7 Days Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara safari
7 Days Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara Safari
This 7-day Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara safari takes you to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park to see mountain gorillas as well as Africa’s famous big five mammals at the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The Masai Mara also known as the Maasai Mara or more commonly as “the Mara” is an extension of the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania. It is a large wildlife reserve found in Kenya’s’ Narok County. The park was named after the great Maasai Nomads who inhabited the surrounding areas. Mara means scattered and refers to the many trees that dot the vast Savannah.
Along with the Serengeti, the Masai Mara makes for arguably the most visited wildlife conservation areas in the world. As the leading tourist destination in Kenya, the Masai Mara is home to a high population of elephants, lions, cheetahs, and leopards. The annual migration of zebra, wildebeest, and Thomson’s gazelle is considered to be one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles.
This 7 days safari is an excellent choice for travelers who want to see Africa’s six most sought-after creatures. The tour also includes encounters with golden monkeys and cultural visits to the Iby’iwacu Cultural Centre and the Masai. The tour starts in Rwanda and ends in Kenya. You might want to check out our 6-day Uganda Gorilla trekking and Masai Mara Safari package. If you are only interested in the big five mammals, you might find our 4-Day Masai Mara Wildlife Safari more interesting. We even have a 6-day gorilla safari and wildebeest tour package for those interested in Tanzania.
7-Day Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara Safari in details
DAY 1: Arrival and Pickup in the evening
This day is reserved for your arrival. You will be picked up from the airport by our Driver and taken to your hotel in Kigali.
Dinner and Overnight at Lebanon Hotel Kigali (Budget), Heaven Hotel Kigali (Mid-range) and Marriott Hotel (Luxury)
DAY 2: Kigali City Tour – Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park – Visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village
Wake up at 6:30 am and have breakfast as you wait for our company representative/Driver. The Driver will pick you up at 8:00 am and brief you about the Rwanda tour. After the briefing, you will be taken for a city tour of Kigali. This tour includes visiting the city museum, the genocide memorial site in Kigali, the former president’s palace, city markets, and art shops. After this, you will have lunch and depart for the Volcanoes National Park.
On reaching the park, you will be taken straight to your lodge for check-in. After refreshments, the driver will take you to visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Centre. This Centre showcases all that is good about Rwandan culture. Spend time watching traditional dances, hearing local stories, and visiting the local medicine man to learn how common illnesses were treated hundreds of years ago. You may buy souvenirs or taste the local Rwandan food in one of the sections.
Dinner and overnight at Five Volcanoes Lodge (Luxury, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Mid-range), and Muhabura Hotel (Budget).
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking – Visit the twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera
Wake up at 6:30 am and have breakfast as you wait for the guide to transfer you to the park offices for briefing. The park Guides will share information about the golden monkeys, how to prepare for the hike, and what not to do while with the primates. Golden Monkeys are a subspecies of the blue monkey. Golden monkeys live in the same area as mountain gorillas though they prefer the lower slopes of the volcanoes because of the bamboo trees. They feed on tree shoots, fruits, seeds, and insects.
They will raid farms whenever they can for potatoes. Golden monkeys have only two main enemies – man and the African eagle. They are only found in Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo. Their overall number has dwindled considerably and are now considered endangered. While with monkeys, you will watch them play, feed, and climb trees. Golden monkeys are very playful and stubborn. They don’t love flash photography and you should take some good photos for your records. Expect to also spot other primates like baboons and vervet monkeys while searching for these beautiful primates.
After being with the monkeys for one hour, you will be taken back to your hotel for refreshments, lunch, and rest. In the evening, the Guide/Driver will take you to visit the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo as well as nature walks around the park.
Dinner and overnight at Five Volcanoes Lodge (Luxury, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Mid-range), and Muhabura Hotel (Budget).
DAY 4: Gorilla Trekking at the Volcanoes National Park – Transfer to Kigali for a flight to Nairobi
Once again, you will wake up at 6:30 am. Take breakfast and start the journey back to the park offices. The park wardens will let you know about what to do and not to do. Each group of eight will be assigned a gorilla family. After this, you will be led by the rangers to track the primates. Gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park is very exciting because it exposes you to beautiful scenery, birds, butterflies, and smaller primates.
