East Africa Treks & Safari

Known locally as “Kandt House,” this museum celebrates the work of Dr. Richard Kandt, a German physician and explorer who embarked on an exploration of Rwanda in 1897, searching for the source of the Nile River. A rich showcase of Rwanda’s natural treasures, the museum includes artifacts from Dr. Kandt’s expedition and also a ship that was sunk off the shores of Lake Kivu during the German troops’ surrender to the Belgian Army in World War I.

This museum is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Umuganda [community work] Day, which is the last Saturday of every month, the museum opens at 12:00 a.m. On 7th April, all museums are closed.

Established in 2007 by 18 women living in Nyamirambo, Kigali, the NWC examines Rwanda’s unfortunate history of violence, inequality and discrimination towards women. Today, the Center’s mission is to provide education and vocational training to disadvantaged women so that they can gain better opportunities for employment.

Located ten minutes from the city centre, the Kigali Genocide Memorial offers guided tours of the exhibits and gardens commemorating the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Visitors can choose to be guided by one of the staff, many of whom are survivors of the genocide, or purchase the KGM digital guide, which provides an audiovisual tour.

This collective of Rwandan creative artists showcases local works in contemporary African arts, crafts, music and dance. In addition to exhibiting paintings, sculptures and mixed media expressions, the center conducts programs, projects and initiatives designed to expand the creative arts in Rwanda.

Offers you an experience at Lake Kivu.

- Time: 2 hours
- Time Options: 08:00-17:00hrs
- Price: US$163 and maximum capacity is 6 pax.
- Time: 1 hour
- Time Options: 08:00-17:00hrs
- Price: US$87 and maximum capacity is 6 pax.

*Please note prices exclude transportation

Offers you an experience on Lake Kivu.

- Time: 1 hour
- Time Options: 08:00-17:00hrs
- Price: US$30 and maximum capacity is 1 pax.
- Sunset: US$50 per 3 hour trip
- Day trip: US$100

*Please note the prices do not include transportation

Trekking or driving on designated routes along the lake (on request – arranged with Marines)

Guided nature walks on Rubavu Mountain – on request

Guided tour of Gisenyi City

Offers you an experience on biking trails along Lake Kivu.

- Time: Full day

- Time Options: 08:00-17:00hrs

- Price: US$30 and maximum capacity is 1 pax.

- Guiding: US$30 per bicycle.

The Nyiragongo Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, famous for the lava lakes that have formed in the summit crater. The hike to the summit takes approximately four to six hours and can be difficult in humid conditions, but you are rewarded by sightings of rare birds and animals such as monkeys, bushbucks and chimpanzees, and the summit offers wonderful views of Gisenyi Town.

Lake Kivu Serena Hotel has a tennis court available

The legendary Virunga Mountains in north-western Rwanda are home to volcanoes, swathes of cloud forest and half the world’s total population of Endangered mountain gorillas. The primates of Rwanda are unparalleled, and Wilderness Sabyinyo is the perfect base for mountain gorilla trekking.

This thrilling excursion takes place from Volcanoes National Park headquarters, where guests are allocated to one of the 12 habituated gorilla families for an awe-inspiring one-hour encounter.

* Park fees are not included and are at extra cost.

Enjoy a short trek to view this beautiful primate, which is endemic to the area and lives in groups of between 30 to 80 individuals in the Park’s bamboo forest.

* Park fees are not included and are at extra cost.

At Sabyinyo you can get up close to the stories of the land on a guided community walk, which offers fascinating insights into Rwandan rural life, as well as a glimpse into the struggles of the past.

Guests will learn how crops are grown, how milling and processing is done by hand, and learn more about how traditional medicines are used.

Rwandan dancing, an integral part of today’s culture, will be part of this fascinating cultural tour, which is one to three hours long.

Birding with a knowledgeable Wilderness guide at Sabyinyo is a truly enriching experience.

Sabyinyo extends across seven hectares (about 17 acres) and is a haven for over 40 bird species that do not otherwise easily thrive in the surrounding agricultural plots, where natural shelter is rare and human disturbance is high.

Guests are welcome to enjoy the nature trails on their own (armed with a good pair of binoculars), or are invited to enquire about our guided walks.

While staying at Wilderness Sabyinyo, we recommend enjoying a guided community walk, which offers fascinating insight into Rwandan rural life today, as well as a glimpse into life in the historical past. An enriching experience, guests are invited to understand the agricultural lifestyle of Rwanda, including how crops are grown, how milling and processing is done by hand, traditional medicines, as well as enjoying the frenetic activity of traditional Rwandan dancing, which is an aspect of the culture still very alive today.

A walk may range in duration between one to three hours.

The Gorilla Guardian Village is located about 15 minutes drive from Wilderness Sabyinyo and is an interesting cultural excursion. The village convinced ex-poachers to turn their back on poaching and instead showcase their customs and heritage.

