SMALL GROUP JOURNEYOFFERS

The Great East African Rift

2026▾
11
Days
Private
Guide
Luxury
Stays

The Maasai Mara at its finest, a cross-border flight to Uganda, and six nights on a private rainforested Nile island

See Pricing & Inclusions ↓
11 Days
Small Group
from $13,350 pp
Home › Kenya & Uganda › The Great East African Rift

OverviewA cross-border masterpiece combining the finest highlights of both Kenya and Uganda. This itinerary drops guests directly into Kenya's legendary Maasai Mara for an intensive 4-day big-game safari before flying across the border to Uganda to explore the historic channels of the River Nile. Guests experience private fly-in safaris tracking the Big Five, a sunrise hot-air balloon over the Mara River, and the ultimate relaxation on a private rainforested island in the middle of the Nile at Lemala Wildwaters Lodge. The journey concludes back in Nairobi at the JW Marriott — five-star modern opulence before international departure.

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Angama Mara or Mara Plains Camp on the Oloololo Escarpment — champagne sundowner watching the Mara plains turn gold

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Migration season: over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles crossing the Mara plains and Mara River

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Hot-air balloon over the Mara River at dawn — hippos, crocodiles, and elephants seen from above in golden morning light

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Gourmet bush breakfast in the open savannah after the balloon lands — celebrating the crossing of the two great countries

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Lemala Wildwaters Lodge: suites suspended over the roaring Kalagala Rapids on a private Ugandan rainforest island

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Kalagala Falls private speed boat: the historic Source of the Nile and rare shoebill stork sightings

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Full-day open-air river spa on the suite deck with the thundering Nile rapids as the soundtrack

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JW Marriott Nairobi final night: five-star city sanctuary with a celebratory farewell dinner before international departure

The Great East African Rift

Why Choose the Great East African Rift

Maasai Mara: Africa's finest big-game savannah with the highest big-cat density and the greatest migration on Earth

Hot-air balloon over the Mara River at dawn — the most celebrated aerial safari experience in all of Africa

Lemala Wildwaters: suites suspended over the Nile rapids — the most unique lodge experience in East Africa

Two countries in one seamless journey — Kenya and Uganda — connected by a regional flight with no complexity

JW Marriott Nairobi final night: a five-star city sanctuary providing a perfect transition before international departure

Kalagala Falls private speed boat: the Source of the Nile and the thundering falls explored at water level

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Kenya & Uganda

Nairobi · Maasai Mara · Entebbe · Jinja · Kangulumira Island · Nairobi

Day by Day

Your Itinerary

Nairobi

Day 1 | Arrival in Nairobi — The Safari Capital

VIP tarmac handling at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. private guide transfer to a high-end city estate. Early arrivals: Karen Blixen Museum — the historic home of the author of "Out of Africa" in lush gardens with Ngong Hills views — and the Giraffe Centre, a sanctuary for the endangered Rothschild's giraffe where you feed these magnificent creatures at eye level. Welcome dinner at the estate.

Arrival in Nairobi — The Safari Capital
Dinner
Maasai Mara

Day 2 | Private Fly-In to the Maasai Mara — Escarpment Sundowner

Private charter from Wilson Airport west over the Great Rift Valley directly to a private Maasai Mara airstrip. Spectacular aerial views of the Rift Valley escarpments and volcanic lakes. Check-in at ultra-exclusive Angama Mara or Mara Plains Camp perched on the edge of the Oloololo Escarpment with panoramic Mara plains views. Late afternoon private game drive tracking big cats. Chilled champagne and canapés from a private safari bar on the Oloololo Escarpment edge as the vast Mara plains turn gold.

Private Fly-In to the Maasai Mara — Escarpment Sundowner
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 | The Endless Savannah Migration — Reed Boma Bonfire Dinner

Full-day tracking safari across the Maasai Mara. Unhurried off-road tracking of massive lion prides, leopards, and cheetahs patrolling open grasslands. During migration season (July–October): the extraordinary spectacle of over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles crossing the plains and Mara River. Elegant multi-course bonfire dinner served in a traditional open-air reed boma lit by hundreds of lanterns with a roaring central fire pit.

