An Adventure in Africa
Welcome to the enchanting city of Kigali, where vibrant energy and captivating beauty converge to create a truly unforgettable experience. Nestled amidst the rolling hills of Rwanda, this resplendent capital city offers a tapestry of delights that beckon both the intrepid traveler and the discerning connoisseur. Immerse yourself in Kigali's rich tapestry of culture, as you wander through its bustling markets, where the aroma of exotic spices lingers in the air, and the vibrant colors of traditional textiles catch the eye at every turn. Explore the city's modern architecture, a testament to its remarkable progress and forward-thinking vision. Indulge your senses in the tantalizing flavors of Rwandan cuisine, with its harmonious blend of local ingredients and international influences. And as the sun sets, surrender to the enchantment of Kigali's vibrant nightlife, where the rhythm of Afrobeat melodies fills the air and the laughter of revelers mingles with the starlit sky. In Kigali, every moment is an invitation to discover the extraordinary amidst the ordinary, making it an unmissable destination for the discerning traveler.
Kigali | 1 night | Early October | 1 night | The Retreat
Volcanoes National Park | 3 nights | Mid October | One & Only Gorilla's Nest
Nairobi | 1 night | Mid October | Karen Gables
Maasai Mara | 4 nights | Mid to Late October | Mara Expedition Camp
Please note that the above itinerary progression and accommodations are simply suggestions. No availability has been checked at this point and we are not currently holding any reservations.
Arrive on your international flight from the United States for Nairobi International Airport (NBO).
To be booked independently
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met at disembarkation by an airport representative and be assisted with the arrival process.
To be booked by scenset
Your airport representative will escort you to your driver who will provide a private transfer to your hotel for check-in.
To be booked by scenset
Welcome to The Retreat, a 20-room luxury boutique hotel created by the American owners of Heaven, designed by Italian architects, brought to life by an extraordinary team of Rwandan builders and technicians.
Set in the vibrant heart of Kigali, this luxury boutique hotel and spa offers easy access to all that is happening in this dynamic city. As one of Kigali’s top 5 star hotels, it offers the perfect combination of leafy tranquility, Rwandan flair, and contemporary buzz. Whether dining on exotic Rwandan cuisine at Fusion or Heaven restaurants, soaking up the warmth of Kigali’s people and culture, your time here is sure to promise memories to last a lifetime.
Deluxe King Room
- Inclusions: Daily breakfast
To be booked by scenset
After breakfast and check-out, meet your driver in the hotel lobby for your transfer to Volcanoes National Park. This is a transfer of approximately 3 hours. There are options for touring along the way such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial
To be booked by scenset
Eye to eye with swaying eucalyptus trees, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is the closest resort to Volcanoes National Park – a historic rainforest home to a diverse tapestry of wildlife, including over 340 mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and 300 bird species. In and around the resort, there is an incredible topography of peaceful sleeping volcanoes that defy gravity, creating an awe-inspiring atmosphere and perfect setting for cyclists.
This spectacular wellness retreat is nestled in the volcanic range of the Virunga Massive in Rwanda, the home of the Mountain gorillas. This beautiful lodge is contemporary in design but still has splashes of Rwandan design, and has immaculate, organic gardens.
Forest Lodge King
- Inclusions: Full board, lodge activities, gorilla trekking, permits, and conservation fees
To be booked by scenset
Each morning you will set off early in search for a family of gorillas. You could be trekking for any time between 45 minutes and 4 hours to find them and it will truly be worth your efforts when you can spend a magical 1 hour with these highly intelligent primates
To be confirmed by scenset
After breakfast and check-out, meet your driver for a transfer back to Kigali Airport.
To be confirmed by scenset
Depart on your flight out of Kigali to Nairobi.
To be confirmed by scenset
After heading through immigration, baggage claim, and customs, meet your driver-guide in the arrivals hall at the airport for your transfer to your hotel in Nairobi.
To be confirmed by scenset
Nairobi is the capital of Kenya and East Africa’s most cosmopolitan city, with a vibrant population of 4.5 million. Unique to the city is the proximity of Nairobi National Park, a true wilderness area juxtaposed against the larger urban metropolis. It is the only national park like it in the world and a real embodiment of the human-wildlife conflicts that challenge many African communities who must learn to cohabitate with wildlife on their doorstep.