Visiting the village guests can discover the traditional house of a local king, watch an authentic medicine man prepare herbal mixtures, try their hand at bow and arrow shooting, or enjoy cultural dances and drumming performed by people from the local area.

A visit to Dian Fossey’s research camp, Karisoke, and her grave, is another highlight at Sabyinyo. The trek starts from the Volcanoes National Park headquarters, and is located in the saddle area between two volcanoes, Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke (from which the name Karisoke is derived). The camp site sits at an altitude of 3 000 metres (over 9 000 feet.) and was abandoned during the unrest of the 1990s. All that remains today is the grave of Dian Fossey and several graves of her beloved gorillas, buried alongside her. A poignant and cherished moment for all who visit.

A visit to see Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo is a must on any itinerary. Located between Musanze and the Ugandan border, the Twin Lakes offer magnificent views over the Virunga Volcanoes, while the surrounding hills create a picture-perfect frame around the deep blue waters. Guests can take a gentle walk around one of the lakes, and enjoy wonderful birding. However, due to the steep nature of the landscape, it is often preferable to drive up the small track leading to a lodge tucked away at the top of the hill: the perfect spot to enjoy a refreshing drink and soak up the glorious vistas.

The Twin Lakes are 45 minutes by car from Sabyinyo, and are reached via a good tarmac road south to Musanze, and then back north towards Cyanika, or via a narrow but picturesque dirt road that follows the contours of the mountain.

The lakeside resort of Gisenyi makes for a wonderful contrast to the high altitude of the Virunga Volcanoes. Located 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Sabyinyo (two hours by car) Lake Kivu offers a relaxing day out. Stroll along the sandy beach on the lakeshore, and take a refreshing swim in the cool waters, followed by a refreshing drink at one of the quaint cafes along the palm-tree fringed lakeside promenade. The mild tropical climate adds to the springtime mood, which not even the imposing Nyiarongo Volcano can dampen.

Guests will also enjoy strolling past the hotels, mansions and lush gardens that echo its opulent past.

Local markets are the lifeblood of any town and Musanze market is a prime example. A bustling place full of local character and virtually everything you may need under the sun. Found in Musanze town (formerly known as Ruhengeri) it is the most important town in Rwanda’s Northern Province and in the Volcanoes area. It serves as the area’s administrative, commercial and service capital. You can also find all sorts of interesting souvenirs and handicrafts, and a wide range of traditional Kitenge fabric.

Enjoy a guided walk to Iby’Iwacu cultural village either on foot (a one hour downhill walk from Sabyinyo) or by car, a 15-minute drive).

Here you’ll learn the fascinating story of how one village convinced ex-poachers to turn their backs on poaching. Visit the traditional residence of a local king, watch an authentic medicine man prepare herbal mixtures, and try your hand at bow-and-arrow shooting.

Cultural dances and drumming performances are also on offer.

The guided walk takes around an hour and guests are free to take photographs. It is customary to leave a tip of USD 20.00.

Another very rewarding outing is a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International was established in 1967 to protect and study gorillas and their habitat, as well as to empower the people in the community.

With a team of hundreds working in Rwanda and the DRC, the Fossey Fund is the world’s longest-running and largest organisation dedicated entirely to gorilla conservation.

In 2022, the organisation moved to its first permanent, purpose-built home, the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

Nestled in a beautiful, reforested landscape near Volcanoes National Park, why not add this to your itinerary. Here you can stop in for a tour, grab a cup of coffee at the Gorilla Café, browse the gift shop and learn more about the gorillas and the important work done to help conserve them.

* The visit is an additional cost per person in USD and are subject to change without prior notification.

Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is today the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world and one of the pioneering conservation organisations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa.

Spend a few hours in the company of young orphan elephants and learn about incredible rescue efforts and the world famous rehabilitation programme. You may also find yourself adopting one of the herd.

Karen Blixen Museum is a national museum in Kenya situated about 19 kilometres from Nairobi City centre. It was built in 1912, and was home to the iconic Danish author of ‘Out of Africa’ (won an Oscar Award)-Karen Blixen. This famous author, artist and poet lived here while setting up her coffee farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills.

In case you missed out, Out of Africa is a book which Karen Blixen wrote about her stay in Kenya and of her beloved farm, and was later made into a great movie. It shows her struggles she underwent to keep her estate and how her understanding and love grew for the culture and the people around her.

During your stay at Hemingways Nairobi Hotel, take some few hours of your time and visit Karen Blixen Museum. This will give you a chance to travel back in time where you can re-live your memories of Out of Africa. If you are a lover of history, then this is the place for you.

You can pick up a copy of the famous film at the museum shop or browse for handicrafts, posters and postcards, books and other Kenyan souvenirs.

