14 Days Best of Rwanda and Uganda Wildlife Safari Highlights Enquire Now
- Kigali City tour and a visit to Gisozi Genocide memorial to learn about the history of the country.
- Visit Butare National Museum and the Kings’ Palace.
- Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
- Gorilla tracking in Rwanda and Uganda.
- Boat ride on Kazinga Channel.
- Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Forest.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival – Kigali City Tour + Genocide memorial
Upon arrival with your morning flight, after completion of customs and immigration formalities you will be met by LIFETIME AFRICA EXPEDITIONS representative, you will be given a detailed briefing on your upcoming safari. Thereafter embark on a City Tour of Kigali including the Genocide Memorial site a grim reminder of a senseless massacre of innocent’s lives in 1994. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare. Lunch at hotel des Milles Collines famously known because of the movie Hotel Rwanda. This is the start of the 14 Days Best of Rwanda and Uganda Wildlife Safari.
Overnight at your hotel in Kigali.
Day 2: Kigali – Nyungwe Forest National Park
Early breakfast. Thereafter depart at 0800Hrs , drive to Nyungwe National Park Via Butare; a rainforest reserve of Nyungwe at an altitude range of between 1600 M-2950 M above sea level with temperatures varying between 0°C and 30° C; average day temperatures 15°C. Nyungwe receives rainfall ranging 1800-2500 mm per year. Rainy season is September to May, Dry season June to August with some dry weeks in December and January, the main features and attractions in Nyungwe forest include largest montane rainforest remaining in Africa, Mt. Bigugu (2925M), Kamiranzovu marsh (13 Km²). Nyungwe forest has 260 species of trees and shrubs and over 100 species of orchids and giant
lobelias. For those interested in botany, the flora in Nyungwe comes as an added bonus. On the way visit the National Museum and King’s Palace. Lunch in Butare thereafter proceed to Nyungwe National park.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Day 3: Nyungwe National Park – Chimps trekking and Canopy walk
Depart after early breakfast for a hike into Nyungwe Forest in search of Chimps. There is a lot more in Nyungwe than just chimps. Mangabeys, various other primate species plus lots of forest dwelling birds will be encountered on the way. For those interested in botany, the flora in Nyungwe comes as an added bonus, lunch at the lodge. After lunch, you will do a Canopy Walk.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Nyungwe National Park.
Day 4: Nyungwe National Park – Kibuye
Morning at Leisure. After lunch drive to Kibuye, which is one of the cities that is located on the shores of Lake Kivu. Upon arrival check in at your hotel for overnight.
Overnight: Moriah Hill Resort (Full board basis).
Day 5: Kibuye – Ruhengeri (Volcanoes National Park).
Have a leisure breakfast. After lunch drive to Ruhengeri. Thereafter, depart on a scenic drive North Westwards through the beautiful terraced hillsides that display Rwanda’s landscape. Arrive in Ruhengeri, the base for Gorilla trekking at the Parc National des Volcans. The town itself, located only 25km from Uganda border, is relatively a small city. The constant flow of humanity is quite remarkable. The Town has great views of the surrounding volcanoes. People are very friendly here and although a former Belgian colony (and thus French-speaking), many people speak English here. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Ruhengeri.
Day 6: Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Tracking
Early breakfast at your lodge. Early transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs. 0700 hrs; Registration where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening. There is a total of 80 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group. Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s Lead Guide briefs the trekkers of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point. Porters may be hired for the trek to carry your backpack and gear; Cost, US$10 per person/per day. We advise that you utilize this service. Trekking can take from two to six or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way. Have lunch at the lodge; Afternoon time/weather permitting, visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Ruhengeri.
Day 7: Volcanoes National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Buhoma Sector)
Have early lunch at your lodge. Thereafter drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Buhoma Sector) via Cyanika border. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest.
Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Gorilla Tracking
Have early breakfast at your lodge. An early morning will see you off on a chance-of- a-lifetime experience of tracking the mountain gorillas of Uganda in Buhoma area. A professional guide will lead you along, searching for these gentle giants, but be prepared for a long trek as they aren’t always easy to find. The trek will prove well worth it when you see these marvelous creatures in their natural habitat. There are no words to describe this visit to a “gorilla family home”. To sit in the forest close-up observing the family life of gorillas is mind blowing. Bwindi has 5 gorilla families residing in the wild. Return to the Lodge in the late afternoon for Lunch followed by Leisure the rest of your afternoon.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have breakfast at your lodge. Thereafter depart with Picnic Lunch Boxes and head to Queen Elizabeth which is the second largest national park in Uganda. 95 species of mammal and 547 species of bird has been recorded, it has one of the highest bio-diversity ratings of any national park in the world. Altitude is as low as between 900m to 1,000m which makes it warmer than other areas. Go through the Ishasha Plains as you enjoy a short game drive to spot the plains’ well known tree-climbing lions. Queen Elizabeth National Park covers an area of about 1978 km²; its position provides a magnificent view of the Rift Valley floor that occupies Lake Edward and George. Arrive at the Lodge and spend the rest of your afternoon at Leisure relaxing. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha Area).
Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have breakfast at your lodge. The day begins early when we start with a morning game drive, we search for Uganda kobs, lions, elephants, buffaloes and other wild animals in their natural habitat before returning for lunch. In the afternoon we take on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. Thanks to the abundant birdlife that is sighted, and the elephants buffaloes and hundreds of hippos that are cooling off at the shores, this cruise will definitely be one of the highlights of your safari. Dinner and overnight at your lodge at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 11: Queen Elizabeth National Park- Kibale National Park
Enjoy early breakfast at the Lodge. Thereafter drive to Kibale National Park, It is reputable of having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black-and- white colobus monkey and many others. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Kibale National Park.
Day 12: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park
Have a leisure morning at the lodge. Morning transfer to Kibale National Forest for registration, Chimpanzee tracking starts at 8am and takes 3-4 hours depending on where they are located. Enjoy observing the closest creature to human. Have Lunch at your lodge. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Kibale National Park.
Day 13: Kibale National Park – Entebbe
Have breakfast at your lodge. Today you will drive to Entebbe with a lunch en-route. Overnight at your lodge in Entebbe.
Day 14: Departure Transfer
Have breakfast at your hotel, Later you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.
End of the 14 Days Best of Rwanda and Uganda Wildlife Safari.