14 Days Rwanda & Kenya: The Wildlife of Africa Safari
Overview
This two-week itinerary focuses on the wildlife of Africa. It contains some of the continent’s best wildlife locations. The Masai Mara provides some of the best game viewings in Africa and is renowned for the Great Migration.
In Rwanda, tracking chimpanzees is a highlight and Nyungwe is best known for its large troop of Ruwenzori colobus monkeys, with 13 primate species and over 275 bird species.
Among the bird species are 24 Albertine Rift endemic.
Volcanoes National Park also in Rwanda protects half of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas and is the site of Dian Fossey’s grave and the former Karisoke Research Centre. The angelic Rift Valley Lakes are rich in birdlife and good for plain game.
Day to Day Program
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at the Kenya international airport
Day 2: Lake Naivasha
Travel overland to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake about 2 hrs from Nairobi. Relax the afternoon as you enjoy the views; or to ride on the Loldia ranch, with its abundant plains game, or take a boat trip on Lake Naivasha or a guided walk with the resident botanist. Stay 2 nights at Loldia House, on the shores of Lake Naivasha, all meals and activities included.
Day 3: Lake Nakuru
Take a Visit to Lake Nakuru NP, a prestigious home for flamingos, rhino sanctuary as large numbers of rhino may be seen –head for leopard sightings too. lunch is served under the acacia trees before returning to Loldia in the afternoon (35 Shillings payable locally).
Day 4: Guided Nature Walks
Early morning, take a boat ride or take a guided nature walk before you depart. Transfer by light aircraft to the Masai Mara Game Reserve, to stay 3 nights at Kicheche Mara Camp, all meals & game-viewing activities included.
Day 5/6: Wildlife Safari in Masai Mara NP
Three game activities per day allow you to discover more about the Masai Mara.
Day 7: Nairobi – Kigali
Fly to Nairobi and connect with your flight to Kigali. On arrival, your guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. The afternoon City Tour includes a tour to; Muslim quarter, the old town (Nyamirambo), the Batwa pottery and dances Centre the new handicraft village and other shops, and can include the Gisozi Genocide Memorial.
However, you may fix it upon encountering it at the end of your trip.
Overnight at Hotel Mille Collines, internationally renowned as the setting for the feature film, ‘Hotel Rwanda’.
Day 8: Nyungwe Chimpanzee Safari
After breakfast, leave for Nyungwe Forest. Take a stopover at Butare (2½ hours from Kigali) – prior to independence, the most important city in Rwanda – to see the National Museum, with presumably the finest ethnographic collection in East Africa to glance at the famous Intore dancers.
After lunch, connect to Nyungwe (approx. 2½ hours), a stopover en route at the Murambi Genocide Memorial (optional). Stay 2 nights at the simple Gisakura Resthouse, on the edge of the forest.
Day 9: Primates Viewing Safari in Nyungwe Forest
Search for primates and birds on a guided walk in Nyungwe Forest.
Day 10: Lake Kivu
A long and very scenic drive (about 5 hours) on an unpolished road to Kibuye, on the shores of Lake Kivu. This long drive offers the opportunity to adventure and witnesses the status –quo of rural life for centuries, virtually unchanged.
Stay overnight at Kibuye Guest House. If you get there in good time, you can take a boat out on the lake.
Day 11: Visit the Orphanage
Connect to Gisenyi on Lake Kivu in the morning. Lake Kivu forms the border between Rwanda and the Congo. It’s a beautiful and mysterious lake, always alive with traders and fishermen in their dugout canoes. Take a boat cruise on the beautiful lake.
Visit the Imbabazi Orphanage where you can still find the founder, glamorous Rosamund Carr, now in her late 80s; take a drive into the ancient Gishwati Forest; or, when the border is open, cross into the Congo to visit Gomo, site of the volcanic eruption in 2002.
Overnight at Kivu Sun.
Day 12: Connect to Ruhengeri
Drive via Ruhengeri to Kinigi. Stay 2 nights at Gorilla’s Nest full board accessories
Day 13: Gorilla Tracking in PNV
After early breakfast, staff from ORTPN Park Headquarters will meet you. You will be briefed on conduct during gorilla tracking and then trackers will lead you into the forested slopes to seek one of the groups of Mountain Gorillas.
Though Gorilla tracking is known for being unpredictable, here it takes a shorter time.
In the afternoon, you may drive to the scenic twin Lakes Burera & Ruhondo, with their pelicans and herons – and for glorious views of the volcanoes.
Day 14: Departure
The day of departure. Connect to the airport.
