Africa 2020 – The Great African Safari
September 17–27, 2020
Melita Trips always endeavors to put together unique tours that combine scientific learning, fascinating destinations, luxurious accommodations, and immersive activities, but every once in a while, a tour package comes together that sets itself apart from even our high standards.
This safari is one of those tours.
The tour starts off with a bang. After arriving in Nairobi, our group will spend an afternoon at the David Sheldrick Elephant orphanage, the only institute of its kind. As it is closed to the general public, this private tour will allow our group to get up close and personal with orphaned baby elephants. Wear your boots because they love to play in the mud!
The next few nights will be spent at the famed Little Governor’s Camp, perfectly situated in the heart of the Maasai Mara, so that we may take in and observe the amazing spectacle of the Great Migration. Morning and afternoon game drives will allow us to observe and photograph predators and prey by the hundreds. The wildlife is so plentiful that we may see all of the Big Five by the end of the first day.
From Kenya, we relocate to Kigali, Rwanda, and then on into the Virunga Volcanoes National Park to stay at the renown Virunga Lodge in order to visit and interact with one of the last few tribes of Mountain Gorillas. Access to these gorillas is so restricted, only 8 people per day can visit any one tribe. These highly restricted permits are sold out a year or more in advance. There is no way to describe the emotional profundity of spending an hour at a time with these gentle cousins of ours.
And if you needed any last incentive to join us, our guest lecturer will be Louise Leakey, the third generation of famous paleontologists and archeologists, and who at the age of six, became the youngest person ever to find a hominid fossil. She’ll bring us up to speed on her research, as well as what it is like to live the life of a Leakey.
Finally, your participation on this trip will allow us to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, a group of veterinarians that donate their time to the care and well-being of the gorilla groups. This group will join us for dinner and drinks one of our nights in the Virunga Lodge.
Trip Includes
- International airfare included on request
- 5-star accommodations in some of Africa’s finest hotels and lodges
- All meals
- A visit to the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
- Morning and afternoon game drives on the Masia Mara
- A one-hour visit with a Mountain Gorilla group, with the option of a second one-hour visit
- Expert guides and commentary throughout
- Additional excursions, including visits to the Dian Fossey grave site, the Genocide Memorial, and Karen Blixen’s “Out of Africa” home
ITINERARY
On this ecotour we stay 2 nights at the famed Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi; 4 nights in Little Governor’s Camp in the Maasai Mara; 1 night at the Kigali Marriott Hotel; and 3 nights at the spectacular Virunga Lodge overlooking the Volcanoes National Park.
Day 1: Thursday 17, September. Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya
Plan to arrive in Nairobi, Kenya at a convenient time today, and you will be met outside baggage claim and transfer immediately to the famed Norfolk Hotel; where Kings and Presidents have previously stayed. Enjoy our Welcome dinner at the Hotel this evening.
Overnight at Norfolk Hotel
Day 2: Friday 18, September. Nairobi and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
After a relaxed breakfast to allow people to recover from the long flights, we will visit the Karen Blixen Museum. The farm house/Museum belongs to a different time period in the history of Kenya, gaining international fame with the release of the movie ‘Out of Africa’; an Oscar winning film based on Karen’s autobiography by the same title. We will then enjoy an al fresco lunch at the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden before we head to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage where we will have a private encounter with the baby elephants. Prepare to get muddy as you play with the baby elephants!
Overnight at Norfolk Hotel
Day 3: Saturday 19, September. Nairobi to Maasai Mara
After breakfast we depart for our 45-minute flight to the Maasai Mara. We can leave excess luggage in Nairobi as the small plane that takes us to Little Governors Camp limits each person to 15 kilos of luggage (32 lbs). Our destination is the exclusive Little Governor’s Camp in the Maasai Mara. The Governors’ Collection of Camps is located in the heart of the best game viewing area of the Maasai Mara. We should be at the Camp in time for lunch, and once we have settled-in we will have the chance for a “Game Drive” before sunset. We shall enjoy dinner this evening back at the Camp overlooking the Maasai Mara plains.
