13 days 12 nights Uganda: Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari

Our representative will meet you at the airport and later after a short briefing transfer to your hotel in Kampala. You will check in and receive your room assignment. Typical hotel amenities include a restaurant, bar, an outdoor swimming pool, and a fitness centre; rooms are likely to feature air conditioning, satellite TV, wireless Internet, and private bath with hair dryer.

Your adventure begins at 8 am when you transfer from your Hotel to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Rhinos became extinct in Uganda in the early 1980s and the Ziwa site is being used as a breeding site for black and white rhinos. During our 2 hours at the sanctuary, we will see these creatures roaming around the 7,000 hectares of land and see their daily interactions.

As you leave the rhinos behind, proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, on the shore of Lake Albert where the River Nile roars through a narrow gap creating the Murchison Falls.

Wake up to an exhilarating start to the day as you embark on a game drive in the park to spot elephants, lions, giraffe, and other wildlife. This Murchison Falls safari does not stop on the land because, in the afternoon, you will take a relaxing boat trip on the iconic River Nile where, if you’re lucky, you’ll have a chance to see crocodiles, hippos, and an array of rare birds. You will see for yourselves the point where the River Nile joins Lake Albert, which is one of the major highlights of this trip. Feel the immense power and force of the falls as the spray hits your face and you will listen to the deafening roar of the water.  At the end of the boat trip, you will hike the famous ‘Top of the Falls’ where you will have spectacular views of the Murchison Falls along the Nile River, a perfect photo opportunity for the budding photographers.

We'll check out of the lodge first thing this morning. Then, around 8:15am, we’ll depart by safari vehicle for 4 hour-long drive to Kibale Forest. Arrive in time in the beautiful town of FortPortal. Marvel at the stunning palace of Toro Kingdom, the Royal tombs, the numerous shops and the mosque before driving on to Kibale forest, only a couple of kilometers ahead.

On arrival, you will check into your hotel. Kibale national park hosts the highest number of primates in the whole of East Africa including chimpanzees, baboons, black & white colobus monkeys and the blue monkey. Have a primate walk in the afternoon to Kanyanchu river camp; this is the most popular of all walks inside the park. It takes you through a diversity of flora zones and unveils a number of wild animals along the way living inside the forest. Head back to the lodge for dinner.

After morning breakfast, wake up early to track chimps near Kanyanchu. This can take you half a day. There are primates in the area like the golden monkey, L’Hoest monkey, baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, grey checked mangabey, red colobus, blue monkeys and pottos. Other animals include forest elephants unique from the common type, giant forest hogs and a striking tree species. Enjoy Lunch.

Later In the afternoon you’ll drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Fort Portal Crater Lakes, perhaps Uganda’s most iconic sight. These volcanic craters formed some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago and they provide an idyllic backdrop to the extensive hiking trail network in the area. Here, you will be able to enjoy the amazing views of western Uganda’s tea farmlands and plantations. If the weather is good, you’ll get a chance to spot the Rwenzori Mountain Escarpment in the distance. After a day full of spectacular views, you’ll check in to the lodge and relax in preparation for the following day’s game drives.

Once again, you’ll start your morning with a game drive where you can expect to spot wildlife species such as elephants, buffaloes, side-striped jackals, hyena, leopards, lions, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and giant forest hogs. What a way to start your day! After lunch, you’ll take a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel where you will continue your wildlife spotting, this time you will see hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, bathing elephants, and a range of beautiful birds. This will undoubtedly be another highlight of your tour.

After breakfast you will drive to Ishasha, the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. In Ishasha you will have a game drive in search of the unique tree-climbing lions. Only here the lions have the habit of climbing the trees. Afterwards you will proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable/Mgahinga National Park. The park is home to the endangered mountain gorillas. This fascinating mountain forest hosts chimpanzees and spectacular birds.

Today is the day that many of you will have been waiting for. You will embark on a full-day adventure to track the mountain gorillas in BwindiForestNational Park. The trek will commence with a short briefing on gorillas trekking rules to ensure the safety of both the guests and the gorillas. You will then start the trek into the ImpenetrableForest to encounter the gentle giants of BwindiNational Park.​ You’ll follow the expert guides, looking for signs of the gorillas and changing direction accordingly until you find them. After this rare and memorable experience is over, you will spend the rest of the day and night in BwindiNational Park. After your trek,you will join the Batwa cultural experience and later return to your lodge for a freshen up lunch and later in the afternoon transfer to Rwanda. Arriving at your lodge in the foothills of VolcanoesNatPark.

After an early breakfast and with your packed lunches; depart for Kinigi and on to the starting point of your hike. Mt Bisoke stands at 3700m; it has the typical conic shape of a “perfect” volcano and in its crater lays a deep crater lake. The volcano does not present an exceptionally demanding climb but it is nevertheless still a tough hike. The high elevation demands extra strength of climbers and the whole excursion can take between 5 hours and the whole day depending on the speed of the walk and the frequency of stops. The ascent typically takes around 3 hours. During the climb, you will cross a series of different vegetation habitats starting with bamboo forests, then moving into Hagenia – Hypericum forest and finally moving through Senecio – Lobelia bush near the summit. The trek starts at 07:00am from the Park’s headquarters in Kinigi. Porters can also be hired from the park headquarters but a professional guide from the park will accompany you for the hike. Return to your hotel to freshen up and later have your lunch then depart for Lake Kivu arriving for check in at your hotel. The afternoon is spent in this largest port on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu (You will be in the company of our guide to show you around). Enjoy a boat ride to one of the islands in Lake Kivu. Simply explore the town, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the local market or wander through the leafy streets admiring the old colonial buildings. Later stay for dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Today you’ll send your day relaxing around the Lake or go in a short around the islands on the Lake. Rest of the day at leisure.

Today we depart the lake town and drive to Kigali arriving early for a tour of Kigali city. Named in 1907 by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda; Kigali city is surrounded by lush hills of green and is referred to as the land of a thousand hills. Get to visit interesting spots that may include; The old Kigali, The old parliament, Kigali genocide memorial site. For this experience, it is extremely moving, challenging, educational and ultimately inspiring. The tour is very transparent and educational but very somber and humbling when you realize that over 25,000 deceased are buried on the site of the memorial.  Guaranteed you will feel every emotion during this visit. You will proceed to see the new Kigali,

Lunch at a local restaurant and later in the afternoon transfer to Akagera Nat park arriving late afternoon. Check in for dinner at Akagera Lodge.

Full Day Game drive in Akagera Nat Park, later in the evening transfer back to Kigali arriving early afternoon. Later transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Entebbe.

You’ll refresh, dinner and overnight.

One of Africa’s oldest national parks, Akagera is a 348-square-mile scenic game reserve of savannah, woodlands, and wetlands featuring a dozen lakes linked by channels and papyrus swamps teeming with crocodiles and hippos. Considered one of the safari world’s best kept secrets, the scenery, wildlife, birdlife, and one-on-one experience with nature doesn’t get much better than here as we’ll discover on our game-viewing drive.

Morning breakfast, go on a short visit the  Entebbe botanical garden before proceeding to the airport for flight back home.