East Africa Itinerary — Imprint Tours

East Africa

Africa is a destination that captures the imagination of travelers like no other. The name of the game in East Africa is: Safari! Kenya provides the best game viewing on the continent. We will experience the classic savannas of the Masi Mara, the Rhinos of Nakuru, the flamingo populated lakes of the rift valley, and the delights of Nairobi. Come join us while we seek the Big Five and more. For those who choose our optional extension to Rwanda/Uganda, you’ll experience the emotionally impactful Genocide Museum and scale the slopes of Virunga in pursuit of Mountain Gorillas.

Day 1 Nairobi
HH & Meeting
We will gather in our Nairobi hotel for a Happy Hour and get-acquainted meeting. We’ll get to know one another and get excited about our upcoming tour.
Chester House Hotel (1 night) https://www.chesterhouse.co.ke/

Day 2 Nanyuki
Giraffe Center
We will kick off our first morning together with a visit to the Giraffe Center, a conservation organization established to protect the vulnerable giraffes of East Africa. We’ll enjoy an “up close and personal” visit with the resident giraffes. After, we will drive to Nanyuki town in the foothills of Mt Kenya. In the evening we'll drive to the Old Moses lookout point for a sundowner with views of Mt Kenya and Laikipia plateau.
Aberdare Prestige (1 night) https://royalcottages.co.ke/

Day 3 Nakuru
Mt Kenya
We’ll make an early start today to do a short scenic hike of Mt Kenya before departing for Nakuru in the afternoon. Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro.
Sarova Woodlands (2 nights) https://www.sarovahotels.com/woodlands-nakuru/

Day 4 Nakuru
Game Drives
After breakfast we head to Lake Nakuru National Park for a full day experience. Our objective for Nakuru is the elusive Rhinoceros. Nakuru boasts a protected sanctuary and some of the highest concentration of Rhinos in Kenya. It is also home to the vulnerable Rothschild Giraffe and we hope to see some of the famous flamingos on Lake Nakuru. For those who love birdwatching, the park offers an opportunity to see an impressive variety of species.

Day 5 Lake Naivasha
Menengai Crater; Boat Excursion; High Tea; Lake Elementaita
A morning departure takes us to remarkable Menengai crater for impressive views and photos before setting off to Lake Naivasha. Enroute we’ll stop for flamingo spotting on Lake Elementaita. Upon arrival in Naivasha we will have a boat excursion on the lake and high tea at Elsamere, the storied home of Joy Adamson.
Lake Naivasha Resort (2 nights) http://www.lakenaivasharesort.co.ke/

Day 6 Naivasha/Hell’s Gate NP
Game Drive; Walking Safari; Canyon Hike
Today will be a busy day. We’ll start with some wildlife viewing – mostly of the avian variety on Lake Naivasha. Then, for those inclined, a walking safari at Crater Lake. After lunch we’ll host another optional hike, this time through the dramatic canyon of Hells Gate National Park.

Day 7 Masai Mara
Maasai Village Visit
Today is a travel day. We’ll have a leisurely start and break up our driving day with a visit to a Maasai village, arriving in the late afternoon in the Masai Mara. The MM is Kenya’s premium savanna game viewing park. It is consistently ranked at or near the top of African parks for big cat spotting. By one metric MM ranks #1 for lions, #2 for rhinos, #1 for leopards, and #1 for cheetahs. After settling in the camp, we will head out for an evening game drive to explore what mother nature has to offer.
Sept 10 Tour - Mara Leisure Camp (3 nights) https://maraleisurecamp.co.ke/
Sept 23 Tour - Zebra Plains Mara Camp (3 nights) https://zebraplainscollection.com/

Days 8 - 9 Masai Mara
Game Drives
Our days in the MM will be quite similar. We’ll engage in early and late game drives, pursuing the “Big Five” and taking advantage of each day’s best photographic light. The middle of our days will typically be spent back at camp for lunch and to relax by the pool. Occasionally, there will be optional activities such as a Hot Air Balloon Ride, Maasai cultural tours, or walking safaris.

Day 10 Nairobi
Game Drive; Happy Hour
If in the previous week of safari, there is any important wildlife we have missed, we’ll have a final morning game drive before departing for Nairobi. Your afternoon will be free for last minute shopping or packing up for your journey home. We’ll gather for a final Happy Hour to share safari photos and toast to our new travel experiences.
Chester House Hotel (1 night) https://www.chesterhouse.co.ke/

Day 11 tour over
Our tour officially ends after breakfast. Imprint will assist in airport transfer arrangements.

[Itinerary details & hotels subject to change]

What’s Included:
10 night’s accommodation; All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners; All transport in a custom safari vehicle; All tips (tour director, Imprint escort, drivers, group meals, hotel/lodge/camp staffs); Full-time services of Kenyan tour manager and Imprint escort; All entrances: Masi Mara NP, Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha NP, Hells Gate NP, Mt Kenya NP; All activities: at least 7 game drives, Lake Naivasha boat excursion, Hells Gate canyon hike, Crater Lake hike, high tea at Elsamere Lodge, Naivasha bird watching excursion, Giraffe Center visit

Important Exceptions:
Tour participants are responsible for the cost of drinks, free-time sightseeing & optional activities, and visas. See our Terms and Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Ugandan Gorilla Adventure (UGA)

Day 1 Kigali - Bwindi National Park
For those extending from the Sept 10 East Africa tour, a flight transports you to Kigali Rwanda (flight included). Upon arrival at Kigali Airport you’ll be met by our local representative and transported to the Genocide Museum. In the afternoon you will drive through the verdant rolling hills of Rwanda to the Ugandan border and Bwindi National Park. After dinner you’ll be briefed on the next day's activities. For those connecting the UGA with the Sept 23 East Africa tour, you’ll be picked up from your Kigali hotel (or the airport) in the early afternoon of Sept 20 to join the extension.
Rushaga Gorilla Camp (2 nights) https://rushaga.com

Day 2 Bwindi
After an early breakfast you leave for our highly anticipated Gorilla trekking experience. You’ll drive in sturdy 4x4s to Rushaga HQ where you will be allocated to a Gorilla family to track. Rushaga sector is well known for sheltering a high number of habituated mountain gorilla families. Interacting with these docile but magnificent animals is a memorable experience. Each gorilla family is led by a Silverback who determines the movements and daily activities within the family. Your adventure will take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours, depending on how far you must trek to find your respective gorilla group.

Day 3 Kigali
In the morning, after breakfast, you will make the drive back to Kigali, where you may be dropped at the International Airport, or at a Kigali hotel of your choice. The extension ends with arrival in Kigali (approximately noon). If you are leaving Kigali on this day be sure not to book any flight departure before 5:00PM. For those connecting with the Sept 23 East Africa tour, you’ll be taken to a Kigali hotel for the night. Your afternoon and evening are free.

Day 4 Kigali (Sept 23 tour group only)
For those connecting to the Sept 23 East Africa tour, an AM flight (included) will fly you to Nairobi. You’ll be met and transferred to the first tour hotel to join the regular tour.

[Itinerary details & hotels subject to change]

What’s Included:
2 night’s accommodation (3 for the 9/23 group); 2 breakfasts (3 for the 9/23 group), 2 lunches, 2 dinners; All transport in custom 4x4 safari vehicles; All tips; Full-time services of Rwandan guides; All entrances/activities: Genocide Museum, Bwindi NP, $700 Gorilla tracking permit