Discovery Kenya - July, 2026

Discovery Kenya - July 9th - 20th, 2026

This is a continuation tour of the Rwanda Tour by Gate-1 with new Tour Managers. Country of Kenya, and itinerary.  I will continue the day's previous date format for continuity in this blog.

Day 6 - Friday, July 10th 2026 - Kigali Flight to Nairobi

We arrived in Nairobi at about 8: p.m. Eastern African time. We lost 1 hour due to the time change on this 1.5-hour flight.  Initially, no one from Gate-1 was to meet us, but our Tour manager finally arrived, and we were off to our hotel. The good news is that we won't be combined into another group, but will function just as the eight of us.  Also, two safari vehicles for us.  Great news.

Day 7- Saturday, July 11th 2026 - Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center 

After a very nice breakfast at the hotel restaurant, we visited the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (photo) to learn about the orphaned elephants raised there and later released into the wild. Elephant calves are brought here from all over the country to receive specialized care from highly dedicated staff.  In addition to the elephants, there was a baby Black Rino and a baby Zebra.  This was a highlight for the DW; she had been following these elephants for months prior.  She even knew the names of the two smallest.  Next, we visited the Giraffe Center, where you hand-feed Rothschild's Giraffes and learn more about their conservation efforts.  DW follows this Foundation as well.  Next, we drove towards the Ngong Hills for a tour of the Karen Blixen Museum, once the farmhouse of the prominent author of Out of Africa. We visited the original Farmhouse, the Coffee Production area, and the beautiful grounds. We then went to the Kazuri Beads Workshop, which started in 1975 as a tiny workshop making ceramic beads by hand. Today, this center produces fine examples of genuine African jewelry out of clay gathered from nearby Mt. Kenya.  We then returned to the hotel for a brief break before meeting for an orientation and a drink at the hotel's beautiful patio bar. We then went to dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant, where they serve a wide variety of Kenyan meats in a churrasco style.  It was a lot to eat and included Soup, Salad, the Meats, and a dessert.  A different eating experience.  It was a great first full day in Kenya.

DAY 8, Sunday, July 12th - Evening Game Drive in Samburu National Park 

We were up at 6:00 a.m. to pack and leave our bags out @ 7:00 a.m.  We then had a nice Radisson Blu hotel breakfast buffet and met the group at 8:00 a.m heading northward on our longest drive of the trip to Samburu. IMHO, the scenery and drive aren’t as pretty as Rwanda. At about noon, we stopped for lunch at Trout Tree Restaurant, built in an enormous fig tree below Mount Kenya on a mountain river. Very nice atmosphere and the food was great.  I ordered the fresh trout, and it was very nice.  A wonderful experience. After lunch, we then drove to the Samburu National Recreation Area, arriving at about 4:15 p.m.  We entered the park for our first game drive of the trip. I wasn’t expecting much as IMHO it was too hot and too early, but it was grand.  We saw in the order: Antelope, Zebras, Somalian Ostrich, two prides of Elephant including babies, Zebras from a distance, and many female Lions along the Ewaso Nyiro River.  It was amazing, and I hope the newbies in our group appreciated so many sightings right off the bat.  It was unique.  We then went to our accommodation located adjacent to the Samburu Intrepids Safari Lodge.  We were greeted with washcloths and juice of our choice, then heard from the Hotel Management.  We are staying in very nice Tents located along the riverbank, Glamping at its finest.  We then met for dinner in the lodge overlooking the river.  I ordered the Red Snapper; it was a fish day. For me,  the local pilsner beer, Tusker, was good.   We retired to Tent No.18 for a good night's rest.  BTW, all electrical power is off from midnight to 5:00 a.m.  Complete darkness- haven’t had that since Twisted Oak Ranch days.  A long day but well rewarded in the end.

DAY 9, Monday - July 13th, 2026 - Sunrise & Afternoon Game Drive in Samburu National Park. 

