Day 1: Arrival in Kigali

Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where your driver-guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Depending on arrival time, the afternoon is free to rest, or you can take an optional stroll through the Nyamirambo neighborhood, one of Kigali’s oldest and liveliest districts. Overnight: Kigali

Day 2: Kigali City Tour & Transfer to Musanze

A guided city tour this morning includes the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an essential and moving stop for understanding Rwanda’s history and its remarkable recovery, along with a look at the city’s markets and hilltop viewpoints. In the afternoon, drive north through terraced hillsides to Musanze, gateway town for Volcanoes National Park. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes area

Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

An early morning briefing at park headquarters precedes the day’s main event: trekking through dense bamboo forest with your ranger guide in search of a habituated gorilla family. The hike can last anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours, followed by a strictly limited hour observing the gorillas at close range. This activity anchors the wider gorilla trekking experiences that make the Virunga region so well known. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes area

Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking & Iby’iwacu Cultural Village

A lighter, livelier outing this morning as you track golden monkeys through the same bamboo zone of Volcanoes National Park. In the afternoon, visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, where local performers and craftspeople showcase traditional Rwandan dance, music, and daily life. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes area

Day 5: Transfer to Kigali & Flight to Nairobi

Drive back to Kigali for a flight to Nairobi, Kenya. Depending on flight timing, you may have a few free hours in Kigali beforehand. On arrival in Nairobi, your Kenyan driver-guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Overnight: Nairobi

Day 6: Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve

An early departure for the drive to the Maasai Mara, descending into the Great Rift Valley with stops at scenic viewpoints along the way. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive as your first taste of the Mara’s open plains. Overnight: Maasai Mara

Day 7: Full Day Game Drives in the Maasai Mara

A full day exploring the reserve, with morning and afternoon game drives in search of lion, elephant, leopard, and — depending on the season — the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River. A picnic lunch allows for extended time out in the park rather than returning to camp midday. Overnight: Maasai Mara

Day 8: Maasai Cultural Visit & Second Day in the Mara

Morning visit to a local Maasai village to learn about the community’s traditions, homestead life, and customs, followed by further game viewing in the afternoon. The Mara rewards unhurried time in the park, and this second full day allows for a different route through the reserve. Kaara Adventures’ own Kenya tours and their 7-day Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli itinerary cover much of this same ground for travelers comparing options. Overnight: Maasai Mara

Day 9: Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park

Depart the Mara and drive to Lake Nakuru, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive. Nakuru is a compact but richly diverse park, known for its birdlife — flamingos and pelicans crowd the shoreline in good years — and for both black and white rhino. Overnight: Lake Nakuru area

Day 10: Full Day at Lake Nakuru

A full day exploring Lake Nakuru’s varied habitats, from acacia woodland to open grassland and lakeshore, with strong chances of rhino, giraffe, buffalo, and leopard alongside the park’s famous birdlife. Overnight: Lake Nakuru area

Day 11: Transfer to Amboseli National Park

A scenic drive south, often routed via Nairobi, to Amboseli National Park. The journey offers views across the Rift Valley and changing landscapes as you approach Kilimanjaro’s foothills. Arrive in the late afternoon and settle into your lodge. Overnight: Amboseli area

Day 12: Full Day Game Drives in Amboseli

Amboseli is famous above all for its elephant herds, often photographed against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day. Morning and afternoon game drives focus on the park’s swamps and marshland, which draw large concentrations of wildlife even in the dry season. Overnight: Amboseli area

Day 13: Second Day in Amboseli

A further day at leisure in Amboseli, with an early morning game drive for the best light and wildlife activity, followed by free time at the lodge or an optional visit to a nearby Maasai community. Overnight: Amboseli area

Day 14: Transfer to Nairobi

Drive back to Nairobi, with time along the way for last-minute souvenir shopping or an optional stop at a cultural center. Check into your Nairobi hotel for a final overnight before departure. Overnight: Nairobi

Day 15: Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi for your departure flight, marking the end of your 15 Days Rwanda Kenya Safari.

What’s Included

• All ground transport in a safari vehicle with English-speaking driver-guide throughout Rwanda and Kenya
• One domestic flight from Kigali to Nairobi
• Accommodation on a full-board basis (Rwanda) and full-board or as specified (Kenya) for 14 nights
• Park entrance fees for all listed activities
• One gorilla trekking permit and one golden monkey tracking permit in Rwanda
• Game drives and cultural visits as listed in the itinerary
• Bottled drinking water while on the road
• Airport transfers in Kigali and Nairobi

What’s Not Included

• International flights to and from Kigali/from Nairobi
• Rwanda and Kenya visas / East Africa Tourist Visa
• Tips for guides and lodge staff
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks not listed
• Travel insurance
• Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary (e.g. hot air balloon safari over the Mara)

Accommodation Options

This itinerary can be arranged at Luxury, Mid-Range, or Budget level throughout, with lodges and camps adjusted accordingly in Musanze, the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli. Let us know your preferred style when enquiring and we’ll build the quote around it.

A Note on Gorilla Permits and Visas

Gorilla permits in Rwanda are limited to a fixed number per day and are best booked three to six months in advance, particularly for travel in the June–September and December–February peak seasons. Travelers combining Rwanda and Kenya in a single trip should also check whether the East Africa Tourist Visa applies to their nationality and itinerary, as it can simplify border formalities considerably. For a broader look at how this trip fits alongside other multi-country options, see our East Africa Safaris and Combining Trips pages.

Ready to Book?

Every itinerary we run is tailored to your dates, budget, and fitness level. Contact our team to check gorilla permit availability and get a full quote for this 15 Days Rwanda Kenya Safari, or browse our blog for more on planning your trip, including our full Primate Tours collection.