Gorilla Safari & Big Cat Photography

Private East Africa

The original destination for African explorations and the birthplace of the luxury safari: East Africa’s Great Rift Valley has been documented far and wide for its species diversity and spectacular topography... Yet, so many of the true gems of safari life remain secret and off-the-beaten path, even in the most iconic and well-known reserves, offering a glimpse of an old-world, untampered Africa. Guided Safaris® specialized locations are the private hideaways of the Mara ecosystem and Virungas rainforest, by-passing the tourist-laden parks for a more intimate journey.

This is the true explorer’s adventure, for a truly unique safari: Coming face-to-face with Silverback Gorillas and witnessing the Great Migration at its epic crosspoint on Mara River.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

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What you’ll love

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Guided Safaris® Reservations

(415) 814-6676

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What you’ll love
- Iconic, unspoiled wilderness.
  
  This enriching journey through East Africa is designed for Wildlife Photography and Anthropology enthusiasts seeking a spiritually-significant encounter with vast, unexplored landscapes and real interactions with the indigenous cultures who are its true wilderness custodians. Here is the Real Africa. The Cradle of Mankind, where man first took step; where the Great Apes still roam, carrying 98% of our DNA.
  
  We host you in completely private regions in the Great Mara-Serengeti eco-system: Sustainable models that are warden to the most crucial conservation efforts for Big Cats, Elephant and Black Rhino. Go behind-the-scenes and front-row with our world-class guides in truly remote, biodiverse locations in two unique settings.
  
  The final safari frontier: The Great Mara River. All wildlife photography featured is from actual safari locations explored on your Guided Safaris® journey.
  
  A private experience of the Great Migration.
  Up close with the Big Cats stalking the Migratory herds. It’s no surprise that our private regions, under Africa’s most substantial conservation models are offering the most successful predator viewing through our low-impact, luxury tourism far away from the masses. This environment promotes relaxed animal behaviour by lending protection from the disadvantageous pursuits of commercial group-operators, effects of poaching and hunting and major roads cutting across migratory paths. Continued flourishing wildlife encountered on drives is our greatest reward. With Kenya’s ban on hunting, our unique locations sustain the luxury photography safari model, providing safer haven for our game. Animals are more at ease when encountered on our game drives and linger longer at play.
  
  No ‘Group Travel’ - Enjoy a Tailormade Safari, at your own choice of dates. We offer a privately hosted luxury safari with a Specialist professional guide and custom-designed landcruiser on safari while in our care in Kenya. Our camps are luxurious and we have some of East Africa’s most admired and highly-rated guides to personally host your game drives and provide the best suited plan for your interests, whether photography, specialized species or geological interest. If you wish to travel privately, as a couple, family or group of friends, we offer a completely Private Guided Luxury Safari option. None of our safaris are operated as old-fashioned ‘pre-packaged group travel’ with chaperones from travel companies; Guided Safaris® helps custom design each trip individually for your chosen dates of travel with authentic local guides.
  
  Cub at play with mom © Beverly Joubert. All wildlife photography featured is from actual safari locations explored on your Guided Safaris® journey.
  Off-the-grid, very exclusive safaris.
  The special places you’ll visit with Guided Safaris® are some of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots reserved for the enjoyment of just a handful of guests to help limit the impact on these fragile savannah and rainforest environments. Through eco-luxury safaris we have partnered with the governments and people of East Africa to bring an incredibly exclusive safari experience to our valued patrons: Your visit helps directly support these conservation programs for safeguarding free-roaming habitat for Big Cats and African Mountain Gorillas.
  So, just how exclusive will your journey be?
  - Award-winning locations for wildlife photographers
  - Private reserves ensure very close wildlife encounters
  - Game drives in open land-cruisers with our Pro-Guides
  - Travel with a purpose: Eco-luxury safaris that tread lightly
  - Breathtaking & iconic landscapes of Great Rift Valley
  - Walking and philanthropy with Maasai trackers in Kenya
  - Fantastic birding in regions boasting up to 600 species
  - Organic farmhouse cooking from our gourmet chefs
  - All Meals, fine wine + drinks are covered in our safaris
  - Unique activities: Gorilla treks, night drives, hot air ballooning
  See Africa with unique people who grew up in these regions and are passionate with their safari knowledge. None can match the keen sensory ability of our local trackers to seek game. We have garnerned some of the finest Guides and Trackers in East Africa to host your game drives: Their unmatched experience of wildlife localization in each region offers hands-on ability and seasonal know-how to help position you on the trail of the Great Migration.
  
  Your Guided Safaris® journey supports crucial Lion Conservation alongside joint Maasai community support.