The Endless Savannah Migration — Reed Boma Bonfire Dinner
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Entebbe

Day 4 | Mara Balloon at Dawn — Bush Breakfast — Cross-Border Flight to Uganda

Rising before dawn for a hot-air balloon over the Mara River — hippos and crocodiles below, herds of elephants and zebras crossing the golden plains. After landing: traditional champagne toast and gourmet bush breakfast in the open savannah. Afternoon: private charter back to Nairobi then short regional connector across the border to Entebbe, Uganda. Transfer to Hotel No.5 for a relaxing evening.

Mara Balloon at Dawn — Bush Breakfast — Cross-Border Flight to Uganda
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Jinja · Kangulumira Island

Day 5 | Chauffeur Drive to the Source of the Nile — Jinja

Luxury 4x4 Land Cruiser for a comfortable 2.5-hour drive through the lush Mabira Rainforest to Jinja. First glimpses of the mighty Nile River. Speed boat transfer across the rapids to check into Lemala Wildwaters Lodge on a private rainforested island. Canvas-and-thatch suites built on wooden decks suspended right over roaring Kalagala Rapids. Gourmet dinner at the lodge.

Chauffeur Drive to the Source of the Nile — Jinja
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 | Exploring the Rushing Rapids — Kalagala Falls Speed Boat

Exhilarating private speed boat navigating the thundering Kalagala Falls and the historic Source of the Nile discovered by John Hanning Speke in 1858. Spotting hippos, crocodiles, and the rare shoebill stork. The history and geography of the river explained by your guide. Gourmet dinner at the lodge.

Exploring the Rushing Rapids — Kalagala Falls Speed Boat
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 | Island Spa & Serenity — River Deck Wellness

A full dedicated day of private wellness and massage on your private wooden deck suspended over the rushing waters of the Nile. Traditional African oils and techniques customised by your private therapist. The absolute tranquillity of the island with no distraction other than the thundering rapids and forest calls. Gourmet dinner on your private deck.

Island Spa & Serenity — River Deck Wellness
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 | Wilderness Star-Deck Dining — Live Folk Performance

Relaxed afternoon birdwatching from your private plunge pool overlooking the river rapids. The day culminates in a dramatic island bonfire dinner around a stone fire pit on the main pool deck with an exclusive live performance of local folk instruments. Dining under the stars surrounded by the sounds of the Nile.

Wilderness Star-Deck Dining — Live Folk Performance
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 | Exclusive Busoga Cultural Heritage — Bark-Cloth & Xylophone Music

A carefully curated dignified cultural day with community elders of the indigenous Busoga heritage — the 500-year history of the Busoga Kingdom and its deep connection to the Nile. Traditional bark-cloth clothing fabrication: a UNESCO-recognised craft. Local organic agriculture. Private performance of historic folk xylophone music and oral storytelling. Farewell multi-course dinner paired with vintage wines.

Exclusive Busoga Cultural Heritage — Bark-Cloth & Xylophone Music
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nairobi

Day 10 | Flight to Nairobi — JW Marriott Opulence

Relaxed breakfast watching the river rapids. Road transfer to Entebbe Airport. Short regional flight back to Nairobi. private guide to the JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi — five-star modern opulence in the heart of the city. Relaxed afternoon exploring premium hotel amenities. High-end spa session. Final celebratory multi-course dinner at the fine-dining restaurant.

Flight to Nairobi — JW Marriott Opulence
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 | Smooth International Departure from Nairobi

Final luxury breakfast at the JW Marriott. Private guided tour of Nairobi — Karen Blixen Museum, Giraffe Centre, high-end art galleries — if missed on Day 1. Opportunity to purchase high-end African art and crafts at a local gallery. Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your evening international flight home.

Smooth International Departure from Nairobi
Breakfast

Want to adjust the pace, swap a lodge, or extend this journey?

