Kenya and Rwanda: Call of the Wild

Spend some downtime! As the largest city of East Africa, you can experience contemporary urban African life in Nairobi with colorful street markets, authentic African cuisine, and a buzzing nightlife. Discover the National Museum or explore Kenya’s historic roots with a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum. Feed giraffes in the Giraffe Center or get very close to baby elephants and cheetah in the David Sheldrick Center and animal orphanage. On Nairobi’s doorstep, enjoy afternoon walks and spectacular sundowners in the Ngong Hills, or head to Nairobi National Park for the the only place in the world to witness wild lions against the backdrop of skyscrapers.

Ol Pejeta is a private wildlife conservancy, situated between the foothills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kenya, and has one of the highest density of wildlife in Kenya and boasts an astounding variety of animals, including the “Big Five“. It offers very diverse safari activities, with day and night game drives, guided bush walks and camel riding safaris across its game-rich plains. The neighboring chimpanzee sanctuary is worth a visit for those who have an interest in our closest relatives. Ol Pejeta is also a good base for exploring the Aberdares, Mt Kenya and Solio Game Reserve. Solio is a private wildlife conservancy, situated between the foothills of the Aberdares and the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kenya, and home to over 70 Black and more than 150 White Rhino, as well as buffalo, zebra, giraffe and plains game such as Eland, Oryx, impala, waterbuck, gazelle and warthog.

Classic Africa! The Masai Mara will fulfill your dreams with its iconic, endless African landscapes of golden grass dotted with picturesque acacia trees that is home to year-round wildlife viewing: cheetah, leopard, large prides of lions, elephants, giraffe, hyena, huge Nile crocodiles, frolicking hippos and many other species. From mid July to October, enjoy the annual migration as two million wildebeests and zebras seek better pastures. Witness dramatic crossings over the crocodile-infested Mara river for one of the most spectacular wildlife experiences on earth.

No other wildlife encounter in Africa matches the astounding experience of spending time face-to-face with some of the few remaining wild mountain gorillas. For a gorilla trek you need to be fairly fit for the humid, muddy conditions of a rainforest hike. Even in the dry season, the rainforest is a challenging environment: it is humid, wet and muddy with some steep slopes and thick vegetation. It is absolutely worth the effort to spend time with gorillas in the wild, but be prepared to exert yourself on the trek. Your professional guide and tracker lead you into the forest’s secret paths, looking for a habituated gorilla family. Once found, approach the gorillas quietly and settle down to observe them from between 7 and 10m away. You will spend up to one hour with the gorillas, watching the adults forage and groom each other while the babies tumble and play. You will be under the watchful gaze of the great silverback patriarch whose soft brown eyes constantly sweep over his family protectively. Witnessing gorillas express typically human gestures and emotions is a truly profound experience! Volcanoes National Park – Private Vehicle & Driver Guide Your chauffeur guide will drive you in a private vehicle Gorilla Trekking No other wildlife encounter in Africa matches the astounding experience of spending time face-to-face with some of the few remaining wild mountain gorillas. For a gorilla trek you need to be fairly fit for the humid, muddy conditions of a rainforest with high altitude hike. Even in the dry season, the rainforest is a challenging environment: it is humid, wet and muddy with some steep slopes and thick vegetation. If needed, you can hire a porter who carries luggage and assists you during steep or muddy terrain at a fee. It is absolutely worth the effort to spend time with gorillas in the wild, but be prepared to exert yourself on the trek. Your professional guide and tracker lead you into the forest’s secret paths, looking for a habituated gorilla family. Once found, approach the gorillas quietly and settle down to observe them from between 7 and 10m away. You will spend up to one hour with the gorillas, watching the adults forage and groom each other while the babies tumble and play. You will be under the watchful gaze of the great silverback patriarch whose soft brown eyes constantly sweep over his family protectively. Witnessing gorillas express typically human gestures and emotions is a truly profound experience! (Duration: half or full day; Time: morning suggested; Shared activity & transfer. Group size: max 8 ppl; Entry fees included; Fitness level: easy; Min. age: 15.)