Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania & Zanzibar

After breakfast, pick up from your Kigali Hotel and embark on your East Africa Safari. Drive to Kigali city for a city opportunity to know more about the history of Rwanda most especially the horrific Kigali genocide of 1994. Visit the Kigali genocide memorial center and connect further to the Kimironko market to get a chance to interact with the local people of Rwanda. After the city excursion continues with your journey and takes a scenic drive on winding roads of thousands of terraced hills to Bwindi lodge in Uganda for check-in, dinner, and overnight stay. 

On this day, wake up very early, enjoy breakfast and depart the lodge with packed picnic lunch boxes for the Gorilla Tracking experience, one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. 

Gorilla Trekking Excursion 

Gorilla Tracking is the quintessential African safari experience that everybody should experience at least once in their lives. Nothing stimulates man’s imagination like coming face to face with these peaceful great apes as they go about their day-to-day business as if nobody’s watching. The disturbing fact is that there are now only 650 left in the world! The good thing is that through human intervention and activities like these controlled gorilla tracking activities, their numbers are climbing back up. Expect to adventurously track through the Impenetrable Forest before you encounter any gorillas which are definitely worthwhile as you observe them closely while they eat, play with the young ones, rest and act like Humans. The Gorilla is a shy and peaceful animal and it is an unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact. There are always Park Guides with you who interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the gorillas.

Kindly note* 

• The Gorilla tracking will take place in Either Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija & Buhoma depending on the permit availability 
• The tracking in search of the gorillas can take from 30 minutes to 7 hours. Depending on how far the Gorilla family you are tracking are. When you get to them, you will enjoy a 1-hour experience and encounter with them. 
• Gorilla trekking takes place at altitudes 1160 to 2607m (3806 to 8553ft) above sea level. This means that moderate/average physical fitness is required.
• Tracking numbers per gorilla family is a Maximum of 8 people 

Recommended tracking clothing and requirements: 

• Long-sleeved shirts, 
• Trousers 
• Waterproof hiking boots 
• Insect repellent, Wear 

 After the Gorilla tracking excursion, transfer back to your Lodge freshen up, and spend the rest of the day at leisure enjoying the facilities that the lodge has to offer, dinner, and overnight stay in Bwindi 

Enjoy an early morning breakfast, check out from the lodge and drive back to Kigali for your onward evening flight to Nairobi 

Kigali to Nairobi Flight Timings: 5:40 PM depart Kigali airport and land in Nairobi at 8:20 PM.

Pick up from the JKIA airport exit point by our team and transfer to your Nairobi hotel for check-in and an overnight stay.

EXTRA OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES VISIT 

After a relaxed breakfast, pick up from your Nairobi hotel and embark on a Nairobi City excursion offering you an opportunity to discover Nairobi’s beauty, and get to experience two of the most unique animal sanctuaries in the world. Firstly, visit David Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage and get to learn about the orphaned baby Elephants and the reintegration process of returning them to the wild after this excursion, visit the Giraffe Center for a face-to-face encounter with the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes. Climb the feeding point and offer a giraffe a food pellet under the supervision of a trained staff member. Not only may (he or she) accept your offer but you may also be rewarded with a kiss! 

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust 

David Sheldrick is a world-class conservation figure and the premier authority on the Successful raising of milk–dependent infant elephants. David Sheldrick’s Animal Orphanage can only be visited for an hour every day between 11 AM to 12 Noon. During this hour the baby elephants are brought out to play and feed, and visitors can watch them from behind a rope. Wardens are on hand to explain the work of the Orphanage and to answer any questions 

Kindly Note* 

• David Sheldrick Orphanage visit time is strictly between 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Clients are recommended to arrive at 10:30 am to ensure minimum delays
• David Sheldrick’s slot is subjected to availability upon booking confirmation 

Giraffe Center 

The giraffe center is a wonderful and refreshing experience undertaken during your excursion to Nairobi. Founded in 1979 as part of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), Giraffe Centre came about through the passion of Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville (the founders). The heroic founders discovered the plight of the critically endangered Rothschild giraffe and decided to take action to attempt to save the species

and brought two of the young Rothschild giraffes to their land in a suburb of Nairobi on the edge of Nairobi National Park. At that time, they founded the AFEW, and the history of the Giraffe Centre was born. 

