8 Days Kenya Big Five and Rwanda Gorilla Safar : This 8 Day Kenya Big Five and Rwanda Gorilla Safari to the most popular safari destinations in East Africa that is Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya for incredible encounters with Africa’s most sought after wildlife including the Big Five and the Great Wildebeest Migration. Then head to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for an intimate encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
This combined Kenya and Rwanda Safari starts in Nairobi City of Kenya and ends in Kigali City of Rwanda.
Highlights of 8 Day Kenya Big Five and Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Transfer to Maasai Mara
Day 3: Full day in Maasai Mara
Day 4: Transfer to Kigali.
Day 5: Kigali city tour
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking
Day 8: Departure
Detailed itinerary of 8 Day Kenya Big Five and Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Arrival
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our African Vacation Safaris representative and be transferred to your hotel in Nairobi. Depending on your arrival time, you will have an afternoon Nairobi City Tour, visiting the Nairobi Giraffe Centre, the Nairobi National Museum and the Snake Park among others.
Have dinner and overnight at Tamarind Tree Hotel
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner.
Day 2: Transfer to Maasai Mara
After an early breakfast, you will embark on a journey to Maasai Mara National Reserve via the Great Rift Valley arriving in time for lunch at your lodge after checking in. Then proceed for an afternoon game drive in the endless savannah plains of Masai Mara. Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Maasai Mara National Reserve is a 1,510 square kilometers of wide-open plains and fertile riverine woodland hosting a mass of grazing wildlife. During the game drive you will see a frequent amount of wildlife such as Maasai giraffes, spotted hyenas, impalas, hartebeests, zebras, hippos, elephants, buffaloes among other animals existing in great numbers. Also, it is common to see lions, however cheetahs and leopards are hard to see.
Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Sekenani Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Full day in Maasai Mara
Spend this whole this whole viewing wildlife in Maasai Mara in the early morning hours and in the evening as they present the best chances of seeing wildlife. In July and August, the wildlife actions in Maasai Mara National Reserve is undeniable, when millions of wildebeests accompanied by ten thousands of zebras and gazelles move north from Serengeti to Maasai in search for lusher grass before turning south again in October.
You can have an optional Hot Air balloon safari in the morning for aerial views of Maasai Mara and its wildlife and a cultural visit to Maasai Villages where you will learn about the Maasai people, their culture, traditions and be entertained by traditional dances.
After sunset, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Sekenani Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Kigali
Have a final early game drive, and depart for Nairobi arriving in the afternoon hours. You will be dropped at the airport for your flight to Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport.
On arrival you will be welcomed by our drive and transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Des Mille Collines
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Kigali city tour
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, meet your guide and go for a full day city tour in Kigali City with a visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial Site where you will dive into the horrific Rwanda Genocide that lasted for 100 day and left over 1 million people killed, visit the local market to purchase some fresh fruits and have an interaction with the local people, visit the Museum of Natural History among others.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Des Mille Collines
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Have a leisurely breakfast, check out of your lodge and embark on a 3 hours journey to Volcanoes National Park found in Ruhengeri, a relatively small town of about 70,000 people. The town boasts great views of the Virunga Volcanoes and has hospitable people.
On arrival, you will check-in at your lodge. You can spend the rest of the rest at relaxation enjoying the serenity of the surrounding or go for a walk in town. Dinner and overnight at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking
Have early breakfast and transfer to Volcanoes National Park Headquarters for registration and briefing about gorilla trekking. A senior ranger guide will discuss to you the process of gorilla trekking, discusses your fitness level and advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based on their locations. You will also be assigned a gorilla family to trek in groups of 8 people.
Drive to the starting point, enter into the misty forests of Volcanoes National Park looking for mountain gorillas, the trek takes from six to more hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. Upon sight the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting, grooming their young and take as many photos as possible. Coming face to face with a giant silverback must truly be one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth.
After the trek, rejoin your drive for a transfer to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the scenic twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
Dinner and overnight at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, depart from the foothills of the Volcanoes and depart for Kigali on a scenic drive through the rolling hills. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight back.
End of 8 Day Kenya Big Five and Rwanda Gorilla Safari
