cocktails and shared dining experience)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Welcome dinner at East African restaurant
Optional Activities
- Explore Nyamirambo Muslim quarter
- Local cafe visit
- Grilled tilapia dining
Landmarks/POIs Hotel des Mille Collines Nyamirambo - Day 2
Kigali
Today involves visiting memorial sites to understand Rwanda's history. You'll start at Ntarama Church where 5000 people were killed, then move on to Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre where 50,000 were murdered. The Genocide Museum follows, giving context to these events and showing Rwanda's path forward. After a traditional Rwandan and Ugandan lunch, you'll walk through Kimironko market with your leader. The rest of your evening is free, so you can explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Rwandan and Ugandan dishes)
Included Activities
- Ntarama Church guided tour
- Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre visit
- Genocide Museum visit
- Local food lunch with traditional Rwandan and Ugandan dishes
- Kimironko market tour with leader
- City tour
Landmarks/POIs Ntarama Church Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre Genocide Museum Kimironko Market - Day 3
Kigali to Bwindi National Park
After breakfast you'll leave Kigali and cross into Uganda, heading to Bwindi National Park. You'll check in to Gorilla Heights Lodge, which sits high on Nteko Ridge and overlooks the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This will be your home for the next three nights. Tonight a field veterinarian from Gorilla Doctors organization will talk about their work protecting mountain gorillas through veterinary medicine and conservation science.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Gorilla Doctors veterinarian educational talk
Landmarks/POIs Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Nteko Ridge Virunga Mountains - Day 4
Gorilla Trek
You'll start early with a briefing at park headquarters from Uganda Wildlife Authorities. The gorilla trek through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is challenging and often wet, but it's where you'll encounter these rare animals. When you find a gorilla group, you'll have one hour watching them as they swing, groom and play while a silverback keeps watch. Local porters can carry your pack and offer guidance. A picnic lunch happens right there in the rainforest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch in the wilderness of the rainforest)
Included Activities
- Mountain gorilla permit and trek
- Picnic lunch in rainforest
Optional Activities
- Local porter services
Landmarks/POIs Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Day 5
Bwindi National Park
Breakfast comes on the terrace with forest views, and then the morning is yours to structure however you like. You can rest on your private balcony or sign up for a second gorilla trek if you want. In the afternoon you'll do the Buniga Batwa Cultural Trail to learn about the indigenous Batwa people and how they live. They'll show you traditional foraging, hunting, fire-making and tool crafting as you walk through the forest. Dinner happens later in the terraced restaurant where you can see mountain views.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Leisurely breakfast on terrace overlooking forest), Dinner (Dinner in terraced restaurant surrounded by mountain views)
Included Activities
- Buniga Batwa Cultural Trail experience
Optional Activities
- Second day of mountain gorilla trekking
Landmarks/POIs Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Day 6
Bwindi to Kigali
After breakfast you'll pack up and leave Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, crossing back into Rwanda toward Kigali. The drive takes roughly 4 hours. By afternoon you'll arrive in the capital and have free time to either rest at your hotel or explore the city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 7
Kigali to Nairobi
You'll travel by unescorted flight from Kigali to Nairobi. Someone will meet you at the airport and drive you to your central hotel. If you get there early, you can look at the artistic displays at Nairobi Gallery or relax poolside. At 6pm there's a welcome meeting where you'll connect with your local leader and group. Afterward, everyone heads out to a colorful local restaurant serving traditional food with a modern approach - sharing meals is really part of how people eat here.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional favorites with modern touch at local restaurant, shared platters including samosas, fried plantains and tilapia)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer from Nairobi airport
- Welcome dinner at local restaurant with shared platters
