Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days — 11 Days / 10 Nights luxury safari in Volcanoes National Park · Maasai Mara · Zanzibar, East Africa Grand
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Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

Volcanoes National Park · Maasai Mara · Zanzibar 11 Days / 10 Nights From $18,360 per person

Overview

The journey

A 11-day multi-country safari — one of our luxury African safari tours across East Africa. A multi-country East Africa journey through Volcanoes National Park, Maasai Mara and Zanzibar. The route runs in one direction with no doubling back, and saves the best for last — stone town and the white beaches of zanzibar.

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Why this safari

What makes it different

11 days across 4 camps, every sector flown, with your own guide on the ground.

  • 4 distinct ecosystems in 11 days

    Kigali · Volcanoes National Park · Maasai Mara · Zanzibar — each chosen for a different animal, landscape and light, and ordered so you never double back.

  • A tight, purposeful route with no wasted days

    Every move is planned around game movements and light, so short days still deliver full game-viewing mornings.

  • Your own 4x4 Land Cruiser and private guide

    No shared vehicles and no fixed departure times — you decide when to leave camp, how long to sit with a sighting, and where to have breakfast.

  • Every transfer flown by private charter

    You are in a game vehicle minutes after landing, with luggage handled planeside — the same route by road costs the better part of two days.

  • Ultra-Luxury is genuinely all-inclusive

    All meals, premium drinks, laundry, park and conservancy fees, private guiding and the charter flights are in the price. You should not need your wallet until you tip.

  • Priced honestly, with fees shown up front

    Park and conservation fees, taxes and levies are itemised on your proforma invoice — 50% confirms the booking and the balance is due before travel.

At a glance

Trip essentials

Best season

Jul – Oct (migration) · Jan – Feb (calving & big cats)

Pace & difficulty

Relaxed — long stays, few moves · Easy — suitable for all ages

Group size

Private departure — 2 to 6 guests per vehicle

Game viewing

30–40 hours of guided game viewing across 5 active days

Destinations routed

Volcanoes National Park → Maasai Mara National Reserve → Zanzibar Archipelago

Ideal for

Safari-and-beach combinations · Guests wanting premium camps and privacy · Private departures for 2–6 guests

Day by day

Detailed itinerary

Every day is planned to the hour, with the flexibility to change anything before you confirm.

Route overview
  1. 1

    Volcanoes National Park

    Days 1–2–3 · 3 nights

  2. 2

    Maasai Mara National Reserve

    Days 4–5 · 2 nights

  3. 3

    Volcanoes National Park

    Day 6 · 1 night

  4. 4

    Zanzibar Archipelago

    Days 7–8 · 2 nights

  5. 5

    Volcanoes National Park

    Day 9 · 1 night

  6. 6

    Zanzibar Archipelago

    Days 10–11 · 1 night

  1. 1

    Day 1 · Arrive in Kigali

    Volcanoes National Park

    Arrival

    Met at Kigali International and transferred to your hotel for a relaxed evening and trip briefing with your Perch Africa specialist.

    Morning

    Arrival, immigration assistance and meet-and-greet by your Perch Africa representative

    Afternoon

    Transfer, luggage re-pack for light aircraft, and a full trip briefing with your guide

    Evening

    Welcome dinner and route walkthrough with your safari specialist

    Highlights

    • Excellent wildlife viewing year-round
    • Authentic local culture & guides
    • Curated lodges & camps in every tier

    The Retreat by Heaven

    Dinner

    Private airport transfer

    Visa/e-TA must be approved before departure — we send the checklist on booking

    Standard park/reserve fees apply

    Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer

    Neutral greens and browns for game drives — avoid blue and black (tsetse flies)

  2. 2
    Singita Kwitonda Lodge on day 2 of Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

    Day 2 · Up to the Virungas

    Volcanoes National Park

    Guided walkScenic flight
    Safari

    Light-aircraft charter to the airstrip to Volcanoes National Park. Climb to Musanze through terraced hills, afternoon golden monkey tracking and trek briefing.

    Morning

    Dawn departure with coffee in the vehicle — cultural & community visits

    Afternoon

    Siesta through the heat, then birdwatching & photography

    Evening

    Sundowners at a viewpoint, then a bush dinner under the stars

    Highlights

    • Excellent wildlife viewing year-round
    • Authentic local culture & guides
    • Curated lodges & camps in every tier

    Singita Kwitonda Lodge

    All inclusive

    Light aircraft + 4x4 game-drive vehicle on landing

    Scheduled light-aircraft flight

    Light-aircraft baggage limit: 15 kg per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage

    Standard park/reserve fees apply

    Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer

    Soft-sided bag of 15 kg maximum per person on light-aircraft transfers

  3. 3
    Singita Kwitonda Lodge on day 3 of Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

    Day 3 · Mountain gorilla trek

    Volcanoes National Park

    Primate trackingGuided walk
    Safari

    Dawn trek into the bamboo forest for a permitted hour with a habituated gorilla family — the climax of the journey.

