Kenya Safari and Rwanda Gorilla Trekking

On arrival at Nairobi International airport, after clearing customs and immigration you will be met and transfer to House of Waine where you will stay for two nights.

House of Waine was originally built in the 1970s as a private home. It was acquired by a local family and carefully refurbished over two years resulting in the unique boutique property that exists today, and retains the charm of a family home.

It is an 11-bedroom property on 2.5 acres that blends the elegance of gracious living with the spirit of modern living in an exclusive and serene setting. Upon entering the gates one is transported to another place, one with a gentler, quieter pace, a private retreat.

 As the day breaks in Karen to the exotic sounds of African bird life, you awake in one of our 11 lavish en suite rooms elegantly furnished to reflect their individual themes.  That is not to say though that the House is lacking in the amenities present in any city hotel.  You will find a complimentary non alcoholic mini bar in each room as well as direct dial telephones, TVs with satellite and local channels,  tea and coffee making facilities, fresh flowers and cookies  that are delivered daily to your room. That’s life at House of Waine, where we like to do things a little bit differently.

This morning following breakfast you will be met for your Daphne Sheldrick Elephant orphanage visit and Kazuri Beads Factory.  following the tour you will be transferred back to the hotel for an afternoon and evening at leisure.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Founded in 1977 by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E, in honor of the memory of her late husband, famous naturalist and founding Warden of Tsavo East National Park, David Leslie William Sheldrick MBE, the DSWT claims a rich and deeply rooted family history in wildlife and conservation. Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and it's 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.
To date the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has successfully hand-raised over 150 infant elephants and has accomplished it's long-term conservation priority by effectively reintegrating orphans back into the wild herds of Tsavo, claiming many healthy wild-born calves from former-orphaned elephants raised in care.
 

Kazuri Beads

Kazuri, which means ‘small and beautiful’ in Swahili, began in 1975 as a tiny workshop experimenting on making handmade beads. The factory is located in what used to be part of the Karen Blixen Estate (of the Academy Award winning film Out of Africa).

This morning after breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your scheduled charter flight to the Lewa airstrip. On arrival you will be met and transferred to Lewa Safari Camp where you will stay for four nights. Arrive in time for an afternoon game viewing activity. 

Sprawling over the Laikipia plains, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a vibrant wildlife conservancy that is popular with celebrities, royals, conservationists, writers and photographers.

Visitors to Lewa are privy to some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing that Kenya has to offer. Lewa is home to the largest concentration of Grevy’s zebra in the world, and protects over 150 Black and White rhino.

Featuring large tented bedrooms with verandahs and full ensuite bathrooms, Elewana Lewa Safari Camp offers authentic comfort for its visitors; cozy log fires in the sitting room are perfect for relaxing after a day in the Conservancy. This unique and exclusive retreat offers privileged access to 65,000 acres of private protected wilderness.

Enjoy three full days of twice daily game viewing activities.

Game Drives

With the whole of the eastern half of the Conservancy to itself, and with strict limits on tourism numbers with the Conservancy, guests can enjoy an almost private game viewing experience. Although a vast area, the Conservancy is fenced, (fencing of wildlife areas is very unusual in Kenya), specifically to protect the rhino. The game driving is outstanding with plentiful rhino, elephant, buffalo, the rare Grevy's zebra and resident predators, to a backdrop of beautiful views of snow-capped Mt. Kenya.

Guided bush walks

Elewana Lewa Safari Camp’s walking guides are trained wildlife rangers from the Conservancy. Apart from their knowledge on rhino conservation, they are also knowledgeable about the tracks and botany. Most walks leave from camp.

Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things – tracks, dung beetles, micro-ecosystems.

Enjoy your last full day of game viewing activities.

Following breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled charter flight to  the Masai Mara.  On arrival you will be met and game view en route to Elephant Pepper Camp where you will stay for  four nights.

Located in the Mara North Conservancy, the heart of the Masai Mara ecosystem, Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp is the perfect base from which to explore the wonders of the Mara.

The vast, fertile plains of the Maasai Mara boasts a plethora of wildlife; with over 450 bird species and both resident and transient populations of lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, to name a few, the plains are dense with game. Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp is perfect for those wanting to observe the spectacle of the migration, classified among the “Seven Wonders of the World”, when, from July to November, over 1.3 million wildebeest and zebra cross from the Serengeti in search of greener pastures.

The camp’s remote location allows the stars to shine bright at night, undimmed by harsh lighting; guests enjoy the unique experience of listening to the sounds of lion, leopard and hyena foraging and hunting, whilst being cosseted with traditional and modern comforts such as a campfire and cosy duvets.

Enjoy twice daily game viewing activities.

Game Drives

Elephant Pepper Camp has open game drive vehicles. The current fleet are new, specially fitted, 4×4 Toyota Landcruisers. The vehicles are unrivaled with feature enhancements specifically designed for comfort and photography – open sided with 3 rows of seats, photographic equipment stands, and charging sockets. Guests will share game drives unless “exclusive use of vehicle” has been prebooked at an extra charge.

