A gorilla sitting in dense rainforest undergrowth, looking up through the leaves

Kenya · 15 days

Into the Heart of Africa

Fifteen days from rainforest to savannah. Western lowland gorillas in Odzala-Kokoua in the Republic of Congo, then Kenya with The Safari Collection at Giraffe Manor and four nights at Sala's Camp in the Mara.

Duration: 15 days, 14 nights · 5 flights and 1 day on the water
Where: Kenya
Experiences: Road Safaris Balloon Safaris Flying Safaris
Board: Board varies by stay
Price: FromUSD 26,560per person sharing

At a glance

Where the nights go

322124

14 nights across 6 places · 5 flights and 1 day on the water · Board varies by stay. Drawn from the draft day-by-day below.

Overview

The shape of the journey

Two weeks that start in the second largest rainforest left on earth. Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo sees very few visitors, and the gorillas there are western lowland gorillas, a different animal from the mountain gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda, in a completely different landscape. Three camps cover it: forest at Ngaga, wetland at Lango, river and savannah at Mboko. You move between them by kayak and on foot as often as by vehicle.

Odzala-KokouaBrazzavilleNairobiMaasai Mara

Then a night in Brazzaville, a flight to Nairobi, and The Safari Collection takes over for the second half: Giraffe Manor, and four nights at Sala's Camp in the Mara. Be clear-eyed about the first week: the Odzala camps take guests of fifteen and over, treks run anywhere from two to eight hours, and you will be wading waist-deep through forest streams. Anyone in good health manages it, and no experience is needed.

Where you'll stay

The camps and hotels

Ngaga Camp

Forest rooms inside the rainforest itself, within range of several western lowland gorilla families, three of them habituated. Night walks here are unique to the camp.

Lango Camp

Rooms overlooking the wetlands, reached by kayak down the Lekoli River. Bai walks that involve wading through clear forest streams, and colobus monkeys around camp.

Mboko Camp

An elevated deck with 360-degree views over river, forest and savannah. Boat safaris on the Lekoli for forest elephant, buffalo, monkeys and hippo.

Radisson Blu M'Bamou Palace Hotel

A city hotel overlooking the Congo River, used for one night on bed and breakfast between the forest and the flight to Nairobi. Restaurants, a wellness centre, and a proper shower.

Giraffe Manor

The house where wild Nubian giraffe roam the surrounding sanctuary and come to the windows for breakfast. The Giraffe Centre is in the grounds.

Sala's Camp

At the confluence of the Sand and Keekorok rivers in one of the wilder corners of the reserve, with resident big cats, private plunge pools and bush lunches deeper in the Mara.

The Retreat at Giraffe Manor

The wellness house beside the Manor, taken as a day room before the flight home.

Day by day

How the days run

A proposal, not a timetable. The routing, timings and inclusions are confirmed in writing before you pay anything.

Day 1Flight
Into the rainforest
Met at Maya-Maya airport in Brazzaville and put on the scheduled charter to Mboko airstrip, two and a half hours with lunch on board. Then roughly three hours driving through the park to Ngaga, stopping for whatever appears.
Ngaga CampAll meals
Day 2
First gorilla trek
A light breakfast at half past five and out at six with a tracker and a guide. Treks run between two and eight hours over undulating ground; once the family is found you have an hour with them. A forest walk in the afternoon, then sundowners by the fire.
Ngaga CampAll meals
Day 3
The second family
Another early start for the second habituated group. Afternoon at an Ombo village to hear how people live off this forest, then a guided night walk: bush-babies, and if you are extraordinarily lucky, pangolin.
Ngaga CampAll meals
Day 4Boat
Kayak to Lango
You travel to Lango by kayak while the luggage goes by road. Downstream on the Lekoli, spotting as you drift, ending at the Lango bai, a swampy forest clearing whose water and minerals pull animals in all day.
Lango CampAll meals
Day 5
Wading the bai
A guided bai walk, feet wet, which is the only honest way to see this landscape properly. Afternoon is yours: more walks, a game drive, or the deck and the colobus monkeys.
Lango CampAll meals
Day 6
Walk and drive to Mboko
An early walk through the bai and breakfast overlooking the swamp, then a slow game drive across to Mboko. A boat safari down the Lekoli in the afternoon for forest elephant, buffalo, monkeys, kingfishers and hippo.
Mboko CampAll meals
Day 7
Rainforest and savannah
A morning walk to Mboebe bai for the birds and the savannah-bai ecosystem, then a river cruise after lunch, or another forest walk, or a swim in the Likeni. Fireside sundowners and a lot of stars.
Mboko CampAll meals
Day 8Flight
Brazzaville
The scheduled charter from Mboko back to Maya-Maya, and a short drive to the Radisson Blu on the Congo River. A day of hotel and city before the second half of the trip.
Radisson Blu M'Bamou Palace HotelBreakfast
Day 9
Fly to Nairobi
Maya-Maya to Jomo Kenyatta, met by The Safari Collection and driven half an hour to Giraffe Manor. The giraffes roam the sanctuary around the house and come to it when they feel like it.
Giraffe ManorAll meals
Day 10
Nairobi
Breakfast at the windows, then the Giraffe Centre in the grounds, the Karen Blixen Museum for the Out of Africa history, or the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and its orphaned elephants. That last one needs booking ahead.
Giraffe ManorAll meals
Day 11Flight
Fly to the Maasai Mara
Wilson to Keekorok, then out to Sala's Camp, tucked into one of the quieter corners of the reserve where the Sand and Keekorok rivers meet.
Sala's CampAll meals
Day 12
Morning and evening
Drives at either end of the day, when the animals are busiest. The camp's resident big cats are seen often enough that the guides know their habits.
Sala's CampAll meals
Day 13
Deeper into the reserve
A bush lunch and a longer day, out to the remoter parts of the Mara. Or a sunrise balloon over the plains instead, if you book it in advance.
Sala's CampAll meals
Day 14
A last Mara day
Nature walks, volleyball, or nothing at all from the private pool outside your tent. There is usually something moving across the riverbank.
Sala's CampAll meals
Day 15Flight
Ease out
A final breakfast at Sala's, the scheduled flight to Wilson, then a day room at The Retreat with spa, gym, pool and lunch, before the transfer to Jomo Kenyatta.
Breakfast and lunch

What's covered

Inclusions and exclusions

In line with the itinerary above. Your written quote is the version that counts.

Included

Full-board accommodation at Ngaga Camp, Lango Camp, Mboko Camp, Giraffe Manor and Sala's Camp
Bed and breakfast at the Radisson Blu M'Bamou Palace Hotel
Scheduled internal flights
The return scheduled charter between Odzala and Brazzaville
Gorilla trekking permits
Medical evacuation cover

Price & terms

What it costs

FromUSD 26,560per person sharing

What this price covers

Rates are per person sharing unless the line above says otherwise.
Prices move with the season and with availability, and are held only once your quote is confirmed in writing.
The day-by-day above is a draft. Final routing, timings, inclusions and any park or permit fees are confirmed with your quote.

Before you go

Worth reading before this trip

The best time to visit Kenya, month by monthJanuary and February, then July to October, are the months we send most people.
Safari packing list for KenyaA working checklist for a week on safari in Kenya: the bag, the layers for a cold six o'clock start, optics, health and documents, with quantities for seven nights and what changes by season.
Kenya safari cost: where the money goesWhat you pay for on a Kenya safari, why two similar weeks can differ threefold, who sets the park fees, and how to get more from the same budget.
Practical facts by countryPlugs, currency, time zone, driving side, SIM, tipping and tap water.