After the morning unforgettable excursion, transfer to Tamambo Karen Blixen Restaurant for a lunch menu with a fusion of tamarind and tamambo dishes. After lunch, transfer to your other hotel for check-in and overnight stay.

Early morning pick up from your Nairobi hotel and begin your Kenya safari adventure to the world-famous Masai Mara game reserve. Drive through the stunning & scenic Great Rift Valley with a brief stopover to admire the breathtaking views and optional shopping at the curio shops. Enjoy another brief stop-over in Narok Town for refreshments and to 

use the restrooms before continuing your journey to Masai Mara with a short game drive en route before reaching the lodge. Arrive at the lodge in time for check-in and lunch. Day at Leisure to enjoy the facilities the lodge has to offer before heading out for a thrilling introductory evening game drive in the Magnificent Masai Mara. Return to the Lodge for Dinner and Overnight Stay.

Masai Mara Game Reserve 

The Maasai Mara (also known as the Masai Mara, and locally simply as The Mara) is a large game reserve in Narok County, Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It is named in honor of the Maasai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area) and their description of the area when looked at from afar: “Mara” means “spotted” in the local Maasai language of Maa, due to the many trees which dot the landscape. It is world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and elephants, and the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, and other antelope, to and from the Serengeti every year known as the Great migration. The Masai Mara “Big Five” are the Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, and Rhino. The Greater Mara Ecosystem encompasses areas known as the Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Triangle, and several Maasai Conservancies, including Koiyaki, Lemek, Ol Chorro Oirowua, Olkinyei, Siana, Maji Moto, Naikara, Ol Derkesi, Kerinkani, Oloirien, and Kimintet. 

Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration 

Every year, around 1.5 million wildebeest; 350,000 Thomson’s gazelle; 200,000 zebra; and thousands of eland and other ungulates (hoofed animals) participate in ‘the greatest show on Earth, The Great Wildebeest Migration when the grassy plains of the southernmost Serengeti begin to dry out and the ever-moving columns of wildebeest follow an age-old route in search of grazing and water that takes them across the plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya from between Mid June and Early September (however the dry seasons may change due to global warming) 

The three groups of migrant grazers take advantage of different heights of grass, which means they stick to their own kind with only a small overlap in their distributions. The grasses of the plains have the highest protein content in the whole of the Serengeti, as well as being high in calcium. 

It is unclear how the wildebeest know which way to go, but it is generally believed that their journey is dictated primarily by their response to the weather; they follow the rains and the growth of new grass. While there is no scientific proof of it, some experts believe that animals react to lightning and thunderstorms in the distance. It has even been suggested that wildebeest can locate rain more than 50km away. 

Early morning breakfast and depart the lodge with your packed lunch boxes for a full day of game viewing across the rich tree-studded grassland and rolling hills. At lunchtime, our guide will pick a scenic (and safe) spot where you will enjoy your lunch and hear animals howling, birds chirping and the mighty Mara River flowing across the savannah bringing life to the park. After watching more of the spectacle that never gets dull, transfer back to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay in Masai Mara 

Note:

On this day clients can choose to have AM & PM game drives this need to be organized with our driver guide the day before 

EXTRA OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS TO MASAI MARA: 

1. Masai Village Visit 

A visit to a Maasai Boma (Masai village tour) is an interesting experience. On arrival at the village, you can expect to be greeted in the traditional manner, excited children and adults welcome you with song and dance, at certain times, and one of the dancers will jump up and down gracefully. The jumps are several feet high and as they jump higher the singers will raise the pitch of their voices. You will be invited to try jumping – (dancing), too. Thereafter receive a warm welcome into the unique oval, dome-shaped homesteads (called Manyatta). The homesteads are made of cow dung and clay plastered over stick frames with thatched roofs, it is the job of the Maasai women to build these sturdy dwellings. Get a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history, culture, and lifestyle of these Maasai. There is also the opportunity to learn about some of the customary practices, such as fire-making or beadwork, and to speak to the villagers in their homes. 

