Rwanda and Uganda Safari

Day 1: Welcome to the land of a thousand hills

Your international flight lands in Kigali, where a private transfer will take you to your overnight accommodation in preparation for your Rwanda and Uganda Safari. Kigali is referred to as the land of a thousand hills and thus you will be able to view the beautiful terrains of the land

Day 2: Wildlife adventure at Akagera National Park

Akagera might be small but it packs a great number of wildlife. The savannah experience here might not be the same as that of Masai Mara and Serengeti, but it offers some exciting sights, including the big five.

Your tour starts early with an early morning breakfast then embark on a journey to Akagera. The trip is picturesque, as you leave behind the thousand rolling hills in Kigali and head to the flat savannah landscape of Akagera.

Some wildlife that we expect to encounter are elephants, lions, the elusive topi, the cape buffalo, towering giraffes, zebras and the waterbucks. There is also an abundance of remarkable bird life with over 500 bird species to be observed in the many diverse habitats of the park. Overnight in the park 

Day 3: Transfer to Uganda

We will have a short game drive at Akagera and head to Uganda. A leisurely drive through deep forest as we head to Kibale National Park.

A good road links Kayonza with the border post of Kagitumba. On the Ugandan side, the road winds through the beautiful hillside that characterizes much of this southern region of the country. Lunch at Mbarara. Continue via Ibanda to Kibale National Park. Overnight near the park

 Day 4: In search of Kibale's Chimpanzees

Early at 7:00 am, you will be driven to the headquarters where you will be briefed about chimpanzee trekking. By 8:00 am, you will be starting your search for the chimpanzees within the park. These primates are the closest relatives to human beings and they share 98% of their DNA with that of human beings. Along the trek, you will be able to see other wild primates like Black and white colobus monkeys, grey-checked Mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies, and many bird species. These primates are playful; thus, you must be extra attentive to take beautiful pictures on your trek. Later on in the day after the trekking experience, you will visit Bigodi swamp which is also good for watching primates and birds. It’s mainly maintained by the local people and they earn a living from there. You will enjoy many bird species here including; the great blue turaco, and many more, the other primate species to view here include; the baboons, mongoose, otters, bush pigs as well and bushbucks. It’s upon this that you will be able to directly support the communities in their projects and foster their human manpower.

Days 5-7: Wildlife encounters & River Nile Boat ride at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s premier wildlife destination, with 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species calling the region home. Morning and afternoon game drives through the park are most rewarding, with elephants, buffalo, leopards, spotted hyenas and lions being regular sightings.

Thrilling game drives arenu2019t the only way you get to explore this famed national park. The Kazinga Channel is the lifeblood of Queen Elizabeth National Park and attracts a varied range of animals to its water, including one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos year-round. A Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise is included in your itinerary, providing a great game-viewing alternative. A dash of culture is sprinkled into your tour with a visit to the Omwani Women’s Coffee Cooperative – a community-based initiative that offers vocational training and an alternative, but sustainable, source of income to local women and their families. A highlight of this cultural experience is sure to be sampling the best cup of coffee in Uganda, the beans of which are grown, harvested and processed by these amazing women.

Day 8 & 9: Track Gorillas and Golden Monkeys at Mgahinga

A light aircraft flight takes you from Kasese to Kisoro. Here, a comfortable transfer sees that you arrive at Mount Gahinga Lodge by late morning. This luxury exclusive-use lodge occupies one of the most enviable locations in Western Uganda. Nestled in the foothills of the famous Virunga Volcanoes, you’ll enjoy the most picturesque views of the three mighty extinct volcanoes from the setting of a beautiful landscape of gardens.

Venture into Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in search of the magnificent mountain gorillas and the rare golden monkeys. Gorilla trekking is a captivating and life-changing experience. Spending time with these gentle giants and watching them interact within their natural habitat is an unforgettable encounter. Golden Monkeys are a little harder to track down, but there’s no better feeling of accomplishment than when you finally spot these sprightly endangered creatures as they leap from tree to tree.

Day 10 & 11: Trekking Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda

Bid farewell to your tour of Uganda as you cross the border into warm and friendly Rwanda. The comfortable yet exquisitely luxurious Virunga Lodge is your home away from home for the next three nights. This charming lodge is set on the crown of a high hill, providing incredible 360-degree views of the surrounding wilderness, as well as the five extinct Virunga Volcanoes.

There are only a handful of places in the world where you can encounter gorillas face-to-face. Uganda and Rwanda are the two premier destinations to do so. And since you got to experience tracking gorillas in Uganda, it’s only right that you get to tick it off in Rwanda too. Gorilla trekking expeditions in Volcanoes National Park are one of the best wilderness adventure activities on the African continent.

Day 12: End of Your Rwanda and Uganda Safari

Your journey through Uganda and Rwanda ends here in Kigali. Savour your final breakfast in Africa before being transferred to Kigali International Airport to catch your departure flight home.