Epic East Africa Safari, Gorillas and Zanzibar

Day 1:

Upon your arrival into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you’ll be met upon arrival by a representative who will be holding a name board as you descend the aircraft steps. You’ll then be shown to your private transfer vehicle that will take you to the aircraft terminal where you’ll be shown through fast track immigration and given assistance with baggage collection and customs formalities.

Once you’ve completed the immigration and customs formalities, you’ll be escorted to your waiting driver and vehicle from the Emakoko Lodge that will transfer you to the Emakoko Lodge, with a game drive en route depending on the time that your international flight arrives. The transfer time from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the Emakoko can be as little as 20 minutes, however you can spend longer if you see any interesting game en route.

Overnight you’ll be staying at the Emakoko Lodge on a full board basis in a luxury cottage

Day 2:

This morning, after your breakfast at the Emakoko Lodge, you’ll head out into the Nairobi National Park for a game drive, within the Nairobi National Park, you’ll have a fantastic chance at seeing rhino! After lunch at the Emakoko, you’ll be transferred to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, which will take approximately 10 minutes depending on traffic.

On arrival at Nairobi Wilson Airport you’ll connect with your flight to the Mara North Airstrip (NOTE: Luggage allowance is strictly 15 kilograms per person in soft sided bags). On arrival at Mara North Airport, you’ll be met by a vehicle and driver from the Alex Walker Ngare Serian Camp which will transfer you to the camp.

In the afternoon, you’ll be heading out into the Maasai Mara National Park for game activities in your private open sided 4x4 vehicle. Overnight you shall be staying at the Alex Walker Ngare Serian Camp on a full board basis in a luxury tent.

Day 3 & 4:

Today you’ll head out for a full day of game activities within the Maasai Mara National Park in your private open sided 4x4 vehicle. Overnight you’ll be staying at the Alex Walker Ngare Serian Camp on a full board basis in your luxury tent.

Day 5:

After breakfast at Ngare Serian, you’ll be transferred by your Alex Walker Ngare Serian Camp vehicle to the Mara North Airstrip to connect with your charter flight in a helicopter to Ol Malo Lodge, on the flight you’ll be flying over the Kenya’s Lake District and the Great Rift Valley.

At Ol Malo Lodge, in the afternoon you’ll be heading out for game activities within the Ol Malo Conservancy! Ol Malo is about more than just the game, it immerses you with the local community, the Samburu people. This is not in a cosmetic way, but really in the Samburu’s day to day activities! Overnight you’ll be staying at Ol Malo Lodge on a full board basis in a hillside cottage.

Day 6 & 7:

This morning, you’ll enjoy breakfast at the Ol Malo Lodge, before heading in your 4x4 vehicle with driver guide, to the Ol Malo Nomad Campsite. This campsite is a very basic but comfortable campsite. All of the equipment will be carried by camels. The camps team is made up of Samburu warriors and junior elders, all who have an amazing knowledge of the bush!

At Ol Malo Nomad Campsite you’ll be trekking your way through the stunning and rugged North Kenyan terrain, following the nomadic Samburu cattle routes and ancient elephant migration paths. The walking will be done in the morning, with the afternoons spent relaxing, swimming when you camp on the river or climbing the hills for a good sundowners. If you have time, you’ll even have some time to visit the Samburu homesteads on the way. Every day will start with an early breakfast en route, carried by one of the camels, whilst the main camp is packed and loaded onto the camel train. On this trip, you’ll be getting hands on with a lot of the activities, helping load the camels, cooking around the campfire and bonding with the team!

Overnight you’ll be staying at the Ol Malo Nomad Mobile Camp on a full board basis.

Day 8:

Today you’ll be trekking back to the Ol Malo Lodge arriving by lunch time for a delicious meal. You’ll then have an afternoon at your leisure to relax at Ol Malo Lodge.

Whilst at Ol Malo Lodge, you can enjoy a full day of activities. This can include:

-Game drives in your open sided 4x4 vehicle either during the day or during the night

-Nature walks

-Horse riding

-Camel riding

-Mountain biking

-Run with a Samburu Moran (warrior)

-Educational experiences with the Samburu tribe and the Ol Malo Trust projects

-A night under the stars in the tree house, or sleeping below the cliffs in the leopard hide with flood lit views of the waterhole

-Swimming in the river, complete with a mud fight if you want to, or just to enjoy the swimming pool perched high on the cliff, boasting breath-taking views!

