East Africa by Private Air

Often called the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda is filled with breathtaking landscapes that support diverse animal species — most famously some of the world's last wild mountain gorillas — and dynamic geography, including portions of both Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile. Arrive and check into your hotel.

Enjoy a drive through the stunning Entebbe Botanical Gardens, opened in 1898, which play host to a myriad of plants, birds and monkeys. In this serene setting, meet a special guest speaker who brings the past alive with stories of Kabaka Kings, the colonial era and today's presidency. Come away with a deeper understanding of Uganda's people and how they survived and triumphed.

Afterward, fly to Bwindi, have lunch at your lodge, and then visit Bwindi Village, on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, to review several initiatives set up by Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy. These include a women-owned bicycle shop, a bead-making enterprise, a local development program and the Bwindi Community Hospital and Nursing School. Return to the lodge for your welcome dinner.

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, settle in 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. Later, 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. Afterward, relax at your lodge before dinner.

Fly by private air to Serengeti National Park, via stops at customs and immigration in Uganda and Tanzania, taking in the incredible vistas and intimate viewing afforded by your low-level flight. The largest country in East Africa, Tanzania beckons adventurers from around the world to discover its vast natural bounty.

Arrive at your luxurious camp with its impressive tented suites, then set out on a game drive across the nearly 6,000-square-mile park, a habitat to countless wild species. Finish your day in classic safari style with a cooling cocktail, taking in the incredible atmosphere just before dusk.

Embark on morning and afternoon game drives, observing the timeless circle of life in the Serengeti, perhaps sighting giraffes, wildebeest, elephants and more.

On your last day in this incredible setting, keep your camera ready for a herd of buffalo, pride of lions or the lithe form of a cheetah, or any of the 500 resident species of birds.

Board your privately chartered flight to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve via stops at customs and immigration in Tanzania and Kenya. 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.

Upon landing, settle into your luxurious camp 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 en-suite tent, watching the African night sky from your deck.

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.

Later, 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.

After your morning game drive, relax with free time until lunch.

This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.

• Stop at a Local School supported by A&K Philanthropy to learn how our partnership with Life
• Straw is changing lives by providing access to safe, clean drinking water.
• Visit a Maasai Village to meet tribal members and get a feel for their traditional nomadic life.
• Set Out on a Guided Nature Walk for a final chance to view the reserve's wild residents.

Return to camp for a final game drive before your farewell dinner.

Fly to Nairobi by private charter for an afternoon at leisure in a dayroom reserved for you. This evening, privately transfer to the airport for your departing flight.