Gorillas In The Mist

Day notes

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi you will be met airside as you descend the aircraft steps by the dmAFRICArepresentative who will assist you with immigration, baggage collection and customs formalities and escort you to your driver who will drive you to the beautiful Giraffe Manor. You can spend the afternoon with the elegant Rothschild Giraffe - watching and feeding them.

Giraffe Manor is Nairobi’s most iconic historical building, dating back to the 1930s, and is reminiscent of the early days of Europeans in East Africa. Whilst the building itself resonates with the past, very much present is the herd of resident Rothschild giraffe who tend to visit the Manor in the mornings and evenings to greet guests and sniff out some snacks before venturing out into their sanctuary of 140 acres. Located 20 km from the city centre in the suburbs of Nairobi in a unique area of preserved wilderness,

Giraffe Manor offers you an unparalleled experience of the giraffes, with them vying for your attention at the breakfast table, the front door and even your bedroom window. It is also home to many characters including warthogs, bushbuck, dik dik and more than 180 species of birds and has a striking view of the Ngong hills.

Inspired by the manor’s original 1930’s decor, the owners have designed six double bedrooms with large four poster beds, antique furnishing, striking art decor and spacious bathrooms. The Karen Blixen suite is ideal for families and has direct access to the courtyard which opens onto the giraffe sanctuary.

Expect to be joined by guests for breakfast; lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served in the sun room, with its enormous windows flung open in welcome of the giraffe that come and join you. Dinner is a cosy affair as the drawing room fire is lit and guests and managers gather for evening drinks. You can either chose to have a candlelit hosted meal in the dramatic wood-paneled dining room or at your own table under the stars surrounded by the glow created by lanterns and candles on the terrace.

The chef will prepare home cooked meals that will make your stay at Giraffe Manor even more memorable. Get a taste of traditional meals with a touch of modern edge such as our Mount Kenya Smoked Trout pate, fillet of beef or Watamu red snapper

Day notes

After breakfast at the Giraffe Manor dmAFRICA transfers you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your scheduled flight to Kigali, capital city of Rwanda. You are met by the dmAFRICA representative on arrival at Kigali Airport after clearing
airport formalities. Your transfer to Clouds Mountain Lodge takes approximately 6 hours by road.

The remainder of the day is free to relax at the lodge or engage in optional activities offered in the lodge guest directory.

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is high up on Nteko Ridge, on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The views are inspiring. It lies in the shadow of three volcanoes, looking down into the thick treetop canopy of Bwindi and beyond to the golden grasses of the Western Rift Valley.

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, with the ultimate goal of protecting the natural habitat of the mountain gorilla, also directly benefits the community of Nkuringo, which has a significant stake in the venture. You are able to walk from the lodge to the Gorilla tracking starting point. The lodge comprises 8 stone cottages with fireplaces, soft armchairs, excellent meals made from local produce, good wine, a lush botanical garden, a cosy library and sheltered verandas with views to the volcanoes.

The main building with reception, dining room, shop and bar area also has six fireplaces to keep it a cosy area throughout the day. Views from the main balcony area stretch across to Rwanda and the Virunga Mountain range as well as all the way across the border towards Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Each room has its own twin basin en suite bathroom, with hot and cold water, as well as electric lights, plug points and a cosy fireplace. The main lodge offers soft and plush finishes with feature wood. Commissioned artwork from Ugandan artists adorns the walls throughout.

Outside sitting areas with comfortable “laid back” chairs for each bedroom with an unobstructed and at the same time private view of the forest below.

Day notes

Early morning start of your very exciting day spent gorilla trekking. You ould do this as man and wife on the first day of your honeymoon and with the possibility of “wedding” photos taken in the proximity of these beautiful and normally gentle giants.

Before 8 am report to the ranger station for registration and a safety talk by one of the rangers; the guides will then take you through the bush pushing your way through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. The trek can take from half an hour to 7 hours – a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes.

Once you are close to the group the guides will ask you to leave behind your bags as no food items should be carried close to the gorillas. Just take your cameras with you as you are about to meet the gentle giants!

Sit in the forest amongst the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas - sadly enough there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left.

You are allowed exactly one hour with the gorillas before returning to the base station.

Day notes

After breakfast at the lodge you are transferred to the airstrip for the charter flight by light aircraft to Entebbe where you arrive around noon. You would continue by scheduled flight to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. A dmAFRICA representative will meet you airside at the airport and assist you with the Kenyan customs and immigration formalities and your homeward arrangements or onward arrangements with dmAFRICA.