Depart Nairobi in the morning and head to Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The drive takes you through the spectacular Great Rift Valley and via Narok. Lunch at lodge. After lunch take on a game drive through the reserve. Maasai Mara one of the world’s finest sanctuaries is famous for the Big 5 animals. Dinner and over night stay.

Day 2:             Maasai Mara

Rise early and take on a game drive. This will give you an opportunity to see early risers and predators returning to their hideouts. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Lunch followed by game viewing. You will be driven into different areas of the reserve. Dinner and over night stay at the lodge.

Day 3:             Maasai Mara – Nairobi

After breakfast, start the drive back to Nairobi arriving in time for lunch.

It is a mountain range that covers 996km² formed after a massive up lift in the earths crust. The highest peak rises to 5109 metres above sea level with the range stretching some 120 km north / south and 48 km east / west. With 6 snow capped mountains Margherita Peak is the highest.

DAY 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Moshi
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, meet and greet with a African Safari Treks representative before transferring to a hotel in Moshi. Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 2: Marangu Gate (1980m) – Mandara hut (2700m)
Transfer to Kilimanjaro National Park from where you will start the climb through fascinating rain forests till you reach Mandara Hut. Dinner and overnight stay at the hut (9,000ft).
Hiking time: 5 hours Distance:  About 12 km’s Habitat: Montane forest Moorland

DAY 3: Mandara hut (2700m) – Horombo hut (3720m)
Breakfast then ascend further past the alpine – meadow. Slow down as the altitude begins to change. This will give you the opportunity to enjoy the flora and the scenic views of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Arrive at the Horombo Hut 12km from Mandara. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hut (12,520ft).
Hiking time: 6 hours Distance: About 15 km’s Habitat: Moorland

DAY 4: Horombo hut (3720m) – Kibo hut (4700m)
After breakfast, continue with the trek. The landscape becomes more rugged and rocky. You will begin to notice lobelia. Dinner and overnight stay at Kibo hut (15,520ft)
Hiking time: 6 hours Distance: About 15 km’s Habitat: Alpine desert

Day 5:Kibo hut (4700m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Horombo hut (3720m)
The last ascent is made in the wee hrs of the morning while the scree is still frozen. Trek the very steep part of the route to GILMANS POINT (which is considered the most difficult and tiring part).
Reach UHURU PEAK within an hour’s walk along the crater rim (19,344ft). Walk along the craters rim (19,344ft) before descending to Horombo hut for dinner and overnight stay.
Hiking time: 8 hours to Uhuru – 6 hours to descend to Horombo Distance: 6 km’s ascent – 21 km’s descent - Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

DAY 6: Horombo hut (3720m) – Marangu Gate (1980m)
Descend to Marangu gate from where you will be transferred to your hotel in Moshi. Have the afternoon at leisure (taking it easy). Dinner and overnight stay.
Hiking time: 6 hours - Distance: About 27 km’s

DAY 7: Moshi – Kilimanjaro International Airport
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport from where you will catch up with your out/ home bound flight (Alternatively, you could take on a safari which is optional).

Burundi is a hilly country with altitudes ranging from 2600-9000 feet (790-2745 m). The only land below 3,000 ft is a narrow strip of plain along the Ruzizi River which forms the western border north of Lake Tanganyika. The weather in Bujumbura and along the shores of Lake Tanganyika is warm and humid with average temperatures ranging from 64-89° F (218-32° C); frost sometimes occurs at night in the highlands. Dry seasons are June-September and December-January; the principal rainy season is February-May.

The major rivers form natural boundaries for most of the country. The Akanuaru and the Kagera separate Burundi from Rwanda along many sections of the common border. The Kagera and the Ruvuvu are other southern most tributaries of the mighty Nile River while most of Burundi’s southern border is formed by the Malagarazi River.

Burundi has only two large cities that include Bujum­bura and Gitega. It is presently visited more by transit tourists than as a destination in itself. However, there are some attractions that warrant a short visit, especially for the prolific chimpanzee and birdlife.

The three major ethnic groups in the country are the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa (pygmy). Hutus are primarily farmers and comprise more than half the population while the Tutsi are a pastoral tribe and comprise less than a quarter of the popula­tion; they came to the region a few hundred years after the Hutus.

The Twa (Pygmy) were the original inhabitants though they presently comprise less than two percent of the population. The official languages are French and Kirundi though Swahili is also spoken.

• Fishing
• Game drives

Gazetted in 1934 and covering an area of 90,000 hectares; Akagera National Park is set at a relatively low altitude on the border with Tanzania. This park is punctuated by swamps and lakes. Herds of elephants and buffalos can be spotted as they move to drink at the lakes. The park is also known to be home to Giraffe, zebra and more than a dozen types of antelope such as the oribi, bushbuck, cape eland and the handsome chest-coated impala.

Where to stay
Accommodation is available at Akagera Game Lodge with camping also being possible at the shores of the lakes in Akagera. It is also in some of these lakes that some of Africa’s densest concentrations of water birds could be seen.

• Gorilla Trekking
• Visit to the grave of Dian Fossey
• Tracking the Golden Monkeys
• Climbing Karisimbi
• Climbing Bisoke
• Tour of the lakes Ruhondo and Burera
• Cave exploration – visit Musanze cave and natural bridge

Parc National des Volcans was the first National park in Africa to be gazetted in 1925. Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, this park was gazetted with the sole aim of protecting the Mountain gorillas and the steep slopes of the rich mosaic montane ecosystems and the magnificent mountain range which are punctuated by the evergreen bamboo forest, swamp, heath and open grassland.
An awe inspiring trek through the foothills of the Virungas offers scenic views. Parc National des Volcans is endowed not only with the endangered Mountain Gorillas but also with golden monkeys and colourful birds. Open space in the forest will enable you view the magnificent peaks of the virungas.