Masai Village Visit Tour Supplement: $20 per person 

2. Masai Mara Balloon Safari Experience: 

The adventure begins just before dawn. Guests assemble at the launch site for a briefing as the flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crews inflate their craft. As the dawn breaks the hot air balloon fills and then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow-colored canopy, you’re off for a wildlife viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. What amazes most first-time balloonists is the absolute stillness: the silence as you float above the plains, the forest, and the rivers of the Masai Mara. The flight lasts around an hour, drifting wherever the air currents take you. There are ample opportunities for photography and video filming. Then your Kenyan Hot Air Balloon Safari finishes with a flourish. In the time-honored tradition of balloon flights the world over, you toast your return to earth with a champagne breakfast, cooked wherever you land. 

Kindly note*: Balloon Safari age limit is 8 years and above 

Balloon Safari Supplement: $450 per person 

After early morning breakfast, check out from your lodge and enjoy a final game drive en route to the Isebania border with packed picnic lunch boxes. Border formalities and thereafter pick up by our Tanzania team and transfer to your Serengeti lodge with game drive en-route. Check in at your lodge and enjoy dinner and an overnight stay. 

Serengeti National Park 

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania was established in 1952. It is home to the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth – the great migration of wildebeest and zebra. The resident population of lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, and birds is also impressive. The Park can be divided into 3 sections. The popular southern/central part (Seronera Valley), is what the Maasai called the “Serengeti”, the land of endless plains. It’s classic savannah, dotted with acacias and filled with wildlife.

The western corridor is marked by the Grumeti River and has more forests and dense bushes. The north Lobo area which meets up with Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve is the least visited section. Two World Heritage Sites and two Biosphere Reserves have been established within the 30,000 km² regions. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth.

The essential features of climate, vegetation, and fauna have barely changed in the past million years. Early man himself made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge about two million years ago. Some patterns of life, death, adaptation, and migration are as old as the hills themselves. It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous.

Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains. The Wildebeest travel through a variety of parks, reserves, and protected areas and through a variety of habitats. Join us to explore the different forms of vegetation and landscapes of the Serengeti ecosystem and meet some of their most fascinating inhabitants. 

Wake before dawn for an unforgettable sunrise game drive. Marvel at how the sun sets fire to the savannah as you go in search of big cats on the hunt for their morning meal. After breakfast, spend an entire day out on the plains of the Serengeti searching for the Big Five among other animals. Weaving through kopje upon which lions sun themselves, you’ll see some of the world’s most iconic wildlife against the open plains and big sky of Tanzania’s crown jewel. Dinner and overnight stay in Serengeti OPTIONAL EXCURSION IN SERENGETI: 

Serengeti Balloon Safari Experience: 

The adventure begins just before dawn. Guests assemble at the launch site for a briefing as the flames from the hot air balloon burners light the darkness as the crews inflate their craft. As the dawn breaks the hot air balloon fills and then rises. Suspended in a

basket beneath the rainbow-colored canopy, you’re off for a wildlife viewing adventure with an entirely different perspective. What amazes most first-time balloonists is the absolute stillness: the silence as you float above the plains and the forest of the Serengeti National Park. The flight lasts around an hour, drifting wherever the air currents take you. There are ample opportunities for photography and video filming. Then your Hot Air Balloon Safari adventure finishes with a flourish. Upon landing, celebrate in the traditional manner with champagne (well, an excellent sparkling wine) before sitting down to a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush in African style with bone china, linen table cloths, kings silver, etc. 

