22-day travel across africa

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.

The legendary Virunga Mountains in the north-east 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 Bisate 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 twelve habituated gorilla families for a one-hour awe-inspiring encounter.

* Gorilla Trekking Permits, per person, at an additional cost.

View this beautifully-coloured primate, which is endemic to the area and lives in groups of between 30 to 80 individuals in the Park’s bamboo forest.

Set on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, and an easy drive to the park gate, Wilderness Bisate is located in a vantage point that feels part of the park, offering breathtaking views of six volcanoes, including Bisoke, Karisimbi and Mikeno.

A full-day guided hike to the summit of Mount Bisoke (3 711 metres) can be strenuous, however, is well worth the effort, offering sweeping views of the rainforest and crater lake. Explore the diversity of habitats, and visibly discover the flourishing wildlife.

One of the Wilderness Bisate agronomists will show you around the tree nursery and help you plant a sapling as part of our visionary reforestation project. Includes a visit to the Bamboo Greenhouse to see our greater indigenous tree nursery efforts.

Guided visit to the nearby community and members of the cooperative, including the farmers who cultivate and sell their vegetables to Wilderness Bisate.

A spectacular, challenging hike to Dian Fossey’s burial site and the ruins of her Karisoke Research Centre, set in the saddle of Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes at an elevation of some 3 000 metres.

Bisate Kwanda accommodates early arrivals and later departures, providing more flexibility with transfers in and out of the lodge. Further enhancing our guest experience, the offering at Bisate Kwanda will allow guests to shower, change, have a light meal, visit the Wilderness Bisate Boutique stocked with items from Rwanda (purchases at an additional cost), have a massage (treatments at an additional cost), or simply relax in the informal lounge with fireplace, while enjoying the sweeping views overlooking the organic vegetable garden and the reforestation efforts towards Volcanoes National Park.

Kwanda is a Kinyarwanda word meaning growth or expansion; a place to gather; a gift – all three of which perfectly sum up the day lounge’s unique offering. Located close to the main lodge, tucked out of sight, Bisate Kwanda has local craftspeople to thank for its uniquely Rwandan flavour. From hand-tooled wooden utensils and food boards to delicate crockery, striking entrance floors and hallways, volcanic rock walls and facings, hand-woven baskets and placemats, and garden pots, everything has been designed and hand-crafted by Rwandans to create a truly authentic ambience.

* All Volcanoes National Park activities require permits (per person) at additional cost. The private gorilla trek is at a further additional cost.

Established in 1967, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund works to protect and study gorillas, and their habitats, as well as to empower people who live near their forest home. 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 the Volcanoes National Park it is worth visiting, with a stop at the campus easy to add during a stay at Wilderness Bisate or Wilderness Sabyinyo.

https://gorillafund.org/ellencampus/

* No additional costs besides the entrance fee, and may be experienced either on arrival or departure, or in the afternoon after gorilla trekking.

Game drives at Angama Mara are planned according to what the guests would like to do as there is no set programme. Descending down Angama Mara’s private road, 10-minutes later guests enter the Reserve. Even though there is game a-plenty around the lodge, the heart of the action takes place in one of Africa’s most iconic year-round Big Five destinations – the Mara Triangle.

Watch the hot-air balloon as it is inflated, with a steaming cup of Kenyan coffee in hand. Just before dawn lift off into the skies, witnessing the sunrise and a multitude of animals below while floating over the Mara. Come back down to earth for a champagne breakfast in the middle of the savanna’s endless plains.

Guests have access to over a huge tract of wilderness along the Oloololo Escarpment. Escorted by a Maasai naturalist guide, walks can be as long or short as guests prefer. Discover the smaller details – fascinating plants, birds, insects and animals and the role they play in traditional Maasai beliefs and customs.

Visit Angama Mara’s Photographic Studio for a private tutorial with our on-site photographers who will help you come to grips with your camera. Hire photographic equipment or learn more about the editing process on our large-screen Apple desktops. Explore the Mara on a private photographic safari with one of our specialist guides. Those who prefer to put down their cameras, the in-house photographer can capture these special moments in a professional photoshoot.

