13 Days Rwanda and Kenya Safari : Are you interested in having an intimate face to face to encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas and incredible sightings of Africa’s iconic wildlife species including the Big Five, this 13 Day Rwanda, Kenya Safari is perfect for you.
On this combined Rwanda and Kenya Safari, you will experience the beauty of Rwanda’s a thousand hills as you drive along the hilly roads. Meet the gentle giants – the mountain gorillas in the forests of Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park. You will so explore Africa’s iconic savannah plains and encounter abundant wildlife including the Big Five in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park and Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve and Lake Nakuru National Park.
This 13 Day Rwanda, Kenya Safari starts in Rwanda’s Kigali City with arrival at Kigali International Airport and ends in Kenya’s Nairobi City departing from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Highlights of 13 Days Rwanda, Kenya Safari
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer To Akagera
Day 2: Full Day in Akagera
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking.
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe
Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking
Day 8: Transfer to Nairobi
Day 9: Transfer to Naivasha
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Nakuru
Day 11: Transfer to Maasai Mara
Day 12: Full Day in Maasai Mara
Day 13: Departure
Detailed Itinerary of 13 Days Rwanda, Kenya Safari
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer To Akagera
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our African Vacation Safari representative and depart for Akagera National Park on a journey through the beautiful landscape of the countryside. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge and in the late afternoon enjoy a game viewing drive returning to the lodge in time for dinner.
Situated in along Rwanda’s eastern border near Tanzania, Akagera National Park is the only savannah national park in Rwanda known for its diverse ecosystems, including savannahs, woodlands, wetlands and lakes. The park is home to several wildlife species including the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos) and over 500 bird species. At sunset, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akagera Lodge
Day 2: Full Day in Akagera
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge and go for a morning game drive in Akagera National Park, the game drive will allow you to have amazing view of wildlife. Lookout for some of the big mammals like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, topis, impalas, lions and rhinos among other animals.
Enjoy lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon go for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, providing opportunities to spot crocodiles, hippos and other animals coming to bath or drink from the lake. Lookout for the elusive Sitatunga (swamp antelope) and waterbucks along the shores of the lake’s swamps. Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Akagera Lodge
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes
Enjoy breakfast and depart on a scenic drive towards Volcanoes National Park with en-route game drive along the way. Arrive at Ruhengeri, the base for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, spend the rest of the day at leisure preparing for the next day’s adventure. Have dinner and overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking
Have early breakfast at the lodge and transfer to the park headquarters as early as 06:00 hrs for briefing about gorilla trekking. A ranger guide will take you through rules and regulations to follow during the trek, and in groups of 8 people you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek.
You can hire a porter and head into the forest looking for mountain gorillas, the trek takes approximately 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. You will be allowed to spend only one hour in the presence of the gorillas watching them bond, play on tree branches, feed and take as many photos as possible.
After one hour, you will trek back to the park headquarters, meet your guide and return to your lodge for lunch. Spend the rest of day at relaxation and in the evening you can go for a cultural experience in the Ib’Iwacu village. Interact with the local people and be entertained by local dances and drama among other activities giving you a deeper insight into the life of the Rwandans.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Enjoy breakfast and head to Lake Kivu for where you will spend the day at rest on the shores of the lake. Lake Kivu is the perfect place to chill out after the tiring gorilla trekking experience, you can simply relax and rebuild your energy.
You can indulge on boat cruise, birding on a boat trip and explore some islands, take a swim at your hotel’s swimming pool or go for a guided walk.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Kivu Serena Hotel
Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe
After breakfast, you will embark on a journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park arriving in time for lunch at your lodge.
Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking
You will have an early breakfast and head to the Park Headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking rules. Trek into the forest of Nyungwe led by an armed ranger guide and head into the forest looking for chimpanzees, the trek takes about 2 to 6 hours or more depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. You will be allowed to spend only 1 hour with the chimpanzee watching as they play, feed and groom each other.
Then trek back to your lodge for lunch, in the afternoon you will go for a canopy walkway on a suspended 50 meters in the air between big trees and stretches over a steep and deep valley across a massive forest cover offering breathtaking views across the misty forest. You will enjoy excellent sightings at eye-level of a number of unique wildlife inhabiting the canopies including birds, butterflies and several monkey species.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Nyungwe House
Day 8: Transfer to Nairobi
After breakfast, you will depart for Kigali International Airport where you will be dropped off after lunch for your flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be welcomed by our African Vacation Safaris Kenya Guide and transfer to your hotel in Nairobi.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Tamarind Tree Hotel
Day 9: Transfer to Naivasha
Enjoy early breakfast and depart from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha which lies just 90 kilometers northwest of Nairobi- the capital city. Along the journey you will pass through the Rift Valley Escarpment, stopping briefly at the viewpoint for sweeping views of the valley below.
Arrive at Lake Naivasha at mid-morning and head to your lodge for check-in, dinner and overnight stay. Lake Naivasha is a freshwater body surrounded by lush vegetation, flower farms, and acacia forests. Its peaceful, scenic and teeming with birds over 400 species have been recorded here.
Enjoy a boat ride, as you glide over the calm waters. The boat passes hippo pods bobbing just over the surface, African fish eagles calling from Treetops and cormorants. In the afternoon, you will head to Crescent Island, accessible by boat. Here you will walk among zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, and impalas among others. Enjoy dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Nakuru
After breakfast, embark on a journey to Lake Nakuru National Park which is a drive of 2 hours. When you arrive in the park, you will go on your first game drive along the lakeshore where you will pelicans and baboons wandering in troops, white rhinos grazing openly and black rhinos, Rothschild giraffes and leopards among others.
Enjoy picnic lunch and continue exploring the park till evening. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Day 11: Transfer to Maasai Mara
Depart for Maasai Mara National Reserve via the Great Rift Valley View Point where you will have a breathtaking view of the floor of the Rift Valley. You will arrive in time for lunch, check in at the camp. In the afternoon you will go for your first game drive exploring the endless of Maasai Mara, return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Jambo Mara Camp
Day 12: Full Day in Maasai Mara
Enjoy breakfast and depart for a full day game drive with picnic lunch boxes or enjoying morning and afternoon game drives in the endless savannah plains with lunch break in between the game drives.
The full day game drives will give you a chance to explore the savannah plains and see a variety of wildlife including elephants, buffaloes, lion, sighting of rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, gazelles, hartebeests, African wild dogs among others. Enjoy lunch and continue exploring the endless plains of Serengeti till evening, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Today, you can enjoy optional hot air balloon or a visit to a local Maasai Village.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Jambo Mara Camp
Day 13: Departure
Enjoy breakfast, check out and depart for Nairobi. Enjoy lunch and be transferred to the airport in time for your outbound flight.
End of 13 Days Rwanda, Kenya Safari
