Kenya and Uganda Safari by Private Air

Touch down in Nairobi, a microcosm of the African continent and the capital of Kenya. It serves as your gateway to dramatic adventure in one of the most thrilling destinations in the world.

Fly by private air to Amboseli National Park, home to prolific herds of elephants. Spanning 150 square miles of Kenyan savannah, woodlands, wetlands and ephemeral lakebed — with Mount Kilimanjaro’s distinctive profile as its centerpiece — this iconic park also harbors giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, lions and hundreds of bird species. View game roam the dusty plains on your first game drive, then settle into your luxurious eco-lodge located on a wildlife-rich private concession and join fellow guests for a welcome dinner.

Watch elephants up close from a safari vehicle that seats just six (giving every guest a window seat) and view other game such as Cape buffalo, wildebeest, hippos and hyenas. Head out this afternoon to seek out more of East Africa’s natural wonders. Keep a timeless safari tradition with a refreshing drink in the bush.

On a final day in Amboseli National Park, as elephants graze nearby, backdropped by Mount Kilimanjaro’s snow-crowned peak, set out on morning and afternoon game drives that reveal Africa at its most authentic. Between drives, there’s time for relaxing or perhaps a visit to your lodge’s spa. Dine back in camp tonight, under a sparkling canopy of stars.

Fly by private charter to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The reserve occupies a prime location along the Great Migration circuit, a seasonal cavalcade of some 1.4 million wildebeests and about 250,000 Burchell’s zebras as well as Thomson’s gazelles. View the expansive plains and, weather permitting, get an up-close look at the wildlife with some low-level flying by your skilled pilot-guides. Settle into your luxurious lodge before immersing yourself in the vast Mara on an afternoon game drive. You may encounter topi, hippos, warthogs, hyenas and abundant bird life. Your arrival is timed to coincide with when the Great Migration historically occurs in the Maasai Mara, increasing your opportunity to witness the spectacle. Tonight, relax in your fabulously appointed accommodation.

Rise before dawn for a hot air balloon adventure that takes you soaring over the vast, wildlife-rich Maasai Mara and touches down for a breakfast in the bush. Guided by your expert driver-guide, you may sight a leopard retrieving a kill or elephants protecting their young. You may also glimpse Maasai tribesmen traversing the plains or herding goats and cattle, pursuing the nomadic existence they have embraced for centuries. Quench your well-earned thirst with a refreshing cocktail, a time-honored safari tradition, as the sun dips toward the equatorial horizon.

Embark on an early morning game drive, seeking out the magnificent wild beings you’ve waited all your life to see, including members of the fabled Big Five. Stop this afternoon at a local school supported by A&K Philanthropy to learn how our partnership with LifeStraw is changing lives by providing access to safe, clean drinking water. Importantly, this departure funds the donation of a LifeStraw. Visit a Maasai Village to meet tribal members and get a feel for their traditional nomadic life. Go on a game drive that includes a visit to the rhino sanctuary to learn about conservation efforts and view a rhino up close. Dine at the lodge.

Rise early and fly to Entebbe via Kisumu. Proceed to Bwindi, where you eat lunch at your lodge. Visit Bwindi Village, on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, to review several initiatives set up by A&K Philanthropy. These include a women-owned bicycle shop, a bead-making enterprise, a local development program and the Bwindi Community Hospital and Nursing School. Bask in true cultural immersion as local members of the Batwa Community recount their people’s colorful oral history via song and dance.

Begin the first of two days of gorilla trekking with an early morning hike through the park’s dense vegetation to seek out the groups of endangered mountain gorillas living there. Once the primates are located, prepare for an unforgettable visit, observing the gentle and expressive creatures up close — watch mothers holding infants and protective fathers reining in scampering toddlers. Approach close enough to gaze into the eyes of these remarkable creatures and recognize the deep connection our two species share with one another. Return to camp for some free time. Sip a cocktail as a chef demonstrates how to make a local dish, which you sample before dinner.

Bask again in the bond that exists between primate and man as you set out on your final gorilla trek. Relax at your lodge before your farewell dinner.

Fly by private charter to Entebbe, where a dayroom is reserved for you until you take your private transfer to the airport to board your departing flight.