Explore Angama Mara’s one-acre lovely kitchen garden followed by a soil-to-fork lunch under towering moth trees. Crusty bread, local cheese, chilled rosé and the freshest of salads served with the Mara as a backdrop – what could be better?

Intimate private picnics for two (maximum four) on the Out of Africa kopje featured on the movie’s iconic poster. Checked blankets, comfy cushions, canvas safari chairs, a picnic and sparkling wine on ice – everything you could need for elegant romance.

As the day ends, it’s time to sit back, sip a cocktail and watch the sun descend behind the Rift Valley from the spectacular vantage point of the Sundowner Boma — perfect for this, with its circular shape encapsulating the dramatic views overlooking the Maasai Mara.

Traditionally as the sun set, livestock was gathered into this space to protect the animals from predators. Today, it is also a space in which people gather, and where the African night is welcomed with song, dance and celebration.

Gather in a lantern-lit forest for dinner cooked over the coals. Guests dine family-style at long, wooden tables, off enamel plates with dishcloths for napkins. It’s fun, it’s relaxed and most of all, it’s delicious.

Leading off the Safari Shop is a sunny studio for Maasai ladies who come daily to bead bespoke items. Guests can try their hand at beading or perhaps have the ladies bead a name bracelet or an item of their clothing.

Join the Angama Running Club and see how you fare against this nation of great athletes as you jog along the Escarpment with the possibility of encountering plains game such as giraffe and zebra along the way.

Guests enjoy a rare opportunity of gaining a deeper understanding into every day lives of the Maasai, their ways and their fascinating culture, and maybe a few keepsakes to take home.

A hands-on opportunity to learn about the invaluable work of the Mara Conservancy’s canine unit. Observe and participate in training exercises and see if you can outsmart these determined canines.

This interactive experience allows you to learn about the activities on Segera and beyond. Part natural history museum, part art museum, part dreamer’s exhibition, a comprehensive tour will inspire you about the possibilities of holistic sustainability.

Segera's exclusively private 50,000 acres are home to lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, and buffalo as well as endangered species such as reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Lelwel's Hartebeest, and African wild dog. You'll seek out these species along with classic plains game and up to 150 bird species on daily game drives in open-sided safari vehicles with talented guides.

Go game viewing and wildlife monitoring and see how removing miles of game fencing has helped
establish vital elephant corridors.

Fully immerse in nature at its most wild during one of our exhilarating walking safaris. One step at a time, our exceptional guides will unveil the secrets of the landscape as you encounter majestic wildlife up close and feel the rhythm of the bush beneath your feet.⁠ With our expert guides by your side, witness the incredible beauty of untouched landscapes and surrounding wilderness through the walking safaris. ⁠

A bush picnic is one of the many ways to enjoy the unique venues spread across our beautiful landscape. Sit back and relax with a delicious meal as our guides share these meaningful moments out in the wild, surrounded by 50,000 acres of pristine nature. A curated cocktail hour in the bush is also one of the many special experiences that give our guests meaningful moments out in the wild.

Segera will take you on experiences that go way beyond the typical safari as you immerse yourself in the lifestyle of our local communities. Our guests get to visit a local Samburu Manyatta and experience rural life, shopping at a local market, and visit the local schools that we support through our partner organization, the ZEITZ Foundation. Our mission is to create a sustainable, ecologically, and socially responsible retreat that protects and preserves the integrity of our ecosystem found within it and around it. ⁠

Sleep like a bird, in a nest, in the wild. This unique collaboration between Segera and Nay Palad is a raised ‘nest’ in the wild with one indoor en-suite bedroom and a beautiful outdoor shower. There is a bed inside as well as a bed on the rooftop, so guests can choose to sleep inside or under the stars. You’ll find a picnic-style dinner and candle-lit drinks set up to enjoy while the night draws in. In the morning, breakfast will be delivered to your doorstep so you can prolong the feeling of being

in romantic seclusion. You’ll love the drama of the skies and stars, the sounds of the bush and the security of being elevated above the activity. This is true luxury in the wild.

