Gorilla Trekking and the Masai Mara

9 days from $8,755 Combine two of East Africa’s most iconic wildlife experiences on a journey that includes gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and three days on safari in the Masai Mara wilderness.

� Observe mountain gorillas and golden monkeys with expert guides in

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. � Search for the “Big Five” during three full days on safari in a private wildlife reserve in the Greater Masai Mara. � Take a private tour of Rwanda’s progressive capital city, Kigali. � Get acquainted with local culture on visits to rural villages.

On arrival in Kigali you will be met by your private guide and driven through the countryside to Ruhengeri, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park.

Set off early this morning for a briefing at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters. Then begin your shared trek through the bamboo zone and into the jungle-covered slopes, searching for one of the park’s gorilla families. Once you’ve found them, you’ll have one precious hour to spend observing these fascinating primates at close range. Return to the park early the next day to track endemic golden monkeys with a small group. In the afternoon, join your private guide on a walk to a nearby village. Meet residents plying their trades—from weaving mats to brewing banana beer—and enjoy an invitation to a private home to see how traditional Rwandan dishes are prepared.

Travel back to Kigali and embark on a private city tour, including a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Later, head to the airport for your afternoon flight to Nairobi, where you’ll be picked up and transferred to your historic hotel in the heart of the city.

Fly to the Masai Mara on Kenya’s southwestern border. Here, you’ll spend four nights in a luxury tent at an eco-friendly safari camp overlooking the Mara River. After lunch and a siesta, set out on a game drive in the vast wilderness of the Mara North Conservancy, a private reserve adjacent to Masai Mara National Park. Spend three full days discovering this primordial landscape on morning and afternoon game drives in open vehicles, as well as guided bush walks, birding excursions, and night safaris. You’ll have a chance to see all manner of African wildlife, from the “Big Five” to giraffes, hippos, an array of bird species, and perhaps endangered wild dogs. When you’re not on safari, relax at the spa or pool, enjoy a yoga session, plant a tree, or visit a nearby Maasai village to learn about this ancient pastoralist culture.

Return to Nairobi and transfer to the international airport for your flight home.

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Stone and thatch

chalets scattered across tropical gardens on a slope that looks out over the peaks of Volcanoes National Park. Each spacious chalet has a sitting area, fireplace, en suite bathroom, and private veranda. Fairmont The Norfolk Nairobi landmark hotel that remains a sanctuary of tranquil gardens and Old World charm. Karen Blixen Camp Situated in the communityowned Mara North Conservancy, this Danishowned camp is set right beside the Mara River and features 22 raised canvas tents with spacious decks overlooking the river, a large en suite bathroom, and an outdoor shower.