I was up early, while the DW stayed in bed, to do the 2+ hour Sunrise Game drive, but the animals were not interested in getting out that early. The sunrise was beautiful, though. We saw Elephants, Giraffes, and Buffalo, but nothing new until over an hour into the safari when we saw the Cheetah!! With two kits as a bonus.  We watched from a distance as one never knows if this is your only photo opportunity.  Our wonderful guide, Christopher, took a chance, and we guessed where she might travel, so we executed a big flanking maneuver and searched.  Short wait and didn’t see her and was deciding to leave, when she came out of the bush directly in front of our Safari Truck. Amazing. G-I got some great photographs. This made the early up worthwhile.  Afterward, we headed back to the Samburu Intrepids Safari Lodge for breakfast, a nice full menu choice too.  The service and the river view were nice, as was the flute music.  I then went back to Tent 18 as DW never came to breakfast, but all was well; she is having a Pajama Day.  We met some new friends, as I saw monkeys about and offered a few snacks.  We then had a family of four monkeys make our beautiful porch overlook their home for a while.  I then took some time to update this blog.  At about noon, we went up to the bar for some Coca-Colas, then lunch at about 12;30ish.  I ordered a Short Ribs entree and a salad.  We then rested for a few hours until 3:15 p.m., when I attended a Group meeting before departing for our evening Safari at about 4:00 p;m. We explored several areas, seeing mostly antelope of various species.  Our goal was to see a Leopard as we had not seen one, but the highlight was that we saw an ostrich chasing a Garaffe chasing an ostrich.  All were running basically the same speed over a long visible distance…It was a sight to see.  Our long-time experienced Guide said he had never seen such a thing and was quite amused.  As we approached the mountain outcrops, we saw a Klipspringer, a midsize antelope that actually runs up and down cliffs at high speed.  Amazing.  Spotting an Elephant, Garaffe, or zebra is more common, but we did see the elusive Leopard that we and two dozen other Jeeps had been searching for.  Another unique sighting was a large Chetah and two cubs feasting on an antelope.  Perhaps the same two we saw early this morning.  We returned to the Lodge a bit late, so a quick clean-up before dinner. A good menu tonight: I ordered a Green Salad, Broccoli Soup, the Tournedos of Beef with vegetables entree, and dessert.  All were good.  I retired, showered, then went to bed, and soon fell fast asleep. A very eventful day in the Sanburu Reserve.

DAY 10, Tuesday July 14th, 2026 - Game Viewing in Aberdare National Park  

I woke early as we have to pack uniquely due to our destination this evening. The DW was prepacked as she skipped dinner previously.  The Lodge did deliver hot milk and cookies to the tent at about 5:30 a.m. as a wake-up call.  I hurriedly packed, and we had all the bags out for pickup at 6:00 a.m.  We then had breakfast and were soon on our way by 6:30 a.m.  We did one last safari run through Samburu National Reserve as we headed to the park gate.  Elephants, Zebras, and Giraffes were seen on the way out.  We were soon on the highway to Aberdare and our time at the Ark Lodge, located in Aberdare National Park. The Ark is unique because it is built on a bluff overlooking a watering hole, and the park's wildlife comes to you.  There are various viewing locations on the four levels.  We first arrive at the Aberdare Country Club, where we are furnished with a wonderful buffet lunch and register for the Ark Lodge.  The location is stunning with beautiful landscaping, and the buffet food was excellent.  We leave our Gate-1 manager and our primary luggage and board a bus to the Ark Lodge, only taking our backpacks or overnight bags. No porter service.  We arrived at the main Ark Lodge at about 3:00 p.m. and went to our assigned rooms.  We were in A20, the highest location, but not the best.  We were already blessed with a huge herd of Elephants at the waterhole, so we were off to view the various viewing locations.  Some are enclosed, some outside, and some up close and personal.  The Elephants were there for several hours as different groups arrived and left.  I think the largest count at one time was over 30 Elephants.  On level C, they have Bar Service, so I enjoyed a Tusker beer and watched the DW, and others enjoyed the interaction of the Elephants.  It was certainly easier than enduring the bouncing and the dust in the Safari Trucks.  Here is a LINK to the live feed of the watering hole. At 7:30 p,m, we enjoyed a buffet dinner in the dining room. It was nice, but not as nice as the lunch at the Country Club earlier.  To be honest, the African foods can be good, but just not my favorite cuisine.  I retired after dinner; the stairs had me worn out, although I loved viewing from the various viewing areas on the various levels.  We even found the almost secret eye-level Bunker viewing area (photo).  The rooms are basic but do have a small window, though the view is limited.  As an avid cruiser, I appreciated that they refer to the rooms as cabins…I tend to do that a lot anyway.   I think everyone who visits should try this type of venue at least once.  There are many in the area, including TreeTops, where Elizabeth II went up as a Princess and came down as a Queen.