Segera’s focus on wellbeing is key to giving our guests a nourishing and relaxing safari experience. Our wellness centre is fully equipped, offering a variety of luxurious and holistic spa treatments, a state-of-the-art gym, a solar-powered Rasul steam tower and tailored private yoga sessions to restore a sense of peace, balance and wellbeing amidst the peace and beauty of the wild.⁠

From freshly pressed juices and smoothies, to spectacular salads and pasta dishes, our delicious and colourful fresh fruits and vegetables offer guests healthy, delicious and bespoke farm-to-table menus. Every dining venue at Segera offers beautiful and intimate meal experiences. Immersed in nature, surrounded by low-key, contemporary safari style and enjoying delicious ingredients and exceptional service, our dining spaces make your food journey at Segera truly unforgettable.⁠

Segera's success story in conserving its precious ecosystem and protecting the 50,000 acre wildlife sanctuary is largely built on the collective effort of our Rangers and anti-poaching dog unit. The beautiful bloodhounds attached to the anti-poaching unit bring so much joy to everyone who meets them. Guests get to join in on daily activities, like their daily tracking and training and spa days on Sundays.

Segera is home to impressive collections of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora—known as the Zeitz Collection. A stroll through the botanical gardens will reveal dramatic wire sculptures, monumental bronze, stone and steel works, land and earth art, outdoor projections and site-specific interventions. In the Stables and Paddock House you can view water-colours, video installations, prints, etchings and paintings from artists who are shaping the modern African art collections of our time. During your stay you can visit the C4C exhibit opposite the Spa to find out more about the artwork

and ethos or request an art tour with an expert.

Open vehicle safari drives in Zambezi National Park. The camp has custom built Land cruisers specially designed for photography. With just four to six guests each, the vehicles are fully stocked with reference books, drinks and snacks.

Mpala Jena’s wooden dhow, brought from the Zanzibar coast to Zimbabwe, is available for guests to enjoy when on a sunrise cruise or late afternoon sunset sail along the Zambezi River. The journey is a relaxed way of experiencing one of Africa's most iconic rivers whilst under sail. Guests head upriver from Mpala Jena, returning with the flow of the river as it flows toward the Victoria Falls in the distance. A wide selection of beverages and snacks are provided on the dhow, based on the guest's preference.

If need be, there is an external motor available. This experience is a seasonal offering, dependent on the waters of the Zambezi River. Life jackets are supplied.

Mpala Jena Camp has it's own 8-seater aluminum hulled motor boat perfect for sun-downer cruises.

During a two night stay, guests have the opportunity to enjoy a half-day guided excursion to the thunderous and impressive mass of falling water of the Victoria Falls.

This is a great activity for the whole family. Catch-and-release fishing is done from a boat with a captain, on the Zambezi River.

Elephants feature largely on any activity at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, as the largest population left in Africa occupies this northern corner between Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Game drives in open-sided 4 x 4 vehicles bring these grey giants into easy reach as they drink and frolic at the water's edge in their boisterous herds. Thrilling game drives lead by our qualified professional guides bring you close to hippos, buffalos, puku and other animals that gather on the banks of the Chobe River. The puku, a small rusty-brown antelope, alongside impala, kudu and red lechwe, are only a few of the common antelope found here. Naturally, lion and leopard are also found in the area.

The best way to end a day of safari here is sipping on a cocktail while watching an African sunset over the still waters of the Chobe River from the comfort of one of our specially designed riverboats. Sundowner cruises are also a great way of seeing buffalo up close as they come out of the shade to graze in the cooler evenings and elephants as they wade in the river. Chobe is renowned for its abundance of dramatic sable and roan antelopes with their impressive horns. Sitatungas - antelope with splayed feet to help them run in swamps - are often seen here, as are the wild dog and lion that prey upon them.

Our new safari boat available from Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero can seat up to 18 guests and has a lower and upper deck, both featuring 360 degree swivel seats. The upper deck offers a great vantage point of the Chobe River and wildlife while the lower deck boasts a bar area and the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a scrumptious river breakfast or lunch. The boat offers a great exclusive and intimate alternative to enjoying the Chobe area especially for photographic enthusiasts.

