This 10-day Peal of Africa and Rwanda Adventure Safari entails exploration of the best Safari parks, chimpanzees, Gorilla, and Golden monkey trekking. As well as beyond-primate trekking activities including Boat rides, Canopy walks, and community walks to mention but a few.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by our meet-and-greet lounge host who helps you through fast-track assistance with VISA and luggage collection. Please look for a white signboard with your name. After immigration and bag collection, you will then be handed over to our driver guide, who will transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight at Entebbe Protea Hotel or Lake Victoria Serena Hotel (Luxury), Lake Victoria Granada Hotel or Mestil Hotel (Midrange), Eureka Place Hotel and Suites or Pineapple Guest House (Budget)
DAY 2: TRANSFER TO KIBALE NATIONAL PARK
Today after breakfast at 06h00, your guide will take you for a 7-hour scenic drive to Kibale. Upon reaching Kibale forest, you will transfer to your lodge fully surrounded by the mystical calls of the monkeys followed by an evening at leisure whilst utilizing complementary activities offered by the lodge. Over a dozen primates inhabit this national park, and various types of monkeys grace the trees around your verandah. Close your eyes, and the soundtrack will provide an incredible appreciation for how remote you are.
Dinner and overnight at Kyaninga Lodge or Crater Safri Lodge or Primate Lodge (Luxury), Turaco Treetops or Isunga Lodge (Midrange), Chimpanzee guest house (Budget)
DAY 3: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING – COMMUNITY WALK AT BIGODI WETLAND SANCTUARY
After a paradisiac breakfast at 06h30, you will transfer to the Kanyancu visitor center and report to the ranger station at 07h00 for a briefing followed by searching through the trees as you set off for chimpanzee trekking. After an interesting and memorable search for the chimpanzees in the forest, you are privileged to spend 1 hour with them taking photographs and videos and return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch at 14h00, you will visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-based conserved effort for a village walk to immerse you into the interesting cultures of the community.
Dinner and overnight at Kyaninga Lodge or Crater Safri Lodge or Primate Lodge (Luxury), Turaco Treetops or Isunga Lodge (Midrange), Chimpanzee guest house (Budget)
DAY 4: QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK – AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE ON KAZINGA CHANNEL
Following a relaxed breakfast at 09h00, you will board your Safari vehicle and drive for 4 hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival, you will check in to your lodge followed by lunch. After lunch at 15h00, you will enjoy the afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel which will reveal a succession of giants. Elephant herds squirt water on the banks as large hippo pods roll on sandbanks, and crocodiles bathe in the sun. Some hippos escape the water to wander across the savannah and barge past a series of ungulates also in search of water. This astonishing extraordinary boat ride will make a gentle meditation from the exhilarating walk of the previous day in Kibale National Park. Later that evening, you will have a community hike to the crater lakes in the community including the famous twin lakes. After this breathtaking activity, you will then be transferred to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant Plains Lodge or Kyambura Gorge Lodge (Luxury), Katara Lodge or Elephant Hab Lodge or Twin Lakes Lodge (Midrange), Bush Lodge (Budget)
DAY 5: FULL-DAY GAME DRIVE IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast at 06h00, you will head out for an all-day game drive. Your guide will ensure to take you to every corner of the park to give you all the opportunity to site almost all the game in the park watch some of Africa’s unspoiled Savana and the BIG 5 game including lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards, giraffes, Hartebeest, Bushbucks, Jackal, hyena, oribis, Uganda kobs and many others. After this rewarding game drive in the main parkland, you will have lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge. After lunch, you will continue with the game drive as you head to the Ishasha sector to search for tree-climbing lions highlight of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will then return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Dinner and overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury), Enjojo Lodge (Midrange), Ishasha Pride Lodge (Budget)
DAY 6: TRANSFER TO KIGALI – CITY TOUR
On this beautiful day, wake up early and have breakfast before heading out and transferring to Kigali via Gatuna Border. Upon arrival, you will proceed to check in at your hotel followed by lunch. After lunch, you will be driven for 20 minutes to Kigali Genocide Memorial to commemorate the 1994 Tutsi Genocide where the remains of over 250,000 people are interred. After lunch at 14h00, you will then indulge yourself in a sightseeing tour around Kigali city including visits to the kimironko local market. After your sightseeing tour, you will return to the hotel for a relaxed evening and dinner whilst utilizing the complementary offers at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel or Marriott Hotel or Four Points by Sheraton or Radisson Blu Hotel (Luxury), Hotel des Milles Collines or M-hotel (Midrange) Chezlando Hotel (Budget)
