13 DAYS UGANDA RWANDA GORILLA SAFARI

The Uganda-Rwanda safari is a remarkable adventure that combines two countries with similarities yet unique differences. This safari takes you through the magnificent rift valley belt in Uganda, offering a chance to witness its unique wildlife and water features such as the famous Murchison Falls. Cultural experiences abound as you traverse the western part of Uganda and continue into Rwanda, where you can’t miss the thrilling canopy walk and captivating traditional dances. Book your Uganda-Rwanda safari now and experience the best of both worlds!

Day 1: Arrival & transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our representative who will transfer you to your hotel for a briefing on the safari and your deserved rest at Cassia lodge or Bougainvillea hotel

Day 2- Murchison Falls: Today you depart for Murchison Falls. The journey will take 7 hours with a stopover at Zziwa rhino sanctuary home to the rhinos alongside spectacular views of Lake Kyoga. The zziwa rhino sanctuary is a program meant to reintroduce the rhino back in Uganda after extinction from poaching in the 80s. Lunch will be in Masindi town thereafter continuing your journey to the Murchison national park with a game drive en route. Arrive at your lodge for dinner and overnight at Murchison River Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge (C) or Pakuba Lodge (M). (FB)

Day 3: Game viewing and launch trip. After the morning breakfast, you will transfer to the delta circuit where you will have spectacular views of the beautiful acacia savanna vegetation, Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, lions, waterbuck, buffalos, oribi, elephants, and baboons browsing in the lovely savanna grasses. In the afternoon, you will drive to the bottom of the falls for a launch cruise providing you with great views of various bird species such as Abyssinian ground hornbill, grey crowned crested crane, African fish eagle, goliath heron, malachite kingfisher, and shoebill stork alongside water animals such as Hippos, crocodiles and waterbucks among others. Dinner and overnight at the lodge Murchison River Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge (C) or Pakuba Lodge (M). (FB)

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale forest national park You will have a morning breakfast and then transfer to Kibale forest national park. This will take you approximately 7-8 hours with lunch en route. Reach Kibale in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge or Crater Safari Lodge (C) or Chimpanzee Forest Guest House or Isunga Lodge (E) FB

Day 5: Chimp trekking in Kibale Forest & transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park After an early breakfast, transfer to the national park headquarters for the briefing before trekking. At 8:30 am, transfer to the starting point for trekking trails and then hike into the forest searching for the chimpanzees. Trekking time will vary between 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the movements of the chimpanzees and where they slept the previous night. Besides the chimpanzees, you will also encounter other animals like grey-checked mangabey, L’Hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and vervet monkeys among others. Return to the Lodge for refreshments and lunch. Thereafter in the evening transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant plains lodge (C) Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge (M) Enganzi Lodge (E). Full Board

Day 6: Game drives & kazinga channel launch cruise You will wake up very and at 6:00 am drive to the open savannah grasses for game viewing. There you will see a variety of animals such as herds of elephants, buffalos, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks, antelopes, topis and Uganda kobs, lions, and leopards browsing in the park. The game drive will then return to the lodge for late breakfast and the rest waiting for hot lunch. After lunch at 2:00 pm, transfer to Kazinga channel for a launch cruise. The channel connects lakes Edward and George and will provide you with a clear view of various birds such as ibises, yellow-billed stalk, Hammer-kop, African fish eagles, and African kingfishers alongside animals such as buffalos, elephants, crocodiles, and Hippos on the water shores. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant plains lodge (C) Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge (M) Enganzi Lodge (E). Full Board

Day 7: Ishasha game drives- Bwindi forest national park Have a morning breakfast, check out from the lodge and then drive to the ishasha southern sector of the national park home to the tree-climbing lions. You will have a stopover at Savannah Hotel for lunch and then proceed to Bwindi forest national park reaching in the early evening. Dinner and overnight at Mahogany springs lodge (L) Bwindi Gorilla forest camp (M) Bakiga Lodge (B)

Day 8: Mountain gorilla trekking – Batwa communities After a very early morning breakfast, transfer to the national park headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking. At 2:30 am, you will hike into the jingle following specific trails depending on the allocated mountain gorilla family. Trekking time will depend on the movements of the gorillas and where they slept the previous night. After meeting the gorillas, you will spend an hour observing their characters and taking photographs after which you will drive back to the lodge. In the evening, you may visit the Batwa local communities who will tell you more about their traditional forest life. Dinner and overnight at the lodge mahogany springs lodge (L) Bwindi Gorilla forest camp (M) Bakiga lodge (B)

Day 9: Transfer to Rwanda & Kigali city tour. You will have a morning breakfast and then transfer to Rwanda which will take you roughly 3 hours via Kisoro kyanika border. On reaching Kigali, you will do a city tour to various tourism sites in the city such as the Kigali genocide memorial center, presidential palace and the Kigali Convention Center among others having lunch at Frame tree village. Later, you will then proceed to Volcanoes national park for dinner and overnight at Mountain gorilla view lodge (C) Da Vinci gorilla lodge. (M) Gorilla solution lodge (B)

Day 10: Mountain gorilla trekking and Ibyiwacu cultural village. Early in the morning, have breakfast and transfer to volcanoes national park headquarters in Kinigi for a simple briefing about gorilla trekking by the park rangers. From there, hike into the forest in follow of the allocated gorilla family with which you will spend an hour but although you spend an hour with the gorillas, the time to spend in the forest varies depending on the movements of the gorillas and where they slept the previous night. After trekking, go back to the lodge for refreshments. In the evening, you will transfer to Ibyiwacu cultural village where you will be introduced to Rwanda culture in form of traditional dances, songs and poems. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge Mountain gorilla view lodge (C) Da Vinci gorilla lodge. (M) Gorilla solution lodge (B)

Day 11: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park After the morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and then transfer to Nyungwe forest national park with lunch en route. The whole drive will take you roughly nine hours to reach the lodge in the evening. Dinner and overnight Nyungwe forest lodge (C) Nyungwe Top view hotel (M) Gisakura Guest House (B) FB

Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking You will have an early morning breakfast and then transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about chimpanzee trekking. You will then get into the forest by following the chimpanzees with which you will spend an hour. You will also encounter other animals such as elephants, monkeys, and bird species among others. In the evening, you may go for a community walk. Dinner and overnight at the lodge Nyungwe forest lodge (C) Nyungwe Top view hotel (M) Gisakura Guest House (B) FB

Day 13: canopy walk and nature walk After breakfast, you will go for a canopy walk which will provide you with an aerial view of the entire national park and wildlife, and then go back to the lodge for lunch and relief. In the evening, you will go on nature walks where you will follow different trails in the forest leading to different sites in the forest. You will enjoy the fresh air in the forest together with the sweet sounds of birds singing up in the trees. Dinner and overnight at the lodge Nyungwe forest lodge (C) Nyungwe Top view hotel (M) Gisakura Guest House (B) FB

Day 14: Departure Have morning breakfast and drive to Kigali for the return flight