This is the best part of the Masai Mara – a year round game viewing experience like no other!

We are often asked why the game viewing in Mara North Conservancy is better than in the Mara Reserve. The explanation is because cattle are not allowed into the Reserve, therefore from the months of November through to June, the grass is high within the Reserve, and the plains game, followed by their predators tend to avoid the Reserve, and stick to the Conservancy which has balanced grazing, and lush short green grass. During the months of July to October, when the zebra and wildebeest migration flood into the whole Mara eco-system, the grass in the Reserve is trampled and eaten, and game viewing is similar within the Reserve and within the Conservancy.

Guided Walk

Take the time to leave the car behind and enjoy the small things – animal tracks, flowers and micro-ecosystems. All the guides are Bronze or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified, and some of our guides have guided in this area for 20 years and enjoy sharing their knowledge and can take you on a delightful ramble from camp – a whole new perspective of the eco-system around you.

Elephant Pepper Camp is also perfect for young explorers! Our Guides love organizing fun walks for kids within the camp. Little ones will learn how to make a fire, throw a rungu, fire a bow and arrow and track wildlife. As a memento of their adventure, children can take home their very own cast from the tracks they discovered!

Enjoy your last full day in the Masai Mara.

This morning after breakfast you will be met and transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled charter flight to  to Nairobi International Airport.  On arrival you will connect with your scheduled regional flight to Kigali, Rwanda.  After clearing customs and immigration you will be met and transferred to Kigali Serena hotel where you will stay for one night.

Ideally located on one of Kigali's most charming boulevards, the five-star Kigali Serena Hotel is built around a polished granite atrium, which showcases the very best of Rwandese cultural art. Relaxed yet elegant, the hotel centres on the Executive Lounge and Bar, which opens onto a wide sundeck overlooking the newly refurbished swimming pool. Also overlooking the pool, the popular Milima Restaurant offers a wide range of all-day buffet choices, while the relaxed Sokoni Café offers inside and outside poolside seating. The capital's natural business hub, the hotel also boasts its own extensive conference centre, 500-seater auditorium and lavish ballroom.

This morning after breakfast you will visit the Genocide Museum before continuing to Virunga Lodge (Approx. 2.5 hrs) where you will stay for two nights.

The Original Gorilla Lodge in Rwanda

The magnificent Virunga Lodge in Rwanda is one of Africa’s most loved lodges. Perched high on a ridge with dramatic views overlooking the Virunga Volcanoes, Musanze valley, Lake Bulera and Lake Ruhondo.

The iconic property has defined Rwandese Afro-chic since the lodge was built by Praveen Moman in 2004. The timeless, hand-made style makes it the first accommodation choice for tracking the endangered mountain gorilla.

Exceptional hospitality, locally-inspired food and a private butler are hallmarks of the guest experience.

Each of the ten elegant bandas has a private terrace overlooking the dramatic landscape. The three deluxe bandas offer a private suite.

This morning you will depart on your first gorilla trek. Your Guide will drive you to the park headquarters where you will check in and meet your trackers. You will then continue to the respective trailhead to begin your trek. 

Gorilla Viewing Protocol

Twelve habituated groups can be tracked and observed in the Volcanoes National Park. While tracking expeditions do not necessarily cover enormous distances, they can range in length from 1-8 km (0.5-5 miles) over very steep country at high altitudes. The undergrowth can be thick, the ground beneath muddy, and, including the time spent with a gorilla group, excursions can last between 2 and 8 hours.

Gorilla viewing protocol is based on the guidelines issued by the IUCN for great ape viewing. Such protocols are designed specifically to limit stress and behavioural impact and also potential disease transmission from humans to gorillas. They are critical for gorilla conservation.

Maximum viewing duration of any group is 1 hour per day. Maximum number of guests per gorilla tracking excursion is 8.No food or drinks can be consumed close to the gorillas. Smoking is not allowed. Do not litter. Spitting in the Park is strictly prohibited. While gorilla sightings and encounters are very reliable, viewing is dependent on variables such as weather and tracking conditions. When with the gorillas, please keep your voice low. Do not make rapid movements that may alarm them. Should you need to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and turn away from the gorillas. If a gorilla should charge or vocalise at you, do not be alarmed, stand still, look away from the gorilla and follow your guide’s instructions. Minimum age for gorilla viewing is 15 years – this is for reasons of safety but also for possible disease transmission, with children under this age more prone to infection.

Return to your lodge this afternoon and enjoy at leisure.

Today after breakfast, you will depart for your second gorilla trek looking for a different family of apes. If time permits, you will return to the lodge for  lunch and time to freshen up.  Later this afternoon you will be transfer (2.5 hours) to Kigali International Airport for your scheduled departure flight home.