Rwanda & Kenya, Kindred Spirits

Kigali was founded as a German settlement and is now a vibrant and sophisticated African city of one million residents. The genocide of 1994 was one of the most horrific episodes in human history, but in a true testimony to the resilience of humankind, the Rwandan people have put into practice a reconciliation that is a lesson for the rest of the world. This morning you will pay a sobering, yet important visit to the genocide museum in Kigali. After the tour, drive north past enchantingly beautiful tiered farmland toward Ruhengeri at the foothills of the Virunga Mountain Range, arriving at your lodge in the late afternoon. Many surprises await you.

Everything around you vibrates with life. This morning you go in search of the world’s largest living primate, the critically endangered Mountain Gorilla in a small group. Arise well before the gorillas and after a hearty breakfast before driving to meet your Gorilla Trackers for a briefing. Starting in the cultivated foothills of the Virunga, you will see stunning views in all directions. Signs of buffaloes and elephants may be found as you enter the denser rainforest which comes alive with colorful bird calls and the magical sounds of the jungle. The magnificent peaks of the Virunga—which are among the highest in Africa—are visible through openings in the canopy. You may hear the beating of a chest in the distance as your expert trackers get you ever closer to the gorillas. Once the gorillas are located, you are allowed to stay with them for one magical hour. This is certainly one of the greatest wildlife experiences on the planet. Back at your lodge, enjoy a much welcomed shower and lunch before taking advantage of the diverse range of optional activities including visiting the surrounding community, a visit to the Dian Fossey tomb and gorilla cemetery, exploring the biodiversity on site and in the immediate area, nature and bird walks, and so much more including luxuriating at the spa and enjoying a rejuvenating message. Relax and enjoy the oasis of calm that your accommodations provide..

This morning you will partake in another adventure in Virunga with a small group but this time in search of the endemic golden monkeys. The golden monkeys live in troops of around eighty members in the bamboo forests at the base of the volcanoes. They live in the trees almost exclusively and so taking pictures of these active arboreal creatures is not as easy as with the gorillas. The trek is easier than the trek the day before. After your trek, depart back to Kigali and with an overnight at your luxury hotel.

Fly from Kigali to the safari capital of East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi bustles with activity and it has been experiencing a construction boom. Your gorgeous hotel is a great location to relax in beautiful gardens and tell stories of your time in Rwanda. Optional visits today to Nairobi sites may include (time permitting) visiting the giraffe center, Kazuri Bean Factory, the Karen Blixen Museum and/or markets and shops of Nairobi. You can also opt to relax, download your photos, or simply catch up on your book before dinner.

Hemingway said it best: “I never knew of a morning in Africa where I woke up that I was not happy.” Fly as high as your spirits this morning above the Great Rift Valley to Kenya’s most famous game park, the Maasai Mara. There is really no predicting what will happen next on this epic life-changing adventure. After all, you have the best seats in the house for unparalleled game viewing opportunities. The park, located on the northern extension of the Serengeti Plains, is without a doubt one of the greatest safari destinations in Africa. Between July and October over a million wildebeest and zebras make the dangerous trek across the croc-infested Mara River in search of new grazing territory. Nowhere in the world is there a movement of animals as immense as the wildebeest migration.
After your morning safari, enjoy a cup of Kenyan coffee on your veranda with endless views over the vast open clearings of the ecosystem. Back at your luxury tented camp, where relaxation and romance dance together in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable, soak up all of the wide-open breathing space that is often lost in our usual day-to-day existence back home. Maasai Mara—a vast savanna grassland, dotted with acacia trees, with rolling hills and breathtaking panoramas in every direction—is one of the best places in all of Africa to spot the Big Five. Also called “The Mara,” this park is well-known for its great herds of plains game like black-maned lions, leopards, cheetahs, and elephants, as well as virtually every other kind of animal found in Kenya. Culturally, the reserve is extraordinary because of the proud and colorful Maasai who inhabit the area. Highlights during our time here include phenomenal game viewing, a walk along the banks of The Mara River—where hippos and crocodiles are often seen in great numbers—and exploring the optional activities in The Mara, like bush dinners and sundowners, visits to a local school and other cultural experiences, and of course the legendary early morning hot air balloon safaris over The Mara.

Enjoy a final early morning game drive before bidding reluctant farewells to your guides and tented lodge staff. Fly back to Nairobi where day rooms await you. What is it about Africa that has gotten under your skin as happens to so many of us? Certainly, it’s the gentleness and infectious joy of the people. It is also the vastness and sheer beauty of the land that seems to extend forever. You came to Africa for adventure, to live your dreams, to lead your family and friends to new experiences. In the end, you leave Africa but it is not able to leave you. It gets inside your heart, mind, and soul. Your story is a reflection of your imagination and we are immensely happy to be your guide.

Every Metamo itinerary has in mind where we want to take you. We want to make the biggest impact possible. Starting with Rwanda allows you to have the gorilla experience in the beginning so you can savor the experience the rest of the trip. There is a lot of movement those first four days and we want you to end in the most relaxed state of mind possible. After the gorilla experience, flying from Kigali, Rwanda, into Nairobi, Kenya, is a great way to start the next leg of your adventure. Well rested, you now get to experience one of the greatest game parks on the planet -Maasai Mara National Game Reserve for multiple days. Having the extra time in one park allows for beautiful in depth experiences with the people, land, and animals of Africa.

The Great Migration is the awe-inspiring movement of over 1.5 million wildebeests — as well as zebras, gazelles, and predators — from the Serengeti in Tanzania through croc-infested waters to the Maasai Mara in Kenya. It’s a yearly cycle as the wildlife migrate in search of greener grass. There’s no telling exactly when it will take place, as factors like rain and drought are unpredictable. With that in mind, we are constantly in touch with our guides on the ground and, if the migration is a top priority of yours, we will recommend the best possible time of year and itinerary to place you in an ideal position with the greatest potential to see the migration. As a general rule of thumb, the migratory animals are in Maasai Mara (Kenya) August through October. For the rest of year they migrate in a tremendous clockwise circle of sorts through the Serengeti (Tanzania). Of course the migration never starts or ends – it is a continuous migratory pattern of life in the Serengeti Ecosystem. Whether or not you witness the migration itself, the animals of the Serengeti Plains are plentiful year-round, so you’ll be sure to spot them on your safari.

For many of our clients who are in charge of companies, manage people, and have so many commitments, it is a great surprise to have everything taken care of for you. You will see so many animals that you won’t be able to possibly count them, the people you will encounter will make you rethink your definition of joy, and the spontaneous events that come up on an adventure such as this make for great stories upon your return. You will also have plenty of time to download to reflect on the day, dig into your book on your luxury tent’s secluded porch, and trade stories of the day’s animal sightings around the fire pit over cocktails.. Many of our clients have said it is the first time in their adult life that they didn’t have to worry about a thing.