Guests will meet up with their guide at reception and drive through to the jetty for their fishing activity. The best time for fishing in the Chobe area is in winter, May, June, July and August. Type of fish guests can expect to catch is Bream and Tiger Fish. All fishing is done on a catch and release basis. Rates include: Use of the boat for maximum of 3 hours and fishing equipment. Maximum 3 people per boat and subject to availability.

Only an hour and a half's drive from the spectacular Victoria Falls, Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero is a great base from which to explore this great wonder of the world. The transfer time is approximately 1 ½ hours depending on border formalities. From here, the guide will escort guests around the Falls sharing some facts & history along the way. Sanctuary Retreats will supply raincoats during high water months when guests are likely to get wet from the spray of the Falls. The walk is approximately 1½ hours in duration (3km), through the rainforest, stopping at the various viewing points. Guests will also have the opportunity to do some curio shopping in the adjacent open-air markets before returning to Chobe Chilwero. This activity is at an additional cost. Please enquire for rates.

With a maximum of just eight guests, Zarafa Camp offers complete flexibility. Drives do focus on the most comfortable and productive times of day, early morning and late afternoon, but full day drives are also quite common at a guest’s request. Picnic brunch can be delivered, and the vehicles are stocked with cold drinks. The camp has two custom built Land Cruisers specially designed for our conditions and photography (fold-down screens, raised roofs, photographic bars, multi-plug invertors) with seven individual bucket seats.

Another huge benefit of staying within the conservancies is the ability to appreciate the stunning landscape on foot, peacefully, without the noise of engines. We highly recommend this unforgettable experience. Talk to the managers to arrange a good time and location for a walk. Usually early morning or evening is the best time, as the middle of the day is too hot to venture out of the shade. Wear good

walking shoes, a hat, and neutral coloured clothing so as not to alarm the wildlife, and take binoculars. Your guide will have water for you. Walks are led by licensed guides with firearm training.

The HES Zib, Zarafa’s special pontoon boat, is an utterly unique experience. The 275 sq. foot deck is complete with couches, a dining area and bar where guests can comfortably enjoy floating brunch or sundowners while watching hippos and elephants in the water. It is also an exceptional platform for birding.

Each of Zarafa’s guest suites has a professional camera set, including a camera body and lenses. Photos will be downloaded to a DVD on guest’s departure. Each suite comes with a pair of high-quality binoculars for guest use as well. For stargazers, each room comes with its own telescope for use on each suite's private deck.

A full syllabus of bush craft skills for our young explorers. This is a complimentary program that follows in the footsteps of National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence, Dereck and Beverly Joubert. An extensive pack will be provided to eager children on arrival, so they can learn about animal calls, how to track wildlife, and other facts and figures about the wild. At the end of a child’s stay, he/she will become a Young Explorer and Conservation Ambassador - ready to go out and tell the world about what they have learned and what they too can do to help protect this beautiful environment.

Fly-fishing and rod/reel kit is available for those who want to try their cast at the local fish (except January and February when there is a moratorium on fishing).

Explore the lagoon and channels around the area by flat-bottomed power boat.

The Spa at Zarafa is located between suite 4 and the Dhow Suite. The Spa offers guests two treatment

areas and with a range of treatments available. Spa treatments are at an additional cost.

Safari drives (day & night) take place in some of Botswana’s best adapted vehicles. Duba Plain’s Toyota Land Cruisers are uniquely designed to traverse the floodplains. These are, of course, open-sided, canopied and customised for photographers (raised roofs, photographic bars, multi-plug inverters). Seating only four to six guests on each vehicle, the Cruisers are fully stocked with drinks and snacks. Each suite has a professional camera and lenses as a package for guests to use or try out. Images are downloaded and presented for them to take away at no additional charge.

