Embark on an unforgettable safari adventure, where you’ll explore some of East Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations. Witness the playful golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, trek through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to encounter the awe-inspiring mountain gorillas, and enjoy extraordinary wildlife sightings in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale Forest, home to remarkable chimpanzee encounters and cultural community tours. The adventure also takes you to Murchison Falls, where you’ll have the chance to spot the majestic “Big Five” of Africa, complemented by a visit to the Ziwa Sanctuary, making this a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Highlights

  • Kigali City Tour
  • Gorilla Trekking
  • Golden Monkey Trekking
  • Scenic road trips
  • Tropical rain forest walks
  • Boat cruise
  • Chimpanzee trekking
  • Culture
  • Two country safaris
  • Chimpanzees

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali city tour and transfer to Volcanoes national park

Pick up from your hotel in Kigali and start your adventure with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about Rwanda and its evolution to one of the fastest growing economies on the African continent. Depart from Kigali for a scenic road trip to Volcanoes national park in the Virunga Mountains. The journey takes about 4 hours, offering picturesque views of the Virunga massive mountains. Check into your lodge for a delicious dinner and rest for an exciting day of gorilla tracking the next day.

Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 2: Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Bwindi

After an early breakfast, we drive to the visitor center to attend briefing session conducted by park rangers about the guidelines to follow while tracking golden monkeys. After briefing we head into the jungle accompanied by experienced trackers to this serene tropical rainforest. Once the golden monkeys have been located, you will spend a magical hour observing them up close. Learn about their behavior, social structure, and conservation efforts to protect them. Late transfer to the boarder of Rwanda Uganda where you will continue to drive to Bwindi for your gorilla tracking adventure. Dinner and overnight at the edge of forest (Please note that accommodation on this day depends where your gorilla permits have been purchased or where you are tracking gorillas from).

Accommodation: Bweza Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: full board

Day 3: Gorilla trekking and community Tour.

After your early breakfast (7:00am), you will have short drive to the UWA briefing center where you will be taken through the dos and don’ts while tracking gorillas. After you have been allocated a gorilla family in a group of 8 Pax, you will be led by the armed ranger guides off the forest to search for the gorillas. When gorillas have been located, you will have one full hour viewing them as they go on with their daily lives at a distance of 7-10 meters. After gorilla trekking, we will have a community tour as we conclude this exciting day. Learn more about the communities that stay around the forest.

Accommodation: Bweza Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full board

Day 4: Discover Ishasha Sector (Sothern Queen Elizabeth national park)

After breakfast, drive from Bwindi to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. The Ishasha sector boasts stunning landscapes characterized by savannah woodland dotted with cactus trees, fig trees, and acacias. The picturesque surroundings enhance the overall safari experience, providing a beautiful backdrop for observing wildlife in their natural environment. This day is dedicated to discovering the vast plains of Ishasha. Look out for elephant herds, Topi herds, buffaloes, Kobs, lions, leopards, hyenas among others. Dinner and overnight in Ishasha sector.

Accommodation: Topi Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5: Morning game drive in Ishasha and afternoon Kazinga community boat cruise.

After breakfast, you will have a final game drive as you depart to northern part of the park. Check in at your lodge, have a hot lunch and prepare for the afternoon community boat to on Kazinga channel.

In the afternoon, you will take on a boat cruise on Kazinga channel to discover more about this park. Kazinga channel is famous for the population of hippos and is said to have the highest population of hippos on the African continent. Other wildlife can be sighted here including the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, waterbucks, lots of birds, and reptiles like the Nile crocodile among others. After your boat cruise, we will drive to dinner and overnight at the edge of the park.

Accommodation: Enshama game Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 6: Morning game drive and Pm chimpanzee trekking in Kibale

After your early breakfast, you will have one more game drive to try and find the cats and other wildlife animals that call this park home before transfer to Kibale forest for Pm chimpanzee trekking. Drive to will to kanyanchu to join others for briefing before you head to forest with rangers in search of chimps following their calls and tracks. Once chimps have been located, you will spend one hour with them as you learn more about them. Later transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight at the edge of the forest.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Guest House

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7: Bigodi community tour and transfer to Murchison falls national park

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll embark on a scenic walk through the renowned Bigodi Wetlands, a community-driven project dedicated to improving the lives of the local people. As you stroll through this vibrant ecosystem, keep an eye out for a variety of primates, including olive baboons, red-tailed and white-nosed monkeys, and the striking black-and-white colobus monkeys. You’ll also encounter an array of bird species, and have the chance to interact with the welcoming local communities, adding a cultural touch to your experience.

Later, we’ll transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, where we’ll start with the awe-inspiring “Top of the Falls” walk, offering stunning views of the Nile as it forces its way through a narrow 7-meter gorge. Afterward, enjoy a leisurely game drive en route to your lodge, where you can relax, dine, and settle in for the night. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8: Full day Murchison Falls – Morning game driver – Nile Boat Cruise and Evening game drive.

Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the lodge (we suggest 06:00am), fueling up for an exciting day of wildlife exploration. After breakfast, we set off on an early morning game drive, heading out in search of elusive predators, including cats still busy with their kills or perhaps hiding from the wet grass. Keep your eyes peeled for leopards, lions, hyenas among others as we drive through the lush landscape, you may also encounter herds of elephants, Cape buffalo, towering giraffes, playful baboons, and curious monkeys. The early hours provide the best chance to spot wildlife before the heat of the day sets in.

Mid-morning – we embark on a shared boat cruise along the mighty Nile River, making our way toward the base of the falls. As we glide along the river, you’ll have a chance to observe a variety of animals that come to the riverbanks to drink and cool off. Watch for large herds of elephants, graceful waterbucks, and massive buffaloes. Nile crocodiles bask on the shores, while monitor lizards dart across the rocks. Hippos will likely be spotted lounging in the river, and the area is a birdwatcher’s paradise with a variety of species flitting about. After the boat cruise, we head back to the vehicle for another thrilling game drive as we head to our lodge for a hot lunch. Relaxed afternoon and evening game drive where we’ll continue our search for more wildlife and the opportunity to capture stunning photos on our evening game drive. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 9: Rhino Walking safari and transfer and transfer to Entebbe.

After an early breakfast, we’ll embark on a scenic game drive as we begin our departure from the park. Your lodge, situated right in the heart of the park, allows for an exciting game drive en route to Masindi and Nakasongola. Along the way, we’ll make a stop for the Southern Rhino walking safari, where you’ll have the unique opportunity to track these majestic rhinos on foot. Accompanied by armed rangers, you’ll be guided safely through this unforgettable experience. Following this, we’ll continue our journey to Entebbe, where you’ll be dropped off at the airport in time for your evening flight.

Accommodation: None

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch.

Please note that the price for this safari is based on single traveller on a private safari for 9 days that starts in Kigali and ends in Entebbe

Included

  • 4×4 Customized Safari Vehicle and professional English-speaking guide
  • All transfers mentioned in the itinerary
  • 1 Gorilla Permit per person (800$)
  • 1 Golden monkey permit per person (100$)
  • 1 Chimpanzee Trekking permit in Kibale (250$)
  • Accommodation as per the itinerary
  • Drinking water in the vehicle
  • Activities mentioned in the itinerary

Excluded

  • Porter fees $20 per person
  • Tips or any additional costs of personal nature
  • Anything not mentioned in the itinerary