A short drive from Hemingways Hotel, Nairobi National Park offers either an immediate safari experience on landing in Kenya or a final last look prior to departing home. It is the oldest national park in Kenya, established in 1946, and is the only national park in the world located within a capital city.

With wide-open grass plains and the backdrop of the city, scattered acacia bushes play host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalos, cheetahs, hyenas and giraffes among others. Visitors can enjoy Nairobi National Park game drives to view all these wild animals. For the bird lovers, the park also has over 400 bird species for your watching.

Some of the other fun activities to engage in the park include camping, picnics and hiking. The park also has various facilities for corporate events, team building sessions, weddings and video and film production.

Other attractions to explore within and around Nairobi National Park include the Nairobi Safari Walk, the Ivory Burning Site Monument and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Whether you’re visiting Nairobi for work or leisure, a game of golf at the nearby Karen Country Club is not to be missed for golf enthusiasts. Guests at Hemingways Nairobi enjoy preferential rates at this golf club. This golf club was opened in the 1930’s, a large part of the 18-hole course was built on the former coffee estate of the Danish pioneer Karen Blixen. Indeed the shade trees from her coffee plantation still dominate parts of the course, eighty years after they were planted.

The course is superbly maintained with greens built to PGA standards and has played host to the Kenya Open in recent years. Karen’s golf course is as pretty as a picture, its flourishing wildlife (both flora and fauna) encouraged by an active policy of nature and wetlands conservation and promotion. Everywhere there is colour and beauty.

The Giraffe Centre is a non-profitable organization whose main objective is to provide conservation education for school children and the youth of Kenya.

Visit the feeding platform to get up close and personal with a giraffe and take a stroll through the nature sanctuary for a tranquil getaway with serene views and sounds of nature.

Set out in an open 4x4 safari vehicle in the company of your guide in search of the incredible wildlife in the Masai Mara. &Beyond’s professionally trained guides will ask you about your favorite wildlife and will do their best to ensure that your preferences are met, whether it is tracking a particular species or spending more time enjoying each sighting, getting to know the habits of the animals. They will also tell you about the vegetation of the region and will explain the behavior of the animals that you come across. In some cases, the guides will be able to identify individual animals and let you know about their history and habits. If the Great Migration is passing through the area, your guide will attempt to catch up with it and spend some time in the midst of the massed herds.

The andBeyond Kichwa Tembo concession is the only place where guests can experience night game drives in the Masai Mara. As the sun sinks over the vast horizon, the African bush comes to life with predators and other nocturnal creatures. Guests may have the opportunity to observe fascinating species not normally encountered in daylight.

Min 4 guests. Duration 2 hours.

Make the most the incredible scenery and views at andBeyond Kichwa Thembo by enjoying a guided walk. There are three walking routes to choose from, each exploring different areas and lasting approximately two hours. The Kichwa Nature Trail winds through riverine forest and follows the perimeter of Sabaringo Creek, home to fantastic birdlife. The Mara Hippo Trail offers an exciting opportunity to explore the wilderness on foot, through the plains, riverine forest, savannah grasslands and bush land surrounding the camp and on to the Mara River. The Oloololo Escarpment Trail leads from the camp to the top of the escarpment and boasts breathtaking views of the Mara reserve, the Mara river and riverine forest.

Enjoy sundowner cocktails at a breathtaking location on the famous Oloololo Escarpment. Watch as the sun sinks over a spectacular classical safari landscape from a vantage point that commands views over the entire Masai Mara.

Maximum 100 guests; minimum 6 guests. Time 18:00 – 18:45 (45 Minutes to an Hour at Sundown).

Be a part of the Masai Mara by air. Enjoy breathtakingly beautiful views of the morning's sunrise. Marvel at the diverse habitats of the Masai Mara Reserve, the great Mara River, swamps, forests, wildlife and the African Savanna. Enjoy a delicious champagne breakfast served in the open plains of the Masai Mara upon landing.

Guests will be guided through the village by an English-speaking Maasai, who lives in the village. He will introduce your guests to the authentic, daily hustle and bustle of Maasai living. Guests will also have the opportunity to browse through the Maasai Craft Centre and purchase artefacts and souvenirs, which are made in the village — all proceeds are given back to the community.

Duration approx. 30 minutes

Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the bush, either on the banks of the Mara River or on the Oloololo Escarpment. Sip champagne (served on request) whilst enjoying the spectacular panoramic views of the plains below.

Min 6 guests. Duration approx. 90 minutes

A delicious Pan African meal is served in a memorable setting under the stars, followed by fireside entertainment by our very own Sukuti band. Private dinners can be arranged on request for 2 or more guests within the camp grounds.

