Milestone Birthday Trip: Gorilla Trekking & Serengeti Safari

Upon arrival, they were met by an agent, then led to the VIP lounge for customs clearance and immigration. In the arrivals hall they were welcomed and transferred to their hotel for a relaxing night at the Marriot Kigali Hotel.

After breakfast and check out, the couple was collected and taken on a Kigali City Tour by their expert local guide, which included a visit to the Memorial Centre and Crafts Centres. After a delicious lunch at the historic Hotel Mille Collines, the couple hopped onto a road transfer to Singita Kwitonda Lodge where they could choose to attend a pre-dinner meeting with the Gorilla Guardians or Gorilla Doctors for insights into how their important work has resulted in increasing numbers of gorillas. Days three and four were reserved for a visit to Volcanoes National Park and exceptional gorilla trekking experiences.

An early breakfast was followed by a road transfer to Kigali Airport for their departure to Sasakwa Airstrip and the Sasakwa Lodge for a wonderful three-night stay in a luxury cottage. They could enjoy daily morning and afternoon game drives with their field guide, with afternoon drives lasting into evening, revealing the elusive magic of nocturnal Africa. Built in the style of a stately Edwardian manor house and featuring a light and airy atmosphere that invites an unhurried, languid and leisurely stay, Singita Sasakwa Lodge offers nine private cottages and a villa, each with its own infinity pool. With unparalleled views of the endless grasslands from its elevated vantage point on Sasakwa Hill, the lodge epitomises refined splendour and old-world luxury, while celebrating a casual approach. Features include a grand entrance, wraparound verandas, silver candelabras and coveted antiques, as well as bespoke décor elements such as local artefacts and tribal cushions – all seamlessly contributing to a quintessential East African safari. Al fresco lunches on the lawns and magical starlit dinners in the courtyard – alongside Sasakwa’s cutting-edge interactive kitchen, and with the Serengeti’s sweeping plains beckoning below – add to the appeal. Set in the 350,000-acre private Singita Grumeti Reserve, the guests had exclusive access to the area’s prolific wildlife, including the world-renowned Great Migration.

After their morning activity and breakfast, the travelling pair was escorted to the airstrip for their flight to Lamai Mara, where they were met by a local Singita representative and driven to Mara River Tented Camp. With three nights at Singita Mara River Tented Camp in a luxury tented suite, the pair was free to mingle with other guests, or lean into the privacy of their luxury tent. Situated in the Serengeti National Park with endless views of the Mara River, Singita Mara River Tented Camp offers guests the chance to spend time in a stunning, yet remote, area with an extraordinarily high concentration of wildlife. Design features include en-suite outdoor bathrooms with a viewing section in the screen wall to allow for beautiful views from the bathtub.

After a final game drive and breakfast, the couple was met and transferred by road to Lamai Airstrip for their flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport, where they were invited to relax in the VIP lounge until their flight home.