Balloon Safari Supplement: $599 per person 

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, check out and drive via the beautiful high-lying farmland of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Head down into the crater for a day of exploration in the incredible Ngorongoro Crater with a packed picnic lunch. Late in the afternoon ascend 600 Meters and transfer to your Ngorongoro Lodge for Check dinner and overnight stay 

Ngorongoro Crater 

Ngorongoro Crater is an extinct volcanic caldera in the Eastern (Great) Rift Valley, northern Tanzania. It lies 75 miles (120 km) west of the town of Arusha. The caldera measures between 10 and 12 miles (16 and 19 km) across and has an area of 102 square miles (264 square km). Its heavily forested rim rises 2,000 feet (610 meters) above the caldera’s floor to an elevation of 7,500 feet (2,286 meters). Ngorongoro is thought to have formed about 2.5 million years ago from a large active volcano whose cone collapsed inward after a major eruption, leaving the present vast, unbroken caldera as its chief remnant. The caldera’s floor is predominantly open grassland. It is home to a diverse array of animals including elephants, black rhinoceroses, leopards, buffalo, zebras, warthogs, gnu (wildebeests), Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, and the densest population of lions in the world. The local Masai people also graze their livestock in the crater. Lake Magadi, a shallow soda lake ringed by extinct volcanoes, is renowned as a habitat for great flocks of pink flamingos. 

After a relaxed breakfast, check out from the lodge and enjoy a final game drive en route to Arusha. Upon arrival in Arusha, transfer to JRO airport. 

Flight Timing: (Arusha to Zanzibar) 3:30 PM depart Arusha airport and land in Zanzibar airport at 4:50 PM 

Pick up from the airport and transfer to the beach lovers’ paradise, check in at your resort and enjoy dinner and overnight stay.

Zanzibar 

Zanzibar, known as Spice Island, conjures images of perfect, palm-swayed beaches, white sand, billowing sailing boats, and smiling locals. 

The jewel of Africa’s 3,500km Swahili Coast, as a base for traders from the African Lakes region, India, and the Arabian peninsula, Zanzibar became a long key hub on ancient trade routes: slaves, spices, ivory, and more all passed through Zanzibar, bound from the continent for Arabia and beyond. This led to Zanzibar becoming a cultural melting pot – still in evidence today, in the Omani-style buildings, in the polyglot Kiswahili language, and in the diverse dishes on the restaurant menus. All this together makes Zanzibar a fabulous place to explore as well as a dream to relax and unwind 

Enjoy breakfast, and spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the beach resort facilities or just lazing on the beach where the endless white sands gives you an illusion of being on a different planet from the rest of humanity. Dinner and overnight stay in Zanzibar 

EXTRA OPTIONAL EXCURSION ZANZIBAR: 

1. Stone Town City Tour 

Follow the trail of the sultans, slaves, and explorers in the winding streets of Stone Town. Explore the historic sites of the former slave market, the old fort, Kelele Square, embassies, and the Darajani market. Learn about the unique architecture, ornate doors and Stone Town’s construction dates to the 19th and (to a lesser extent) 18th centuries – a mesmerizing mix of Arabic, Persian, Indian and British architecture – and Victorian era accounts of the quarter carry an authentic feeling to this today. 

Stone Town City Tour Excursion Supplement: To be advised upon request 

2. Spice Island Tour

In days past, Zanzibar was known as a spice island, exporting cloves, vanilla, nutmeg and cardamom to the world. The spices were brought over from Asia and South America and flourished in Zanzibar’s tropical climate. Nowadays the plantations are a tribute to the island’s past, swapping spices for tourism and combining both in a spice tour, one of the most popular excursions on the island. Walk through the spice farm with your guide; touch, smell and taste different spices and tropical fruits. Try to guess one spice or fruit from the other, from the crushed leaves, the fruit, shoots, vines, and creepers crawling up the trees. Learn about their properties, their origins, and their use as medicines and in food and drink. A visit to a spice farm village gives you an insight into local life and the opportunity to try some Swahili dishes, taste the fruits in season and try some spiced tea. Depending on the season you are visiting, you can find anything from vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, lemon grass, cloves, ylang ylang, cumin, garlic, ginger, coriander, pepper, allspice, tamarind, chili, oregano and more! Fruits can include banana, pineapple, jackfruit, custard fruit, oranges, star fruit, tangerine, passion fruit, mango, avocado, pear, papaya, grapefruit, and many others. 

