Kenya and Rwanda Safari
This trip is like traveling back in time to experience an ancient migration in Kenya and observe Rwanda’s almost extinct Mountain Gorillas. This is truly beyond a “Bucket List” adventure.
About Kenya
Although Kenya is best known for its safaris, diverse climate and geography, expansive wildlife reserves, and national parks such as the Maasai Mara– the people and the culture truly make traveling to Kenya a memorable experience. The knowledge your guides will provide when driving through the bush about the different animals you encounter is better than what you could read in a book. In the three other lodges, you will experience the best guides, the most hospitable concierges, and chefs who cook meals as if for your family. (See the KSC Africa gallery link.)
Some of Olivia’s favorite experiences were meeting and visiting a Masi village in the Naboisho Conservancy. They assembled a beautiful dance they shared with the group, adorned in their traditional daily outfits.
Also, her experience at the Lewa Wilderness Lodge was something out of a movie. This private family’s, once residency turned into a safari lodge, meets comfort and luxury in an intimate setting. Not to mention, Lewa Conservancy is one of the few places in Africa that is a leader in protecting the Southern White Rhinos and the Black Rhino, having over 200 rhinos in the region. For someone to leave this camp without seeing a rhino while sleeping, you often see a crush of 20 rhinos simultaneously.
MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE: This is where you see the highly anticipated “Great Migration.” As southern Kenya’s premiere wildlife sanctuary, the Mara merges with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to form an exceptional 6,000-square-mile conservation area home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. Africa’s “big five” call the Maasai Mara home: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. In addition, many antelope species flourish, including Grant’s gazelles, impalas, duikers, Coke’s hartebeests, and roan antelopes. Hippopotamuses and Nile crocodiles inhabit the Mara and Talek rivers, the major suppliers of fresh water to the reserve.
View a sample of the Kenya trip (See PDF link).
The Kenya Resorts
- Hemingways Nairobi, Kenya (See link) This Beautiful hotel is 30 minutes outside of the city of Nairobi. Enjoy breakfast in the garden courtyard before taking off to the first safari camp.
- Governor’s II Moran Camp, Kenya (See link) This is the camp where you are closest to the migration. At the start of your trip, you will see hundreds of thousands of wildebeest migrating through Kenya along with zebra and other antelope species. If you are lucky, you might see a “crossing” as well.
- Naboisho Camp, Kenya (See link) This camp is tucked away in a private conservancy, making the viewing setting very exclusive. It is an excellent opportunity for bush walks, night drives, and even visiting local Masi villages. Truly experience luxury in the bush.
- On arrival, Lewa Wilderness Lodge, Kenya (See Link), you will immediately feel the peace this lodge embodies. This family-owned property is an ideal destination to relax and experience some of the most unique safari drives on the whole trip. Not seeing a rhino here isn’t an option- not to mention seeing other rare species, such as the gravy zebra and reticulated giraffe.
About Rwanda
Rwanda, nicknamed “Land of a Thousand Hills,” is home to the renowned Volcanoes National Park, best known for its wild mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. (See NatGeo video)
The Treks: Gorilla treks occur in the morning and depart from the park headquarters around 7:30 a.m.Before departure, you are given a briefing by park staff and are assigned a gorilla family to visit and rangers to guide you. You will set out across cultivated land at the base of the volcanoes before being guided up into the beautiful, dense, misty forests.
The treks usually last between two and five hours, depending on the location of your gorilla family. A maximum of eight visitors is allowed per gorilla family.
Gorillas: The mountain gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorilla. As of 2018, the IUCN listed it as endangered.
There are two populations of primates: One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central/East Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in southwest Uganda; Volcanoes, in northwest Rwanda; and Virunga, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. As of June 2018, there were more than 1,000 individuals.
Mountain gorillas are descendants of ancestral monkeys and apes found in Africa and Arabia during the start of the Oligocene epoch (34–24 million years ago). The fossil record provides evidence of the hominoid primates (apes) found in East Africa approximately 22–32 million years ago. The fossil record of the area where mountain gorillas live is abysmal, so its evolutionary history is unclear.
The Rwanda Resort: Virunga Lodge
The magnificent Virunga Lodge in Rwanda is one of Africa’s most loved lodges. It is 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 four deluxe bandas offer a private suite.
Watch the video about this fantastic resort (See link)
View a sample of the Rwanda trip (See PDF link)
Rwanda package and pricing
| One night at Kigali Serena Hotel in a deluxe room with breakfast included Two nights at Virunga Lodge in a cottage with all meals, house drinks (excluding some premium beverages), and laundry. Private driver/guide throughout the itinerary, airport transfer in Africa, and Gorilla trek permit (value at $1,500 per person). | |
| What’s not included in the Rwanda package? | |
| International flights to Kigali (KGL), flying from Kigali to Nairobi on September 20th, Rwanda Visa, tipping of guides and lodge staff, Travel insurance (CFAR), Anything not mentioned above, VAT not included, and medical evacuation insurance (this is required for the trip). | |
| Estimated cost for Rwanda: $6,995 per person, double occupancy | |
| Kenya package and pricing | |
| One night at Hemingways Nairobi in a deluxe room with breakfast included Two nights at Governor’s Il Moran Camp with all meals, private daily activities, park fees, house drinks (excluding some premium beverages), and laundry Three nights at Naboisho Camp with all meals, private daily activities, park fees, house drinks (excluding some premium beverages), and laundry Three nights at Lewa Wilderness Lodge with all meals, private daily activities, park fees, house drinks (excluding some premium beverages), and laundry Additional inclusions: All light aircraft flights in the itinerary between camps, Private driver/guides on safari, tipping for all guides and resort staff, airport transfers in Africa, and VIP airport escort services | |
| What’s not included in the Kenya package? | |
| International flight to Nairobi (NBO), if you are coming from Kigali, you will need to get the flight from there to NBO, Kenya visa, Travel insurance (CFAR), Anything additional not mentioned above, VAT not included, and medical evacuation insurance (this is required for the trip). | |
| Estimated Cost for Kenya: $15,695 per person double occupancy | |
| Estimated total cost for the Rwanda/ Kenya safari from September 17th to September 29th $22,390 per person double occupancy (does not include VAT) |
Family Dive Adventures and its agents act solely as a reservation service for selected suppliers and operators. It is your responsibility to provide proper documentation for international travel. Travel insurance is highly recommended for all trips. Kids Sea Camp is not an insurance company and does not collect payment for any insurance purchased with DAN, MASA, or CFAR USI. We provide links to sources that may assist you on our website, www.familydivers.com.