2023 Rwanda & Kenya By Private Air Safari – Small Group Tour

Monday, Jul 31, 2023  •  Kigali, RWANDA -- Kigali Serena Hotel

MWARAMUTSE, and welcome to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, located in the center of the country. You will be met with VIP service and transferred by private car to your hotel, where you will meet your fellow travelers and Lakani Tour Manager for a welcome cocktail and dinner party.  Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the final resting place for all the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.  Through education and peace-building, it honors the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994.  Stop at a local handicrafts market.

Tuesday, Aug 1 - Thursday, Aug 3  •  Volcanoes National Park, RWANDA -- Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

You are on your way to your exclusive cottage hidden amidst tropical forest in the foothills of the mighty Virunga Mountains adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park.

You are briefed on the trek into the hills and informed of gorilla etiquette and then feel the excitement surge as you are carefully guided to where the mountain gorillas are expected to be.  Spend a quiet exhilarating hour with thee magnificent, endangered creatures.  Perhaps you are lucky to see babies or young gorilla families during their playtime.  The staff in the park monitor the gorilla families and are familiar with their location, but the gorillas are in their natural habitat and are free to move around.  This thrilling, rare encounter is one that you will be talking about for years to come.

There are plenty of other activities available here, including a trek to see the Golden Monkeys, bird watching, and visits to a local village where you learn how the residents are involved in conservation of nature’s wonderful gifts.

Friday, Aug 4 - Sunday, Aug 6  •  Governor's Il Moran Tented Camp, Maasai Mara, KENYA

Leaving the magnificent gorillas behind, your private charter flight takes you to Kenya where you clear immigration and customs and transfer to your private turbo prop safari aircraft flying right into the heart of stunning Maasai Mara, home to the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle – the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra.  Your luxurious tented camp along the banks of the Mara River is your base for your wildlife exploration.  Embark on morning and afternoon wildlife drives with a chance to see the “Big 5” animals – elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and lion – that inhabit the reserve.  You’ll awakened with tea or coffee each morning and then head out just as the animals arise to hunt or graze.  Stop for a coffee and snack in the bush and then return to camp for a fabulous breakfast.  Later in the day, your guide takes you on a mid-afternoon drive to see more animals.  This time, you’ll break for sundowners with snacks before returning to camp for a delicious dinner.  Then perhaps indulge in some stargazing before bed.

One morning, rise early and take an unforgettable Hot Air Balloon safari, soaring above the plains as the sun rises.  This wonderful and different perspective of the African landscape and wildlife is followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush.  It truly is a fantastic experience and one you will remember forever.

Monday, Aug 7 - Wednesday, Aug 9  •  Laikipia, KENYA -- Mugie House

Head north to Kenya’s wild northern frontier aboard your private charter flight.  Laikipia is off the beaten track where more endangered species can be seen than anywhere else in East Africa.  Note the efforts in conservation and environmental protection during your stay here.  Your luxury cottage is spacious and elegant with floor to ceiling windows revealing sweeping views across the Laikipia landscape.  Kenya is keenly aware of the impact of plastic on the wildlife and environment, and you will find mostly reusable containers for the lovely range of bathroom amenities.  Solar is widely used for power.  In the pristine wilderness you must look for the rare Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, reticulated giraffe, and black rhino.  This region is inhabited by multiple ethnic communities, including Kikuyus, Borana, Samburu and more.  Encounter some of these people on village visits and learn bout their daily life, traditions and how they contribute to conservation.  Enjoy wildlife drives with your expert ranger guides.  Gather around the fire with your sundowners each evening and reminisce with your fellow travelers.  This special place in Africa makes for a perfect ending to a magical experience.

Thursday, Aug 10  •  Nairobi, KENYA -- Hemingways Hotel Day Room

Bid farewell to Laikipia and your newfound friends at the lodge and board your private charter flight to Nairobi where day rooms await you.  Perhaps you’ll choose to do some last minute shopping, indulge in a spa treatment, or just relax and repack for your flight home. KWAHERI to Kenya.