12 Days Big Cats And Rwanda Gorillas

Day 1: Arrival Nairobi

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport, met by Hallmark Travel Planners’ escort and transfer to the respective Nairobi hotel.  Remainder of the day at leisure. At 19.00hrs, transferred to Carnivore Restaurant for dinner. Overnight at The EKA Hotel.

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Day 2: Drive from Nairobi to Amboseli

Breakfast at the Hotel. Early morning depart for drive via Mombasa – Nairobi highway to Amboseli National Park, to arrive for lunch at the respective Lodge. Late afternoon game viewing drive. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli AA Lodge.

Day 3: Day in Amboseli

Morning and late afternoon game drives. Or full day safari activities with picnic lunch boxes from the lodge. Second in popularity after the legendary Masai Mara, Amboseli National Park not only offers great game viewing but is also the place to go for the best views of iconic Mount Kilimanjaro. The world’s tallest free-standing mountain actually rises just across the border in Tanzania but Amboseli has a postcard-perfect view of its snow-capped peaks, rising almost six vertical kilometres above the savannah. The best time to view ‘Kili’ is at dawn and sunset when the clouds lift and the light is clear and soft. All meals and overnight at Amboseli AA Lodge.

Day 4: Drive Amboseli to Nairobi to Aberdare

Early morning game drive in Amboseli. After breakfast at the Lodge, depart for Nairobi. Lunch at a Nairobi restaurant. After lunch, drive North West through the town of Thika, known for its beautiful pineapple plantations. This is the home of the kikuyu community. They are known for their devotion to the agriculture and have excelled in the business world too. Mt. Kenya, Kenya’s highest and Africa’s second at 5,189 meters is to your right visible on a clear day. The Aberdares Ranges are to the left. Drive to The Ark Lodge, a tree Lodge inside the park.

The Ark lodge resembles and is named after Noah’s Ark, the Ark is designed with ‘decks’ from which numerous balconies and lounges provide superb vantage points for game viewing. The Ark has four viewing areas from which to observe the ever-present animal activity. There is also a ground level bunker – the perfect hideout for the discerning photographer. This is a circular pillbox-like structure, and it is from this vantage point that pictures of animals on the salt-lick only yards away may be taken through the view holes in complete safety.

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Day 5: Drive from Aberdare to Ol Pajeta Conservancy.

After breakfast at the tree hotel, depart for Pejeta conservancy.  On arrival, we start with a visit to the chimps.  Rescued from markets in Burundi by a top conservationist Ms Jane Goodall, the chimpanzee have found a safe refuge here and are multiplying in healthy numbers. A visit to this conservancy should include Baraka, the blind  and tame black rhino. The big five – Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino live in the conservation area as well as a host of herbivores and birdlife.  Dinner and overnight at Sweetwaters Tented Camp

http://www.serenahotels.com/serenasweetwaters/default-en.html

Day 6: Drive from Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru.

We depart and drive North West through Thomson falls, Kenya’s deepest (96 meters) named after an early explorer and then further to the south west into Lake Nakuru National Park for lunch at Flamingo Hill Tented Lodge. Afternoon game drives of this Ornithologists paradise- over 450 bird’s species have been recorded here. The lake is a Ramser Site and home to over 2million Flamingoes. It is a rhino sanctuary. The endangered Rothschild’s giraffe has found a safe haven here. Lake Nakuru has the big five but for the elephant. Dinner and overnight  Flamingo Hill Tented Lodge.

Day 7: Drive Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara

Early morning breakfast . After breakfast leave Lake Nakuru National park for Masai Mara Game reserve. You expect to arrive in time for lunch. Check in at your safari lodge or camp and have lunch. Rest till around 1600 hours, time for an afternoon game drive through the park in search of the Lion, Cheetah, Elephant, Buffalo and other members of the Big five plus other animals. Game drive till sunset. Dinner and overnight at Mara River camp.

Day 8: Day in Masai Mara

After breakfast you will spend the full day in the park enjoying a lengthy game drive with packed lunch in search of its popular residents like the well known predators and their opponents like the Zebra, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Hippo and the dangerous Crocodiles with a visit to Mara river. Alternatively you can opt for 2 separate game drives returning to the lodge for your meals. Meals and overnight at Mara River camp

Day 9: Drive asai Mara to Nairobi. Fly to Kigali, Rwanda

After breakfast we depart for Nairobi through the towns of Narok and Mai Mahiu for lunch at the EKA Hotel. We freshen up and depart for our flight to Rwanda which will take about 1hr 30mins.   On arrival at Kigali Airport, you are picked up by Hallmark Travel Planners rep and transfer to Flame Tree Village for dinner and overnight.   http://3bhotels.com/our-properties/flame-tree-village/

Day 10; Kigali Tour – Drive to Volcanoes Park

Breakfast at the hotel. Thereafter enjoy a City Tour of Kigali. (Cost of city tour included) The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare. Visit the Kandt museum, see old Kigali and the craft centres then visit the genocide memorial site. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. Lunch in Kigali. Later, depart Kigali and drive to Ruhengeri. Approximately 2.5 hrs arriving in the early evening at the Volcanoes National park. Overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.   http://3bhotels.com/our-properties/mountain-gorilla-view-lodge

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking Day

Breakfast at the lodge. Registration follows: This is a process where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening.

Once you are in groups, each group’s lead guide briefs you of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. Then, drive up the mountain to the starting point. Trekking can take from 2 to 6 or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way. After the trek, rejoin your driver guide for a transfer to your lodge for lunch.

After lunch, depart from foothills of the volcanoes and drive south past coffee, tea and banana plantations on a scenic drive to Kigali. Overnight Kigali – Flame Tree Village.

Day 12: Flight Kigali to Nairobi – Depart

Breakfast at your hotel in Kigali. Thereafter, transfer to the airport for flight to Nairobi. Connect your home-bound flight from here.

Tour Price Per Person