8 Days Kenya and Rwanda Safari
This 8 days Kenya and Rwanda Safari takes you on a remarkable travel experience through the vast savannah plains of the world-renowned ‘Magical Kenya’ where you will see a variety of wildlife including the highly sought-after Big Five of Africa, and then head to Rwanda– ‘the land of thousand hills.’ Here, you will be trekking with chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park and mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. This 8 days Kenya and Rwanda safari makes the best combination for a wildlife and primate safari in Africa.
Highlights for 8 Days Kenya and Rwanda Safari
Day 1 – Nairobi to Samburu
Day 2 – Samburu to Lake Nakuru
Day 3 – Nakuru to Maasai Mara
Day 4 – Full Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara
Day 5 – Maasai Mara to Nairobi and Fly to Kigali (Your own flight booking)
Day 7: Chimp Trek and Canopy Walk- Transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 8: Gorilla Trek and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 8 Days Kenya and Rwanda Safari
Day 1 – Nairobi to Samburu
Your tour starts with pick up at 7:00 AM from your Nairobi hotel or Airport and drive to Samburu. This drive will take about 6 to 7 hours with diverse views ranging from the raw countryside, the central highlands of Kenya, the equator line and views of Mt Kenya.
Arrive in Samburu by lunchtime and check into your lodge/camp, have a hot lunch and then depart for an afternoon game drive. After the game drive, we head back to lodge/camp to reach by around 5:30 or 6:00 PM, freshen up and enjoy a freshly prepared Dinner. Overnight at your lodge.
Day 2 – Samburu to Lake Nakuru
After breakfast checkout and depart to Lake Nakuru National Park which is about 5 hours’ drive from Samburu. Enjoy a morning game drive in Samburu national park as you exit. Look out for wildlife animals like the cheetah, giraffes, zebra, hippo, elephants and many more. You will have a stopover for lunch en-route to Lake Nakuru National Park.
Upon your arrival in Lake Nakuru national park, check into your lodge at Nakuru and later depart for afternoon game drives. After game drives till around 6:00 PM, we proceed to your camp/lodge for a freshly prepared dinner. Overnight stay at your Camp/Lodge.
Day 3 – Nakuru to Maasai Mara
We start around 7:30 AM from your Nakuru lodge and drive to Maasai Mara. You will get to embark on a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru national park as you exit. This is your chance to look out for any wildlife species that you might have missed sighting during your previous game drive in the park.
Your drive to Maasai Mara National Reserve will take about 5 to 6 hours with a stopover for lunch en-route. Arrive in Maasai Mara shortly after noon and check into your lodge/camp, have hot lunch and then depart for an afternoon game drive. After the game drive, we head back to lodge/camp to reach by around 5:30 or 6:00 PM, freshen up and enjoy a freshly prepared Dinner. Overnight at your lodge.
Day 4 – Full Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara
Today’s itinerary is flexible and you can discuss with your guide on the previous evening and plan for today’s schedule. You can either have a relaxed breakfast and depart for full day game drives around 9:00 AM with packed lunch and return back to lodge late afternoon around 6:00 PM. Or you can depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive (This is the best time to see the animals and a good chance to witness hunt/kill). Later return to accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch. you will stop at a picnic spot for having packed lunch and later depart on a game drive till the park is closed. Around 6:00 PM return to lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay same as previous night.
Day 5 – Maasai Mara to Nairobi and Fly to Kigali (Your own flight booking)
After a relaxed breakfast head back to Nairobi. On reaching Nairobi in the evening, you will be dropped off at the airport in time to check-in and board your evening flight to Kigali. Dinner and overnight stay at your accommodation in Kigali.
Day 6: Pickup from Kigali and Transfer to Nyungwe Park- Stopover Visit to Nyanza King’s Palace and Butare National Museum.
In the morning, you will be picked by the driver from your hotel in Kigali and drive southwards to Nyungwe Forest National Park. You will have a stopover in Butare, where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, the king’s palace in Nyanza with lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at your accommodation.
Day 7: Chimp Trek and Canopy Walk- Transfer to Lake Kivu
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing before entering the forest, searching for the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are easy to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimp tracking usually takes about 3 hours. You will then have your packed lunch and later return back to base where you will meet up with your driver guide.
After having your packed lunch, you will embark on a guided nature walk along the famous canopy walkway bridge- a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you there after connect to your accommodation to spend the evening at leisure. This hike takes between 1and half to 2 hours. Later meet up with your guide and drive to your lodge in Gisenyi Lake Kivu where you will check-in and have dinner.
Day 8: Gorilla Trek and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Wake up early in the morning and have your breakfast before setting off to the park headquarters for your briefing at 7am. You will be briefed on rules and regulations for your gorilla trek and then head into the forest in search for your gorilla family. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park takes between 1-4 hours or more depending on their location. Once you have located a gorilla family, you will be given an hour to spend with these majestic giants.
After your gorilla trek, head back to base and have lunch before setting off for Kigali where your driver guide will drop you off at the airport in time to check-in and board your flight back home.
End of the 8 Days Kenya and Rwanda Safari.