Nairobi National Park is one of the best places in Africa to see rhino and also has a healthy population of lion, leopard, cheetah, and plains game like giraffe and antelope. Other attractions include the Karen Blixen Museum, the Giraffe Center, Daphne Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage, a visit to a tea farm, and shopping for local crafts and trinkets. There are some great local and cross-cultural restaurants to explore, from roadside food stalls to local nyama choma (barbecue joints) to five-star dining establishments.
Karen Gables is a characterful Cape Dutch style private home that sits peacefully off the road in its own verdant gardens. A true home from home, there are numerous private spots to sit and unwind. The leafy and affluent suburb of [Suburb Name] sits to the South West of [City Name] towards the foot of the [Mountain Range Name]. [Suburb Name] still remains largely unspoiled by over-development or traffic jams and is an attractive and peaceful place to stay away from the city centre which is easily accessed via ever-improving ring roads and bypasses.
Standard Room
- Inclusions: Daily breakfast
To be booked by scenset
After breakfast and check-out, meet your private driver for transfer to Nairobi Airport.
To be confirmed by scenset
Depart on your scheduled flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport to the Mara Airstrip. Timing will be determined.
To be confirmed by scenset
Upon arrival at the Mara Airstrip, you'll be met by a guide and transferred on your first game drive to your camp in the Maasai Mara.
The Mara (as it is affectionately known) covers 1510 km2 (583 mi2) and is widely considered to be Africa’s greatest reserve. The backdrop of the Siria escarpment in the west overlooks sweeping savannas, riverine woodlands, and forests on a deceptively flat landscape that extends eastwards towards the Sekenani Hills and northwards towards the Aitong Hills. The Mara is in essence the northern extension of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and plays host to one of nature's greatest phenomenons, the Great Wildebeest Migration.
Because of the quality of wildlife viewing, the Mara has for generations been the scenset for hundreds of wildlife documentaries, including Disney's African Cats, and the BBC’s Big Cat Diaries and Planet Earth. It is a wildlife photographer's paradise and every year visitors come to capture the spectacular wildlife. The reserve and its conservancies contain some of the highest densities of predators in Africa and this only increases as nomads and vagrants follow the huge herds back and forth through this ecosystem during the seasonal wildebeest migration.
The five tent Mara Expedition Camp is a magical revisiting of the past, drawing from Africa’s scenset explorers’ designs and designed for those who search for East Africa’s romantic safari era. Here, you will experience the best of both worlds: the intense action of the Maasai Mara ecosystem, as well as the more private 70,000-acre Mara North Conservancy. Mara Expedition Camp is both a stylish experience and an adventure camp with the service levels, specialized guiding and design for which Great Plains Conservation is known.
Mara Expedition Camp is positioned on high ground in a grove of typical East African acacia trees overlooking a valley in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. It is on private land with access to some of the region’s best wildlife. The camp tells the story of early day explorers with touches of campaign furniture and open air space under light canvas. It is an ideal camp from which to start your safari looking for big cats such as cheetah and lion. Most days you don’t even have to go very far!
Tent
Inclusions: Scheduled activities in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Mara North Conservancy, all meals, laundry, return Ol Kiombo airstrip road transfers, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages including premium beverages. Guided bush walks are available on site at this property. A nightly Great Plains Foundation Conservation & Community Levy will be provided per person.
Enjoy these days relaxing in your accommodations and exploring the beauty of the Maasai Mara.
The camp is locally famous for its leopard residents wandering nearby and is positioned to take the best advantage of two migrations – the famous annual Serengeti migration and the green season migration from Loita Plains, an additional 50,000 wildebeest and over 100,000 zebras vying for grazing rights. Mara Expedition Camp is a place for the ardent safari-goer.
Full days, with picnic breakfast (and often lunch, too), traverse some of Africa’s richest game country, renowned for extraordinary predator density and frequent hunts. Access to both the Masai Mara Reserve and Mara North Conservancy give guests options of more privacy.
After breakfast and check-out, depart on your scheduled flight from Mara Airstrip back to Nairobi.
To be confirmed by scenset
Depart on your international flight for the United States from Nairobi.
To be booked independently
scenset invests in making the world a better place. scenset will offset the fuel used during the trip. On top of that, an extra 10% will be offset to make your trip a carbon-positive experience.
Currently, we support Gold Standard Climate+ Projects from the Gold Standard Foundation.
If you like what you read and are ready to pull the trigger on this once-in-a-lifetime safari adventure, please send a message in the app to let us know. We would be thrilled to secure all the reservations and make sure everything is taken care of, including special surprises along the way.