Day 1:Arrival Nairobi

On arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met by Hallmark Travel Planner’s representative and transferred to Tamarind Tree Hotel.

Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Drive Nairobi to Aberdare National Park – 3 hours

After breakfast, depart Nairobi past the rich central Kenya agricultural lands towards the Aberdare National park.   Drive north West through the town of Thika, known for its beautiful pineapple plantations. This is the home of the kikuyu community. They are known for their devotion to the agriculture and have excelled in the business world too. Mt. Kenya, Kenya’s highest and Africa’s second at 5,189 meters is to your right visible on a clear day. The Aberdares Ranges are to the left. Drive to The Ark Lodge, a tree Lodge inside the park.

The Ark lodge resembles and is named after Noah’s Ark, the Ark is designed with ‘decks’ from which numerous balconies and lounges provide superb vantage points for game viewing. The Ark has four viewing areas from which to observe the ever-present animal activity. There is also a ground level bunker – the perfect hideout for the discerning photographer. This is a circular pillbox-like structure, and it is from this vantage point that pictures of animals on the saltlick only yards away may be taken through the view holes in complete safety.  http://www.thearkkenya.com/

Day 3: Drive from Aberdare to Samburu  4 hours

Depart Aberdare in the morning and drive North to Samburu National Reserve to arrive at around 1200 hours in time for lunch. After lunch proceed for a game drive to view the reserve’ abundant game.

Dinner and overnight at Ashnil Samburu camp.     www.ashnilhotels.com/ashnil-samburu/

Day 4: Day in Samburu

Morning and afternoon game viewing. Samburu National Reserve is famous for the semi-nomadic tribesmen, the reticulated giraffe, the gravy zebra, gerenuk, beisa oryx and a host of the big game including elephant and Africa big cats- leopard, cheetah and the lion.

Meals and overnight at Ashnil Samburu.

Day 5: Drive from Samburu to Ol Pejeta – 3 hours

After breakfast, depart southwards heading toward the Mount Kenya region.  Lunch will be served at the Sweet Waters tented Camp.

After lunch, we start with a visit to the chimps.  Rescued from markets in Burundi by a top conservationist Ms Jane Goodall, the chimpanzee have found a safe refuge here and are multiplying in healthy numbers. A visit to this conservancy should include Baraka, the blind  and tame black rhino. The big five – Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino live in the conservation area as well as a host of herbivores and birdlife. Dinner and overnight at  Sweetwaters Tented Camp  http://www.serenahotels.com/serenasweetwaters/default-en.html

Day 6: Drive Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru – 2.5 hours

After breakfast at the camp drive to Lake Nakuru in time for Lunch.

Lake Nakuru is widely regarded as the greatest bird spectacle on Earth. A rippling pink sheet covers the park of lesser flamingos, which often number more than two million- a third of the world’s entire population. The Lake has also earned a reputation in an important haven for endangered species- particularly the Rothschild Giraffe and the black Rhino. Overnight at Flamingo Hill Tented Camp.  www.flamingohillcamp.com/

Day 7: Drive from Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara  – 5 hours

Depart Nakuru after breakfast and drive through the Great Rift Valley to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Along the way you will have a distant view of Mt. Longonot , Mt. Margaret and the pyrethrum plantation.

Dinner and overnight at Mara River Camp.

Day 8: Day in Maasai Mara

Full day game activities in the Maasai Mara reserve. This is Kenya’s best and best-known wildlife sanctuary. You are likely to see some of the over 400 species of animals have been recorded here.

The Maasai Mara is particularly interesting in the months of July, August and September. At this time of the year, in addition to the resident Wildlife of the Mara, the Mara plains are filled with migrating wildebeest and zebra from the neighboring Serengeti. The famous Maasai tribesmen live within the dispersal area of the game reserve. You may arrange a visit to the local villages. Dinner and Overnight at  Mara River Camp.

Day 9: Drive Masai Mara – Nairobi. Fly to Kigali, Rwanda

Early morning game drive. Return to the camp for breakfast. After breakfast we depart for Nairobi through the towns of Narok and Mai Mahiu. Lunch on the way. When you arrive Nairobi, transfer to the airport for flight to Rwanda which will take about 1hr 30mins.

On arrival at Kigali Airport, you are picked up by Hallmark Travel Planners rep and transfer to Flame Tree Village for  dinner and overnight.     www.3bhotels.com/flame-tree-village

Day 10:  Kigali  City Tour – Drive to Volcanoes Park

Breakfast at the hotel. Thereafter enjoy a City Tour of Kigali. (Cost of city tour included) The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare.

Visit the Kandt museum, see old Kigali and the craft centres then visit the genocide memorial site. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. Lunch in Kigali.

Later, depart Kigali and drive to Ruhengeri.  Approximately 2.5 hrs arriving in the early evening at the Volcanoes National park. Overnight at  Mountain Gorilla View Lodge   www.3bhotels.com/mountain-gorilla-view-lodge/

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking Day

Breakfast at the lodge. Registration follows: This is a process where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening.

Once you are in groups, each group’s lead guide briefs you of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. Then, drive up the mountain to the starting point.

Trekking can take from 2 to 6 or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way. After the trek, rejoin your driver guide for a transfer to your lodge for lunch.  After lunch, depart from foothills of the volcanoes and drive south past coffee, tea and banana plantations on a scenic drive to Kigali. Overnight Kigali – Flame Tree Village.

Day 12: Flight Kigali to Nairobi – Depart

Breakfast at your hotel in Kigali. Thereafter, transfer to the airport for flight to Nairobi. Connect your home-bound flight from here.

Rates are subject to change with notice.

Important to Know

• This tour can’t be booked by solo travelers.
• Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
• Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. Flights may cost more, depending on travel dates. If so, your quote will reflect this.