DAY 11, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - Safari Drive in Lake Nakuru National Park 

A chime wakes the entire hotel at about 6:30 a.m., although we were already awake. We soon went down to breakfast, then took the 7:55 a.m. bus back to the Aberdare Country Club. There we were met by our two trucks and guides. We were soon on the road on our next adventure. After two hours, we made a comfort stop at a tourist trap on the Highway located on the Equator. Of course, we had already crossed it, but it was a chance to purchase a Coca-Cola. This was our second crossing of the trip, so we are now again south. We had a nice stop for a wonderful buffet lunch at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park before beginning our Game Drive. Once we arrived, the first thing I noticed was the massive size of Lake Nakuru. I became aware that the lake has been rising rapidly over the past 10+ years. Many roads have been elevated to avoid the water. Our goal here was to complete our “Big Five” by spotting a Rhinosorus. We finally did see two relaxing among a group of Zebras and Buffalo under some trees in the wide open plains. Along the lake itself, we saw numerous birds, including a few Famingos among the many White Pelicans. I understand the large flamboyants of Flamingos left when the water began rising in the lake. Now much fewer. I can’t describe the bumpy and dusty roads within the park; this was after enduring so many speed bumps on the highways at every village that we passed through, which was exhausting. All agreed to proceed to our destination and cut short the remainder of the park. I also learned that Nakuru in Swahili means ‘dusty place’, appropriately named. At about 4:45 p.m., we arrived at our beautiful lodge, the Great Rift Valley Lodge and Golf Resort. We arrived earlier and had time to shower off all the dust before our scheduled 7:30 p.m. dinner. They offered a wide variety of choices on a buffet. In fact, many foods from around the world, I actually had a Shwarma. I retired immediately upon return to our large room overlooking the valley; it was a long and tiring day. Unfortunately, I was woken from a deep sleep by a political telephone call at about 11:30 p.m., so I updated this blog before returning to sleep.

