10 days Rwanda Gorillas and Masai Mara safari

Planning a blend of Masai Mara National Reserve and gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is a great mix of wildlife and Rwanda primates. Masai Mara National Reserve is the genesis of the great wildebeest migration, a seasonal occurrence where millions of wild animals, including both carnivores and herbivores, trek from Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The great wildebeest migration is one of the world’s natural wonders on the list of several adventure seekers worldwide.

Safari Highlights,

  • Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes
  • Kigali city tour
  • Gorilla guardian’s village
  • Dian Fossey campus
  • Game drives
  • Wildlife

Day 1: Arrival to Kigali

Welcome to Rwanda the land of “a thousand hills.” Our guide/ representative staff will be at the airport to pick you and transfer you to the hotel for overnight. If you arrive in the morning or early afternoon, you will enjoy a short tour of Kigali City visiting the genocide memorial.

Accommodation at Governor’s Residence

Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes national park

We leave for Volcanoes national park after breakfast. Enjoy the different sights and winding roads in the land of a thousand hills. You will have opportunities to have different stopovers for pictures and stretching depending on your needs.

Accommodation at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Day 3: Gorilla trekking and gorilla guardian’s village

Meet the mountain gorillas in the dense jungles of the Virunga ranges. The trek to the gorillas starts with a briefing at the park headquarters in Kinigi where you are assigned a ranger and gorilla family to trek. After briefing, your ranger guide leads you to the starting point of the trek. You might need to drive to the starting point of the trek depending on location of gorilla group you are trekking. The trek can last from a few minutes to several hours depending on where the gorillas nested the previous night. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.

After your lunch to visit the gorilla guardian’s village where you will learn more about the Rwandan culture.

Accommodation at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Day 4: Second gorilla trekking

You will wake up and follow the same program like that of day 2. However, this time you will be assigned a different gorilla family to enable you have a different experience. Try to hire a porter for gorilla trekking after the briefing to help you carry extra luggage or equipment. Porters are often students and former poachers. By supporting them you help them raise money for their families and school fees.

After your lunch, you can choose to relax or walk around the community with your tour guide.

Accommodation at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Day 5: Visit the Dian Fossey campus Transfer to Kigali

You will have your breakfast at your preferred time and then visit the Ellen De Generes campus of Dian Fossey. After your visit to this campus, you will transfer to Kigali.

Accommodation at Kigali Serena Hotel

Day 6: Fly from Kigali to Nairobi

You will have breakfast at hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight from Kigali to Nairobi. After the immigration and customs procedures, you are met by our company representative or tour guide and transfer to for your hotel in Nairobi for overnight stay.

Accommodation at Tamarind Tree Hotel

Day 7: Nairobi to Masai Mara

You will have an early breakfast and then be picked up by your tour guide to transfer to Masai mara. This drive will take about 5 to 6.5 hours with a scenic stopover at Great Rift Valley. Arrive in Masai Mara shortly after noon and check into your lodge/camp, have hot lunch and then depart for an afternoon game drive.

After the game drive, we head back to lodge/camp to reach by around 5:30 or 6:00 PM, freshen up and enjoy a freshly prepared dinner.

Accommodation at Sarova Mara Game Camp

Day 8 & 9: Masai Mara

Today’s itinerary is flexible and you can discuss with your guide on the previous evening and plan for today’s schedule.

You can either have a relaxed breakfast and depart for full day game drives around 9:00 AM with packed lunch and return back to lodge late afternoon around 6:00 PM. Or you can depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive (This is the best time to see the animals and a good chance to witness hunt/kill). Later return to accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch. you will stop at a picnic spot for having packed lunch and later depart on a game drive till the park is closed. Around 6:00 PM return to lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation at Sarova Mara Game Camp

Day 10: Transfer back to Masai Mara

After a relaxed breakfast head back to Nairobi. On reaching Nairobi in the evening, you will be dropped off at the airport or your hotel.

End of Safari

The safari includes,

  • Gorilla tracking permits
  • Cultural visits
  • Kigali city tour
  • Dian Fossey campus
  • Park entry fees
  • Conservation fees
  • All meals
  • Accommodation on full board arrangement
  • Game drives
  • Transportation
  • An English-speaking guide

The safari excludes,

  • Visas
  • Domestic flights
  • Personal insurance
  • Tips
  • Alcoholic drinks