100% customisable travel idea
Laikipia, Masai Mara, Volcanoes Savannahs of Kenya and forests of Rwanda
Kenya - Laikipia - Masai Mara - Rwanda - Volcanoes National Park
Big Five and gorillas
Your trip
To make your encounter with nature truly immersive, every detail is carefully planned. You can relax and fully savour the experience, free from the worries of logistics. And it occupies only a small portion of the time allocated for the trip. For this reason, air taxis and chauffeur-driven vehicles are the ideal means of transport, offering easy, fast and safe connections. On site, local vehicles are used (or you will be on foot for the final stretches). In the parks and reserves, rangers carefully adjust itineraries and transport. These rangers are, by the way, key players in the success of the safari. You’ll stay in lodges of excellent standard. Well-equipped, comfortable. They benefit from well-chosen locations that keep you permanently in touch with the bush or the forest. The quality of service sets them apart. Safaris - and, of course, gorilla trekking in Rwanda - are, of course, included everywhere. The environments that await you are among the most treasured in Africa, offering you the most incredible wildlife (and botanical) experiences. No journey into the savannah is ever undertaken in vain. To this, the visit to Kigali offers a truly stimulating urban contrast. And if, along the way, an unexpected whim or a minor setback arises, you have the contact details of our on-site Concierge to assist you.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Night on board, arrival the next day.
Welcome and assistance with formalities. Transfer to Wilson Airport and flight to Laikipia County. Two-night stay in a private reserve. The camp stands on a hilltop - one of its charms, as the setting offers travellers immense views over the savannah.Outstanding, as the British say - and they know a thing or two about safari. Positioned in welcome shade, a handful of large, comfortable tents blend discreetly into their surroundings. The design is perfectly judged, for an authentic but balanced African vibe. Services are grouped under a larger tent, where you’ll find the mess and lounge. You’ll feast in the first, and swap impressions of the day in the second. In the evening, guests gather outside around the firepit. A large infinity pool is at guests’ disposal. Once in the water, gazing out over the bush, you may well find yourself thinking it's one of the most beautiful in Africa.
In your itinerary - Safari. At first glance: nothing. That’s actually a good sign: a natural rhythm, nothing is staged. Game drives take place at dawn and at dusk, when animals are at their most active. You head out in specially adapted vehicles, accompanied by English-speaking rangers. There's no doubt they know what they're doing, and have an unmatched talent for getting you to the right place at the right time. In this region, off the beaten track, you come across very few other vehicles. So you have a remarkably complete cast of big game, all to yourself. With elephants and rhinos, buffalo and lions, as well as the now endangered Grevy’s zebra, the reticulated giraffe, greater kudu, cheetahs, African wild dogs, and more, this is a gloriously classic safari line-up.
Natural history walks can also be arranged, revealing a miniature flora and fauna every bit as compelling as the big stuff. Horses and dromedaries are also on hand to do the honours.
Optional - Cycling.
Flight to the Maasai Mara. Stay for two night in the Mara North Conservancy, adjoining the Maasai Mara National Reserve. First impression: you are far from everything. Or rather, from everything you know. You're in direct contact with a nature that plays by different rules. The tents are tucked away in a thicket of muthiga and ficus. As a non-permanent structure, the camp has a light footprint — but it is far from spartan. On the contrary, you’ll be surprised by how comfortable it is. Canvas protects privacy just as well as more solid materials, and its charm resonates beautifully with the bush. Featuring waxed wood, copper, mahogany and fine fabrics, the style only adds to the appeal. Out front - where your tent opens wide - you'll find a veranda with a hammock. At night, the sounds of nature surround you. In the mess tent, the cuisine is an appealing Afro-Mediterranean fusion. All the energy required for the camp runs exclusively on solar power. Nature provides for all.
