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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Destination
Type
Per adult / day
Days
Per adult
Volcanoes National Park
Park entry fee
$100
5
$500
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Park entry fee
$200
2
$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)
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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Rwanda, Mara & Zanzibar: Gorillas, Big Cats & Barefoot Days
11 Days / 10 Nights · from $18,360 pp
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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.