DAY 12 — Thursday, July 16, 2026 - Boat Ride On Lake Naivasha  

I slept fairly well and was up early to meet for our recommended 7:30 a.m pre-breakfast Nature Walk.  The Naturalist led six (of 8) of us out from reception, stopping at the entry sign to recognize the plants in the entry design area.  We then walked between a lovely private residence and the golf course towards a bluff.  As we approached the 3rd Tee, we turned a corner and, before us, saw a full outdoor Breakfast Buffet and a beautifully decorated dining table on the bluff.  What a wonderful and magical surprise.  WOW!  I enjoyed a freshly made Omelet, English Bacon, Potatoes, Bread, and Juice.  It was great.  They even had a golf trainer there so we could hit balls toward the 3rd hole below us.  A completely thought-out morning presentation.  Amazing.  After breakfast, I hit a few balls, but all of them found the jungle rather than the green.  They then had a van to return us to the hotel reception.  At 9:00 a.m., we (the same 6) met for our drive around the lake ahead of our scheduled boat ride.  We arrived at a wonderful resort and had a short break before shuttling back to the boat dock.  Here we prepped for our one-hour boat trip in the small 8-pax open boat.  We sailed just yards away to a family of five hippopotamuses, all in the water.  Quite interesting.  We then sailed over to Crescent Island, where they have a private Game Reserve.  With many trees in the water due to rising water levels, it is a birders' paradise.  So many breeds and varieties of birds. I saw both a Fish Eagle and a Kingfisher fishing.  Once at Crescent Island, we saw Giraffes, Zebras, Warthogs, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Antelopes, and more.  When we returned to our shore, the Hippos were on shore being fed by their keepers, but visible to us in the boat.  Once ashore, we were soon on our way back to Sarova Lion Hill Lodge.  I met up with the DW, and we went for lunch in the Dining Room.  It was, again, a buffet with local dishes and dishes from around the world.  It was well presented.  Afterward, the DW visited the gift shop, and I got two Coca-Colas from the Bar.  We sat on our elevated balcony, and I updated this blog while enjoying the beautiful weather and view.  They offered Cooking Classes, but we passed on that to relax.  We did some luggage organizing and relaxed until dinner time.  Again, an Around the World buffet this evening.  We had a lot of food, as one of the couples went to the Cooking Class, so that food was served at the table.  Afterward, I purchased a Kenya baseball-style hat in the gift shop and settled my bill at reception, since it would be busy in the morning.  The most relaxing day of the trip, and I loved the Lodge, best of the trip.

DAY 13 - Friday, July 17, 2026 - Visit a local School & Safari Drive at Masai Mora National Reserve

Up early for our 6:00 a.m. luggage pickup and 6:30 a.m. buffet Breakfast.  We were then off at about 7;00 a.m. for our long journey.  We made a comfort stop after a few hours at a now-typical combo tourist trap.  The primary roads are not good in this part of Kenya.  Once we arrived in Naroc, Kenya, we stopped at a very nice modern Grocery Store where I bought cleaning supplies for the school we were about to visit.  We soon arrived at Providence Academy and were greeted by very enthusiastic children. We met with the Headmaster, then visited each classroom, grades 1-5, plus the wonderful large preschool class.  Each class had a song or presentation for us. One little girl was amazed by DW, and we were all amazed by the children’s enthusiasm.  It was a great visit.  The school receives some support from the Gate-1 Foundation, and it seems to be a very worthwhile arrangement.  It was then a shorter drive over rough roads to the Talek Gate of the Maasai Mora National Reserve.  From the gate, it was about an hour drive to our Mara Intrepeds Camp, arriving just after 2:00 p.m.  We checked in and had a nice buffet lunch, where I enjoyed a salad before we were taken to our Tents.  Yes, this is similar to the Glamping we did in Samburu on Day 8.  This is called a Camp, and it's more remote. The Reception Area was quite unique as an open-air pavilion between the Tents and the Dining Area.  We have Tent 10, almost identical and with a Talek River view, and the river has Hippos.  At 4:00 p.m., we were off on our afternoon Safari dive.  We saw all the usuals, such as Wildebeest, Giraffe, African Buffalo,  Impalas/Antelope, and Elephants.  The amazing and new wildlife seen was large pods of Hippopotamus in the river. I counted 18 in one and 14 in another.  We spotted a lone female lion, and hidden behind was a large male who finally came out and mated with the female, an interesting but brief good sighting.  We then watched a large group of females sleeping in a thicket wake for their evening walks in the now cooler weather.  The new breeds spotted were a Hyena and a small Jackal.  The panorama of the entire plains, with views of the large, isolated trees and mountains, was magnificent. We returned to the Camp at about 6:30 p.m. in time to clean up for our 7:30 p.m. dinner.  The meal was DW favorite of the trip with a nice SA wine, breadsticks, and a pasta entree.  I ordered a Tusker Beer, French Onion Soup, and a small Beef steak entree.  A group of Massai in native costume danced and performed during dinner; they were amazing.  I retired exhausted, but woke at about 3:00 a.m., updated this blog, and listened to interesting sounds from outside the tent.  It was a long day, but much better after our arrival at Maasai Mora Reserve and the Camp.

