9 Days Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari
9 Days Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration and Rwanda Gorilla Safari
After encountering Mountain gorillas north of the capital Kigali in the famous Volcanoes national park our experts will take you to Kenya’s Masai Mara to track the World’s largest migration of Ungulates, The Great Wildebeest Migration – the annual migration of giant herds of grazers across Northern Tanzania and Kenya is a truly spectacular event. Over two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems in search of green pasture, in a regular pattern. Masai Mara is the most noted location of the wildebeest migration due to its famed Mara River crossings, and this has led to some misunderstandings about the migration itself. The migration is an on-going movement of animals that takes place throughout the year. The migration is not a singular, isolated event, but from July to October the River crossing do occur regularly and our experts will take you on a journey of lifetime.
Safari highlights
- Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
- Following the wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara
- Visit to Lake Naivasha
Detailed safari itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to your lodge for overnight
On arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be received by our guide and transferred to the hotel for relaxation and overnight, depending on the time of arrival you may have a short tour of Kigali.
Day 2: Drive to volcanoes national park
After Lazily morning breakfast you will head to Kigali city for a tour of Kigali genocide memorial and the Belgian peace centre after you will enjoy an early Lunch at hotel Rwanda after you will start your drive north of the Kigali to Musanze where you will visit the Dian fossey museum and later continue to your Lodge at the edge of Volcanoes national park for a check in and relaxation.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes national park
After an early morning breakfast you guide will receive you and transfer you to the park headquarters with packed Lunch and enough drinking water, on arrival you will meet the ranger guides for a briefing after you will then drive to the starting point for your gorilla trek, the trek can take anything from 2 hours to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorillas and after viewing the Mountain gorillas for 1 year you will return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day 4: Drive from Volcanoes national park to Kigali for your onward flight to Nairobi
Depending on your departure flight to Nairobi you may visit the golden monkeys as an optional activity, the golden monkey trekking usually takes 3 hours, after you will return to the lodge for refreshment and later drive to Kigali to connect your flight to Nairobi, on arrival in Nairobi you will be received by our guide and transferred to your lodge for overnight.
Day 5: Flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara national reserve
After an early morning breakfast you will be received by our guide and transferred to the airport for your domestic flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara on arrival you will be received by our guide in Masai Mara and transferred to your lodge for check in and lunch after you take a short relaxation and head out for an evening game drive in the park.
Day 6: Full day game drive in Masai Mara following the wildebeest Migration
After early morning breakfast with a picnic lunch, you will start your game drive in the park, this drive will take you to some of the park’s famous wildlife viewing areas in search of African big five wildlife like Lions, leopards, Buffalo, elephants, Rhino and park also has a great population of cheetah and giraffes as you advance to the Mara River to try and the catch River crossing live depending on the luck of the day you will return to the lodge for overnight.
Day 7: Full day game drive in Masai Mara following the wildebeest Migration
After morning breakfast you will depart for yet another full day in the park The Masai Mara is regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife viewing areas. The annual wildebeest migration alone involves over 1.5 million animals arriving in July and departing in October-November. The park is also home to 95 species of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles and over 400 birds species recorded on the reserve, as you view wildlife in the park you will continue following the wildebeest herds and later return to the lodge overnight.
Day 8-Drive to Lake Naivasha
After morning breakfast you will start your drive to Lake Naivasha can be found sprawled across the highest elevation point of the Kenyan Rift Valley. Spanning an area of 13,900ha with a surrounding swamp, this freshwater lake north of Nairobi is home to wallowing hippo pods, a plethora of birdlife, and other game. The lake is under two hours away from Nairobi and close to other fascinating points of interest such as Hell’s Gate National Park and Mount Longonot.
Day 9: Drive from Lake Naivasha to Nairobi for your onward journey
After Lazily morning breakfast you will start your drive to Nairobi, on arrival you will transfer to your day room in Nairobi as you wait for your flight and this will make the end of your East African safari holiday.
Trip includes
- Gorilla permits for Rwanda
- Park entrance fees
- Kigali city tour
- All game drives in Masai Mara
- Accommodation
- Vehicle, guide and Fuel
- Enroute meals and drinking water
- Day room in Nairobi
Trip excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- East African tourist Visa
- Tips for guides and hotels
- Golden monkey permits for Volcanoes
- Optional activities at Lake Naivasha
When to book this safari package
We recommend booking this package 1 year in advance as gorilla permits in Rwanda are sold on first come first serve basis and Mara triangle accommodation gets booked out quite early for the Migration.
Best time to see wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara
The best time to Visit Masai mara and trek Mountain gorillas in Rwanda is during the dry season from end of July to September during this time the River crossings are seen often and its try in volcanoes national park.