Where to Stay:
Ruhengeri with its setting at the bottom of the virungas offers a good selection of averagely priced guest houses and hotels Kinigi Guest House or Gorilla Nest.

ITINERARY: TEA-R7

Day 1: Kanombe Airport – Kigali
Arrive Kanombe Airport. Meet and greet with a African Safari Treks representative before transferring to Kigali. Dinner and over night stay at Serena Hotel – Kigali.

Day 2: Kigali – Nyungwe Forest Reserve
After breakfast, depart for Butare, which drive will take you about 2 hours from Kigali. Prior to visiting the national museum, visit the King’s Palace at Nyanza now a museum.
Stop over for lunch enroute and there after drive on via Gikorongoro to Nyungwe Forest Reserve. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Nyungwe Forest Reserve
After an early breakfast trek through Nyungwe Forest Reserve which extends for almost 1000 km2 across the majestic hills of southeast Rwanda. Look out for any of the 200 different types of trees that are found in Nyungwe forest and more than 100 species of orchid, and sensational giant lobelias.
Also noticeable in this reserve are mammals and primates which are the most visible, with 13-recorded species that include chimpanzees, large troupes of Colobus monkeys, grey-checked mangabey and red-tailed monkey. Have the afternoon at leisure (taking it easy). Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Nyungwe Forest – Kibuye
Morning at leisure (taking it easy). After lunch drive west to Cyangungu on the shores of Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is a beautiful inland lake enclosed by steep, green terraced hills. Later take on a speed boat across the lake to Kibuye. Dinner and overnight stay at Kivu Serena.

Day 5: Kibuye – Parc des Volcans
Late breakfast then drive to Gisenyi at the northern end of Lake Kivu from where you will transfer to Kinigi with a picnic lunch en-route.
Dinner and overnight stay at Gorilla Nest Lodge.

Day 6: Parc National Des Volcans
After an early breakfast, head to the park gate where you are expected at 08:00 hours for registration and pre briefing. With the park guides, you will start the search for these rare Mountain Gorillas. The trek through Parc des Volcans can take between 2 and 10 hours depending on the family and the movement of the gorillas. Spend an hour viewing the gorillas upon location.

Later return to your lodge for a lunch break. After lunch, visit the serene lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera. Dinner and over night stay at Gorilla Nest Lodge.

Day 7: Parc National des Volcans – Kigali – Kanombe Air port
Drive back to Kigali from where you will be transferred to the airport for your outbound flight.

BON VOYAGE

Highlights:

• Gorillas in the mist.
• Scenic views.
• Kigali Genocide Memorial and Education centre.

ITINERARY: TEA-R4

Day 1: Kanombe Airport – Kigali
Arrive Kanombe Airport. Meet and greet with a African Safari Treks representative before transferring to Kigali. Dinner and over night stay at Serena Hotel – Kigali.

Day 2: Kigali – Parc National des Volcans
Your driver / guide will pick you up from your hotel at 7:00 am from where you will be taken on a tour that includes a visit to the Genocide Memorial site and other craft shops prior to heading to Parc National des Volcans. Dinner and over night stay at Gorilla Nest.

Day 3:  Parc National des Volcans
After an early breakfast, head to the park gate where you are expected at 08:00 hours for registration and pre briefing. With the park guides, you will start the search for these rare Mountain Gorillas. The trek through Parc des Volcans can take between 2 and 10 hours depending on the family and the movement of the gorillas. Spend an hour viewing the gorillas upon location. Later return to your lodge for a lunch break.
Later in the afternoon, visit the serene lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera. Dinner and over night stay at Gorilla Nest.

Day 4: Parc National des Volcans – Kigali – Kanombe Air port
Drive back to Kigali from where you will be transferred to the airport for your outbound flight.

BON VOYAGE

The land drops sharply to Lake Kivu – west of the divide in the Great African Rift Valley; to the east, the land falls gradually across the central plateau – its grassy highlands are the core areas of settlement of Rwanda’s population – to the swamps and lakes on the country’s eastern border.

In the northwest, on the border with DRC, are the volcanic Virunga Mountains; the highest peak, Mount Karisimbi (14,870 ft) is snowcapped. Lake Kivu, 4,700 feet above sea level, drains into Lake Tanganyika, through the sharply descending Ruzizi River. The Kagera River, which forms much of Rwanda’s eastern border, flows into Africa’s largest water mass – Lake Victoria.

Size: 26,338 km².

Time: +2 GMT.

Climate: Most parts of Rwanda receive in excess of 1000 mm of rainfall. Temperatures range from f 25-30°C during the day and 15° at night throughout the year. Two rain seasons are experienced in Rwanda and include the short rains between September and December and the long rains between February to June. The dry months are January, July, and August to mid-September.

Currency: The Rwanda Franc (both coin and paper) is the unit of currency used. Money exchange is done in bureau de change, banks and some hotels.

Banking: Banks are open from 8 am -5 pm on weekdays (with a lunch break between 12 noon and 2 pm) while on Saturday they open from 8 am -12 noon.

Languages: French, English and Kinya-rwanda are the official languages though Kiswahili just as in the other East African Countries is also used.
Electricity: 230/240 volts at 50Hz.

Public Holidays:
1 January – New Year
28 January – Democracy Day
Good Friday / Easter Monday
7 April – Genocide Memorial Day
1 May – Labour Day
1 July – Independence Day
4 July – National Liberation Day
1 August – Harvest Festival
15 August – Assumption Day
8 September – Culture Day
25 September – Republic Day
1 October – Heroes Day
1 November – All Saints Day
25 December – Christmas Day
26 December – Boxing Day