This 7-day Rwanda Gorillas and Masai Mara safari is a week-long African adventure that takes you through Rwanda and Kenya for gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, and Big Five game viewing. You will trek gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda, then continue to Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve to see the wildebeest migration and all of the Big Five in one place.
You will also get a look at traditional African life during a visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village near Volcanoes National Park, along with a Kigali city tour covering the capital’s historical and cultural sites.
Rwanda Gorillas and Masai Mara Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival and pickup at Kigali Airport
- Day 2: Kigali city tour and drive to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 3: Gorilla trekking and optional visit to the Twin Lakes
- Day 4: Golden monkey tracking, return to Kigali, and flight to Nairobi
- Day 5: Nairobi to Masai Mara Reserve
- Day 6: Full-day game drive in Masai Mara
- Day 7: Cultural visit and departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Pickup at Kigali Airport
Meet our company representative at Kigali International Airport and transfer to your hotel. You will receive a warm welcome and a short briefing on the trip ahead. Have dinner and spend the night at your hotel.
Day 2: Kigali City Tour and Drive to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, start your Kigali city tour with an experienced local guide. Visit key historical and cultural sites such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local craft shops, and Kimironko Market to see daily life and pick up fresh fruit.
Enjoy lunch in the city before setting off for Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda. Along the way, take in Rwanda’s green hills. On arrival, check in at your lodge, then visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for traditional music, dance, and storytelling. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and Optional Visit to the Twin Lakes
After an early breakfast, head to Kinigi Park Headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking rules. Trekking groups are assigned to different gorilla families, each led by an experienced ranger guide.
Begin your trek at 8:00am and spend about 2 to 6 hours in the forest searching for the gorillas. Once found, spend one hour observing them, taking photos, and watching their daily activities before heading back to your lodge. In the evening, relax at the lodge or visit the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking, Return to Kigali, and Flight to Nairobi
After breakfast, return to Kinigi for a short briefing on golden monkey tracking. The trek usually runs 2 to 4 hours through bamboo forest. Once you find the golden monkeys, spend an hour watching and photographing them before heading back to the lodge for lunch.
Afterward, drive back to Kigali International Airport for your flight to Nairobi. On arrival, meet your Kenyan driver-guide and transfer to your hotel for dinner and rest.
Day 5: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, depart for Masai Mara National Reserve, driving through the scenic Rift Valley region via Narok town. Arrive at your camp or lodge in time for lunch, then head out in the late afternoon for your first game drive, where you can see elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos. Return to your lodge for dinner and rest.
Day 6: Full-Day Game Drive in Masai Mara
Spend the day exploring Masai Mara, one of Africa’s best-known wildlife areas. Game drives cover the Big Five along with zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, cheetahs, gazelles, and hyenas. During migration season, you may also witness the wildebeest migration. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and rest.
Day 7: Cultural Visit and Departure
After breakfast, visit a local Maasai village to learn about Maasai life, traditions, and dances. Afterward, drive back to Nairobi and transfer to your hotel or to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home.
End of safari.
What to Bring
Pack hiking boots, a rain jacket, long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, gardening gloves, insect repellent, sunscreen, drinking water, and energy snacks for the treks. A camera and binoculars help you capture wildlife along the way.
What’s Included
This tour includes transport, professional driver-guides in both countries, accommodation, and park entry and permit fees. Flights between Kigali and Nairobi, and personal expenses, are not included unless agreed at booking.