Optional Activities
- Browse Nairobi Gallery
- Relax by hotel pool
Landmarks/POIs Nairobi Gallery - Day 8
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru
You'll head out to the Great Rift Valley, starting at Elsamere, the former home of writer Joy Adamson who wrote 'Born Free' in 1960. Her book sparked worldwide interest in wildlife conservation. The property now functions as a museum with photos of Elsa the lioness and information about Joy and George Adamson. Later you'll take a boat on Lake Naivasha, the highest lake in the Great Rift Valley, where hippos live. High tea lunch happens on Joy's grounds overlooking the lake. By early evening you'll reach your Lake Nakuru lodge with great views of the lake and national park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (High tea lunch on Elsamere grounds overlooking Lake Naivasha)
Included Activities
- Elsamere Conservation Centre visit
- Boat trip on Lake Naivasha
- High tea lunch at Elsamere grounds
Landmarks/POIs Elsamere Conservation Centre Lake Naivasha Lake Nakuru Great Rift Valley 
- Day 9
Lake Nakuru National Park
This morning you'll do a 4x4 game drive through Lake Nakuru National Park. The soda lake sometimes turns pink from large flocks of flamingos, though recent flooding has reduced the bird populations. You'll look for waterbuck, reedbuck, gazelle and leopards. Back at the lodge you'll have lunch, then return for an afternoon drive. Keep watch for black rhinos, some of Africa's most endangered animals - they're harder to spot than the more common white rhinos.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Full-day 4WD safari in Lake Nakuru National Park
- Afternoon 4WD safari in Lake Nakuru National Park
Landmarks/POIs Lake Nakuru National Park - Day 10
Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara
You're heading southwest to Maasai Mara, one of Africa's top game reserves. The route crosses the Great Rift Valley and passes through Loita Hills where Maasai people live much as they have for generations. At Tepesua Village you'll be welcomed by Maasai Warriors with traditional song and dance. You'll walk through the village and learn about the Tepesua Widows Income Project that helps women. A traditional Maasai home and cattle enclosure tour is included. You'll arrive at Zebra River Camp for your three-night stay - the luxury tents have ensuite bathrooms and private decks facing the wilderness.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Bonfire dinner or cocktails in plush lounge area)
Included Activities
- Loita Hills cultural talk and village visit
- Welcome by Maasai Warriors with traditional song and dance
- Traditional Maasai home and cattle enclosure tour
Landmarks/POIs Maasai Mara National Reserve Loita Hills Tepesua Village 
- Day 11
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Full-day 4x4 game drives take you across the park from early morning through afternoon. You'll leave with a packed lunch and drive to the furthest sections. The plains have plentiful wildebeest, zebra and gazelle, plus you might see lions, leopards and cheetahs hunting. Elephants, giraffes and elands show up regularly along with lots of birds. The rolling green landscape and tree-lined rivers look beautiful. As the sun goes down, you'll stop for a drink and take in the scene before heading back to camp in the evening with time to clean up before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Full-day 4WD safari in Maasai Mara
- Sundowner and snacks at sunset
Landmarks/POIs Maasai Mara National Reserve - Day 12
Maasai Mara National Reserve
The morning is yours to decide. Relax on your deck with coffee watching for animals, or join an early game drive or walking safari if you prefer. There's also the option to go on a sunrise hot air balloon ride for a different view of the reserve. The balloon companies focus on conservation, with flight money supporting protection projects. You'll head out before dawn and float sometimes at tree height for photos, sometimes higher for wide views of the plains and early morning animal movements. In the afternoon you'll rejoin the group for another 4x4 game drive.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Afternoon 4WD safari in Maasai Mara
Optional Activities
- Sunrise hot air balloon ride - USD470
- Early morning game drive
- Walking safari
- Half day 4WD safari - USD80
- Guided walking safari - USD30
Landmarks/POIs Maasai Mara National Reserve - Day 13
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
You'll say goodbye to Maasai Mara and drive back to Nairobi. Expect to arrive in the late afternoon when your trip ends. The group returns to the capital and that's where your adventure concludes.
Optional Activities
- City Experience Urban Adventure - USD45