-Fly camping on the river with camels or horses

-For an additional cost, you can also arrange to have a helicopter flight to the shores of Lake Turkana by helicopter for breakfast! Quite a special experience!

You’ll be staying at Ol Malo Lodge on a full board basis in your hillside cottage.

Day 9:

This morning you’ll depart Ol Malo and be transferred to the Loisaba Airstrip to connect with your scheduled flight to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, departing in the afternoon. From Nairobi Wilson Airport, you’ll be met by a private driver and vehicle which will transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to connect with your onward flight to Kigali International Airport in Rwanda.

On your arrival into Kigali International Airport, you shall be met airside on arrival and shown through the VIP lounge whilst completing the immigration process. Upon collecting your luggage and clearing customs, you shall be met by a representative who shall escort you to your waiting vehicle and driver for the transfer to the Hotel des Milles Collines.

Overnight you’ll be staying at the Hotel des Milles Collines on a room & breakfast basis in a standard room.

Day 10:

This morning, after breakfast at the Hotel des Milles Collines, you shall be transferred by road to the Parc National des Volcans in the North West of Rwanda, home to the wonderful mountain gorillas! In the Parc National des Volcans you will be staying at the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge on a full board basis. Your afternoon will be at your leisure to relax at the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.

Day 11:

Today after an early breakfast, you will be driven to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters, for the start of your gorilla tracking experience! The rangers will brief you on how the day will unfold and how to behave when you’re in the presence of these critically endangered and magnificent creatures.

Post briefing you begin your hike to reach the gorillas from the nearest trailhead. Depending on the gorilla family you have been allocated to visit. The hike to the gorillas can vary considerably – taking anything from 30 minutes to a few hours as the movements of the gorillas is unpredictable.

After the tracking, you return to the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge for lunch. The afternoon can be at your leisure, or you can visit the twin lakes or Iby’Iwacu village (the village visit will cost an additional US$ 20 per person).

Overnight stay at the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge on a full board basis in a luxury cottage.

Day 12:

Today you’ll have the option to go tracking the elusive Golden Monkey’s; this will cost an additional US$ 100 per person. After the golden monkey tracking, you’ll return to Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge for lunch, before driving back to the city of Kigali and the Hotel des Milles Collines, where you’ll be staying overnight in a standard room on a room & breakfast basis.

Day 13:

After breakfast at the Hotel des Milles Collines, you are driven to Kigali International Airport to check in for your Coastal flight to the Lamai Airstrip in the Northern Serengeti, Tanzania

Upon arrival into Lamai Airstrip you are met by your Singita Mara River Camp open sided 4x4 vehicle and guide which will transfer you to the camp.

In the afternoon, you head out into the Northern Serengeti for game activities in your open sided 4x4 vehicle. Overnight you shall be staying at the Singita Mara River Camp on a full board basis in a luxury tent.

Day 14 & 15:

Today you head out for a full day of game activities within the Northern area of the Serengeti National Park in your Singita open sided 4x4 vehicle. Overnight stay is at the Singita Mara River Camp on a full board basis in your luxury tent.

Day 16:

After breakfast at the Singita Mara River Camp, you shall be transferred to the Lamai Airstrip to board the scheduled service flight to Zanzibar International Airport.

Upon arrival into Zanzibar International Airport you’ll be met by a vehicle from The Residence which will transfer you to The Residence. Here you’ll be staying overnight in a Luxurious Ocean Front Villa with Pool, where you’ll be staying on a fully inclusive basis.

Day 17 – 20:

Your day will be at your leisure at The Residence to make use of the Residences facilities on this idyllic island! Overnight you’ll be staying at The Residence on a fully inclusive basis in your Ocean Front Villa with Pool.

Day 21:

After breakfast at The Residence, you’ll be transferred in your private vehicle to the Zanzibar International Airport for your scheduled service flight to Nairobi. Upon arrival into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you’ll connect with your onward international arrangements.

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