East Africa's wonders blend adventure with romance, taking you on a mystical journey through iconic destinations. Gorillas chest thumping in the vibrant jungle, lions chasing wildebeest across the Maasai Mara, horseback and hot air balloon safaris through vast wilderness; these 11 days inspire a million impressions of an untrammeled world, each day delivering new angles and fresh experiences. Incorporating Kenya and Uganda, this is an all-encompassing safari vacation.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Nairobi - Arriving in the Maasai Mara
There's no time for gentle safari introductions as you arrive in Kenya. You're heading straight to one of the world's most iconic destinations, the Maasai Mara. A representative greets you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, and transfers you across to Wilson Airport for a shared safari link flight directly into the grasslands. Touch down and explore. A guided game drive provides dazzling first impressions: elephant bulls marauding in the distance, a hyena hiding in long grass, and herds that cover the plains like a patchwork of seemingly fabricated brilliance. How can so many mammals survive in such close proximity? Arrive at your first luxury property before sundown and welcome drinks are served on your private verandah. Nestled far from the tourist crowds of the Mara, your lodge immediately imbues its lasting paradigms of solitude and harmony.
What's Included:
Day 2
Masai Mara - Exploring on Game Drives
Day 3
Masai Mara - Walking Safari and Village Cultural Immersion
Day 4
Masai Mara - Hot Air Ballooning
Day 5
Lewa Wildlife - The Weird and Wonderful Game
Day 6
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy - Horseback Safari
Day 7
Kampala - Arriving in Vibrantly Green Uganda
Day 8
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Rainforest Primate and Bird Safari
Day 9
c - Gorilla Trekking
Day 10
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - A Second Gorilla Trek
Day 11
Kilgali - Departure From East Africa
Trip Highlights
- Savor the unique beauty of the Maasai Mara with four days of eclectic safari experiences including game drives, walking safaris, and hot air ballooning
- Go on two gorilla treks through the vibrant jungles of Uganda, visiting two different habituated groups of the world's greatest primate
- Spend two days soaking up the weird and wonderful game of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, on game drives and on a unique horseback safari
- Combine the wildlife with local culture by visiting a Maasai village and a traditional village deep in the Bwindi rainforest
- This itinerary runs at an indelibly relaxed pace, ensuring lots of romantic time as you sit back and watch these wildlife theaters pass by
- Carefully chosen accommodation provides wonderful seclusion and luxury in the heart of East Africa's most memorable landscapes
Starting Price
$19,700 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.92 stars based on 280 reviews.
The trip was exhilarating and the job done by our Zicasso travel agent was second to none.
Our trip was 20 days, with multiple locations, flights, and activities. Our agent arranged things so well, we hardly had to do anything. Guides and contacts always arrived on time and led us through each location efficiently and safely.
The gorilla trek in Rwanda was amazing. On safari, we saw the Big Five by the end of day two and saw many, many unique animal encounters. We did a walking safari one day, which was also a highlight. Our agent recommended the Lewa Conservancy as a stop and this was wonderful for seeing many black and white rhinos.
I would give our travel company a 10/10 for personal care and attention. I highly recommended them for a high-quality, memorable African adventure!
Reviewed By Michael D.
We had a wonderful journey, with every step detailed and escorted from end to end. Our Zicasso travel experts did a great job and were always available for support.
Reviewed By Margarita M.
Without exaggeration, this was the most amazing trip of my life. Everything was perfect, from the itinerary to the lodging, food, and guides. We saw so much and so many varied topographies. We also got such a great flavor of the culture, people, and way of life in both countries. It truly was incredible from start to finish.
Reviewed By Stephanie L.
We had a fantastic trip. There were a few hiccups, but they were minor and were resolved very quickly.
This was pretty much the trip we had envisioned coming to life! Zicasso's travel agents on the ground, assisting us, were on top of things and made the trip go super-smooth. Thanks!
The camps we stayed at were amazing, the food was fabulous at both camps, the hotel in Nairobi was very nice; all in all, a great trip. Thank you so much for putting together my bucket list, including the experience with elephants in Tsavo East National Park!
Reviewed By Tracy C.
There aren't enough superlatives to describe our safari. Every single aspect exceeded expectations. The Zicasso trip designer, who handled the in-country arrangements, was terrific, and literally every arrangement went smoothly. A few last-minute changes on the front and back end were handled effectively.
Each of the camps was different, but wonderful in its own way. We liked the variation. The accommodations were great and the food was great. But the people – hosts, driver/guides, spotters, service personnel were really great – friendly, fun, helpful, enjoyable to be with, and really great. It's difficult to put into words how much we enjoyed being with them and with each other (me, my five adult children, and their spouses). And the wildlife and landscapes, again, quite different over the three camps, were spectacular. Every game drive was a much-anticipated adventure and the guides were, to a person, superb in helping us understand the animal behaviors we observed.
There is nothing we would have done differently and we were constantly amazed at how smoothly everything worked out (literally no hitches, even minor ones), how much fun we had with each other and our hosts, and how much the people we were with contributed to our experience. I'm not given to hyperbole, but I'm left without words to describe how great the experiences we had were and how seamless the arrangements seemed to be.
Reviewed By Jim K.
It was a unbelievable, fantastic trip. Working with Zicasso's travel agency was a pleasure. They set everything up, working with me closely to customize my trip. Everything went as planned and all the selections and partner companies were great.
Reviewed By Dave A.