DAY 14 - Saturday, July 18, 2026 - Morning & Evening Game Drives at Masai Mora National Reserve

We were up early and had hot milk delivered at 6:30 a.m, then went to the dining area for breakfast.  I had a fresh omelet, corn on the cob, sausage, bread, mango juice, & hot milk.  It was good.  Only 4 at breakfast, as 4 left early for a sunrise hot-air balloon ride.  We were soon off on our morning game drive.  We saw the usuals, but came upon a great money-shot of a Lioness and her four cubs (photo).  Soon afterward, we picked up our balloon riders, who enjoyed it, and continued the morning drive.  We had front-row seats to a group of 22+ Hippopotamuses in the river.  Everyone enjoyed this as we sat still for a while and took a break from the bumpy roads.  I had good photos of Elephants and Giraffes and was amazed by the thousands of wildebeests migrating into the park as well.  We returned to the Camp at about noon and relaxed in our tent until about 1:00 p.m., when we went to lunch in the outdoor dining area.  We enjoyed some Coca-Cola from the Bar and got some gifts in the Gift Shop before returning to the Tent to relax before our 4:30 p.m. evening Wildlife safari.  The entire group went on the evening safari drive.  Again, we have two vehicles with four people each, so it's easy for all.  We did get visuals on both a male lion and a female cheetah; however, it was still afternoon nap time for both.  We drove up to the sundown tree, where we had refreshments and watched the sunset over the vast African savanna.  A nice semi-surprise.  We then returned to the Camp for dinner at 7:30 p.m.   It was very good. I ordered the Waldorf Salad, Italian Minestrone Soup, the Red Snapper Fillet entree, and a Praline Parfait for dessert.  We then retired to the tent for an interesting night's sleep.  Lots of bird sounds, but a big ruckus that could have been a Bushbaby.  There is no electricity between midnight and 5:00 a.m., so very dark for a toilet journey.  

 

DAY 15 - Sunday, July 19, 2026 - Depart Kenya

We were up at about 6:00 a.m., put out our luggage, and then went to breakfast at 6:30 a.m.  It is a beautiful and cool morning.  We began our drive to Nairobi at 7:30 a.m.  It takes just over an hour to reach the Main Gate, and we did see Zebra, Antelope, and Jackal on the way out.  We made a comfort stop at a typical Kenyan Tourist trap about midway and arrived in Nairobi at about 2:00 p.m.  We were taken to the Crowne Plaza Hotel on the Airport property, where we were given day rooms because we all had very late flights. It was nice to relax before the long flights home.  We ordered room service, and my Hamburger was great, as were the Fries.  DW is sticking with White Rice and Fries.  The plan is to take the 7:00 p.m. shuttle to the airport for our 10:50 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.  All went well.

DAY 16 - Monday, July 20, 2026 - Travel Day

We arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, at about 6:00 a.m. following the overnight flight.  We don’t have to go through customs since we are in transit, but it was a long hike to the new terminal.  It was a four-hour wait for the flight to Tampa, but we had WiFi and a charging station.

 

Grammar checks & photos to follow — so busy. —  Thanks

 

 

 

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda - July 2026

 

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda - Central Africa - July 5 to July 9 2016

We are on an adventure of a lifetime.  This journey is an experience we were looking forward to completing by this time in our lives.  We found a Gate-1 adventure during the dry season and decided to do it while we are able.  Followed by a Gate-1 Kenyan Safari Journey.

