Safari Overview:
The 13 Days Safari Uganda & Rwanda is one of the most detailed Safari packages that are organized for you to explore various tourists’ attractions in the two endowed countries of Uganda and Rwanda. The highly rewarding safari package will offer you that memorable time to encounter Mountain gorillas both in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes national Park. The 13 Days Safari will take you through the world’s primate Capital - Kibale National Park which is home to the highest number of habituated Chimpanzees in the whole of East Africa, Queen Elizabeth National Park-Uganda’s number one safari national park, Lake Bunyonyi dubbed the lake of a thousand islands .The thrilling Safari package will then connect you to different tourists attractions in the land of thousand hills-Rwanda, where you will have chance to explore Volcanoes national park, Lake- Kivu –home of adventure in Rwanda, Kigali Capital City –Cleanest City in East Africa. The safari will start in Kampala –the Capital City of Uganda and end in Kigali –the Capital City of Rwanda.
Safari Highlights:
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport & Transfer to Kampala.
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park, afternoon Fort Portal Crater Lake hike & visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves
Day3: Do morning Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Do an afternoon boat cruise
Day 5: Do morning game drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 6: Do gorilla trekking & an evening Cultural encounter with the Batwa Communities
Day 7: Transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi & do afternoon boat cruise and relaxation
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi & Do Batwa Heritage trail
Day 9: Do early morning Golden Monkey trekking & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 10: Do Gorilla Trekking & Musanze Cave tour.
Day 11: Trek to Dian Fossey Tomb & Transfer to Lake Kivu.
Day 12: Do an Early Morning boat cruise to Virgin Islands & Transfer to Kigali City
Day 13: Kigali City Tour.
Description:
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport & Transfer to Kampala.
Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our English speaking driver guide who will transfer you to your pre-booked hotel in Kampala. Depending on the time of arrival, our driver guide will take you on a city tour for an exhilarating introduction with the capital City of the Pearl of Africa. Visit some interesting sites such as Namugongo Martyrs Shrine -place where a number of Christians were burnt alive after failing to denounce their religion, Bahai Temple -the only mother Temple of the Bahai faith in Africa, Uganda Museum, Kasubi tombs and of course Ndere cultural Centre in the evening. After exploring the city attractions, retire back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Sheraton hotel (Luxury /Upmarket), Humura Resort (Standard/Mid-Range Hotels), Buziga Country Resort (Budget).
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park, afternoon Fort Portal Crater Lake hike & visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves.
After breakfast in your respective Kampala hotel/lodge, you will depart Kampala driving on the south western direction to Fort Portal 332km about 4-5 hours’ drive. The drive will take you through the impressive country side landscapes with rural setting and local populations. Arrive in Fort Portal town for lunch after which you will continue to do the Fort Portal Crater Lake Hike to gain impressive views of the Fort Portal explosion crater. You will also visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves with a magical Nyakasura River falling over them forming beautiful water fall. The caves have breast like features which the locals attach a great cultural connotation and are thought to date back to the Chwezi era. Retreat from the activity and get to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Mid-range/Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).
Day 3: Do morning Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon
Following an early morning breakfast, embark on the memorable Chimpanzee trekking encounter in the natural habitat of primate Capital of the world – the Kibale Forest National Park. The Park boasts of 13 primate species including the world endangered species of the Chimpanzees which have been fully habituated increasing the chance of encountering them to 90%. The chimp trekking encounter in the primates Capital starts at Kanyanchu tourism center at 8:00am local time in the morning and the experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority Park rangers are dedicated to lead you throughout the whole rewarding processes of trekking the Chimps in their natural Habitat. The trek exposes you to stunning flora, other primate species including black and white colobus monkey and birds before meeting confronting the chimps. The Chimpanzees will lure you in a state of amazement as they swing through the branches, make pant hooting calls, play with each other, and imitate your body language along with other features that will make your one full hour with them a memorable experience of its own. Retreat from the activity which tends to take 2 – 5 hours to embark on your lodge for relaxation and lunch. After lunch, transfer to Bigodi wetland for an afternoon wonderful nature walk. Bigodi wetland, lies in close distance to the park thus connecting there is less hectic. The Bigodi wetland walk exposes you to typical eco –tourism encounter in Uganda. The impressive flora and fauna existing along with the local community is indeed rewarding to encounter. The sights of great blue turaco and the Sitatnga may not be missed. Retreat from the activity back to lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Mid-range/Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Do an afternoon boat cruise
Have a relaxed breakfast and thereafter embark on the transfer drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 3 hours’ drive excluding en route stopovers. You will have a stop at Rwenzori Art foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa in the shadows of Rwenzori Mountains. The process of sculpture making of which you will be free to participate in will be rewarding. The extension to visit the Ruboni community wax and craft center expose you the local traditions and the applicability of indigenous knowledge to contemporary development. Continue to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, drive through the crater are with possible views of the olive baboons and elephants not forgetting magical sceneries before connecting to Mweya for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise which will offer you possibilities of encountering Hippos, Nile crocodiles , wild game drinking on the channel side and counts of water birds. Retire in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic
