There is wealth of adventure to be had in both Uganda and Rwanda especially now that tourists are beginning to rediscover our region. This trip is going to be small and intimate, mid-range accommodation in order to create a comforting course of your safari, you will be sighting the different people, capital cities of Uganda and Rwanda, cultural sites, the rich scenery (One of the regions in the world ranked amongst the first ten beautiful places you must visit) trekking in search of the apes and primates like chimps and gorillas, the game drives through Queen Elizabeth II and Akagere National Parks to search for the predators and grazers like the Lions, giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, elephants and hippos amongst other mammals, birds and reptiles. You will visit the museums for a closer look at the recent history of the region.
Trust me, Uganda and Rwanda will stay in your memory for a very long time.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
When you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, a Safari Specialist will be waiting to pick you up and take you to your hotel. At 1700hrs we shall have a welcome meeting brief from the safari specialist. In case you need help on anything, our Safari Specialist is on call to attend to you. Depending on what time your flight arrives, you may try out an optional activity or relax at your hotel.
Optional activities
- Kampala city tour
- Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary
- Uganda Wildlife Education Center
- Botanical gardens (nature walk & birding)
- Bicycle tour around Entebbe
- City walk
No meals included on this day
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja
You will be transferred to Jinja and upon arrival; you prepare yourself for some adventure.
Jinja town is one of Uganda’s largest towns and lies about 80 km east of Kampala overlooking the point where the Nile flows out of Lake Victoria and probably it is the Nile that is attracting more people other than the town itself.
It was initially the most industrialized town in Uganda with European and Asian settlers who had boosted up the economy but with the rise of some turbulent leaders like Idi Amin, the town’s economy collapsed with the expulsion of the mainly Asian foreign investors. However the town is gradually resurrecting to its former glory with the population increasing and so many suburban mansions coming up, good infrastructure and now the town provides some of the most popular and attractive tourist activities.
Optional activities
- Sunset cruise
- Village walk
- Spa activities
Meals: Breakfast /Dinner
Day 3: Free day in Jinja (optional activities)
Enjoy a free day in Jinja with a couple of optional activities to do.
Optional activities
- Sunset cruise
- Village walk
- Spa activities
- White water rafting
- Kayaking
- Quad biking
- Mountain Biking
- Fishing
- Horseback riding
- Bird watching
- River boarding
Meals: Breakfast /Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to kibale Forest
You will embark on a long drive with incredibly scenic views, passing through tea plantations and the lush green countryside which all characterize so much about Uganda. You will have lunch en-route and on arrival, you will enjoy the rest of the evening relaxing at your hotel.
Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau. The park is home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate including the chimpanzee and over 375 species of birds.
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking
Today you are to track Chimpanzees, over 5000 chimpanzees live in the wild here in Uganda and this makes Kibale forest the best place to track chimpanzees in the whole world.
You will embark on chimpanzee tracking with an experienced ranger and along you may come across some of the monkey species that live in this forest. No matter the time you locate the chimpanzees, you will only be allowed one hour of eye-to-eye contact with them as you watch their way of life in the wild and after trek back to the lodge.
If you don’t feel tired after the chimpanzee tracking, you can have a swamp walk in the Bigodi that can take you 2-3 hours. The walk takes you through small communities where locals may greet you with enthusiastic waves, grassland and then the swamp where you have chance to spot different types of monkeys that live in this area.
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy the morning relaxing at the lodge and later you will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth national park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. The park’s ecosystem which includes sprawling Savannah, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 bird species. Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffaloes, elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on unsuspecting Uganda Kobs.
You will then have an evening game drive where you will enjoy the prolific wildlife of Queen Elizabeth national park.
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner
Day 7: Wildlife safari drive & Launch cruise
After an early morning breakfast, embark on a wildlife safari drive and catch the morning sun rays in search for wildlife. Keep eyes peeled for lions, leopards, jackals, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and birds.
In the afternoon, you will take a boat safari on the kazinga channel that joins Lakes Albert and George. You will see lots of hippos and many more animals that may have come to the waterhole to drink water and bathe. You may see herds of buffaloes, elephants, lots of crocodiles, and beautiful birds perched in marshes and dead plants. You will then drive back to the lodge for an overnight.
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner
Day 8: Transfer to northern Rwanda/Volcanoes National Park
On this day we will embark on a whole days drive and cross to Rwanda, the country of beautiful people and remarkable scenery. While it is famous for its miraculous recovery from the trauma of the 1994 genocide, Rwanda’s best kept secret is the beauty of its landscape and a well preserved culture that has integrated effortlessly with modern customs. There is good reason why it is called “the land of a thousand hills”.