We are here for that. Every Finders & Keepers Safaris itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed departure — the pace, the lodges, the length, the dates and the party travelling can all be reshaped around you. Tell us what you would change and a specialist will rebuild the journey and price it honestly, before you commit to anything.

Tailor This Journey →
Tailor this journey with Finders & Keepers Safaris
Your Accommodation

Exceptional Properties Across Kenya and Uganda

JW Marriott Nairobi
NIGHTS 1 & 10
Nairobi · Nights 1 & 10

JW Marriott Nairobi

★★★★★ — VIP city estate on arrival and five-star JW Marriott opulence on the final night
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Angama Mara
NIGHTS 2–4
Maasai Mara · Nights 2–4

Angama Mara

★★★★★ — Ultra-exclusive camps perched on the Oloololo Escarpment with panoramic Mara plains views
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Hotel No.5, Entebbe
NIGHT 4 TRANSIT
Entebbe · Night 4 transit

Hotel No.5, Entebbe

★★★★★ — Boutique lakeside retreat for the Uganda arrival night
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Lemala Wildwaters Lodge
NIGHTS 5–9
Kangulumira Island · Nights 5–9

Lemala Wildwaters Lodge

★★★★★ — Ultra-exclusive private island with suites suspended over the roaring Kalagala Rapids
View Details
Why This Journey

What sets this journey apart

The Mara’s Migration plains and the source of the Nile in one journey, finishing in a suite suspended over the Kalagala Rapids.

01

The Mara at migration time

A stay at Angama Mara or Mara Plains Camp on the Oloololo Escarpment, with champagne sundowners as the plains turn gold and herds cross the Mara in season.

02

A balloon, then a bush breakfast

A dawn balloon over the Mara River with hippos, crocodiles and elephants below, followed by a gourmet breakfast in the open savannah.

03

A suite over the rapids

Lemala Wildwaters Lodge’s suites hang over the Kalagala Rapids on a private rainforest island, with a private speedboat to the historic source of the Nile and rare shoebill storks.

Best ValueJan – MayWetter trails, lower gorilla permit demand
Peak SeasonMay – SepPrime dry season for gorilla trekking
Shoulder SeasonSep – DecShort rains, good trekking conditions return
Best forHoneymoonersWater loversTwo-country trips
Plan this journey with us →

Inclusions & Pricing

Deposit Offer

Hold 2027 for half the usual deposit

Confirm any 2027 departure with a 15% deposit instead of the usual 30%, booked before 31 December 2026.

  • Your balance is not due until 60 days before departure.
  • The reduced deposit holds your camps, permits and internal flights at today’s rates, so a mid-year price movement does not reach you.
  • Applies to new 2027 bookings only and cannot be combined with a group discount on the same booking.
Solo Travellers

30% off the single supplement

Travelling on your own? We cut the single traveller supplement by 30% across selected 2027 departures.

  • The supplement covers the sole-occupancy cost a camp charges when a room sleeps one rather than two.
  • Available on selected camps and dates — your specialist will tell you which of your nights qualify before you commit.
  • Nothing changes about the journey itself: same guide, same vehicle, same rooms.
Group Offer

Bring three, the fourth travels free

Book four guests on a 2027 group departure and the fourth guest’s safari cost is on us.