You have only one hour to spend with the primates. Use this time to take photos and do not forget the gorilla trekking rules. Do not surround the primates or give them any impression that you are a threat. Mountain gorillas are very gentle creatures but can be aggressive if they feel threatened. Keep a distance and refrain from feeding while near the primates. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes between 3 to 6 hours but you will only have one hour with the primates.
After tracking the primates, spending one hour with them, and getting the certificate of participation, you will go back to the hotel to have lunch. After lunch, the Driver will start the journey to Kigali International Airport for departure to Nairobi. On arrival in Nairobi, a driver will be waiting for you at the airport. He will welcome you to Kenya and then take you to the hotel for check-in and refreshments.
Dinner and Overnight will be at Meridian Hotel Kenya or Sopa Lodges.
Day 5: Transfer from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve – Afternoon game drive
Wake up at the usual time (6:30 am) and have breakfast as you wait for the Guide/Driver. This journey will be interesting as you drive through the amazing Kenyan countryside and the Great Rift Valley. As you drive to Masai Mara National Reserve, you will bypass Masai villages and see one of Africa’s great nomads tending to their domestic animals. You will have lunch at the lodge and then head out for the first game drive in the afternoon. During the game drive, you will see all of the big five mammals including Rhinos, Buffaloes, Elephants, Lions, and Leopards.
Dinner and Overnight at Little Governors’ Camp (Luxury) Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp (Mid-range) and Masai Mara Sopa Lodge (Budget)
Day 6: Entire Day of Game drives at the Masai Mara National Reserve
Wake up early as usual. Shower and take breakfast as you wait to be picked up for the game drive. You will spend the whole day doing game drives in different sections of the reserve. You will see the big cats, antelopes, zebras, elands, giraffes, rhinos and elephants. The afternoon is excellent for driving to the Mara River to spot wildebeest and other animals drinking by the shores of the river.
Dinner and Overnight at Little Governors’ Camp (Luxury) Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp (Mid-range) and Masai Mara Sopa Lodge (Budget)
Day 7: Visit the Masai Village – Departure to Nairobi from the Masai Mara National Reserve
Wake up at your leisure as you wait for the company Driver/Guide to take you for a cultural visit to one of the Masai Villages. After visiting the Masai and learning about their culture and way of living, you will start the journey back to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
End of Tour
The tour cost includes
- A Gorilla permit
- Golden monkey Permits
- Park entrance
- Cultural visits
- Game drives in Kenya
- Full board Accommodation including meals
- Transport in a safari vehicle with a roof that opens for easy views of wildlife
- An English-speaking Safari Guide
- Meals and Water throughout the safari
- Flight from Rwanda to Kigali
- Airport transfers
The tour excludes
- International flights before and after the safari.
- Visa fees.
- Expenses of a personal nature such as souvenirs, laundry, telephones, and beverages.
- Any tips to the hotel staff, wardens, rangers, Guides, or drivers.
- Medical and Travel insurance.
Best Time to go for the 7 Days Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara safari
The best time to go for the 7-day Gorilla Trekking and Masai Mara safari is during the dry season. This is June to September and December to February. During this period, there is less or no rain. This makes the roads passable and easy to see animals roaming the parks. While trekking gorillas, there is less undergrowth in the forest hence making trekking easy. Also, the trails are less slippery during this time. However, this time is always the peak season, meaning that there are crowds in the park during this season. It is also hard to book services during this season especially if you don’t book early.
If you don’t want to tour with the crowds, you can opt to go in a low season. This is between March and May, October and November. You can even book gorilla permits, transportation, and lodges in the last few days. The lodges do not have crowds and some of them offer discounts. However, this season is rainy, making national parks muddy and hard to hike for wildlife experiences.
Contact Safari Vacations and Travel Services by filling out the form below for an exhilarating gorilla trekking and Masai Mara safari.