Day Zero and Day 1 - Saturday and Sunday, July 4th & 5th 2026 - Travel Days 

Our initial flight is from TPA to Washington Dulles, arriving in the early evening.  Hoping to see the USA 250 fireworks on our evening overnight flight to Brussels.  The first leg went very well, and the transatlantic looked to be going well initially, with great bulkhead seats.  We taxied off on time but paused on the tarmac before reaching the runway.  We should have continued on, and soon the thunderstorms delayed us.  Then the airport was closed due to the 4th of July military traffic around Washington, D.C.  This was so disappointing as we ended up on the runway for five hours.  Of course, after our delay, we began our eight-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean.  We arrived several hours after our flight to Kigali departed.  Not many flights to Rwanda, and, in fact, the same flight for Sunday the following day was sold out.  We were rerouted to Istanbul for Monday, as they have a seven-hour evening flight to Kigali.  So that has become the plan.  The bags will be transferred to a new carrier (hopefully), and we were issued a room at the Novotel Hotel (photo).  After a short shuttle ride, we were checked in for a short rest this afternoon.  We were served a complimentary buffet meal and other menu options for dinner.  I did enjoy two Amstel draught beers in the hotel Bar.  The room is nice and clean, and we began adjusting to the time and getting some rest.  Very difficult to get hard facts as we are dealing with United Airlines, Brussels Air, and now Turkish Airlines.  And Gate-1 has really been no help whatsoever.  We were at least expecting boarding passes with seat assignments, terminal gate information, and news about our baggage.  We received conflicting reports from all, and we have three different reservation numbers.  We can only hope that Monday will be better.

Day 2 - Monday, July 6th 2026 - Extra Travel Day  (was to be Kigali arrival day) 

The day begins with a light breakfast and a very early shuttle back to the Airport Terminal.  We went straight to the Brussels Air desk, and they managed to switch our flight to a direct flight to Kihali, saving 5 hours of flight time.  We were then sent to the Brussels Air African Baggage check-in departure area just before it opened at 9:00 a.m.  We were assured that our luggage would be routed to our new flight.  That made us very happy campers.  We were able to do this as I found two seats had opened during the night, so we succeeded in our goal.  No help whatsoever from Gate-1.  I did inform them (G1) of the 5+ hour earlier arrival so our contact would be there.  I checked the Brussels Air App, and it indicated that indeed our bags were on board our flight.  We arrived at the Kigali airport at about 9:00 p.m.  (our original make-up flight would have been at 1:00 a.m).  We went through the local customs and had already purchased the Rwanda entry Visa.  I fortunately had my documentation, as their Customs computer systems are lax.  But we avoided the secondary manual Visa desk, as half of the flight had to.  Entry was going great.  We then went to baggage claim to pick up our luggage, and many others were waiting.  I logged in to the airport Wi-Fi to check my Apple tag.  What a surprise when I saw that our luggage was 4000 miles away in Brussels.  DW stayed at the luggage carousel, and I immediately went to the Baggage desk to confirm my baggage information.  They confirmed that they were indeed in Brussels.  Third Brussels Air screw-up.  The nice lady at the desk (Rwanda Air) assured me that they would be on the next flight that arrives the following evening.  Disappointing.  We entered the arrivals hall, and the Gate-1 representative, Yaya, was there.  He took us to the beautiful Kigali Serena Hotel (photo), where we arrived at about 9:30 p.m. Arrangements were made to have our laundry done overnight, and dinner could be room service.  We made it to our luxurious room by 10:00 p.m.  We need rest after a very long day.  Our laundry was picked up, and room service was delivered by 10:30 p.m. It was a fine meal. I ordered a Steak, Salad, and Fruit Bowl.  The Mixo Salad was perhaps the best salad ever;  it had Avacados, local vegetables, onions, and greens.  The fruit bowl was wonderful as well.  Also had my first Mützig beer. The huge bed offered a good night’s sleep. I wish we had arrived the day before as scheduled, as we would have enjoyed this hotel. 

