Rwanda To Masai Mara

Welcome to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. Kigali is the largest city of Rwanda, and is a large cultural and commercial hub.

Kigali has had a turbulent past and was the scene of the Rwandan Genocide which you will learn more about tomorrow. In the recent years, it has transformed and is now one of the most attractive cities in Africa with pretty boulevards, tasty restaurants and a lively atmosphere. On arrival the rest of your afternoon / evening is free to relax.

Please note:A yellow fever vaccination is required if you are travelling to/from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission in Africa; this includes transiting through a yellow fever risk country. The Majority of our tours in Africa require a yellow fever certificate therefore we highly recommend that you obtain this prior to travel. Please make sure that on arrival you have a valid yellow fever certificate ready for inspection by local customs or health authorities, otherwise you could be refused entry or quarantined.

After breakfast you will be collected from your hotel and taken on a private guided tour to visit the Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial, Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre & Hôtel des Milles Collines (Hotel Rwanda), where you will learn about the recent history of Rwandan Genocide and the mass execution of the Tutsi population.

We will make a brief stop for lunch before leaving the capital. We will pass through lush countryside, and rolling plantations, seeing many locals go about their daily lives before crossing the border into Uganda,our second country in as many days, where you will then be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi, arriving late afternoon

Lake Bunyonyi is our base for the next few days and will be the start point for our excursion to see endangered mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. There are believed to be less than 800 mountain gorillas remaining in the world, and about half of that population live in this forest. To watch them in their natural habitat is a heart-stirring experience.

Please note: A yellow fever vaccination is required if you are travelling to/from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission in Africa; this includes transiting through a yellow fever risk country. The Majority of our tours in Africa require a yellow fever certificate therefore we highly recommend that you obtain this prior to travel. Please make sure that on arrival you have a valid yellow fever certificate ready for inspection by local customs or health authorities, otherwise you could be refused entry or quarantined.

Approximate Travel Time: Four hours depending on the border.

Today can be quite a long day so make sure you pack enough water in your day bag to keep hydrated on your trek. To reach the trekking start point, we will be picked up early in the morning to head for the national park. Expect to trek for up to eight hours today as specialist guides go ahead of you, early in the morning and track the gorilla spoor and look for signs of the gorillas last movements. The distance you trek is unpredictable and varies depending on how active the gorillas are. Some will not move far from where the trackers left them the day before while others will travel long distances in the search for food.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a series of rolling hills with heavy foliage and trekking to the gorillas can often involve steep uphill or downhill climbs, sometimes on uneven and wet terrain. Hiking boots are important and you can rent walking sticks at an extra cost to stabilise your feet. The altitude in the forest is varied, with the highest point being 2607m above sea level and 60% of it being over 2000m. With this in mind, you might find hiking through the terrain slightly more difficult than at sea level. Your guides will keep you give you a detailed safety briefing before you depart on the hike and will reiterate key points shortly before getting close to the gorillas.

Your time with the gorillas is restricted to one hour. This is to safeguard the gorilla families and prevent excessive human contact. You can admire the animals and take photos so make sure your batteries are charged and your memory cards empty. Once your hour is up, you will begin the climb out of the forest. Your guides will take you to the nearest road where a 4WD should be waiting to take you back to camp.

Today you will have a free morning to relax and recuperate after your trek. Alternatively if you wish to explore the area a little more, then you can opt to visit some of the locals in nearby villages, take a swim in the lake or walk up to some of the amazing viewpoints which overlook the lake.

Lake Bunyonyi is around 29 kilometres long and 7 kilometres wide, dotted by 29 islands. Look out for Uganda's national bird, the crested crane, among the 200 other bird species in the area.

In the afternoon we will board our dugout canoes and cross the lake to head to the Batwa pygmy village and school. The school was set up by an ex tour leader with the assistance of two passengers to help the local community and pygmy children integrate into Ugandan society. The cost of this included excursion goes directly to the school and donations of school supplies are always welcome. After visiting the village we will take the canoes to another island to enjoy a delicious buffet dinner before arriving back at our resort later that evening.

After experiencing the beautiful scenery, spectacular wildlife and welcoming local communities of Lake Bunyonyi, we will be transported to meet our custom built overland expedition vehicle in the town of Kabale. From here we will make our way to Uganda’s capital, Kampala. En route to Kampala we will be passing townships and local markets and will also make a stop at the equator to get that all essential picture of you with one foot in the Southern and one foot in the Northern Hemisphere! The equator has some of the best opportunities to purchase souvenirs in all of east Africa.

Approximate Travel Time: 11 hours to Kampala with stops for lunch and at the equator.

After breakfast we head towards the source of the mighty Nile River.

Jinja is known for being the adventure sports hub of Uganda and offers world-class white water rafting on the Nile River as well as quad biking and mountain biking. There is plenty to entertain you in this buzzing town!!

For those who want a more relaxing experience you will have the opportunity to relax in tranquil surroundings, go for a refreshing swim in the Nile, or perhaps take a walk through the local villages or visit the markets depending on the day of the week.

Approximate Travel Time: 2-3 hours depending on traffic.

Today we head to Lake Naivasha where we will spend two nights. Here you will have a full free day to explore the area and chose from many of the optional activities on offer .

Explore the nearby Hell's Gate National Park on foot or by bicycle on a half day tour. With no predators present this is one of the few parks in Africa where you can enter on foot and walk beside wildlife such as giraffe, zebra, gazelle and warthogs to mention a few while taking in the amazing scenery that surrounds you. Don’t miss a walk through the beautiful and impressive Hell’s Gate Gorge and see why it inspired the stampede scene in Disney’s Lion King.

You can also visit Elsamere, the former home of the late Joy Adamson, who became famous for her relationship with the lioness Elsa in the film Born Free.

Due to our location at Lake Naivasha you may awake to some unusual sound effects in the morning; it is often possible to hear hippos wallowing in the lake’s fresh water

Approximate Travel Time: Approximately 14 hours to Naivasha

We depart Naivasha early, after breakfast and drive to our lunch spot where we will exchange our expedition truck for 4WD safari van before continuing on to the Masai Mara Nature Reserve. On arrival we get straight into our first game drive in one of the world's most famous and expansive wildlife reserves.

Covering over 1,500 square kilometres and providing habitat for thousands of animals, the Masai Mara Nature Reserve is deservedly one of Kenya’s most popular safari spots. Animals present in the reserve include the big five (lions, elephants, Cape buffaloes, leopards and rhinoceros), various grazing mammals which attract carnivores such as cheetahs, hyenas and jackals, and over 500 recorded species of birds. We stay just outside the park in permanent tents, enjoying a buffet dinner in the evening.

The following morning we leave camp early for a second game drive, visiting the mighty Mara River. During the annual Great Migration, this is the setting for the thunderous display of thousands of wildebeest crossing the river while canny crocodiles lie in wait. At any time of year, the river is vitally important to the ecosystem and a good spot to view animals. You will also have the opportunity to visit a local Masai village, learning about the vibrant, semi-nomadic herders’ way of life and join them in a local dance.

Today we head back to Nairobi. We will arrive back mid-late afternoon and you have the evening free to relax and reflect on the incredible experiences you have had over the last few days.

Returning to Nairobi gives you the chance to experience some of the activities around the capital city you may have missed first time around. You may wish to enjoy a meal at the famous African buffet restaurant called Carnivores, where meat is served from Masai spears until you can eat no more and raise your flag in surrender!

Approximate Travel Time: Four hours to Nairobi

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.