Day 5: Do morning game drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up very early in the morning like at 6:00am, take your early morning cup of coffee and then afterwards embark on the game drive at 6:30am in the rolling savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you through Kasenyi with the opportunities of meeting the nocturnal wildlife species when they are retreating back to their hiding grounds and also encountering the early morning risers when they are starting their daily activities of looking for food. The ranges of wild game which may be seen during the game drive include the elusive leopard, defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, Side stripped Jackal; Oribis elephants, lions, buffaloes, Antelopes among others. The tracks are well designed to increase you possibilities of encountering wild game in their natural habitat of Queen Elizabeth National Park. After 3 -4 hour game drive about 200 kilometers, you will retire back to the starting point. Thereafter, embark on the interesting drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive will take you through the prominent Ishasha sector where you will have possibilities of encountering tree climbing lions that tend to lie on the branches of fig trees and also have stopover for Lunch. Afterwards continue with the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).
Day 6: Do gorilla trekking & an evening Cultural encounter with the Batwa Communities.
After your early morning hefty breakfast, your driver guide will drive you with your packed lunch, bottled water, to the Park head Quarters in your respective gorilla trekking region for an early morning briefing about etiquettes of gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. While at the park headquarters, you will join other trekkers and you will be divided into groups of eight individuals who are only allowed to trek one habituated Gorilla family. After briefing, UWA experienced ranger guide will lead you to the trail heads where thrilling gorilla trekking experience starts from. You will entre in the ancient, thick, dark impenetrable forest to begin hiking the hills and slopping the valleys when looking for the unique species of the mountain gorillas inhabited in the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The trek can take you between 2-8 hours to meet face to face with the mountain gorillas and once up close, you will be allowed to spend one magical hour with these stunning apes. During this time you can decide to sit down listen to gorilla crumble, study how these apes go about their daily activities and you can take as many photos as possible. When the one hour is done, you will walk back to the park headquarters and retire back to your lodge for late Lunch, relaxation. After relaxation, you will be driven to the nearby Batwa community for memorable, refreshing cultural encounter. Here you will be guided by a local guide who will take you to the different communities to see how people have managed to survive through farming. You will see how local brew is processed from fresh Bananas and forest remedies to get beer and Waragi and also enjoy the performances done by the local Batwa women groups. After that interesting cultural encounter, you will drive back to your respective lodge for dinner and overnight. Thereafter the activity, you will retreat back to your lodge for dinner, memory sharing and overnight.
Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).
Day 7: Transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi and do afternoon boat cruise and relaxation
After an early morning breakfast, you will depart Bwindi driving through the fascinating Kigezi Highlands for an afternoon boat cruise, relaxation, dinner and overnight in Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is another major tourist stopover that is undeniably amazing. It is the second deepest lake in Africa; it contains lots of the tasty crayfish, so get set for a culinary delight. Bunyonyi is a local word that means “many small birds” in direct translation. It’s a perfect stopover for committed birders and travellers who are from hectic gorilla trekking activities. On arrival to Lake Bunyonyi, you will drive to your lodge for check-in, lunch and you proceed to catch up with the afternoon boat cruise ,also participate in refreshing activities such as swimming in the bilharzia free waters of Bunyonyi, you can also enjoy the evening nature walks in the Bunyonyi Islands .After exploring the different adventurous activities in lake Bunyonyi, you will retire to your lodge to chill in the fire place while enjoying cool evening of Bunyonyi, have your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket/Luxury), Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort (Midrange/Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget/Basic
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi &Do Batwa Heritage trail
After an early morning breakfast, you will embark on drive transfer of 80kms from Bunyonyi to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. On arrival to the park, you will drive direct to your pre-booked lodge in Mgahinga National Park for relaxation and lunch. After lunch, embark on exploring the Batwa trail. The Batwa Trail is such an incredible experience as it takes you through the thick forests of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. During this Batwa trail tour, the Batwa local guide will demonstrate to you their hunting techniques; how they used to gather honey; point out medicinal plants and demonstrate how to make bamboo cups. The tour will lead you to sacred Garama Cave- once home to the Batwa King, where the women of the community perform a sorrowful song which echoes eerily around the depths of the dark cave, and leaves you with a striking and moving sense of the richness of this fading culture. Thereafter fully exploring the Batwa trail, you will retire back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mountain Gahinga Lodge (Luxury), Mucha Hotel (Standard/Mid-Range) Amajambere Iwacu Camp (Budget)
Day 9: Do early morning Golden Monkey trekking and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for an early morning briefing about the etiquettes to follow when trekking the golden monkeys in the hilly forested areas of Mgahinga national park. After briefing, UWA Ranger guides will lead you to Gahinga trail head to start the trek. You will start the hike through stunning bamboo forests to encounter these attractive and endangered primates. Once-up close to the golden monkeys, you will be allowed one hour to spend with these striking creatures. After the one hour, you will retreat to the starting point and thereafter drive back to the lodge for refreshment and lunch. After lunch, embark on transfer drive of 68kms about 1-2 hours from Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. The drive journey will take you through impressive landscape sceneries of south western part of Uganda before crossing to the hilly landscape of Rwanda through Cyanika border. On arrival to Volcanoes National Park, you will drive to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Standard/Mid-range), Muhabura Hotel (Budget).