    Morning

    Dawn departure with coffee in the vehicle — birdwatching & photography

    Afternoon

    Siesta through the heat, then walking safaris (where permitted)

    Evening

    Sundowners at a viewpoint, then a bush dinner under the stars

    Highlights

    • Excellent wildlife viewing year-round
    • Authentic local culture & guides
    • Curated lodges & camps in every tier

    Singita Kwitonda Lodge

    All inclusive

    Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof and window seat guaranteed

    Approx. 1.5 h on the road

    Standard park/reserve fees apply

    Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer

    Bring binoculars; one pair per person changes the whole safari

  4. 4
    Angama Mara on day 4 of Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

    Day 4 · Arrive on the Mara plains

    Maasai Mara National Reserve

    Game driveCultural visitScenic flight
    Arrival

    Light-aircraft charter to the airstrip to Maasai Mara. Afternoon game drive across the rolling grasslands as lion prides and cheetah stir for the evening.

    Morning

    Scheduled light-aircraft flight

    Afternoon

    Afternoon at leisure to recover from the flight before the safari begins

    Evening

    Early dinner and an early night ahead of tomorrow's dawn departure

    Highlights

    • Annual Great Migration river crossings (Jul–Oct)
    • Highest lion density in Africa
    • Resident leopards along the Talek & Mara Rivers

    Angama Mara

    All inclusive

    Light aircraft + 4x4 game-drive vehicle on landing

    Light-aircraft baggage limit: 15 kg per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage

    Visa/e-TA must be approved before departure — we send the checklist on booking

    Park fees: USD 200/adult/day (high season, non-resident)

    Conservancy fees additional — typically USD 100–150/night

    A warm fleece for pre-dawn drives — it is genuinely cold before sunrise

  5. 5
    Angama Mara on day 5 of Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

    Day 5 · Mara River day

    Maasai Mara National Reserve

    Great Migration
    Safari

    Full day with picnic lunch along the Mara River — crocodiles, hippo and, in season, the Migration crossings.

    Morning

    Dawn departure with coffee in the vehicle — photographic hides & sundowners

    Afternoon

    Siesta through the heat, then game drives (morning, full-day, night in conservancies)

    Evening

    Sundowners at a viewpoint, then a bush dinner under the stars

    Highlights

    • Annual Great Migration river crossings (Jul–Oct)
    • Highest lion density in Africa
    • Resident leopards along the Talek & Mara Rivers

    Angama Mara

    All inclusive

    Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof and window seat guaranteed

    Approx. 1.5 h on the road

    Park fees: USD 200/adult/day (high season, non-resident)

    Conservancy fees additional — typically USD 100–150/night

    Reef-safe sunscreen, a wide-brim hat and a swimsuit for the coast

  6. 6
    Angama Mara on day 6 of Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

    Day 6 · Balloon dawn & bush breakfast

    Volcanoes National Park

    Balloon safari
    Safari

    Optional hot-air balloon at sunrise with champagne breakfast, then an afternoon tracking leopard in the riverine forest.

    Morning

    Dawn departure with coffee in the vehicle — cultural & community visits

    Afternoon

    Siesta through the heat, then birdwatching & photography

    Evening

    Sundowners at a viewpoint, then a bush dinner under the stars

    Highlights

    • Excellent wildlife viewing year-round
    • Authentic local culture & guides
    • Curated lodges & camps in every tier

    Angama Mara

    All inclusive

    Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof and window seat guaranteed

    Approx. 1.5 h on the road

    Standard park/reserve fees apply

    Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer

    Spare camera batteries and double the memory cards you think you need

  7. 7
    &Beyond Mnemba Island on day 7 of Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

    Day 7 · Island arrival

    Zanzibar Archipelago

    Scenic flight
    Arrival

    Light-aircraft charter to the airstrip to Zanzibar. Fly to Zanzibar and settle onto the white sand and turquoise shallows of the east coast.

    Morning

    Scheduled light-aircraft flight

    Afternoon

    Transfer, luggage re-pack for light aircraft, and a full trip briefing with your guide

    Evening

    Welcome dinner and route walkthrough with your safari specialist

    Highlights

    • Stone Town — UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Mnemba Atoll snorkelling & diving
    • Spice plantation tours

    &Beyond Mnemba Island

    Breakfast, Dinner

    Light aircraft + 4x4 game-drive vehicle on landing

    Light-aircraft baggage limit: 15 kg per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage

    Visa/e-TA must be approved before departure — we send the checklist on booking

    Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from endemic country

    Modest dress respected in Stone Town & villages

    Neutral greens and browns for game drives — avoid blue and black (tsetse flies)

  8. 8
    &Beyond Mnemba Island on day 8 of Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

    Day 8 · Stone Town & spice farm

    Zanzibar Archipelago

    Guided walkSundowners
    Safari

    Walk the UNESCO alleys of Stone Town and a spice farm, with sunset at Forodhani.

