Trip highlights:15 Days Unforgettable African Safari itinerary will take place in Uganda and Rwanda. Arriving in Uganda via Entebbe International Airport and departing through Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. In Uganda, you will visit Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and in Rwanda you will visit Volcanoes National Park. In Uganda you will take part in game drives, boat rides on the Nile and Kazinga Channel, Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, bigodi swamp walk and Gorilla trekking in Bwindi. And in Rwanda you will trek the Gorillas and Golden Monkeys.
Unforgettable African Safari Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival
After arriving Entebbe International Airport, you will clear with immigration, proceed to the arrivals where you will meet your driver guide who will transfer you to your hotel for overnight stay.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe (high-end), The Boma Guest House (medium) or 2 Friends Entebbe (budget). Meal Plan: B
Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, drive to the beautiful Murchison Falls National Park formerly known as Kabalega National Park. This park derives its name from the Murchison Falls which is a 7 meter canyon where the Mighty River Nile forces itself from a narrow gorge pouring down with a thunderous roar. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (high-end), Murchison River Lodge (medium) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Ride to the Bottom of the Falls
Enjoy a morning game drive through the Savanna where you will see herds of Elephants, Buffalos, Giraffes, Kobs, Oribi, Jackson’s Hartebeest and various bird species that include the forest and water birds and the Albertine Rift endemics thereafter return to the Lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon, you will have a boat ride to the bottom of the falls whence the park derives its name. You will see groups of Hippos, Crocodiles, and a variety of animals that come to drink water at the River banks and a variety of bird species too.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (high-end), Murchison River Lodge (medium) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 4: Drive to Fort Portal
Drive to Fort Portal Town / Kibale National Park. Fort Portal was founded as a garrison for British soldiers by Gerald Portal from whom the town derives its name. And is the only town with an English name in Uganda. Here you will see many tea plantations producing high quality tea for local and export market and views of the mighty misty Mountains of the Moon; the Rwenzori mountains.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (high-end), Isunga Lodge (medium) or Chimpanzee Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
On this day, after breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for briefing and proceed for a morning Chimpanzee trekking experience in the company of an experienced ranger guide, you will search for Kibale Forest’s resident Chimpanzees and also have a chance to see other primates such as Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Red Colobus, Red-tailed and Blue monkeys. In the afternoon you will enjoy a walk through the papyrus swamps of the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (high-end), Isunga Lodge (medium) or Chimpanzee Guest House (budget) Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 6: Fort Portal – Queen Elizabeth National Park
After relaxed breakfast at the lodge, you will be assisted with checking out and after settling the bill for extras if any start your drive to the famous Queen Elizabeth National Park. The second most visited Park and the most popular savannah reserve in Uganda. This Park has the highest variety of habitats and wildlife too. Dinner and overnight stay at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge (high-end), Enganzi Lodge (medium) or Simba Safari Camp (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 7: Game Drive and Boat Ride Along Kazinga Channel
After an early breakfast, you will proceed for a game drive; through the Kasenyi and North Kazinga plains where you will see herds of Elephants, Buffalos, Antelopes, etc…
In the afternoon after lunch at the lodge, you will have a boat ride along the Kazinga Channel en-route you will see groups of Hippos and Buffalos a few metres away. You will see some animals coming to drink water at the banks and a various bird species.
Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge (high-end), Enganzi Lodge (medium) or Simba Safari Camp (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 8: Queen – Kisoro
After breakfast, you will be assisted with checking out and start your drive to the South Western part of Uganda to Kisoro town near the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the great apes the Mountain Gorillas.
Accommodation: Clouds Mount. Gorilla Lodge (high-end), Chameleon Hill Lodge (medium) or Travelers Rest Camp (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and thereafter go to the start points and off you will proceed into the Impenetrable Forest to enjoy the highlight of the safari. Trekking the Great Apes the Mountain Gorillas is a once in a lifetime and worthwhile experience which takes between 2–6 hours. You will then return to your Lodge for lunch, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Clouds Mount. Gorilla Lodge (high-end), Chameleon Hill Lodge (medium) or Travelers Rest Camp (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 10: Kisoro – Musanze (Volcanoes National Park)
Breakfast at your hotel, along with your driver guide you will start your drive to Rwanda crossing via the Cyanika border. After dealing with the immigration formalities you will proceed to Musanze town to your lodge. Lunch and dinner at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Bisate Lodge (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
After a very early breakfast at the lodge, you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and thereafter drive to the trail heads the start point for your amazing adventure.
You will be trekking the Great Apes, the Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. This activity could take between 2-6 hours. Rwanda has 12 habituated groups of Mountain Gorillas scattered all over the Park. You will spend an hour watching the habituated group going about their normal day playing, eating… etc
Upon return from your trek, you will be driven back to the lodge where you will have lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the lodge facilities.
Accommodation: Bisate Lodge (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 12: Rest Day
You will spend this day at leisure, relaxing and enjoying the lodge facilities.
Accommodation: Bisate Lodge (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 13: Golden Monkey Trekking in Rwanda
After a very early breakfast at the lodge, drive to the park headquarters for briefing and thereafter drive to the trail heads for another highlight of the Volcanoes National Park, trekking the Golden Monkeys which usually takes 4 hrs. When you encounter the habituated Primates and spend an hour with them as they go about their normal day. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive by nature hence spend their day leaping from bamboo branches. After the trek, you will return to the Resort to have lunch and spend the rest of the day enjoying the lodge facilities.
Accommodation: Bisate Lodge (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 14: Volcanoes National Park – Kigali
After a relaxed breakfast at the resort, you will be assisted with checking out; then you will start your drive to Kigali. Overnight stay at your hotel.
Accommodation: Marriott Hotel Kigali (high-end), Onomo Hotel Kigali (medium) or Five to Five Hotel (budget). Meal Plan: B
Day 15: Departure
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you will be assisted with checking out; then you will start your drive to Kigali International Airport to catch your departure International flight.
Unforgettable Africa Safari Inclusions and Exclusions:
Includes
- Return airport transfers
- 14 nights’ accommodation with meals as indicated in the itinerary above
- Activities shown in the itinerary
- Park fees
- Game drives
- Boat rides
- Chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale National Park
- Bigodi swamp walk
- One Uganda Gorilla permit $700 per person
- One Rwanda Gorilla permit $1,500 per person
- Golden Monkey trekking permit in Rwanda
- Services of an experienced English speaking driver guide
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Government taxes
Exclusions
- International flights
- Visas
- Insurance
- Optional activities
- Tips
- Drinks
- Items of personal nature
