Ultimate East Africa

The Ultimate in East African Travel including the Gorillas of Rwanda, the Stunning Serengeti National Park, the Renowned Masai Mara and the Ultimate in Kenyan Coast Relaxation - From £7,500 per Person Sharing, Excluding International Flights

Day 1
On arrival into Rwanda you will be met by your private driver/guide and vehicle at the Kigali International Airport. The morning will be spent on a city tour of Kigali, and for those who wish to; there is the opportunity to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. The Centre in Kigali was created by a joint partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust. It contains a permanent and extremely moving exhibition of the Rwandan genocide and an exhibition of other genocides around the world. After lunch, you will travel north to Ruhengeri and the Volcanoes National Park. This two hour drive undulates over Rwanda’s extremely hilly and picturesque countryside, and as you near the end of your journey, you will (weather permitting!) begin to catch glimpses of the Virungas, a chain of five impossibly steep and lofty volcanoes straddling the western branch of the Rift Valley from east to west.

Each mountain possesses its own unique character and silhouette, but together they form one of the most isolated and visually dramatic ecosystems in the world. A 'true island in the sky', the Virunga National Park (established in 1925) was Africa's first, and it was granted status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The park is home to some of the worlds few remaining Mountain Gorilla, which were first studied here in 1959 by George Schaller, and through the 1960's by Dian Fossey and her colleagues.
Overnight: Virunga Lodge – Eight bandas set on a stunning hillside with a panoramic view of the Virunga volcanoes and the Ruhondo and Bulera lakes. The Lodge is situated 45mins from the Park Headquarters (D)

Day 2, 3
The activities for the next two days may be amongst the most exciting and challenging you have undertaken. The Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda are part of a worldwide population of just 780 individuals. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to either one of seven habituated family groups. For up to five years each, these groups have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild. After an early breakfast you're off to the park headquarters at Kinigi to register and be allocated your gorilla family. Once this is done, you set out by vehicle to the start of on your gorilla safari.

The gorillas are by no means tame, and are completely wild animals. However, experienced guides will accompany you on your gorilla tracking, many of who have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas' habits and information from the previous day to locate the group's whereabouts. Because of this, the time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 9 hours before one returns to camp. Once the gorillas are located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is one of the world's truly memorable experiences; a look into one of these magnificent creatures' eyes brings home the bond that exists between them and us. It also brings home the poignant fact that they are on the edge of extinction, and that your presence here contributes to ensuring their continued survival. The hour is often over all too quickly, and you slowly make your way back to your lodge to recount the day's adventures. On one of the afternoons there may be an opportunity to visit the local communities and the bustling market town of Ruhengeri or take a drive out to the scenic Lakes Bulera and Ruhondo. Return to the lodge later in the afternoon to relax, have a hot shower and reflect on the day’s activities.
Overnight: Virunga Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 4
After breakfast you will journey to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project headquarters in Ruhengeri. It is here, to ensure their healthy future, that a huge amount of time and effort is put into caring for these critically endangered primates. You will spend time with the staff learning about how the gorillas are monitored, how life-saving medical care is provided; how health studies are conducted and how veterinary medicine and ecosystem health is taught. You will tour around centre with one of the doctors and watch a presentation about gorilla conservation. In the afternoon, you will visit the Iby’ Iwacu Cultural Village. Here, the local communities have embraced the eco and cultural tourism concept by stopping poaching to raise their income levels through a participative approach as an incentive for conservation. You will spend your time meeting the traditional healer, find out how the local produce is grown and have hands on experience with the local musicians. You finally depart the beautiful surroundings of the Volcanoes National Park and make your way back to the capital city and the comforts of the Kigali Serena.
Overnight: Kigali Serena - Ideally located on one of Kigali's most charming boulevards, 10kms from Kigali International Airport. This relaxed, yet elegant hotel, centres on the executive lounge and bar, which opens onto a wide sundeck overlooking the newly refurbished swimming pool (B/L/D)

