Advise on Kenya and Rwanda trip planning

[masco131]

Hello, I am planning a trip for Kenya sometime in April 2025, I am after some tips and tour guides to use. SO many tour guides and things to do in Kenya like the masai-mara national park but not sure of the one to use. Just after some useful tips, best things to do, best ways to see the most in both countries and is the Gorilla trekking worth it?

Thank you,
M.

 

[LDN via BNE]

Hello, I am planning a trip for Kenya sometime in April 2025, I am after some tips and tour guides to use. SO many tour guides and things to do in Kenya like the masai-mara national park but not sure of the one to use. Just after some useful tips, best things to do, best ways to see the most in both countries and is the Gorilla trekking worth it?

Thank you,
M.

My wife and I are currently in Nairobi at the end of a 16 day Kenya trip; it’s been absolutely incredible and we’ve loved every moment. Kenyans are so friendly, the countryside is beautiful and the game viewing is sublime.

You’ll find loads of information online about the main parks (Maasai Mara, Samburu, Ambolesi, Tasvo East and West), but some of the activities we really enjoyed included:

1. Hiking to the summit of Mount Longonot
2. Biking through Hells Gate National Park
3. Rhino sightings at Lake Nakuru
4. Kiambethu Tea Plantation
5. Taking the SGR to Mombasa and crossing to the south coast on the Likoni ferry
6. Indulge Fine Dining in Diani Beach

We spent 4 days in the Maasai Mara which allowed us to see all the animals we wished to see. While there are many other parks in Kenya, we skipped them to minimise driving time and reduce the number of hotel changes. We were confident the game viewing in the MM would be fantastic, and it was (we even saw a black rhino after seeing many white rhino at Lake Nakuru).

In terms of tour guides, we can highly recommend Joseph Kabiru at Explorer Kenya. Explorer Kenya offer packages, but we compiled our own itinerary before Explorer Kenya recommended some small changes based on their local knowledge.

As an aside, we flew business class on Kenya Airways coming back from Mombasa, and they have a very impressive product for a 45 minute flight!

 

[masco131]

My wife and I are currently in Nairobi at the end of a 16 day Kenya trip; it’s been absolutely incredible and we’ve loved every moment. Kenyans are so friendly, the countryside is beautiful and the game viewing is sublime.

You’ll find loads of information online about the main parks (Maasai Mara, Samburu, Ambolesi, Tasvo East and West), but some of the activities we really enjoyed included:

1. Hiking to the summit of Mount Longonot
2. Biking through Hells Gate National Park
3. Rhino sightings at Lake Nakuru
4. Kiambethu Tea Plantation
5. Taking the SGR to Mombasa and crossing to the south coast on the Likoni ferry
6. Indulge Fine Dining in Diani Beach

We spent 4 days in the Maasai Mara which allowed us to see all the animals we wished to see. While there are many other parks in Kenya, we skipped them to minimise driving time and reduce the number of hotel changes. We were confident the game viewing in the MM would be fantastic, and it was (we even saw a black rhino after seeing many white rhino at Lake Nakuru).

In terms of tour guides, we can highly recommend Joseph Kabiru at Explorer Kenya. Explorer Kenya offer packages, but we compiled our own itinerary before Explorer Kenya recommended some small changes based on their local knowledge.

As an aside, we flew business class on Kenya Airways coming back from Mombasa, and they have a very impressive product for a 45 minute flight!

Ohh thank you so much for the information. Doing all the research just got so much overwhelming with all the information and did not know what to trust.
I will definitely look into all your recommendation.

 

[thycup]

I have just returned from africa after backpacking east africa for a month. I totally understand that researching africa can get pretty oveerwhelming as there is not whole lots of information online compare to the like of Japan/ Europe and south America.

I did Gorilla Trekking in Uganda (due to lower cost with peermit in Uganda cost $700US+visa and Rwanda being $1500) and I would highly recommand gorilla trekking as long as you got the fund for it. Trekking in Bwindi is somehwhat tough with steep soft section throughout and we trekked for about 2.5 hrs. But at the end we got a clear view of a family of 16 for an hour napping and playing for an hour and it was absolutly the best thing i have done in this trip.

Though based on my research, trekking in Rwanda might be a bit easier due to flater terrain and might offer better viewing experience as it is more open.

In term of guide, there are a million guide you can find from Google so feel free to email them let them know your plan and find the best guide for you that way. I found my guide via google search and he picked me up from my Kigali hostel and everything went smoothly.

I spent about 3 days in kigali and 3 days in gisenyi. There isn't whole lot to do in kigali I would recommend Genocide memorial for the dark past that shaped Rwanda, and Kimironko Market where you can get gifts and other things. I got an tailored african style shirt made in an hour for $20aud and I love that to death. Best way to get around Kigali is using boda boda (mototaxi) and it shouldn't cost you more than 2aud to get around.

Gisenyi situated at north of lake Kivu and it can be reached by bus from Kigali that departs frequenly. It is a good place to relax with beach and hot spring there. And you have option to take boat tour and coffee farm tour there.