9 Days Kenya & Rwanda Safari
The 9 Days Kenya & Rwanda Safari is a safari package, designed to combine a tour in Kenya with gorilla trekking in Rwanda. This safari is carefully crafted for travelers seeking both the thrill of “Big Five” game drives and the unforgettable experience of mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda. During this tour, you’ll visit the Masai Mara National Reserve and the iconic Amboseli National Park.
You’ll then fly to Rwanda for a mountain gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park. Besides mountain gorilla trekking, there are optional activities like a visit to Dian Fossey’s grave, the scenic Lake Kivu, and local communities foe a cultural experience.
Detailed 9 Days Kenya & Rwanda Safari itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Masai Mara
Your 9 Days Kenya & Rwanda Safari starts with a pick up and transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve. Your driver guide will pick you up from a hotel in Nairobi and drive you to Masai Mara National Reserve. The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the best wildlife viewing destination in Kenya, covering about 250 kilometers of savannah.
On arrival at your lodge or luxury camp, take time to relax and settle in before your first safari activity. In the afternoon, go for your first game drive, when the Mara’s rich wildlife becomes active in the evening. You will see herds of zebras grazing with wildebeests, giraffes standing tall above acacia trees, and lions resting in the shade.
The evening ends with a delicious dinner at the lodge, often with beautiful views of the savannah sunset. This first day introduces you to Kenya’s wilderness, immersing you in the sights and sounds of the African savannah. The mix of wildlife, expert guidance, and comfortable accommodation offers a great start to your 9-Day Best Kenya & Rwanda Safari.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drives in Masai Mara
After breakfast, head out for both morning and afternoon game drives. Early hours give you a chance to see predators like lions and cheetahs when they are most active, either hunting or moving through their territories.
The Mara is home to the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos). Your guide will help you locate these animals while respecting their natural behavior. Between sightings, enjoy the beautiful scenery of rolling grasslands, acacia-dotted plains, and winding rivers.
Enjoy lunch at a picnic spot in the park and then proceed with the afternoon game drive. After the afternoon game drive, return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari or Maasai Village Visit
For those interested in the hot Air balloon safari, this day presents a unique opportunity. You’ll be picked up early in the morning and driven to the boarding site. You’ll witness all the process of setting up the air balloons until you finally board one and fly over the Mara plains. Enjoy the areal views. Latter after the ride, celebrate with a champagne breakfast in the bush before returning to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, go for a cultural experience in the local communities. Latter return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Drive to Amboseli National Park
After breakfast, leave Masai Mara and drive southeast to Amboseli National Park. The drive takes a few hours, passing through small towns and rural farmland. On arrival, chech in at your booked lodge. Hove lunch and a short rest at the lodge. In the Afternoon, go for an afternoon game drive, exploring the park’s swamps, acacia woodlands, and open plains.
Amboseli is home to elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and many bird species. The view of Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peaks offers great photography moments. Visit the sunset viewpoints that give a chance for capturing the landscape in golden light. Dinner at the lodge and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Morning Game Drive in Amboseli, Transfer to Lake Naivasha
Start the day with an early morning game drive in Amboseli, when wildlife is most active. See elephants, waterbucks, zebras, and other animals with Kilimanjaro in the background.
After the morning safari, drive to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake surrounded by green papyrus swamps. You may take a boat ride to see hippos, fish eagles, and other birds, or enjoy a walking safari on Crescent Island, home to giraffes, zebras, and antelopes. Dinner at the lodge in Naivasha.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Drive to Nairobi and Flight to Kigali
After breakfast, drive back to Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. On arrival, take a flight to Kigali, Rwanda, where the next part of your 9-Day Kenya & Rwanda Safari begins. Depending on arrival time, you may enjoy a short city tour, visiting craft markets and cultural centers. After, transfer to a lodge near Volcanoes National Park to prepare for gorilla trekking.
Spend the evening relaxing at the lodge, adjusting, reviewing trekking guidelines, and enjoying dinner with views of Rwanda’s green landscapes. The change from Kenya’s open plains to Rwanda’s mountain forests makes this part of the journey exciting and different.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Wake up early for a briefing at the park headquarters, where trackers will assign gorilla families for trekking. Head into the forest, walking through thick vegetation, bamboo areas, and misty trails, with chances of seeing other wildlife and birds.
After finding the gorilla family, spend up to one hour watching these amazing animals. See silverbacks, mothers with babies, and playful young ones, creating a close and emotional wildlife experience. Your guide will explain gorilla behavior, conservation efforts, and the challenges they face. The trek is both physically demanding and very rewarding, leaving lasting memories of Rwanda’s natural beauty.
Return to the lodge for lunch, and in the afternoon, you may choose optional activities like visiting Dian Fossey’s grave or exploring nearby villages. Dinner at the lodge gives time to reflect on this special safari experience.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Golden Monkey tracking & Lake Kivu
On this day, go for golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park. Just like gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking starts with a briefing and then later the tracking. You’ll indulge in the forest to look for these primates. After locating them, you’ll spend a whole hour with then before returning to the tpark head quarter.
Afterward, transfer to Lake Kivu for a scenic visit or some relaxing time by the water. Dinner and overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Day 9 Departure
Wake up and have breakfast, after breakfast, depart your lodge and drive back to Kigali. You’ll be dropped off at the airport to catch your flight back home.