Day 3 - Tuesday, July 7th 2026 - Kigali City Tour - Kigali Genocide Memorial 

We were up at about 7:00-ish, awaiting delivery of our laundry and fourth day in the same clothes, but at least fresh today.  I had some fruit in the room, then we had time for a brief breakfast in the beautiful hotel dining room.  We then met our group of (only) eight experienced travelers at about 8:00 a.m in the lobby. After a brief introduction and orientation, we split into groups of four, since we had two safari-type vehicles, and we were off by 9:00 a.m.  It was amazing to see the geographical high hills in an urban environment.  The streets were full of motorcycles and the sidewalks full of locals going about their daily routines.  It was different for sure.  We entered the central business district, which was bustling with activity.  Women in traditional clothing were everywhere and outside the CBD, usually carrying items on their heads.  A sight that continued throughout the drive today, so common to see a woman with items on their head, a baby wrapped up within the traditional dress, and hands full.  Our primary stop was at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where we remembered the victims of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, when ethnic Hutu militias massacred a million ethnic Tutsis.  I had just watched the movie Hotel Rwanda, which cinematically depicted the terrible period from a personal perspective.  The Memorial Museum does the same with history and photography from a more historical perspective.  Tragic times in Rwanda.  The presentation was wonderful, with self-guided audio stations throughout the museum, gardens, and reflection areas.  Over 250,000 are buried on the grounds in mass graves, and more victims are added as they are found to this day.  After the visit, we then began the drive north.  Hills that became mountains and an interesting environment, changing as we get more into the remote countryside.  Beautiful areas and also impoverished areas along the way.  We reached our destination, Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge, where we enjoyed a hearty group lunch.  I had a good Beetroot Salad and Vegetable soup with a Chicken entree.  Afterward, the group went to the Karisoke Gorilla Research Center established by Dian Fossey.  Terry and I went into town to get a Notary to document the authorization for the pickup of our luggage at the airport. We actually enjoyed interacting with the locals. I also picked up Glucosamine at the Pharmany.   We returned to the Lodge just before the others, so we checked into our spacious space (we had first choice) straightaway. We had an end unit with a lovely outdoor space and a very roomy interior.  Very Nice.  I enjoyed a Mützig beer before a group dinner this evening in the Lodge dining room. The staff here is excellent. The good news is that our luggage arrived in Kigali this evening. It was a great actual first day on the Tour.

Day 4 - Wednesday, July 8th 2026 - Gorilla Trekking 

I woke very early and checked on my luggage; it indicated delivery here at the Lodge, and I confirmed by walking to reception and saw them… I’ll get them later, once they open early for breakfast. At least we will have our gear for the highlight day of this trip. I had the luggage at about 5:30 a.m., and we immediately prepared for our day of trekking. We had a quick breakfast just after 6:00 a.m., then the hotel furnished gaiters for all of us to wear. We then went to the Volcanoes National Park, famous for Mountain Gorilla Trekking. Here we are assigned the Gorilla family we will visit, meet John, our professional guide, and receive instructions. We were assigned the Kwisanga Family, an established family of a very large Silverback, Babies, and active group members: perfect. We then drove along the roughest mountain road to the closest drop-off point near this family of Gorillas. Here we picked up porters from the local village and began our trek up the mountain.  They furnish hiking sticks, and the porter will carry your backpack.  After approximately an hour, we met up with our Trackers and armed escorts as we were then close to the Gorillas.  From this point, we wore masks, left our porters behind, and followed the trackers until we encountered the Kwisanga Family within another 10 minutes.  For the next hour, we join the family from a safe distance, taking photographs and following them through the deep jungle as they move around and graze.  Obviously, the highlight and purpose of this adventure.  It’s important to get your photos, and I did, but soon I just tried to enjoy the overall experience of observing the gorilla family rather than focusing on individual members for a photo op.  It was Amazing.  What I enjoyed most was watching the DW in her element.  She was leading the way, with a beautiful smile of pure enjoyment.  It is a fascinating experience for us both. When our one-hour limit was up, we proceeded back to our porters and enjoyed snacks prepared for us by the hotel in the deep jungle.  The hike back seemed shorter and was downhill, and we were soon back with our group guides and vehicles.  We twice passed through an extremely rural village near the drop-off point, a flashback to an older, traditional Native lifestyle.  The young children were waving at the trekkers as we passed.  We had the realization of a complete African experience.  We returned to the hotel, and upon arrival, the staff removed our gaiters and took our shoes to be cleaned…what an amazing hotel service.  We then had a nice lunch in the restaurant and the rest of the afternoon to relax.  We were very tired and sore.  Already a very long day for us. We showered and took a nap.  After two hours, we were somewhat refreshed.  Took my famous silicone glass to the bar for ice and enjoyed some Coca-Cola.  I left my menu order for this evening before returning to our porch in the perfect weather.  At about 7:15 p.m., we went for cocktails and enjoyed the atmosphere until they seated us for dinner.  I had ordered a nice Vegetable Creme soup, the T-bone Steak for myself, and French Fries and White Rice for the wife. She loved my basic order for her entree.  Dessert was a nice Apple tart with local honey.   We then retired, and I updated this blog.  It was a milestone day for us.

