8-Day African Safari Holiday -Visiting Rwanda and Uganda

Rwanda

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Arrive at Kigali International Airport and transfer to your accommodation near Volcanoes National Park. Go on a hike on Mount Bisoke, do golden monkey trekking in the Volcanoes NP and then cross the border into Uganda. Do gorilla trekking in Bwindi NP, then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park where you can expect a game drive, a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, and chimp tracking in the nearby Kalinzu Forest. Connect to Lake Mburo. On day 8, you will head to Entebbe to catch a flight out.

Included/Exclude

  • Park fees(For non-residents)
  • Gorilla permits(One per person, non-resident)
  • Chimp permits(One per person, non-resident)
  • All activities(Unless labeled as optional)
  • All accommodation(Unless listed as upgrade)
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation(Unless labeled as optional)
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • Meals(As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinking water(On all days)
  • International flights(From/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips(Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items(Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

Tour Plan

Hopefully, your flight is scheduled to land before 14h00. On arrival at Kigali Airport, you will perform the routine clearance process and once done, you step out to meet your waiting tour driver-guide. He will welcome you and then hit the road to Volcanoes National Park. The park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. You will arrive at the booked accommodation and take a rest, awaiting the next day’s activity.

Optional (extra cost): If time allows and you’re interested, you may consider a Kigali City excursion before transferring to Volcanoes National Park.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel (budget level) | Meals: Lunch, dinner | Drive time: Approx. 3-4 hours.

Main Destination:
Musanze (City, Rwanda)
Accommodation:
La Palme Hotel

  • Mid-range hotel located in or near Musanze.
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

If you love hiking and beautiful scenery, Mount Bisoke is just what you have been looking for. Today, you will have breakfast, collect your packed lunch and proceed to the starting point (Kinigi). You will receive a brief and head out with the assigned ranger-guide to hike Mount Bisoke (3,711 meters above sea level). Ascend for 4-5 hours and the descent time is about 3 hours. At the summit, you will be rewarded with the sight of a beautiful crater lake. Return to the accommodation and get some rest.

Optional (extra cost): Depending on your energy level and interest, you may consider the local community for a cultural encounter later today.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Drive time: n/a.

Main Destination:
Mount Bisoke (Rwanda)
Accommodation:
La Palme Hotel

  • Mid-range hotel located in or near Musanze.
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included.
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included

The golden monkey trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park and at the same time (07h00) as the gorilla trekking. These rare monkey species are also listed as endangered. Volcanoes NP has habituated groups that are available for trekking by visitors. The exercise starts with a short briefing from the park ranger at the RDB office. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the golden monkeys through the rainforest of the Volcanoes NP. Return to the accommodation for some rest and lunch. After lunch, drive to the Cyanika border post. From Cyanika, you will be received by our Uganda-based professional tour driver-guide who will take over from his Rwanda-based colleague. You will cross the border into Uganda and overnight at a property close to Bwindi National Park, where you will undertake the gorilla trekking the next day.

Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Drive time: 3-4 hours.

Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Gorilla Valley Lodge

  • Mid-range lodge bordering Bwindi NP without fences
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

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 dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The terrain and the time it takes vary 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. Return to the accommodation, and get some rest after a strenuous day.

Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Drive time: n/a.

Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
Gorilla Valley Lodge

  • Mid-range lodge bordering Bwindi NP without fences
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included.
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Elizabeth NP, famously known for its tree-climbing lion population. Once there, undertake a game drive in search of this rare species of lions. Should you get the chance to spot the lions up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and unforgettable. From Ishasha (south), exit and head to the booked accommodation in the north sector. Check in and take a rest.

Optional: If interested, you may consider a late afternoon-to-evening game drive/safari in the Kasenyi plains.

Accommodation: Irungu Safari Lodge (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Drive time: Approx. 6 hours.

Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Irungu Forest Safari Lodge

  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included.
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Wake up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive/safari in 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 time 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.

Optional (no cost): If interested, you may go for a brief late afternoon-to-evening game viewing and then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Irungu Safari Lodge (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Drive time: n/a.

Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Accommodation:
Irungu Forest Safari Lodge

  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included.
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Be up early, have breakfast and drive out to the nearby Kalinzu Forest Reserve. The forest is home to habituated chimpanzees plus other primates including baboons, monkeys and also bird species. Today, you will spend the early part of the day tracking chimpanzees here. Thereafter, transfer to Lake Mburo National Park via Mbarara city. Once in Mburo, you may decide to check in and just relax, or check in and go for a game drive/safari.

Optional (extra cost): If interested, you can also consider the night game drive to spot the nocturnal wildlife.

Accommodation: Eagle's Nest (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Drive time: Approx. 4 hours.

Main Destination:
Lake Mburo National Park (Uganda)
Eagle's Nest

  • Budget tented bush camp bordering Lake Mburo NP without fences
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included.
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo park morning bushwalk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter at close range zebra, giraffe, eland, topi and other antelope, and Cape buffalo among others. Take the trail to the top of the hills to see Lake Mburo and beyond. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe Airport to catch your flight (17h00 or later).

Accommodation: Recommended on request | Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Drive time: Approx. 4 hours.

Main Destination:
Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe, Uganda)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

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