Why travel with us
- The Guided Safaris® difference
  
  Learn what sets our Private East Africa safari a world-apart in luxury adventures
  Day 1
  
  THE GREAT MIGRATION
  
  PRIVATE RESERVE
  
  Witness the Greatest Natural Spectacle on Earth. There’s no journey quite like it. Everyone at some point in their life dreams of an African safari and visiting wild and majestic landscapes where Lions and Elephants reign free. Nowhere in Africa quite embodies this vision better than the Masai Mara in Kenya. Over a million animals on a time-honored procession, over vast tracts of uninhabited land, searching for greener pastures; far-off places steeped mystery and legend. Kenya is an integral part of the Greater Mara-Serengeti eco-system and our low-key hideway in the Masai Mara is a Photographer’s Paradise. With 100,000 acres of exclusive terrain in the Mara, and a beautiful luxury camp to come home to: This is the ultimate safari.
  
  What you’ll love
  
  Private hideaway in the Masai Mara - far from the crowds, only millions of animals around you.
  
  The Great Predators: Lion, Leopard and Cheetah, frequently sighted on game drives.
  
  We’re right along the path of the Great Migration - AND the Mara River crossings.
  
  We offer morning and afternoon drives - AND special night safaris tracking nocturnal species at their hunt
  
  Strategic itineraries and real-time seasonal patterns as established weekly by our head rangers on site.
  
  Our eco-luxury camps have the pick of locations by way of special grants for their environmental work.
  
  Throughout your journey, you’ll witness the most iconic Africa, from the focus of private and special settings. And you’ll learn its tales told by the Maasai tribespeople you’ll meet with us on safari.
  
  Plus! Complimentary use of professional Canon photography equipment and Swarovski binoculars.
  Day 5
  
  GORILLA SAFARI
  
  VOLCANOES PARK
  
  Africa’s oldest wilderness; a rainforest like no other. The Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda. Here, our journey winds its way to the scenic Albertine Rift, one of the world’s most biodiverse areas, home to critically endangered Mountain Gorillas and Golden monkeys. The Volcanoes National Park with its beautiful bamboo and fern forests is the finest place to track habituated families of Gorillas and spend time with these Great Apes, watching them at play with their young. The birding is outstanding with many endemic species encountered on hikes through the rainforest. Our luxurious lodge on the edge of the rainforest has the pick of locations; an elevated panorama before your suites of the forest canopy and volcanic peaks of the Virungas. With our resident naturalists and researchers, our guests can learn about the groundbreaking projects underway for the protection of our Gorillas and the reforestation of this important site.
  
  What you’ll love
  
  Trek the serene cloud forests in search of the 12 habituated Gorilla families this side of the Virungas
  
  Coming quietly face to face with these Great Apes is a humbling and life-affirming moment
  
  Stay at the finest luxury safari lodge in Rwanda with a dramatic rainforest location
  
  Aerial safaris by helicopter over spectacular rainforests and wetlands
  
  An ornithologist’s paradise: Over 178 recorded species, with 13 endemic varieties
  
  Visit the late Dian Fossey’s campsite and learn about her life amongst the Gorillas
  
  Cultural interaction and community village tour with your Guided Safaris® Rwandan hosts
  
  Wake up to views of the mystical Virungas: a place of fire and ice, framed outside your private balcony
  
  Enjoy holistic therapy after your gorilla trek with a massage in the privacy of your forest villa
  
  Warm Rwandan hospitality: Enjoy gourmet cuisine with fresh produce from our local farms
  
  Our luxury safaris in Rwanda cover Guided treks, and all meals and drinks at our luxury safari lodge.
  Day 8
  
  KIGALI
  
  DEPART
  
  The Land of a Thousand Hills. Return to Kigali with our Rwandan hosts who will escort you on a private tour of Kigali city. A guided visit to the genocide memorial site honoring more than one million Rwandans killed in the 1994 violence against the Tutsi also provides an insight on the educational and peace building effort in place today. Meet with survivors from the communities, contemplate on the wall of names, as your Rwandan guide helps interpret the stories and cultural spirit in rebuilding the country.
  
  As you depart East Africa for your flight home, carry the warmth of our people and the passion devoted to our land and wildlife with you. We cannot wait for you return in our care and hope that you will share your experiences with others back home.
  
  LuxurySafariLodges.com
Rates + Seasons
- Signature East African Journey
  
  An exceptional safari experience with the signature Guided Safaris® journeys:
  
  Stay at our award-winning Luxury Safari Lodges
  Scenic areas with year-round interest and incredible birding
  Unique wildlife viewing with close-up photography
  
  Call a Guided Safaris® expert
  for complete help in planning your journey:
  415.814.6676 ext 5
  + Book now
  What’s included?
  
  Personalized Guided Safaris® meet & assist on arrival
  
  Luxury accommodation at our Signature lodges
  
  Local safari air on our highest-rated carriers
  
  All meals and drinks on safari served with fine wines;
  
  Professional guided game drives and safari activities
  
  Gorilla Permit for 1 day of Guided Trekking
  
  Complimentary in-room minibar and cocktails
  
  Your visit directly supports Big Cat & Gorilla conservation
  
  All applicable local taxes and reserve fees
  
  Your Guided Safaris® package includes pretty much everything from start to finish once you arrive in East Africa - including all local flights, transfers, meals and drinks at the lodges and guided activities. We also have private options for families seeking exclusive accommodations and camp charters. Please contact us to customize your safari.