Your 8 Days Best Safari Trip Rwanda Uganda will take you to different national parks in Rwanda and Uganda. You will engage in several activities like game drives, boat cruise, golden monkeys and Batwa community encounters.
Day: 1: Pick up from Kigali International Airport and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our professional driver guide, who will brief you about your safari. In case you arrive early. You will have a Kigali City Tour, expect excursions to places like local and crafts markets, the Genocide memorial which is a resting place to over 250,000 victims of the genocide against the Tutsi. The place is now a tourist site and learning center that attracts people from all over the world. You will then transfer to Nyungwe forest for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Nziza Eco lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking – Canopy Walk
Wake up early for breakfast at the lodge and prepare for today’s activity. The driver will take you for the briefing which starts at Uwinka by 5:30 am. Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda starts earlier than chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest of Uganda because the chimps are more mobile. After the briefing, park officials will assign you one of the trails depending on the number of participants. Each group will be driven to the starting point of the trek.
During your time with them expect to observe individuals grooming, breast feeding, mating and playing. Unlike mountain gorillas, chimpanzees spend a lot of time on top of trees which can be very inconveniencing if you want to take good photos. They are also very mobile and rarely stay in one place for a long time like gorillas. The good thing is that they are very noisy and easy to detect even in very thick forest.
During chimpanzee tracking, expect to spot other smaller species of primate including Hamlyn’s Monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, golden monkeys, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, Angola Colobus, Silver monkeys, Olive Baboons, Red-tailed Monkeys, grey-cheeked Mangabeys, vervet monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys. Nyungwe forest is one of the top places for birding in Rwanda. Apart from small primates, expect to spot birds like the Rwenzori Turaco, great blue Turaco, paradise flycatcher and forest hornbills among others. Throughout the activity, the park guides will share information about each of the species encountered, their behavior, feeding and reproductive habits. It is important to note that there is no guarantee that you will see chimps in Nyungwe forest because the chances are only 89%.
Later, you will head out for an Iconic Canopy Walk Experience along the Igishigishigi Trail. Here, you will enjoy some of the best view over Nyungwe Forest. For the bird lovers, expect a plethora of birds here. Return later to your lodge for relaxation, dinner as well as an overnight.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Nziza Eco lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Iby’ Iwacu Community Encounter
Today, you will hit the road for a transfer to Volcanoes National Park, upon arrival, check into your lodge for Today, you will have breakfast, collect your packed lunch and proceed to the Iby’Iwacu Community for a cultural experience. While here, engage with the locals and get to learn more about their history, get ready to be crowned King and Queen of the day.
dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Le Bamboo Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After an early morning breakfast, you will head out of your lodge to the park ranger’s post. The golden trekking activity starts at 7am with a briefing from the ranger’s post. During the briefing, you will be briefed on the dos and dont’s of the activity and what to expect. After the briefing, you will get into the Volcanoes to trek these endangered species. The activity takes between 1-3 hours and once you locate them, you will observe them jump from tree to tree and feeding on bamboo shoots. And then later, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park via the Cyanika boarder point. Upon arrival, you will just check in and relax, have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience
Have breakfast and proceed to the rangers’ post. You will receive a briefing from a ranger guide on the do’s and don’ts during gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure and encounter. The beauty of this rainforest is spectacular! The area offers a steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The terrain and the time it takes varies according to the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. After, you will have a close encounter with the pygmies who live in the forest. Take part in their cultural experience and return to your lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Sector
After an early morning breakfast, you will hit the road for a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha famous for tree climbing lions. Tree climbing lions can only be spotted at Ishasha, though they can be hard to spot sometimes mostly when they are down hunting for prey. However, if spotted, is a great highlight of your safari as the sights are so spectacular. After, you will proceed to your lodge, check in and relax.
Accommodation: Twin Lake Safari Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Morning Game drive and Afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
After an early morning breakfast, you will proceed for a morning game drive on the Kasenyi plains and be on the lookout for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants, as well as lions and leopards (though hard to spot), among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife, including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others, will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds on the water shores.
Accommodation: Twin Lake Safari Lodge or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
After a relaxed breakfast, you will have a city tour in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Expect an excursion to places like, the Kabaka’s palace, the Kabaka’s lake, local food markets, the craft village and so much more. After lunch, you will transfer to the airport for your flight back home, marking the end of your 8 Days Safari with us.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
The Package Price Includes
- Accommodation on full board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari land Cruiser
- An English-speaking driver guide
- All Enroute meals and drinking water
- All park entry fees
- All activities
- Government taxes
The Package Price Excludes
- International and Domestic flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Tips
- All items of personal nature