DAY 7: TRANSFER TO NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK – CANOPY WALK EXPERIENCE
After breakfast on this exciting day amalgamating a series of cultural and historical heritage, your driver guide will pick you up and take you through a 2-hour scenic drive to Nyanza King’s Palace Museum which offers a detailed look into the Rwandan monarchical system and its abolition in the early 1960s. Among the most amazing and impressive icons here are the enormous, doomed structures that are handcrafted entirely with traditional materials. This tour will be 2 hours long followed by lunch in Butare. Later in the afternoon, you will visit the Huye Ethnographic Museum for an extensive look at ancient Rwanda’s history for 2 hours. Thereafter, you will proceed and drive for about 2 hours to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Upon arrival at the park, you will proceed to check in at your lodge followed by dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight at One and Only Nyungwe House (Luxury), Mantis Marina Bay Hotel (Midrange), Emeraude Kivu Resort (Budget)
DAY 8: CANOPY WALK EXPERIENCE – TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast at 06h00, you will drive to the park office for a briefing before you undertake the canopy walk experience at Uwinka Park Reception. You will hike to the suspended 60m-long bridge giving you a panoramic view of the forest and a glimpse of birds. The Canopy walk experience features unmatched marvelous scenery. Suspended above a ravine in the lush montane rainforest of Nyungwe National Park, the canopy walkway provides an exhilarating perspective on the ancient treetops and wildlife. Nyungwe forest is a hotbed of biodiversity. Along the hour’s walk to the canopy walkway from the Uwinka Reception Centre, visitors will see countless butterflies, orchids, and colorful birds, including many endemics to the region. After this exhilarating activity, you will be transferred to the Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi-Musanze. You will enjoy the beautiful views of the rolling hills and green vegetation.
Dinner and overnight at Bisate Lodge or One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge (High end), Amakoro Lodge or Bishop’s House or Virunga Lodge or Virunga Resort Inn (Luxury), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or Ingagi Parkview Lodge or Amarembo Gorilla village lodge (Midrange), Classic resort lodge or Lalocanda (Budget)
DAY 9: GOLDEN MONKEY TREK – GORILLA GUARDIANS’ VILLAGE
After breakfast at 06h30, transfer to Kinigi Park offices. At around 07h00 you will get a briefing about the Golden Monkey tracking code of conduct before heading out to the Golden Monkey tracking trails. After this intimate experience, you will return to the lodge for lunch. Thereafter, you will transfer to the Gorilla Guardians’ village to experience Rwanda’s cultural preservation through key aspects including the importance of cows, how to milk a cow, local banana beer making, traditional dance, basket weaving class by the Rwandan women, herbal medicine experience to mention but a few.
Dinner and overnight at Bisate Lodge or One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge (High end), Amakoro Lodge or Bishop’s House or Virunga Lodge or Virunga Resort Inn (Luxury), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or Ingagi Parkview Lodge or Amarembo Gorilla village lodge (Midrange), Classic resort lodge or Lalocanda (Budget)
DAY 10: GORILLA TREKKING – TRANSFER TO KIGALI – DEPARTURE
This is the highlight of your Safari. Wake up very early and have your breakfast. Following breakfast, you will be transferred to the park’s headquarters for a briefing by the guide about the requirements, rules, and regulations governing Gorilla tracking before you head off to the jungle in search of these gentle giants. You will make a beautiful hike through the green landscape and hills of the impenetrable forest of Bwindi. After trekking, you will for an hour watch them feed while the young ones are playing with the mothers, and then it’s time to say goodbye with your last photos and snapshots. Return to the lodge for lunch. Thereafter, you will take a 3-hour scenic drive to Kigali. Upon arrival at Kigali, you will have the opportunity to pick out some of Rwanda’s unique art pieces and blends including baskets, coffee, chilies, and many others at the selection of key Souvenir shops including Kimironko Market. You will then have a late lunch at Sundowner before transferring to the airport for your homebound flights.
Included
- All Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking permits
- All ground transportation in a 4WD Vehicle with a pop-up roof for easy game viewing and photography
- All game drives and Boat cruises
- Rhino trekking
- All other activities indicated in the itinerary.
- All Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary.
- English-speaking Experienced Safari guide
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- Refreshments and snacks in the vehicle.
Excluded
- All Tips to Hotels/Lodges/Camps staff and Safari Guide
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that are not accompanying meals.
- All flight/s and departure taxes and other taxes.
- Visa fees. Visas are available online or upon arrival at all Entry points.