  • The waiver covers the land portion — camps, meals, guiding and game drives.
  • International flights, visas, gorilla and chimpanzee permits and personal spending are excluded, as those are paid to third parties per head.
  • All four guests must travel on the same departure date and book together.
What's Included
  • ✓VIP meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport
  • ✓All private charter flights within Uganda
  • ✓Luxury lodge and boutique hotel accommodation
  • ✓All meals as specified
  • ✓All private guided game drives, treks, and activities
  • ✓All park and concession fees
  • ✓Gorilla trekking permit where applicable
  • ✓Complementary spa session on final day
  • ✓Private guide and expert tracker throughout
  • ✓Private charter Nairobi→Maasai Mara and return
  • ✓Hot-air balloon sunrise over the Mara River
  • ✓Gourmet bush breakfast in the open savannah after balloon
  • ✓Reed boma bonfire dinner in the Maasai Mara
  • ✓Regional cross-border flight Nairobi→Entebbe
  • ✓Speed boat transfer to Lemala Wildwaters private island
  • ✓Kalagala Falls private speed boat excursion
  • ✓Full-day open-air Nile river spa on suite deck
  • ✓Busoga Kingdom cultural encounter
  • ✓JW Marriott Nairobi final night and farewell dinner
  • ✓Travel insurance facilitated on your behalf (adjusted in your quote if you are already covered)
What's Not Included
  • ✗International flights to/from Uganda
  • ✗Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • ✗Personal shopping
  • ✗Premium alcohol beyond inclusions
  • ✗Optional activities not listed
  • ✗Tips and gratuities
  • ✗Uganda visa fees (USD 50 on arrival for most nationalities)
  • ✗International flights to/from Kenya

Package Pricing

Per Person Sharing$14,500
Single Traveller SupplementOn Request
ⓘ Price per person based on two guests sharing. All charter flights, regional cross-border flight, accommodation, gorilla permits where applicable, meals, and activities included. International flights to Nairobi not included.

2027 Season Pricing

The same unforgettable journey, priced by season.

Jan – May Best ValueWetter trails, lower gorilla permit demand
$13,350
May – Sep Peak SeasonPrime dry season for gorilla trekking
$16,250
Sep – Dec Shoulder SeasonShort rains, good trekking conditions return
$14,500

Flexible Payment Plan

1

Reserve today with a low early deposit to lock in your 2027 dates and pricing.

2

Spread the rest across convenient instalments, at a pace that suits you.

3

Final balance due one month before departure — nothing more to pay once you fly.

Speak To Us

Journey Details

Minimum Age

Varies by camp, activity and national park

  • Camps and lodges — Most safari camps accept children from six years, with shared game-drive vehicles usually from eight to twelve. Many properties will take younger children on a privately booked vehicle.
  • Walking safaris — Guided walking safaris carry a firm minimum of fifteen or sixteen years across most reserves. This is set by the licensing authority, not the camp, and is never waived.
  • Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking — Uganda and Rwanda both enforce a strict minimum of fifteen years. It is a national park regulation and there are no exceptions.
  • Hot-air balloon safaris — Operators generally require children to be at least seven, and tall enough to brace unaided in the basket on landing.
  • Family and exclusive-use camps — A number of our camps run dedicated family units, child-minding and tailored activity programmes, and will relax their usual age limit for a sole-use booking.
  • Talk to us first — Age limits vary from property to property and from activity to activity. Speak to our experts before you book, and we will pre-arrange the details with each lodge around the ages of the children travelling with you.

Safari Duffel

Duffel, safari hat, vest and hooded jumper

  • Your duffel — A soft-sided Finders & Keepers Safaris duffel, sized for the 15 kg limit on the light aircraft that move you between camps. Rigid suitcases cannot be carried on those flights at all.
  • What is inside it — A branded Finders & Keepers Safaris safari hat, a safari vest, and a hooded jumper for cold dawn starts and balloon mornings.
  • Yours to keep — The bag and everything in it is a gift, not a loan. Nothing is returned at the end of your journey.
  • Packing around it — Soft luggage, neutral colours, and layers. Laundry is included at nearly every camp, which is why 15 kg goes further than it sounds.

Note

Gorilla permits must be secured months in advance

Gorilla trekking permits are strictly limited and often sell out 4–6 months ahead, especially in July–September and December–February. Trekking involves genuine physical exertion over uneven, sometimes steep rainforest terrain.

  • Early starts — Safaris begin very early in the morning. Your guide will confirm what time you will be collected from your camp or lodge.
  • Tailoring this journey — If you would like this package with more or fewer days, arranged for a group, a family or a solo traveller, or with add-ons, reach out and we will tailor it for you.
  • Route changes — Your guide or driver may alter the route in certain circumstances, but every destination set out in the itinerary will be covered.

