7 Nights of The Big Five & Mountain Gorillas

Arrive in Nairobi, where you are met and transferred to your hotel by your private guide/driver. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation| Nairobi Serena Hotel meals| lunch & dinner

Early morning flight to Kichwa Tembo-Masai Mara, the northern extension of the Serengeti National Park. Karibu (Swahili for welcome to) kwa mother Nature. Sprawled along the Saparingo River on the edge of the Oloololo escarpment, where riverine forest meets the sweeping plains in the seasonal path of the awe-inspiring Great Migration, the camp provides an authentic dose of African wildlife, delivered with legendary world-class fused Kenyan hospitality.Visit a Maasai village and interact with an elder to learn about local culture and traditions. Amid the stunning scenery, watch as Maasai tribesmen traverse the plains or herd goats and cattle. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with staying at the exclusive camp with abundant iconic wildlife and panoramic Masai Mara views. Accommodation| Kichwa Tembo tented camp meals| Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Take a full day’s bird’s view of the endless Mara plains aboard a luxurious hot air balloon on the third day appreciating mother nature without unsettling its primal feel. Get closer on the fourth day and venture forth for two game drives of exploring the open savanna, woodlands and tree-fringed rivers of the Maasai Mara, where patience is rewarded with unique sightings such as a leopard retrieving a kill from the upper branches of an acacia or elephants protecting their young from opportunistic lions. Game viewing is never dull in the Mara, especially when the dramatic annual Great Migration unfolds. Follow the Mara River to see crocodiles basking in the sun; hippos as they wallow in muddy water; and monkeys, busy sparking mischief overhead. Here, too, you may sight any of more than 400 species of birds, among them eagles who glide effortlessly above the sun-soaked landscape. Accommodation| Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

Early morning flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi in time for your flight to Kigali, Rwanda. Arrive in Kigali, the city of endless hills and greenery, transfer to your hotel. The legacy of hospitality in Rwanda for more than 40 years, Hôtel des Mille Collines was inaugurated in 1973 as the premier grand hotel in Rwanda. Located in the central business district, the hotel allows you to enjoy the breathtaking views over the hills of Kigali while indulging in culinary delights from casual to fine dining, international cuisine to local signature dishes! Decorative art pieces are displayed at the hotel for sale and a Cultural Night held every Friday evening for live performances of themed Rwandan cultural song and dance. Accommodation| Hôtel des Mille Collines Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

This morning, pay an emotional visit to the Genocide Memorial Site, and learn how the country has dealt with its past and recovered to become a testament to humankind’s resilience. Drive in the direction of the Volcanoes National Park and immerse yourself in Ibilwachu loosely meaning “our way of life,’’ and be surprised by Rwanda’s resilient culture. Savor coffee made from the beans you roasted while indulging with the locals. Check into your accommodation, offering unmatched wilderness immersion, a sustainably luxurious rainforest-based lodge offering Africa’s most thrilling wild primate experience. Accommodation| Bisate Lodge meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

Drive to Volcanoes National Park headquarters and join your gorilla-trekking group. With help from your park guide, traverse the dense forest until you come face-to-face with a local gorilla family. Observe them as they play, forage and rest in the shade of the trees. You are given one hour to spend in the presence of these magnificent animals, marveling at their behavior like our own. Accommodation| Bisate Lodge meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

Enjoy a scenic drive to Kigali International airport for your flight back home.