    Morning

    Dawn departure with coffee in the vehicle — stone town walking tour

    Afternoon

    Siesta through the heat, then spice farm visit

    Evening

    Sundowners at a viewpoint, then a bush dinner under the stars

    Highlights

    • Stone Town — UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Mnemba Atoll snorkelling & diving
    • Spice plantation tours

    &Beyond Mnemba Island

    Breakfast, Dinner

    Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof and window seat guaranteed

    Approx. 1.5 h on the road

    Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from endemic country

    Modest dress respected in Stone Town & villages

    Soft-sided bag of 15 kg maximum per person on light-aircraft transfers

  9. 9
    &Beyond Mnemba Island on day 9 of Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

    Day 9 · Mnemba reef & dhow sunset

    Volcanoes National Park

    Boat experienceOcean experienceSundowners
    Beach

    Snorkel the Mnemba Atoll reefs, then a sunset dhow cruise.

    Morning

    Morning dhow sail with fresh fruit and coffee on board

    Afternoon

    Village and spice-market visit with your local guide

    Evening

    Beach bonfire, Swahili tasting menu and live taarab music

    Highlights

    • Excellent wildlife viewing year-round
    • Authentic local culture & guides
    • Curated lodges & camps in every tier

    &Beyond Mnemba Island

    Breakfast, Dinner

    Private road transfer; boat and dhow for excursions

    Standard park/reserve fees apply

    Best accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 transfer

    Bring binoculars; one pair per person changes the whole safari

  10. 10
    &Beyond Mnemba Island on day 10 of Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

    Day 10 · Zanzibar at leisure

    Zanzibar Archipelago

    Beach leisure
    Beach

    A free day for the spa, the Rock restaurant or simply the beach.

    Morning

    Slow breakfast on the terrace, then the reef at high tide — snorkelling over the coral gardens

    Afternoon

    Free afternoon: paddleboards, kayaks or a book in the shade of the palms

    Evening

    Sunset cocktails on the sand, then a seafood dinner grilled to order

    Highlights

    • Stone Town — UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Mnemba Atoll snorkelling & diving
    • Spice plantation tours

    &Beyond Mnemba Island

    Breakfast, Dinner

    Private road transfer; boat and dhow for excursions

    Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from endemic country

    Modest dress respected in Stone Town & villages

    A warm fleece for pre-dawn drives — it is genuinely cold before sunrise

  11. 11

    Day 11 · Departure

    Zanzibar Archipelago

    Scenic flight
    Departure

    A final morning at Zanzibar, then a charter flight to connect with your onward or international flight.

    Morning

    Final sunrise game drive or a slow breakfast, then check-out and pack

    Afternoon

    Scheduled light-aircraft flight

    Evening

    Assisted check-in for your international flight home

    Highlights

    • Stone Town — UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Mnemba Atoll snorkelling & diving
    • Spice plantation tours

    Accommodation confirmed on booking

    Breakfast

    Light aircraft + 4x4 game-drive vehicle on landing

    Scheduled light-aircraft flight

    Light-aircraft baggage limit: 15 kg per person in a soft bag, including hand luggage

    Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from endemic country

    Modest dress respected in Stone Town & villages

    Reef-safe sunscreen, a wide-brim hat and a swimsuit for the coast

You leave Volcanoes National Park with the sound of the plains still in your ears — and a standing invitation to come back for the season you missed.

Transparent pricing

Park & conservation fees included

DestinationTypePer adult / dayDaysPer adult
Volcanoes National ParkPark entry fee$1005$500
Maasai Mara National ReservePark entry fee$2002$400
Total statutory fees per adult$900

Children under 12 pay 50% and infants under 3 are free. Your proforma invoice itemises 16% VAT, the 2% catering levy and the 2% service charge separately.