Day 5
This morning you will depart early and make your way to Kigali International Airport for your domestic flight to the northern part of the Serengeti National Park (06:00 – 10:10); the famed ‘Mara Triangle’ and the Mara River, an area that borders the Masai Mara in Kenya. On your arrival at Kogatende airstrip, you will travel to your luxury lodge with a game drive on the way.
Overnight: Sayari Camp- Another genuine wilderness experience as it is off the beaten track but it does offer all the comforts and friendly service of a luxury tented camp. The eight spacious tents are designed to blend perfectly into the majestic landscape. Each tent is beautifully designed with original and traditional cloths and furniture. Each tent has a king-size bed, en-suite bathroom and a private veranda with a comfortable couch, overlooking the Serengeti. The dining area, lounge area and campfire create a perfect bush setting, with Africa as the backdrop. The camp was chosen as one of the "Special Places" in Africa by Africa Geographic (B/L/D)

Day 6
The majestic landscape of the northern Serengeti is one of the best kept secrets of Tanzania. Far from the tourist track, this area of open grasslands and riverine woodlands supports some of the densest grazer populations in East Africa. If you are lucky you may get to see the Big 5 (rhinos sometimes cross from Kenya’s Maasai Mara) and it is home to lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, large herds of antelope and a host of other wildlife. The stunning Mara River filled with hippos and crocodiles, cuts through this land and is hosts to one of the greatest spectacles nature has to offer: the dramatic wildebeest crossings of the Mara River. Between mid July and November, the Great Migration typically visits the area and crosses the Mara River back and forth in search of green grass. This area does offer a truly unique safari experience; undisturbed exploration of this majestic part of the Serengeti National Park. Today you will enjoy a morning shared game drive where you will enjoy the wonderful landscapes and wildlife. As well as your game drives, you will also be able to enjoy a shared afternoon game walk in the National Park.
Overnight: Sayari Camp (B/L/D)

Day 7
After breakfast, you will make your way back to the Kogatende airstrip. From here, you will catch your internal flight to Tarime (09:45 – 11:10) where you will be met and transferred by land via the Tanzanian/Kenyan border to Migori where you will catch your internal flight to Ol Kiombo Airstrip in the Maasai Mara (12:15 – 12:45). Here, you are finally transferred to the lovely Rekero Camp. Following your arrival at Camp, settle in and prepare for your first shared game drive this afternoon. Rekero Camp is perfectly situated in the Masai Mara Game Reserve close to the confluence of the Mara and Talek Rivers meaning it is ideal for game viewing.
Overnight: Rekero Camp– Eight spacious tents with en-suite facilities including flushing toilets and bush showers (B/L/D)

Day 8
Today, you will experience the magic of the Mara. A variety of game can be seen in this region with some huge herds of wildebeest and zebra passing through in migration season; this results in stable numbers of predators throughout the year so you should be in for some good game viewing! Other alternatives aside from shared game drives include visiting one of the guide’s local villages, walking safaris at a location outside the Reserve, as well as hot air balloon safaris (by own arrangement at an additional cost). Rekero is also home to the renowned Jackson who is part of the Big Cat Diaries; this intimate camp is known for its quality of both service and game viewing.
Overnight: Rekero Camp (B/L/D)

Day 9
You have the chance for one last shared game drive this morning before making your way to the Ol Kiombo airstrip to catch your internal flight to the coast (14:00 – 16:00). You are met upon arrival at Diani airstrip and transferred south by road and boat to the lovely Funzi Island, a tropical paradise. Here, you can sit back, relax and reminisce after your adventures.
Overnight: Funzi Keys – Deluxe Beach Front Cottage – Located on an un-spoilt island in utter seclusion. Your Beachfront Cottage blends into the surrounding landscape constructed of stone and thatch and with en-suite facilities (B/L/D)

Day 10, 11
Your days are spent sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the comfort of Funzi Keys. For the more active people there is a beautiful pool to cool off in, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, windsurfing, canoeing and a variety of boat trips. This is the ultimate beach relaxation.
Overnight: Funzi Keys – Deluxe Beach Front Cottage (B/L/D)

Day 12
You have a lazy morning (check-out time from your room is 10:00) with lunch prior to departing by road and boat to Diani airstrip. From here, you will catch your internal flight to Nairobi Wilson Airport (16:00 – 17:30) where you will be met and transferred to a local Restaurant (payable direct), before being transferred to Nairobi International Airport (JKI) for your onward international flight back home (B/L)