Spice Island Excursion Supplement: To be advised upon request 

3. Safari Blue

A full-day excursion on a traditional sailing dhow, Safari Blue starts from Fumba at 09:00hrs, the perfect starting point to explore Menai Bay, an official Conservation Area. Home to beautiful uninhabited islands, the area is stunning, frequented by humpback and bottlenose dolphins. On arrival at Fumba, clients are given a briefing on Safari Blue and then you board your dhow and you’re off to explore the bay. Dolphins are sighted on approximately 90% of trips. Anchor is dropped at the Kwale sandbank, where sunshades are set up and guests have the chance to go snorkeling in the coral reefs, helped by the guides.

After snorkeling, you’ll be offered refreshments to whet your appetite before heading to Kwale Island, for lunch under the tamarind trees. Drinks (Local Beers, House Wine, and Soft Drinks) are served throughout the day, and lunch is a buffet of grilled fish, lobster, calamari, chicken, and rice, with a tasting of tropical fruits. After lunch, you can sunbathe, snooze or visit the beautiful mangrove lagoon. Depending on the tide, you may be able to take a swim in the lagoon. For the adventurous, join the crew to sail in an “ngalawa”, a local outrigger canoe but be careful not to tip the boat! Then it’s back to Fumba at around 16:30hrs.

Safari Blue Excursion Supplement: To be advised upon request 

4. Prison Island

Prison Island also known as the Changuu Island was originally intended to house violent prisoners from the mainland and sick people to prevent their escape before shipping them to Arabian purchasers, or for auctioning in the Zanzibar slave trade market. The old prison still remains standing, providing an opportunity to visit the tortoise sanctuary, which contains a large colony of giant tortoises imported from Seychelles in the late 19th century. The average weight of these creatures is 200 kg, and many of them are said to be over 150 years old. 

Prison Island Excursion Supplement: To be advised upon request 

5. Mnemba Island 

During this excursion an experienced crew looks for dolphins; and once they find them, they try to give the customers an opportunity to swim with them. The dhows arrive at Mnemba Kitchwani coral reef, for the first snorkeling session. This amazing reef, with steep slopes offers some great underwater topography and a chance to see some big fish. Snorkeling session normally takes roughly 45-60 Minutes. During snorkeling, a snorkel guide is also in the water, pointing out anything of interest. Depart Kitchwani Reef, and head to Mnemba Coral gardens, on the northern side of the atoll. The travel journey is 20 minutes. Snorkeling at the Mnemba coral gardens for another 45-60. These coral gardens are home to many species of aquarium fish, and stunning soft and hard corals.

Mnemba Island Excursion Supplement: To be advised upon request 

6. Dining Experience at the Rock Restaurant 

The rock restaurant is one of Zanzibar’s unique restaurants perched on a rock with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. During high tide, it becomes a veritable island with a wooden boat taking you a short distance to shore. At low tide, you simply walk across the seaweed-strewn beach to get to this magical place. The restaurant offers both indoor dining and outdoor seating over the sea. Breathtaking views and fresh sea air also greet clients who visit this restaurant. At the suitably- named restaurant, diners are provided with more than just fresh fish caught from the Indian ocean below. The restaurant serves a wide variety of seafood that one can relish and the food served is always fresh as nature’s beauty surrounds it. The food has a distinct twist the Zanzibar Cuisine which includes delicacies like fish carpaccio, calamari prepared with prawns and Zucchini, or familiar treats like lobster spaghetti and much more. You can as well get to grab a cocktail surrounded on three sides by the turquoise seas 

The Rock Restaurant Dining Experience Supplement: To be advised upon request

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, take some time to capture your last moments on the white sandy beaches and enjoy your last shots at the beach and within the hotel environs. Check out from the resort and transfer to the airport for your return International flight