What's included

  • All accommodation as listed, on the meal plan shown for each day
  • Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-top roof, window seat guaranteed
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide throughout
  • Scheduled light-aircraft flights on the internal legs shown in the itinerary
  • All game drives and activities named in the itinerary
  • All park, reserve and conservation fees for the routed destinations
  • Airport meet-and-greet plus all transfers in the itinerary
  • Drinking water in the vehicle and camp laundry where offered
  • Flying-doctor evacuation cover (AMREF) for the safari days
  • 24/7 in-country support line and a proforma invoice with every quote
  • Beach transfers and one guided marine excursion at the coast

Not included

  • International flights and airport departure taxes
  • Visa / e-TA fees and travel insurance (both mandatory)
  • Premium drinks, champagne and imported spirits
  • Optional extras: hot-air balloon, private guide, spa, diving
  • Tips for guides, camp staff and drivers (guidance provided pre-departure)
  • Personal shopping, telephone and anything not listed as included

What to pack

  • ✦Neutral safari clothing — greens, browns, khaki (avoid blue and black)
  • ✦Warm fleece and windproof layer for early-morning drives
  • ✦Wide-brim hat, polarised sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen
  • ✦Binoculars (one pair per person) and a zoom lens if you shoot
  • ✦Insect repellent with DEET, plus antimalarials as advised by your doctor
  • ✦Soft duffel bag of 15 kg per person for light-aircraft legs
  • ✦Universal adaptor and a power bank — camp power is generator-timed
  • ✦Copies of passport, insurance and yellow-fever certificate where required

Health & safety

  • ✦Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all safari areas — confirm with your doctor
  • ✦Yellow-fever certificate required when entering from an endemic country
  • ✦Camps are unfenced: always walk with an askari escort after dark
  • ✦Never stand up or lean out of the vehicle during a sighting
  • ✦Comprehensive travel insurance including medical evacuation is mandatory
  • ✦Flying-doctor evacuation cover is included for your safari days

Good to know

  • ✦Kenya e-TA is applied for online and usually approved within 72 hours
  • ✦Park fees are payable in USD and are included in your quoted price
  • ✦Conservancy camps allow night drives and walking; the reserve itself does not
  • ✦M-Pesa is universal for small payments — ask us how to load it
  • ✦16% VAT, 2% catering levy and 2% service charge are itemised on your proforma invoice
  • ✦Book 6–9 months ahead for July–October and the festive season
  • ✦Drones are prohibited in national parks without a written permit
  • ✦A deposit of 50% confirms your dates; the balance is due 45 days before travel

Guest reviews & credentials

Why travellers trust us with the Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days

“Our guide read the plains like a book — we were the only vehicle at a leopard sighting twice. Every transfer, camp and park fee was exactly as quoted.”
Amelia & Tom R. · London, UK
Maasai Mara · 6 nights
“Travelling with a 6-year-old and grandparents could have been chaos. Perch planned the driving days around nap times and picked family tents with connecting rooms.”
The Okoth Family · Nairobi, Kenya
Amboseli & Tsavo · 5 nights
“The migration timing advice was spot on. When one camp went full they moved us to a better one in the same conservancy at no extra cost, same day.”
Dr. Karin H. · Munich, Germany
Serengeti & Ngorongoro · 8 nights

KPSGA silver & gold guides

Every driver-guide is Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified, with 8+ years in the parks on your route.

Licensed tour operator

Registered with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (Kenya) and TALA-licensed operations in Tanzania.

AMREF Flying Doctors cover

Air-evacuation cover for every guest for the full duration of the safari, included in your rate.

Vehicle & safety standards

Serviced 4x4 Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs, first-aid kits, satellite comms and daily driver check-ins.

Transparent proforma pricing

Park fees, conservancy levies, 16% VAT, 2% catering levy and 2% service charge itemised before you pay.

4.9 / 5 guest rating

Across 380+ reviewed departures, with a 62% repeat-and-referral rate from past travellers.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

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Bespoke

Want something completely your own?

Every Perch Africa Safaris journey can be customised — combine destinations, swap accommodations, add private guides, extend with a beach. Tell us your dream.

Customise My Safari

Not every safari company. The safari company.

Planned around you. Priced in the open. Built to end on a high.

Anyone can send you a brochure. We build your journey with named stays, verified availability and every cost shown before you commit — then save the finest sighting for your final golden hour.

Build my free itinerary
  1. 01

    Built around you, never pulled from a template

    Your dates, pace, interests and budget shape the route. We order every stop logically and keep the strongest experience for the finish.

  2. 02

    A private guide and vehicle

    Your safari is not a shared departure. Leave when you are ready, stay longer at a sighting and adjust each day with your guide.

  3. 03

    Named stays and a costed day-by-day plan

    You see the proposed camps, transfers, flights, park fees, inclusions and exclusions before you decide—not just a headline price.

  4. 04

    Availability checked before we call it confirmed

    Suggested stays remain suggestions until checked. We verify the space for your dates before issuing the booking offer.

  5. 05

    Refine the trip before you commit

    Change the route, number of nights, camp level or transport until the journey fits. Nothing is booked until you approve it.

  6. 06

    One clear path from idea to departure

    The itinerary, quote and booking details stay aligned. A 50% deposit secures the approved trip, with the balance paid closer to travel.