In your itinerary - Safari. As you head out in a 4x4 with the rangers, it's not simply “more of the same”. The Masai Mara is a legend. During the great migrations of wildebeest and zebra, animals are quite literally everywhere. Even under normal circumstances, the concentration of predators tells you their pantry is well stocked: with Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, impalas, steenbok, topi, hartebeest and more besides. Which, in turn, suits hyenas, jackals and vultures just fine. The Big Five are here too, embodying an African mythology inherited from the heroic age of safari. Among the birds, the secretary bird - a snake hunter - and the southern ground hornbill, a walker (but not only that), are particularly striking. The warthog ambles about, seemingly fearing no one. He’s a tough character. There is plenty here to take in.
Optional - Hot-air balloon ride over the Masai Mara.
Flight to Nairobi. Transfer to Kenyatta Airport, then fly to Kigali. Welcome and assistance with formalities. Transfer. Night stay in central Kigali. The hotel is a wonderful introduction to modern Rwanda: eco-friendly, elegant, gastronomic. The restaurant - serving African fusion cuisine - was the first to embark on the adventure; the rooms, gym, spa and pool followed. Today, they all come together to form a coherent and comfortable hotel. And it’s not just good - it’s beautiful too. In short, you are well looked after, and quickly feel at home thanks to the property's many private spaces.
Already included - Kigali, the highlights. Meet your dedicated driver-guide and head to Kimironko Market, where fruit and vegetables, meat and fish are piled high in a profusion of shapes and colours - with the market's fabrics and pottery no less exuberant. An explosion of tropical abundance. After visiting Nyamirambo, the lively Muslim quarter, you continue to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre in Gisozi, which is at once a necropolis, a documentation centre and a place of remembrance. The 1994 genocide left an indelible mark on the country. Memorial sites such as this seek to present and explain the facts, to help people move beyond trauma, and to prevent repetition - opening the way to a future through lucid confrontation with the worst.
Drive to Volcanoes National Park. Stay for two nights in Kinigi, in a beautiful mountain setting. The buildings are modern; inside, there's plenty of handsome wood furniture, with beds and wooden floors that give the rooms a distinctive atmosphere. Comfort is very much part of the picture. The shared spaces are equally pleasant: terraces, garden, boma - everything draws you outdoors. In the kitchen, the chefs cook international dishes with a hint of Rwandan flair, an approach that suits the place well. Massages and treatments are delivered with a relaxed efficiency.
In your itinerary - Meeting the gorillas of Volcanoes National Park. With an English-speaking ranger, you are driven to the starting point; then you set off on foot on the trail of the mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). It’s just that they don’t always wait for you in the same place. Their food needs are considerable, so they move frequently to meet them - and while their family bonds are strong, they are not especially territorial. Even so, the rangers know their habits well and are adept at finding a fine silverback surrounded by his group. The walk into the shady bamboo forests where they live includes a few steeper sections, but you are more than rewarded for your efforts: stunning scenery and, ultimately, a deeply moving encounter among the Hominoidea.
Afterwards, visit the Dian Fossey foundation, which offers an engaging, accessible overview of all things gorilla, alongside a sensitive portrayal of the life of this committed primatologist.
Drive to Kigali airport. Assistance with formalities. Flight to Nairobi, then flight back. Night on board, arrival the next day.
À la carte
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Laikipia - By bike
Mountain biking opens up the possibility of a new kind of safari. While it shares with walking a discreet approach to nature, cycling allows you to cover greater distances. And even if this doesn't match the reach of a motorised vehicle, on a bike you are far more active and closer to the rangers. There is something quite exhilarating about it all , which should encourage you to try a wildlife cycling tour.Hot-air balloon over the Masai Mara
Set off early to watch the sunrise over the savannah. The animals are out and about at that time, and the colours are magnificent. In the air, silence prevails, broken only at times by the roar of the burner. Back on the ground among the wildebeest, enjoy a snack and a safari accompanied by a ranger.
Why visit Kenya with Voyageurs du monde?
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
Let us create your tripA few of the advantages of travelling with us to Kenya
- Globally unique concierge service
- CO2 absorption
Why visit Rwanda with Voyageurs du monde?
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
Let us create your tripA few of the advantages of travelling with us to Rwanda
- CO2 absorption