Min 6 guests; private dinners can be arranged for 2 or more guests within the camp grounds. Duration approx. 2 – 3 hours

Tall Maasai warriors in traditional dress form a guard of honour as guests arrive. Deep, haunting voice burst into song and soon the ground reverberates to the rhythm of their athletic traditional dances as the Maasai leap higher and higher, seeking to outperform each other.

Duration 20 minutes

With a dedicated game ranger and tracker, as well as a private game drive vehicle, guests have the luxury of tailor-making their own safari experience; choosing their own game drive times and spending as much time as they want at sightings.

andBeyond’s WILDchild programme, designed especially for children visiting our safari lodges and camps in Africa, is filled with fun, interactive activities that offer opportunities to learn and discover new experiences and cultures. Deeply rooted in the love for the African bush, it not only creates a series of unforgettable moments for the whole family but forges strong bonds between our young guests, our planet and its people.

You are required to create a personal affirmation to reclaim an unconditional acceptance and love for yourself and reconnect with your soul to release all negative energy from deep within. A unique blend of aromatherapy and plant oils chosen specifically by you, combining deep tissue massage techniques to bring relaxation to tired, aching muscles allowing the body and soul to return to perfect equilibrium. Choose from the Pinotage range, rich in antioxidants, a blend of aromatherapy oils to either destress, hydrate, relax or detox.

African Shea Butter has been long hailed for its powerful healing and nourishing effects. Relaxing nourishing and energizing this full body massage targets specific areas or tension and muscular discomfort employing deep tissue techniques where pain is dramatically alleviated.

Full Body and Scalp 75min
Back, Neck and Scalp 45min

Re-awaken your Soul with a combination of powerful African aromatherapy oils and botanical body balms combining traditional African Calabash and Bamboo tools with human touch and rhythmic movement in this indulgent ritual, the ultimate source of relaxation to bring balance to your mind, body and soul in the heart of Africa, the cradle of mankind, through touch and vibrational sound therapy using ancient sound tools and techniques.

Choose African Potato for its Ancient Healing powers, Marula Neroli for a Sensory Indulgence, Kalahari Melon for its Hydrating Properties, Mongongo Nut to Detox or Cinnamon and Orange to Firm and Tone

Full body and Scalp: 90min
Back and Scalp: 60min

Re-awaken your senses through gentle exfoliation and envelope your body with inspirational blends of natural African essential oils and botanicals. We start the treatment with a dry polish followed by a full body polish to alleviate tension and renew skin. We then do the wrap and an indulgent full body massage using our powerful collection of indigenous African oils and balms.

Choose African Potato for its Ancient Healing powers, Marula Neroli for a Sensory Indulgence, Kalahari Melon for its Hydrating Properties, Mongongo Nut to Detox or Cinnamon & Orange to Firm and Tone

90min

The ultimate hand ritual. Your hands are polished with a pure Peppermint & Aloe Vera polish and cuticles restored with indigenous healing oils. Your hands are then embalmed with African Shea Butter. Relax as you receive a shoulder and scalp massage and finish the treatment with a nourishing Pinotage hand oil massage, leaving your hands feeling soft and rejuvenated.

30min
60min

Embrace the healing earth difference

Healing Earth has embodied the vibrant fusion of colorful beadwork preserving the Maasai Culture of the past, present and future within the Maasai Celebration Journey.

Our Journey starts with a Maasai Foot Ritual, where salt crystals infused with plant extracts are used to cleanse away outside elements, ensuring a positive and continual flow of energy within the client-therapist Journey.

The journey continues with a beautiful body cleanse, using a refreshing Healing Earth Tanga-Orange Polish mixed with indigenous oil extracts to thoroughly cleanse the skin. A delightful, relaxation massage therapy follows with our Maasai Body Butter, enriched with African Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and a rich spice blend that leaves your body, mind and soul renewed and invigorated.
To end your Journey, we call on the Rain with our Ancient Maasai Thank You Celebration to signify the end of our signature therapy and as symbolism of the Maasai Culture where rain is symbolic as an essential life giving force of new beginnings, prosperity and rejuvenation.

Clients embrace the Maasai World and is gifted with a Jewel of Maasai beadwork which they intuitively choose thereby holding a lasting memory and deep-rooted connection with the African Soil and its people.

90min

A WildChild needs pampering too

Soak those tired little feet in Healing Earth’s Lavender and Jasmine bubble bath, followed by a Mango Orange scrub, toe nail grooming and mini foot tickle and rub. To recharge your energy a 15min back, neck and shoulder massage with pure Aloe Vera Gel will guarantee to send our budding rangers off on their next adventure in the African Bush. Finish your treatment with an African Tribal Face Paint and if you choose to, leave with your own Beauties and Buddies Pamper Kit to remember your adventure in the wild and remind you of how important it is to Care for the Land, Wildlife and People of this world.

Treatment 30min
Beauties and Buddies Pamper Kit