Perched at an elevation of approximately 6,000 feet, Rwanda's capital city sprawls across a series of verdant hills and valleys and is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub. The city's history is deeply etched in sites like the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a poignant tribute to the nation's past. Today, Kigali thrives with a vibrant arts scene, exemplified by venues such as the Inema Arts Center, where contemporary Rwandan art flourishes. Town & Country and The New York Times describe The Retreat in Kigali as one of the top boutique hotels of the world. The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, a 20-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined residential street steps from Kigali City Center and 20 minutes from the airport. 8 new luxury pool villas are now open where King Charles III stayed in June 2022! The Retreat is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort.

Situated in southwestern Rwanda, the Nyungwe Forest National Park is known for its exceptional biodiversity and its wide range of endemic species. It is one of Africa’s most ancient forests and the home of Rwanda’s sole remaining chimpanzee population, as well as 85 additional mammal species, 43 reptile species, nearly 300 bird species and over 1000 plant species. Don’t miss the thrilling Canopy Walk; it is one of its kind in Africa and offers impressive views of the forest. The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is an expansive property that rests adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. The campus showcases the best in sustainable architecture, local resourcing, and environmentally responsible practices and will offer state-of-the-art laboratories and a scientific conservation library. The goal of the campus is to inspire everyone who visits, to cherish gorillas and encourage a lifetime of conservation. Overnight: One & Only Ngyungwe House

Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes National Park offers visitors the unique opportunity of discovering the 10 families of gorillas that live within the national park. Visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee before the trek starts and will be separated into groups of 8 depending on their physical abilities. Each group is guided by a guide and two scouts who are well trained in emergency situations. The amount of time set aside per trek is different depending on where the gorilla family is situated. Some trips may take as little as half an hour and some taking the better part of the day. Our experience lasted a total of four hours which included a leisurely hike over rough terrain and then one hour with the amazing gorillas!

After check-out, you will be transferred by road back to Kigali Airport and board your flight to Jomo Kenyatta Airport, where you will be met by a private driver and transferred to Hemingways Nairobi, your home for the following 2 nights. Nairobi is Africa’s 4th largest city. Today you have a private driver and vehicle at disposal to visit the Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Museum. The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya (A.F.E.W. Kenya) also known as the Giraffe Centre is a non-governmental, non-profit making organization, which was founded in 1979. This was in a bid to save the endangered Rothschild Giraffe, which had lost its natural habitat in Western Kenya to agriculture and there were only 130 left in the wild. Funds were raised and 4 herds of the Rothschild giraffes were moved to 4 parks. Overnight: Hemingways Nairobi

Situated in southwest Kenya, the Mara North Conservancy is a beautiful private wilderness area spanning more than 30 000 hectares. It is home to a spectacular array of plants, reptiles, birds and mammals; including elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and large concentrations of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and other migratory wildlife. Leopard Gorge, in the heart of the conservancy, is famous as the setting of countless BBC Big Cat Diaries and National Geographic documentaries. Neighboring the well-known Maasai Mara National Reserve, this conservancy is vital for sustaining the famous Serengeti wildebeest migrations as well as the highly threatened African wild dog and black rhino. Overnight: andBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp (one of our favorites!)

Night Game Drives (Additional cost) The andBeyond Kichwa Tembo concession is the only place where guests can experience night game drives in the Masai Mara. As the sun sinks over the vast horizon, the African bush comes to life with predators and other nocturnal creatures. Guests may have the opportunity to observe fascinating species not normally encountered in daylight. Morning Balloon Safari (Additional Cost) Be a part of the Masai Mara by air. Enjoy breathtakingly beautiful views of the morning's sunrise. Marvel at the diverse habitats of the Masai Mara Reserve, the great Mara River, swamps, forests, wildlife and the African Savanna. Enjoy a delicious champagne breakfast served in the open plains of the Masai Mara upon landing.