While the focus remains on the most comfortable times of day (early to mid-morning and late afternoon to evening) for drives, it is very common in Duba Plains to spend full days out in the field, having brunch delivered to the vehicles because the wildlife is so good and our focus is on finding and spending time with these extraordinary experiences.

Our schedule is flexible and guests are encouraged to create their own itinerary according to their interests. Very often, our safaris will continue into the night in search of nocturnal species. Great Plains guides are also keen trackers and birders and guests are encouraged to experience everything the camp has to offer.

Another huge benefit of staying within the conservancies is the ability to appreciate the stunning landscape on foot, peacefully, without the noise of engines. Usually early morning or evening is the best time, as the middle of the day is too hot to venture out of the shade. Wear good walking shoes, a hat, and neutral coloured clothing so as not to alarm the wildlife, and take binoculars. Your guide will have water for you. Walks are led by licensed guides with firearm training.

Zipping through the Okavango Delta's network of waterways is an invigorating way to get a sense of the scope of this huge wetland. You’ll undoubtedly have wonderful birding and maybe even some hippo, buffalo and elephant sightings. (Boating is a seasonal activity, typically between May and October but varies seasonally).

This is a great activity during mid-day siesta. Make sure you’re with a guide. During January and February there is a moratorium on fishing. Catch-and-release fishing only.

Duba Plains Camp offers a full syllabus of bush craft skills for our young explorers. This is a complimentary program that follows in the footsteps of National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert. An extensive pack will be provided to eager children on arrival, so they can learn about animal calls, how to track wildlife, and other facts and figures about the wild. At the end of a child’s stay, he/she will become a Young Explorer and Conservation Ambassador - ready to go out and tell the world about what they have learned and what they too can do to help protect this beautiful environment.

Each Duba Plains guest suite comes with a pair of high-quality binoculars for guest use as well as a professional camera set, including a camera body and lenses. Photos will be downloaded to a memory stick on guest’s departure. Photographic tuition through the Great Plains Wild Studio can be arranged for guests (at an additional cost and booked in advance). Tuition can be either on company cameras or own guest’s personal cameras.

Enjoy an aerial viewing experience with great scenery across the northern part of the Okavango Delta. Add a 15-minute champagne stop on palm island en route. Must be booked in advance and is subject to extra cost and availability.

Explore the Okavango Delta's permanent water channels by mokoro (when water levels allow). This is truly a refreshing yet peaceful experience allowing for wildlife and bird viewing from a unique perspective.

Our expert guides are always on hand to share their wealth of wildlife knowledge as you explore the Delta in modified open 4 x 4 vehicles on morning and afternoon game drives. The game viewing opportunities at Sanctuary Chief's Camp are awe-inspiring. On the plains one may find the roaming lions that prey on the thousands of antelope, zebra and buffalo who live here all year round. There are also healthy populations of wild dog. These extremely rare predators have been hunted to the point of extinction in most areas of Africa and this is one of their last strongholds. There are several local lion prides and leopards, genet cats and hyena are in abundance.

Mokoros, local dugout canoes, offer a different perspective of the bush in the company of a highly trained local guide. Each June the whole area around the camp floods and turns the Okavango Delta into a labyrinth of lily-filled lagoons and streams where hippos fight for bathing rights and crocodiles wait for unwary antelope to linger too long over a drink. Poling through the byways created by the floodwaters is a magical experience that allows guests to get very close to the biggest of game and to see the world from a totally different angle. As a change from a game drive, the quiet, gentle pace of a mokoro is a real introduction to a way of transport still used in the Delta by the 'river bushmen' or BaYei people. (Seasonal Activity)

These scenic flights involve flying west towards the permanent delta, exposing areas which are unreachable by vehicle or boat and showcasing the sheer enormity of the Okavango Delta. There is the option of the doors being removed for unrestricted photographic opportunities. Choose between 30, 45 or 60 minute tour in a single piston engine Robinson r44 helicopter with 3 seats. This activity is offered on a year round basis at an extra cost. Being a personalised activity, it's up to you what time of day you would like to do the activity, however we would recommend early morning and late afternoon as these times usually provide the best light for photography. Preferred flight times can be requested on booking.