About This Journey
Rwanda is the fastest gorilla destination on earth: Kigali's airport to the trailhead at Volcanoes National Park is about two hours on good tarmac, so you can land one afternoon and be with a gorilla family the next morning. That efficiency is what makes it the natural front half of a two-country trip.
The back half is Kenya — the Rift Valley lakes for rhino and a boat safari, then three nights in the Masai Mara. Kigali to Nairobi is a short scheduled flight with several departures a day.
Two experiences that could not be less alike: an hour on foot in wet bamboo forest with a silverback a few metres away, and then open plains, enormous herds and big cats. Neither substitutes for the other, which is exactly the argument for doing both.
Trip Highlights
- A full hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park
- Golden monkey tracking in the bamboo, or the hike to Dian Fossey's grave
- Kigali's genocide memorial — difficult, and the right context for the country
- Black and white rhino at Lake Nakuru, and a boat safari on Naivasha
- Three nights in the Masai Mara for the big cats and, in season, the migration
- Short transfers throughout — no day lost entirely to driving
Day by Day
Land at Kigali, one of the easiest arrivals in Africa — small, modern and quick to clear. Transfer to your hotel.
If your flight lands early enough, the Kigali Genocide Memorial is the single most important thing to do in the country. It is hard, and it is the context everything else sits inside.
- LuxuryKigali Serena Hotel · The Retreat by Heaven
- Mid-rangeBest View Hotel · Classic Lodge Rwanda · Faraja Hotel
- BudgetNew Silver Hotel · Eden Condo Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
About two hours north on excellent tarmac, climbing through terraced hills to Musanze and the foot of the Virunga volcanoes.
The afternoon is free — a village walk, the Musanze caves, or rest before an early start. Your permit and briefing time are confirmed this evening.
- LuxurySabyinyo Silverback Lodge · Bisate Lodge · Virunga Lodge · One&Only Gorilla's Nest
- Mid-rangeFive Volcanoes Boutique Hotel · Mountain Gorilla View Lodge · Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
- BudgetKinigi Guest House · Hotel Muhabura
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Briefing at Kinigi at first light, then allocation to a gorilla family in a group of no more than eight. The trek follows trackers who located the family at dawn — anything from one hour to most of the day, up steep volcanic slopes through bamboo and nettles.
Then one hour with the family. Afternoon free: golden monkey tracking, the hike to Dian Fossey's grave at Karisoke, or nothing at all.
- LuxurySabyinyo Silverback Lodge · Bisate Lodge · Virunga Lodge · One&Only Gorilla's Nest
- Mid-rangeFive Volcanoes Boutique Hotel · Mountain Gorilla View Lodge · Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
- BudgetKinigi Guest House · Hotel Muhabura
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive back to Kigali and fly to Nairobi — a short hop with several departures daily.
Arrive in the afternoon; your Kenyan guide and vehicle meet you this evening.
- LuxuryHemingways Nairobi · Giraffe Manor
- Mid-rangeEka Hotel Nairobi · Ole Sereni
- BudgetBoma Inn Nairobi
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
North-west out of Nairobi, over the Rift Valley escarpment and down to Nakuru for an afternoon game drive.
Both rhino species are here, along with Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo and leopard in the acacia woodland.
- LuxurySarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
- Mid-rangeLake Nakuru Sopa Lodge · Flamingo Hill Camp
- BudgetLake Nakuru Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A short drive to Naivasha. An afternoon boat safari among hippo and fish eagles, then the Crescent Island walk on foot among giraffe and zebra.
- LuxuryEnashipai Resort & Spa
- Mid-rangeLake Naivasha Sopa Resort · Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
- BudgetCrayfish Camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
South-west to the Mara, arriving for an afternoon drive, then a full day in the reserve.
Lion is close to certain, cheetah likely, leopard the variable. Between roughly July and October the migration herds are here. Optional dawn balloon flight.
- LuxuryGovernors' Camp · Sand River Masai Mara · Naboisho Camp
- Mid-rangeMara Intrepids Tented Camp · Mara Ngenche Safari Camp
- BudgetTalek Bush Camp · Oseki Maasai Mara Camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A final morning game drive, then a light aircraft back to Nairobi — around forty-five minutes, which is the right call on a departure day.
Transfers arranged around your international flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
What's Included
Included
- 8 nights' accommodation at your chosen tier, with all meals as indicated
- Rwanda gorilla trekking permit, bought and confirmed before you travel
- Scheduled flight Kigali–Nairobi and light aircraft Masai Mara–Nairobi
- Private or small-group vehicle and driver-guide in each country
- All park, reserve and conservation fees in Rwanda and Kenya
- Lake Naivasha boat safari and Crescent Island walk
- Airport transfers and bottled drinking water in the vehicle
Not Included
- International airfares into Kigali and out of Nairobi
- Rwanda visa and Kenya eTA, or the East Africa Tourist Visa covering both
- Travel and medical insurance, including emergency evacuation cover
- Golden monkey permit and the Dian Fossey hike
- Porter on the gorilla trek (recommended)
- Balloon safari and other optional activities
- Alcoholic drinks, tips and items of a personal nature
Accommodation
Kigali Serena Hotel
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Hemingways Nairobi
Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
Enashipai Resort & Spa
Governors' Camp
Ready to Plan This Safari?
Every trip we run is private and tailored around you — your dates, your pace, your budget. Tell us what you have in mind and one of our safari planners will craft it into a detailed, costed proposal.
Quoted per person sharing. Rwanda's gorilla permit is $1,500 per person and is the largest single line in this trip — Uganda's is cheaper if you would rather trek there, and we are happy to price both routings.