Day 5 - Thursday, July 9th 2026 - Golden Monkey Trekking  

Same schedule and procedure as yesterday morning.  We had breakfast at 6:00 a.m. in the dining room. I had a wonderful Omolet with fruit, then went to be fitted with gaiters before loading up in the safari truck.   We returned to the Volcanoes National Park to get our assigned guide and location for the Monkey Trekking.  Perhaps a longer drive to the parking area, and we have a wonderful view of the Volcano.  The Treck was shorter, and again the porters were a great help.  We again had the Park wall to cross, but we had a pedestrian bridge to help with the crossing.  The group of monkeys was just a short walk away.  After half an hour, I had seen enough and just found a rock to rest on and enjoy the mountain views.  The group, our 8 plus 8 others assigned to our Park Guide, walked a bit farther, but the report was the same from either side of the troop of monkeys.  An easier Trek, but the monkeys were just not that impressive after viewing the gorillas yesterday.  I did enjoy getting out in the countryside, and the views of the Volcanoes were impressive. On the return, we stopped at the Kinigi Women's Village (photo). It is set in a beautiful contemporary native-themed building featuring local women's crafts.  There were complimentary drinks, including Coca-Cola, followed by a tour of various women's crafts, including sewing, carving, dance, handiwork, and much more.  We purchased two carved gorillas and took photos of the ladies who had carved them.  The employees even wore Girl Power T-shirts. Very impressed with the architectural design, craft presentations, and the "helping local women" concept.  We then returned to the Lodge where they again took the gaiters and our shoes and cleaned them.  We then had lunch in the dining room, I had a Vegetableocal Pork dish, and had two wonderful Bananas Foster desserts Soup, tried a l.  I have enjoyed the local small banana all trip, but the dessert presentation was excellent.  The Group did a local tour, including a stop for Banna Beer, but the two of us took a nap and relaxed until our farewell BBQ dinner at 6:00 p.m.  We had a fire in the fire pit, and we, as well as most of the hotel, enjoyed a wonderful  African Show featuring lots of Drums & Dancing.  The native costumes were amazing.  Our group enjoyed a BBQ meal following the show and reviewed our final day in Rwanda tomorrow. It was an amazing day and a farewell-to-Rwanda party.

Day 6 - Friday, July 10th 2026 - Kigali - Flight to Nairobi

We had the Lodge’s breakfast buffet, then prepared to leave for Kigali, leaving at about 8:00 a.m.  Beautiful countryside on the drive back, wth Moutains, Villages and picturesque Farmsteads.  So interesting seeing locals walking on the road, especially women in native attire carrying items on their heads.  Once in Kigali, we visited the Kandt House Museum with a display of Colonial Kenyan History.  The grounds were very nice and had many Jaguranda Trees that I planted after visiting Guatemala.  Afterward, we had our farewell luncheon at The Greek Taverna in Kigali.  Very good Greek Food and nice gathering with Gate-1 Rwandan Manager.  After the luncheon, we went to the airport to catch our 5:30 p.m. flight to Nairobi, Kenya.  

Gorilla Trekking Photos