Overnight at Little Governor’s Camp
Day 4: Sunday 20, September. Maasai Mara
An early morning game drive in the Park should reward us with the chance to see the wildlife and scenery this reserve is so famous for. We will have our chance to see lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, as well as a variety of birds, hyena, buffalo and crocodiles. We shall plan on a short siesta around midday, and later in the afternoon we will enjoy another game drive and a second chance to see the magnificent wildlife.
Overnight at Little Governor’s Camp
Day 5: Monday 21, September. Maasai Mara
We will attempt to capture one of the river crossings that are so enigmatic of the Great Migration. Requiring great patience, we may stay all day alongside one of the river crossings waiting for the spectacle. We will bring breakfast and/or lunch from the camp to ensure we do not need to leave.
Overnight at Little Governor’s Camp
Day 6: Tuesday 22, September. Maasai Mara
We have one more full day to explore the Maasai Mara to ensure we witness the full spectacle of this ecosystem. You could elect to take a sunrise Balloon Safari this morning, (at an extra cost) directly from our camp, with a champagne breakfast on the Mara. If you do not do the balloon safari, we still plan to have an early morning game drive, a siesta and another game drive in the afternoon.
Overnight at Little Governor’s Camp
Day 7: Wednesday 23, September. Maasai Mara to Kigali, Rwanda
This Wednesday is our last game drive and after breakfast we depart the Maasai Mara for our flight back to Nairobi, where we are reunited with our extra luggage and transfer to the Nairobi International Airport for our flight to Kigali. Upon arrival in Kigali we will transfer to the luxurious Kigali Marriott Hotel, after which we will enjoy a delicious dinner on the outdoor patio of Brachetto Restaurant.
Overnight at the Kigali Marriott Hotel
Day 8: Thursday 24, September. Kigali to the Virunga Volcanoes, Rwanda
Next, we make an informative visit to the Genocide Memorial before we drive to our base for the next three nights, the beautiful Virunga Lodge. The journey north goes through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape, gradually climbing to the base of the awesome volcanoes – sometimes with as many as five peaks visible. We will settle in at the dramatically located Virunga Lodge, overlooking the lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo.
Overnight at Virunga Lodge
Day 9: Friday 25, September. Volcanoes National Park – First Gorilla Trek
This is the day we take our first Gorilla trek! We will arise early in the morning and drive to the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park, where we will meet our trackers and head up the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes. We may visit one of the ten habituated groups. No more than EIGHT people may visit any group on any given day, so we can rely on having an intimate experience with our group, whichever we visit. Tracking the gorillas through the lush forested slopes of the Virungas is an absolutely magical experience. If we are lucky we will get to the gorillas, spend an hour with them, and be back at the base in time for a late lunch! However, some gorilla families are more elusive and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy; so you should be prepared to hike for two to three hours on steep mountain trails.
Later in the evening we will meet the Rwanda-based Veterinarians from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, and hear about their efforts to protect the Mountain Gorillas. They will join us for cocktails and dinner, and they will share with us some of the stories, challenges, and successes of their important work.
Overnight at Virunga Lodge
Day 10: Saturday 26, September. Volcanoes National Park – Optional Second Gorilla Trek
And of course, as advertised there is a second chance to go trek the Mountain Gorillas (on payment of $1,500 supplement at time of booking), and we now know what to expect! If you do choose to trek to the gorillas a second time you should be able to visit a different gorilla group than your first visit; indeed, the more athletic may even try to visit the Susa group which usually requires the longest and most challenging trek. Alternatively, there is a trek to the Dian Fossey Grave site; or you can visit the endangered Golden Monkeys that call the Volcanoes National Park home. After returning, we may have time to visit the local market or Mwiko Elementary School. Farewell Dinner tonight.
Overnight at Virunga Lodge
Day 11: Sunday 27, September. Virunga Lodge to Kigali and flights home.
Breakfast is provided; then we pack, then transfer to Kigali for our flights headed home. Please make sure your homeward flight departs Kigali after 1pm.