10 DAYS UGANDA - RWANDA SAFARI.
Overview.
This 10 Days safari takes you to explore Uganda the Pearl of Africa and Rwanda, the Land of a thousand hills on the same trip. Enjoy guided primate safaris on these 10 days to see chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest/ Volcanoes National park plus game viewing in the savannah parks of Uganda.
You will also have cultural tours to indigenous local communities adjacent to gorilla parks. A combination of primates, big game and community visits make a complete package to meet, satisfy and exceed your travel expectations. You will start in Entebbe/Kampala Uganda and end in Kigali, Rwanda.
Safari Day by Day.
Day 1: Pick up & transfer to Kibale Forest.
The day starts with an early pick up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe International Airport. Your driver guide will briefly guide you through the itinerary and setoff for Kibale Forest National Park home to the endangered chimpanzees.
Have a stopover at Nayakima spiritual and cultural tree. You will have lunch in Fort Portal city, the cleanest and tourism city of Uganda. Drive through Fort portal city and proceed to Kibale Forest National park - the primate capital of Africa.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland.
It’s a great day for visiting the endangered chimpanzees! You will wake up early, refresh, have breakfast and transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor information Centre. The park rangers will briefly guide you on what to expect on the trek, the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee trekking to ensure safety. The trek starts at 8:00am and may be as short as 30 minutes of else take up to over 6 hours. The loud shouts and laughs of chimpanzees heard from a distance alert you on which direction to take. On your trek for chimpanzees, you will also encounter other primates in Kibale Forest, which include the red colobus monkeys, black and white tailed monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys and blue monkeys among others. In the afternoon, join a guided walk to Bigodi wetland sanctuary home to lots of birds and wild animals
Day 3: Nature walk & transfer Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, have a guided Forest /nature walk to discover the hidden gem in Kibale Forest on foot and enjoy the sweet melodies of birds singing up in the trees. A nature walk also gives you chance to see other primates especially monkeys in the forest. In the afternoon, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second largest National park
Day 4: Game Viewing & Boat cruise
Go for early morning game drives in the open savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park to catch up with early risers. Expect to see a variety of wild animals including elephants, Buffalos, Lions, Waterbucks, Hippos, Uganda kobs, Elands and Topis roaming in the wilderness.
Return to the lodge for late breakfast, and chill as you wait for hot lunch. In the afternoon, join a boat cruise at Kazinga channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The 2 hours cruise offer you scenic views of birds such as African fish eagle, Hammerkop, Yellow billed stork, Ibises, African King fisher and white egrets among others. The cold breezes and fresh air at Kazinga channel cruise will refresh your mind.
Day 5: Ishasha sector- Transfer to Bwindi Forest
After a morning breakfast, drive to Ishasha sector south of Queen Elizabeth national park home for the famous tree-climbing lions. Look up in the fig and acacia trees for climbing lions resting lazily and others feasting on their preys. You will also see several other wild animals you may have missed on the previous day! Drive out of Queen Elizabeth Park, have enroute lunch and proceed to Bwindi Forest via local communities, gardens and trading centers of Kihihi and Buhoma north of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Rise up very early, have breakfast and drive to the park headquarters in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. After registration and briefing on the guidelines of gorilla trekking, start off a hike to meet the endangered gorillas. The hike up and down hill is strenuous but the magical feeling of meeting face to face with the gorillas is worthy it. You will be allowed to spend an hour with gorillas, take pictures, capture videos and enjoy their social characters similar to human beings. If time allows, you may visit Batwa pygmy communities to learn and experience their traditional lives
Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National park
Enjoy your morning sleep, wakeup and have a sweet sunrise breakfast. Thereafter, check out and embark on a drive to Kigali Rwanda crossing through Katuna border.
The drive time from Kigali to Volcanoes Park is roughly 3 hours to the north west of Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park shelters the highest number of gorillas in the Virunga Conservation Area.
Day 8: 2nd Gorilla trekking.
Very early in the morning, have your well prepared breakfast and with your packed lunch transfer to Kinigi Park headquarters for registration and briefing. While at Kinigi, you will be served with a hot cup of coffee while traditional dances entertain you!
The hike to meet gorillas starts at 8:00am, lasting for between 30 minutes to over 7 hours.
After meeting the gorillas, spend an hour in their company, enjoy their social life and embrace their human like characters. The other animals in Volcanoes Park include golden monkeys, forest elephants, baboons, blue and white monkeys plus many bird species.
Day 9: Golden Monkey trekking / Dian Fossey hike - Iby’iwacu cultural Village.
The day starts with your transfer to Kinigi park headquarters. After registration and introduction, choose to do between golden monkey trekking and Dian Fossey graveyard hike. In the afternoon, visit the Iby’iwacu cultural village to learn and experience Rwanda’s traditions, norms and customs.
Day 10: Departure.
After having a relaxed sunrise breakfast, check out and drive to Kigali. Have a brief tour in Kigali city; visit some tourist destinations in the city Centre such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, Kigali Convention Centre and local markets. Thereafter, drive to Kigali airport for your return flight.
End of safari.