Maasai Mara and Rwanda gorillas

Day by day

An operable outline, not a locked rooming list. Air sectors, permits and stays are contracted against the brief. Dates and costs sit on the proposal — not on this page.

1. 

   Day 1

   Arrive Nairobi

   JKIA. Hemingways. Sleep. No Wilson.

   Accommodation

   Hemingways NairobiHemingways Nairobi.

   Logistics

   45–90 minutes to Karen.

   Meals

   Dinner at the house.

   Planner note

   Reverse the order only if KGL inbound is clearly better.

   Activities

   • — Arrival
   • — Briefing
2. 

   Day 2

   Fly Maasai Mara

   Wilson hop. Conservancy arrival. Afternoon drive.

   Accommodation

   Angama MaraAngama Mara or a peer.

   Logistics

   45–60 minutes. Daylight landing.

   Meals

   Breakfast Nairobi. Dinner at camp.

   Planner note

   Permit day is not this day.

   Activities

   • — Hop to the Mara
   • — Afternoon drive

   ExperiencesMaasai Mara balloon and conservancy night

3. 

   Day 3

   Mara

   Dawn drive. Balloon optional.

   Accommodation

   Angama MaraSame camp.

   Logistics

   Whole baskets. Conservancy rules.

   Meals

   All meals at camp.

   Planner note

   Safari chapter first so the trek is not jet-lagged.

   Activities

   • — Dawn drive
   • — Optional balloon
   • — Afternoon drive

   ExperiencesMaasai Mara balloon and conservancy nightMaasai Mara bush dinner

4. 

   Day 4

   Second Mara day

   Walking where allowed. Quiet dinner. Pack after the afternoon drive.

   Accommodation

   Angama MaraSame camp.

   Logistics

   Wilson tomorrow.

   Meals

   All meals at camp.

   Planner note

   No gala — Rwanda still has to happen.

   Activities

   • — Morning drive or walk
   • — Afternoon drive
5. 

   Day 5

   Wilson · fly Kigali

   Hop to Wilson. Connect KGL. City hotel. Sleep. Nobody treks today.

   Accommodation

   Kigali Serena HotelKigali Serena, Radisson Blu or Marriott.

   Logistics

   Mara–WIL–NBO–KGL or a designed regional. Permits already issued.

   Meals

   Breakfast camp. Dinner Kigali.

   Planner note

   Permit day that is not a connection day — trek is tomorrow or the day after.

   Activities

   • — Flight to Kigali
   • — Check-in
   • — Sleep

   ExperiencesKigali city and Genocide Memorial

6. 

   Day 6

   Volcanoes lodge

   Road or helicopter to Musanze. Lodge. Rest. Kit check.

   Accommodation

   Singita Kwitonda LodgeOne&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Singita Kwitonda or Wilderness Bisate.

   Logistics

   2.5–3 hours by road. Heli if weather and the list allow.

   Meals

   Breakfast Kigali. Dinner at lodge.

   Planner note

   Sleep before the trek.

   Activities

   • — Transfer to Volcanoes
   • — Ranger briefing

   ExperiencesVolcanoes gorilla trekking

7. 

   Day 7

   Gorilla trek

   Trek matched to fitness. Golden monkeys or lodge morning as the non-trek option. No slides after.

   Accommodation

   Singita Kwitonda LodgeSame lodge.

   Logistics

   Dawn HQ. Porters. Named permits.

   Meals

   Early breakfast. Packed lunch. Dinner at lodge.

   Planner note

   Eight nights is the minimum if you refuse to trek on a travel day.

   Activities

   • — Gorilla trek
   • — Parallel golden-monkey or lodge morning

   ExperiencesVolcanoes gorilla trekkingGolden monkey forest walk

8. 

   Day 8

   Forest recovery or city

   Still lodge morning, or return to Kigali for a memorial visit if the group has the stomach and the time.

   Accommodation

   One&Only Gorilla’s NestSame lodge, or Kigali hotel if pulling forward the departure.

   Logistics

   Do not force the memorial on trek afternoon.

   Meals

   All meals at lodge or Kigali.

   Planner note

   Two destination pages, one operable week.

   Activities

   • — At leisure or Kigali Genocide Memorial
   • — Closed dinner

   ExperiencesKigali city and Genocide Memorial

9. 

   Day 9

   Depart KGL

   Road or heli to Kigali. International metal with a buffer.

   Accommodation

   Kigali Serena Hotel

   Logistics

   Musanze to KGL. Fast-track where contracted.

   Meals

   Breakfast at lodge.

   Planner note

   Permits booked at programme approval.

   Activities

   • — Transfer to KGL
   • — International departure

Outcomes

• — Safari and gorillas without a third country
• — Permit day that is not a connection day
• — Two destination pages, one operable week

Experiences on this itinerary

2–3 nights

Maasai Mara balloon and conservancy night

Conservancy rules (walking, night drives) plus a sunrise balloon — Kenya’s most complete incentive wildlife chapter when time is short.

Kenya destination →

Evening

Maasai Mara bush dinner

Lanterns, a conservancy site, Maasai or camp musicians only if the brief asks — the Mara awards night with a weather tent and no landing-night gala.

Kenya destination →

Half day

Kigali city and Genocide Memorial

Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi, handled with care: a professional guide, no forced emotion, a private rather than public visit when the group is a leadership team. Optional. Some clients ask; some do not.

Rwanda destination →

Full day from the lodge

Volcanoes gorilla trekking

The centrepiece of Rwanda: permits first, fitness honestly collected, One&Only or Singita as the bed, and a parallel morning for anyone who should not trek.

Rwanda destination →

Half day from a Volcanoes lodge

Golden monkey forest walk

Volcanoes’ golden monkeys in the bamboo — shorter than a gorilla trek, still a permit, still fitness. The companion morning for guests who should not do a six-hour gorilla walk, or a second forest day for the full list.

Rwanda destination →

Destinations on this itinerary

• Kenya destination page
• Rwanda destination page