Combined Rwanda Gorilla Tour with Kenya Safari
A combined Rwanda gorilla tour with a Kenya safari offers an exceptional African wilderness experience of a lifetime. Combining Rwanda and Kenya allows you to experience both the breathtaking beauty of the scenic rainforests, the majestic mountain gorillas, and the spice of Kenya’s vast savannas teeming with abundant wildlife. Visitors interested in the Rwanda gorilla tour and Kenya safari combo get to enjoy a blend of adventures, with each destination having something exceptional to showcase.
Places to Visit on a Combined Rwanda Gorilla Tour with Kenya Safari
A popular combined Rwanda gorilla tour with a Kenya safari perfectly introduces you to magical places with magical sightings. Each destination promises captivating encounters, and to start with, below is the list of places to expect to explore.
Visit Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is a special destination in Rwanda where you should expect to experience the best of an African gorilla tour. Located in Musanze, the Northwestern Province of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park provides the most memorable gorilla trekking experience, and particularly, visitors embark on a search for the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. Volcanoes can easily be accessed from Kigali, about a 2-3-hour’ drive, and a 4×4 safari car is the most suitable means to use for your road connectivity.
At Volcanoes National Park, gorilla trekking takes place in the Kinigi region. The Kinigi area is where the park offices are located, and currently, this park contains more than 13 habituated gorilla groups. The available gorilla groups to explore with a guide in Volcanoes National Park include Kwitonda group, Amahoro group, Ugenda group, Hirwa, Karisimbi –Susa B, Sabyinyo, Agashya, and Bwenge gorilla family.
Volcanoes gorilla trekking adventure takes you on a guided hiking through the lush rainforest with a focus to see mountain gorillas. A maximum of 1 hour is given for a visitor encounter with mountain gorillas but this chance is given to only persons with a valid permit.
A gorilla permit is a must have
A gorilla permit should be booked in advance if you are to take part in the Musanze gorilla trekking sessions. Currently, the valid Rwanda gorilla permit still costs USD 1500 per visitor and can only be secured through a trusted tour company like Native Africa Tours.
Valid gorilla permits must be secured early. It is safe to do it at least 2-3 months or even earlier than. The gorilla permits are limited yet the demand is high. In order not to miss out, contact Native Africa Tour to have it booked early. During the actual Volcanoes gorilla trekking adventure, you will be accompanied by a ranger guide. Each gorilla family is visited by a maximum of 8 (eight) people per day.
Places to Explore on a Kenya Safari
Kenya safaris offer unique wildlife safaris in the true African wilderness paradises. Iconic places to include on your bucket-list include Lake Naivasha, Amboseli, Masai Mara, Mt. Kenya, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Laikipia Plateau, Tsavo, and Nairobi National Park.
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is a distinct wildlife destination in Kenya and promises amazing encounters plus the breathtaking views of Africa’s legendary Kilimanjaro Mountain. At Amboseli, expect to encounter a huge profusion of wildlife ranging from leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, elands, giraffes, lesser Kudu, gerenuk, and many birds.
Amboseli is found in Loitoktok District, along Kenya’s Rift Valley Province. Unlike other Kenyan Parks, Amboseli only covers 392.06 sq. km. The western end of this park features an extensive Lake Amboseli.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara –This is located in Southwest Kenya and features extensive African savanna plains. The Mara Reserve covers an area of 1510 sq. km. It is the most popular African wilderness area. At the Masai Mara National Reserve, expect to explore diverse wildlife ranging from African bush elephants, cheetahs, leopards, lions, and wildebeests. The Great Migration is the iconic feature of any safari in the Masai Mara Reserve.
Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve is situated in Northern Kenya and is a leading protected area on the Ewaso Ng’iro River banks. This magnificent reserve is compact in size, with a surface area coverage of 165 sq. km, and access from Nairobi is 350 km. Samburu is known for its distinct wildlife and other attractions for you to explore during the guided game viewing safari. While in Samburu, expect to explore the reserve’s rich wildlife ecosystem. These include the 5 rare species (Somali Ostriches, Grevy Zebras, Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, and Reticulated Giraffe). This reserve also shelters the highest concentration of elephants, plus predator species like cheetahs, leopards, and lions. The ideal location to explore these unique species includes the Kamunyak and birders, who have up to 450 species of birds to explore.
At Samburu National Reserve, expect to have a complete immersion on a guided game drive. Community tours and Samburu camel trekking are also done here. Beyond the special 5 game species, expect to also encounter animals such as warthogs, jackals, elands, mongooses, impalas, grant gazelles, cape buffaloes, klipspringer, and wild dogs.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru Park is a designated UNESCO Site and an Important Bird Area since 2009. It has about 450 species of birds. This park is most popular for its 1000s or millions of colorful pink flamingos. This park is located along the Rift Valley of Kenya. It is also known for black & white rhinos, leopards, and lions, buffaloes. There are also Rothschild giraffes, baboons, waterbucks, zebras, and waterbucks. While in Lake Nakuru Park, expect to traverse its diverse habitats, ranging from acacia woodlands, grasslands, and bush land.
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park shouldn’t be excluded from the Kenya safari. Located adjacent to the vibrant Nairobi City, Nairobi NP is renowned as the world’s only wildlife capital. More so, it is home to abundant wildlife, birds, and spectacular views. This compact park was declared a National Park in 1946. This makes it one of Kenya’s oldest Parks.
The different animals to find in Nairobi National Park, Kenya, include elands, warthogs, suni, leopards, cheetahs, and lions. There are also coke’s hartebeests, African cape buffaloes, Grant’s gazelles, bushbucks, common duikers, rhinos, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and Sykes’ monkeys.
Possible Combined Rwanda Gorilla Tour & Kenya Safari Itinerary
An extended travel plan is best suited for you to have both the Rwanda gorilla trekking tour and the Kenya wildlife safari. One of the best itineraries to book that combines both Rwanda and Kenya includes a 7-day Rwanda-Kenya safari. Other popular packages include 14 Days Rwanda Uganda and Kenya safari. 9 Day Rwanda primate & Kenya wildlife tour, 12-Day Rwanda-Kenya safari. Or book 8-Day Rwanda & Kenya tour.
The Best Time to go for the Rwanda Gorilla Tour & Kenya Safari
Rwanda gorilla tours & Kenya safaris can be arranged at any time of the year. But the peak dry season is the best time for Rwanda gorilla tours and Kenya wildlife safaris. The ideal dry months for you to enjoy the Rwanda gorilla trek are June, July, August, and September. The shorter dry months are December, January, and February, whereas the Great Migration tours in Kenya are best enjoyed from July to October. Visitors whose interest is in witnessing the calving sessions can consider booking a Kenya safari from December to early March.
What to take on the Rwanda gorilla tour & wildlife safari in Kenya
Things to carry for your Rwanda gorilla tour and Kenya safari include long trousers, waterproof hiking boots. Gardening gloves, insect repellents, a raincoat, a pair of binoculars. Long-sleeved shirts, and a safari hat.
Combining the Rwanda gorilla tour with a Kenya safari offers magical encounters from the lush African jungle and the savanna plains. To enjoy the best of the Rwanda-Kenya safari, consider booking your holiday with the only trusted company –Native Africa Tours.