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner
Day 9: Golden Monkey tracking, Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy a trek into the National Park with the park guides to view a unique and endangered species, the “Golden Monkeys”. Watch these playful and lively creatures in their natural habitat. It is only in Rwanda where this interesting species has been successfully habituated.
“Golden Monkeys” normally and mainly live in the lower parts of the bamboo forest, they are not so socially “tight” as the Gorillas and Chimpanzees and the number in the habituated group can vary on a given day between 20 and up to 80. The species are lively, curious and “chattery” – and with a bit of luck you may have a close encounter with them – although they are also often seen high up in the trees.
Optional activities
- Iby’iwacu village visit
- Musanze caves
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner
Day 10: Gorilla tracking, Volcanoes National Park
Depart early and transfer to the National park to meet the Gorilla tracker/guide for orientation. Embark on the trek which can vary in length and difficulty, depending on the location of the gorilla family you will visit. Spend one hour observing these beautiful and endangered creatures, a truly privileged experience. Trek back to the lodge with the rest of the day at leisure or opt to visit the Dian Fossey museum.
Approximately 1000 Mountain Gorillas today exist in the world in the wild. They are found in three different locations in DRC, Rwanda & Uganda. In DRC and Rwanda, Gorillas live in similar Eco systems / areas. The Gorilla species found in these three areas are called the “Highland Gorillas”, the Latin name is “Gorilla Berengei” named after the first European person to see and encounter a Mountain Gorilla.
In Rwanda, there are ten habituated gorilla families that are open to visit – the visit to a gorilla family is done once per day and the duration to visit is limited to only one hour with the gorilla family. The time spent with them is limited due to conservation considerations and to minimize impact the day-to-day life of the gorilla family you are visiting.
It is important to be well prepared to trek – you never know if your total trek will be “short” or “long”. The total duration of trek can vary and be anything between 3 & 9 hours in length depending on the location of the gorillas, who are constantly moving. Proper hiking attire must be worn – you will be trekking in rain forest with lots of vegetation, undergrowth, nestles and normally a rather muddy terrain. You mainly walk where there are no paths apart from the occasional buffalo or elephant trails. After the trek, drive back to your lodge for late lunch and probably a much appreciated shower.
Caution: Proper hiking attire must be worn – you will be trekking in a rain forest with lots of vegetation, undergrowth, nettles and normally a rather muddy terrain. Only 1 hour is spent with the Gorillas and Chimpanzees to ensure their protection and conservation. Please note that if you are unwell with anything contagious, even a common cold, you may be denied any of the treks to ensure the safety of these creatures. The park regulation and trekking permit regulations will not be refunded if you are denied entrance due to illness.
Porter fees vary 10 – 20$
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner
Day 11: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, we will drive to Akagera National Park in the Eastern part of Rwanda along the border with Tanzania.
Akagera National Park is central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for Savannah- adapted species in Rwanda. The park boasts of its rich biodiversity and home to a number of rare species. In 2017, 18 Eastern black Rhinos were reintroduced from South Africa, after last individual was seen in 2007. In 2015, lions were reintroduced and the population doubled in the first year with the birth of eleven cubs in 2016.
This evening embark on your first wildlife safari in these varied terrain shelters to see the Zebras, giraffes, elephants, antelopes and hundreds of bird species.
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner
Day 12: Wildlife safari drive & launch cruise
Wake with excitement for yet another early morning wildlife safari in this stunning park in search of the Big Five, hippo’s, crocodiles and other mammals like the jackals, hyenas, and more antelope species. In the afternoon, you will have a launch cruise on Lake Ihema for more wildlife viewing.
In the evening, we will meet with a resident researcher or voluntary worker to engage us more on the ongoing works to conserve these creatures, an in depth lecture.
Caution: The order of activates with the researcher can change to either day 2 or 3. At all times you must abide with the instructions shared to you by the safari specialist.
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner
Day 13: Kigali city tour & Genocide Memorial museum
Embark on the orientation tour of Kigali and delve into the sombre history of the country with visiting the Dian Fossey museum where we will get a thorough understanding of her works and what is being done, eventually proceed to the capital of Rwanda, where we shall visit the Nyamirambo Women center see their works and how this lady has empowered women in the slums to earn a living and also educate them.
Close the day with a visit to Kigali Memorial genocide museum built on a site where over 2500 people are buried. It serves as a permanent memorial to all those who fell victim to the genocide in 1994 and remains a place for people to grieve those they lost. The center is a meaningful tribute to those who perished, and form a powerful educational tool for the next generation.
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner
Day 14: Departure at leisure
Meals: Breakfast
