Aerial safari in Kenya and gorilla trek in Rwanda

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JohnM

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I am usually terrible at getting around to doing a trip report but the one I have just done was so sensational that I have got off my backside and put together a report. I am prompted to do it because I think a key aspect of it has particular relevance to AFF and may interest members and lurkers.

I have just completed an 8 day/7 night safari to four game parks in Kenya, followed by a trek to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

The point of difference about the safari is that the transport between the parks and the final destination was by aircraft - but what an aircraft!

The safari started with a night in Nairobi, followed the next morning by a scheduled light aircraft flight (Cessna Caravan) to the Masai Mara. Tow nights there, then the dedicated safari aircraft flight of a little over an hour to Amboseli park for two nights. Apparently this journey would have taken about 10-12 hours by road as the roads are so rough.

It was then a 30 minute flight to Tsavo West park for one night (which would have taken 5 hours by road), another 30 minute flight to Tsavo East park for two nights, followed by another 30 minute flight to the final destination of Mombasa.

Commercial flights to Kigali in Rwanda a couple of days later kicked off the short gorilla trek in the Parc National des Volcans, about 2.5 hours by sealed road from Kigali.

This report will focus heavily on the aircraft but the whole trip was amazing and one of the best travel experiences of my life.

The staff everywhere were amazing - just so friendly and professional. I couldn't recommend this more highly.

Here we go.

1aircraft.jpg2cockpit1.jpg3cockpit2.jpg4cockpit3.jpg5cockpit4.jpg

This is no 'just a Cessna'. Garmin 1000 'glass coughpit', weather and synthetic aperture terrain-mapping radar (I think I've got the aero-geek talk right). Note the hill in the screen of the 5th pic.

Cont. next post.
 
OK, that takes care of the all-important avionics and flight safety equipment.

Here’s the passenger zone, with more to come!

6interior1.jpg7interior2.jpg8interior3.jpg9interior4.jpg10interior5.jpg
 
Only eight seats, with a bench seat at the back suitable for children. Very comfy leather!:cool::cool:

But get this. Each seat is mounted on an orbital platform that allows movement fore-aft, sideways and complete spin. The side solid armrests can be raised and lowered and the back fully reclines.

JohnM is in love :oops::oops::oops::p.

Great slogan – because it’s true!

11interior6.jpg12interior7.jpg13JMaircraft1.jpg14JMaircraft2.jpg15slogan.jpg
 
Typical welcome on arrival; cold towels, cool drinks.

Some congestion on runway 1.

Typical safari camp tent accommodation. This is at Mara.

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Looking forward to the "gorillas in Rwanda" bit...post plenty of pics. This has been added to my 2nd bucket list!
 
Breakfast overlooking Masai Mara.

Waking up to stare straight at Mt Kilimanjaro at Amboseli.

Typical lodge bar/restaurant. This one is at Tsavo West.

At night. The tiny bright spots in the middle are the eyes of the African buffalo that were also partaking of dinner on the grass.
21Marabfast.jpg22Kilimanjaro1.jpg23Kilimanjaro2.jpg24lodge.jpg25dinner.jpg
 
Lunch watching the elephants at Tsavo East.

Elephants from my tent at Tsavo East.

Sundowner Tsavo West.

Sundowner on final night at Tsavo East.

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Some wildlife shots. Also saw a family of four cheetahs but picture size exceeded the upload limit.

A dawn hot-air balloon ride over the Masai Mara followed by a great breakfast on the plain was awesome.

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Novel Maasai shoes. Wide fittings available from truck tyres :p.

Some very pretty finches.

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Darn, my gorilla pics are too big. I'll have to try and reduce them and post a bit later.

If anyone wants further information, feel free to PM me.
 
Looks like an absolute beauty - excited to see the rest!

Thanks for taking the time to post.
 
Hey, you in the fuzzy suit, there's only room for one of us silverbacks on this mountain! :shock::lol::p:mrgreen:

Gorilla1.jpg

The gorilla trek is an amazing experience and contributes massively to the conservation of this critically endangered species (only 750 left in the world). A visit is contributing to the solution, not the problem and Rwanda is an amazingly clean, safe and friendly place.

The two tours stitched together end-to-end perfectly. I'd advise doing both for a truly wonderful experience.
 
Hey, you in the fuzzy suit, there's only room for one of us silverbacks on this mountain! :shock::lol::p:mrgreen:

View attachment 18305

The gorilla trek is an amazing experience and contributes massively to the conservation of this critically endangered species (only 750 left in the world). A visit is contributing to the solution, not the problem and Rwanda is an amazingly clean, safe and friendly place.

The two tours stitched together end-to-end perfectly. I'd advise doing both for a truly wonderful experience.
Wow....so close!! Must work out when I can go....
 
I just did the gorilla trek myself and can only second JohnM's comments about Rwanda and the gorillas. One of the most amazing experiences I have ever had!
 
I just did the gorilla trek myself and can only second JohnM's comments about Rwanda and the gorillas. One of the most amazing experiences I have ever had!

Swim with the whale sharks at Exmouth to complete the quinella!
 
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Fantastic TR John. Brings back some fond memories as only 3 weeks ago SWMBO and I were enjoying our honeymoon in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater which were truly amazing. I've got around 2000 shots of animals and landscape but no plane ones for a TR, I must get better! Your plane shots are a lot more impressive than mine would have been. We were in and out of 'caravans' a few times but there were no swivelling leather seats on ours! :(

We were in the same kinds of tents as you. This was my first camping experience in my youthful 32 years. Some people have said I wasn't camping, they are lying! :)

Amazing times!!
 
Thank you, great pictures, told the story. How does one come back to 'reality' after such an experience? I know I won't be going and feel I've had a taste by your tr.
 
Thank you, great pictures, told the story. How does one come back to 'reality' after such an experience? I know I won't be going and feel I've had a taste by your tr.

Glad you enjoyed it. But why won't you be going?

For anyone who has never been to Africa, my advice would be don't have a lifetime without doing. The more I go, the more I want to go again.

As some Zimbabwean folks I met at Victoria Falls few years back said when I asked why they didn't get out: "Africa gets into your blood". I can really understand that.
 
Yeh I agree with that, have travelled 60 plus countries but would have to say Africa is still the one trip I remember most, even though it was now more than 20 years ago. Of out of Africa, seeing the Gorillas (for me in what was then Zaire) had to be the absolute #1 highlight, even though there were many highlights overall.
 
Ditto! Could not agree more.

Glad you enjoyed it. But why won't you be going?

For anyone who has never been to Africa, my advice would be don't have a lifetime without doing. The more I go, the more I want to go again.

As some Zimbabwean folks I met at Victoria Falls few years back said when I asked why they didn't get out: "Africa gets into your blood". I can really understand that.
 
I think it's taking a bit of licence to call that camping... :)

But yes looks good, want to visit Africa again in 2014...
 
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