Day 10: Do Gorilla Trekking and Musanze Cave tour.
After taking an ebullient breakfast, you will be transferred by your driver guide to the park headquarters for an early morning briefing about gorilla trekking etiquettes in Volcanoes Park. While at the park headquarters, you will meet other trekkers and you will be divided in groups of eight individuals who are allowed to trek one habituated mountain gorilla group. After briefing, you will be led by ranger guide to hike through the verdant jungle searching for mountain gorillas. The activity which will take 2-8 hours needs someone to be physical fit since it involves a lot of hiking the hills and slopping the Valleys. Gorilla trekking process is tedious but impressive when you finally set your small eyes direct to bit big round eyes of the mountain gorillas. When you eventually meet the gorillas, you will be allowed one hour with them, seeing them feed, play and look for their young ones. While staying with the gorillas, you will be required to maintain a distance of 7 meters away, also turn off the flash of your camera as you take pictures. Immediately after one hour, you will return back to the trail head and thereafter transfer back to your lodge for late lunch and relaxation. After lunch, embark on Musanze Cave tour through the tourist walkways, trails and stairs that take you to the dark interior of the caves that illustrates a picture of a house with several rooms and corridors. The tour will offer you an in-depth understanding of the geological, geographical as well as historical development of the globe. After exploring the cave, retreat back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Standard/Mid-range), Muhabura Hotel (Budget).
Day 11: Trek to Dian Fossey Tomb and Transfer to Lake Kivu.
After taking breakfast, embark on trek to Dian Fossey Tomb. The trek will offer you golden opportunity to visit the Dian Fossey Tomb and also explore the house where this famous American researcher was killed from and also listen to the experienced guide explain to you the history of the fallen conservationist. Afterwards, you will retire back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. After lunch, embark on transfer drive of 62kms about 1-2hour to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi town. On arrival to Gisenyi town, you will drive direct to your pre-booked lodge within Lake Kivu for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodations: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (Luxury), Cormoran Lodge (Mid-Range)
Day 12: Do an Early Morning boat cruise to Virgin Islands & Transfer to Kigali City
After an early morning breakfast, embark on boat cruise to explore the Virgin Islands like the Napoleon’s Hat Island. While at Hat Island, you may ascend to the peak of the hat to view thousands of Angola bats in the blue skies. You can also enjoy swimming in the, Crocodile free, bilharzia free water of Lake Kivu and after exploring the adventurous activities retire back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. After lunch, embark on transfer drive to Kigali Capital City for soul attaching City tour. On arrival to Kigali, you will connect to your pre-booked Kigali hotel/Loge for dinner and Overnight.
Accommodations: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury/Upmarket), Hotel chez Lando (Mid-Range/Standard), Hotel Okapi (Budget)
Day 13: Kigali City Tour& Departure.
Immediately after taking breakfast at your place of stay in Kigali, embark on an early morning City tour. The city tour will take you through Gisozi genocide memorial center where you will have time to listen to the comprehensive history of Rwanda during the 1994 genocide and the events of the massacres, including personal accounts. You will view the Photographs, video clips, and artifacts of the genocide. After touring the site, you will proceed to other attractive sites like Nyamata church, local markets within the city and Craft shops. There after exploring the unique attractions within Kigali City; you will retire back to the lodge to have lunch and immediately after lunch, the driver guide will drive you to Kanombe Airport for your scheduled flight back home.