Documents

e-Visa required in advance, from $50

  • Passport — Valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with at least two blank pages for stamps.
  • One visa for both — The US$100 East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya and Uganda (and Rwanda) on one multiple-entry document, and costs less than two separate visas.
  • Or enter separately — Kenya requires its Electronic Travel Authorisation; Uganda requires an eVisa arranged in advance, with no visa on arrival for most nationalities.
  • Yellow fever — A yellow fever certificate is mandatory for Uganda and is checked at the border crossing.
  • Gorilla permits follow your passport — Uganda’s trekking permits are issued in your full passport name and cannot be transferred or amended.
  • We file it for you — Whether you are flying in from overseas or travelling from elsewhere on the continent, we complete and submit your visa application on your behalf. You hand us your documents once. We do the filing, chase the approval, and carry the confirmations in your travel pack so nothing rests on you remembering a reference number at a counter.
  • Most of Africa is open to you — The great majority of our African destinations are now either visa-free or issue a visa on arrival, so an embassy queue is rarely in your future at all. Where a visa on arrival does apply, we prepare and lodge the paperwork ahead of you — you reach the desk with a finished file rather than a blank form and a biro.
  • Before you travel — Entry rules change frequently and without much notice. Your specialist confirms the current requirements for every passport in your party at the time of booking, and checks them again before you fly.

Guaranteed Departures

Private, tailor-made departures on your dates, or join a small group

  • Once confirmed, you travel — When your departure date is confirmed, it is guaranteed. We do not cancel, merge or reschedule a confirmed departure for commercial reasons, however the final numbers fall.
  • What confirms a departure — A departure becomes confirmed once the agreed number of travellers has been reached and paid for in line with the agreed payment schedule. Places held without payment do not count towards it.
  • If the minimum is not reached — Where a group departure has not reached its agreed numbers, we tell you early rather than late, and you choose: move to the next available date, continue at a revised small-group rate, or take a full refund of everything you have paid.
  • Solo journeys — Solo and tailor-made itineraries carry no group minimum at all. Your dates are confirmed the moment your deposit is received.
  • Visas — We prepare and submit your visa application on your behalf. Please note that the granting of a visa rests solely with the immigration authority of the country concerned, and is never guaranteed by us.
  • Medication — We arrange malaria prophylaxis, together with anti-nausea and anti-anxiety tablets, for your journey. Any prescription medicine should be confirmed with your own doctor before you travel — they remain the final authority on what is suitable for you.
  • Africa is not always hot — Despite the stereotype, Africa moves through distinct seasons and mornings at altitude can be genuinely cold. A hooded jumper is provided for cold conditions, and for every guest joining a hot-air balloon safari.
  • Dietary requirements — If you have strict dietary needs, please tell us at the time of booking. This includes vegans, guests in recovery, non-drinkers, and anyone following a prescription from their doctor.
  • Travel insurance — We facilitate travel insurance for our clients. If you are already covered, please say so during booking so we can take it into account in your final quote.
  • Tailoring your quote — Some of our inclusions — hot-air balloon safaris, for example — may not be what you want. Point these out and we will adjust your final offer accordingly.
  • The Maasai massage & spa recovery — Guests travelling the safari circuit by road rather than by air should expect long and tiring days. The rough terrain of the jungle gives the vehicle a constant jolting ride, known affectionately as the Maasai massage. A spa session is provided at the end of your safari to recover.
  • What to pack — Neutral colours — khaki, olive and stone — and never camouflage, which is illegal for civilians here. For the forest treks you need long sleeves and trousers you do not mind tearing, sturdy waterproof boots already broken in, gaiters, a light rain jacket and a pair of ordinary gardening gloves for grabbing at vegetation on steep ground. Add layers for cold mornings at altitude and a sun hat for the drives.
  • Your safari duffel & kit — The duffel bag is used when flying into the parks, where luggage is limited to 15 kg per person. A branded Finders & Keepers Safaris safari hat and safari vest are also provided.

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