15-nights wildlife and primates safari to Uganda and Rwanda

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your guide who will transfer you to your hotel, a short drive away. They will accompany you throughout your safari.

Accommodation: The Boma Hotel – Entebbe.

Meal Plan: If arriving early, meals can be purchased at the hotel.

Visit Mabamba wetlands, one of Uganda’s 12 RAMSAR sites – sites of international importance to conservation. Take a boat ride on this extensive marsh, in search of the globally threatened Shoebill and other water birds. After your lunch in Entebbe, take a gentle walk at the botanical gardens which is home to primates and birds.

Accommodation: The Boma,  Entebbe.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

08:00 transfer to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary (approx. 3-4 hours). On arrival, take a guided nature walk, tracking rhinos with chances to see them at very close range. After your lunch at the Sanctuary, continue to Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest national park (approx. 2 hours). Visit the top of the magnificent Murchison Falls, where the Nile River forces its way through a narrow gorge, creating a thunderous roar and mist that often forms a beautiful rainbow – a truly breathtaking sight.

Accommodation: Twiga Safari lodge, Murchison Falls national park

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your day starts with an early breakfast before setting out at 06:00 for your morning game drive in the northern sector of the park while animals are most active. Search for animals like lions, elephants, buffalos, hartebeest, antelopes and tropical birds.  After lunch, enjoy a relaxing 2-hour boat cruise on the River Nile to the bottom of Murchison falls: look out for animals along the shore, as well as a wealth of birds.

Accommodation: Twiga Safari lodge, Murchison Falls national park

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer to Kabala national park – the famous primate capital of East Africa (approx. 5 – 6 hours) with lots of stops to stretch your legs. The scenic countryside drive takes you past roadside markets, tea plantations, forested areas and small villages. On arrival, relax at your lodge and later in the afternoon, stretch your legs on a community walk and gain an insight into the daily life of locals. Visit a nearby community that brews gin from bananas using traditional methods and even try your hand at the process for a fun experience.

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops, Kibale national park

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early morning briefing at 07:30 at the park headquarters together with your small group, trek into Kibale Forest with your guide and track your chimpanzee family. Once you find them, you can spend an enchanting hour with them watching as they go about their day-to-day activities. Later, drive to Queen Elizabeth national park via the beautiful, and geologically fascinating, crater lakes region. (approx. 2 hours). Depending on the time, you’ll head out for short game drive in the park.

Accommodation: Buffalo Safari lodge, Queen Elizabeth national park

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, you will join rangers and researchers for your lion tracking experience. Get off-track and participate in their day’s activities which may include monitoring the animals, climate and habitat and learn about tracking and animal behaviour. After lunch, take a boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel, known for its high concentration of hippos and birds. Look out for crocodiles, buffalo, elephant and water birds along the shores.

Accommodation: Buffalo Safari lodge, Queen Elizabeth national park

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travel approx. 5 hours through the beautiful Ugandan countryside to Lake Mutanda resort in Kisoro. Enjoy stops along the way, for example, to visit the roadside markets or simply enjoy the stunning landscapes. Have a relaxed afternoon at the lodge which offers stunning views across the lake and the Virunga Volcanoes.

Accommodation: Mutanda Lake resort, Bwindi impenetrable forest.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer 45 minutes to the starting point in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. At 08:00, after a briefing, you will trek into the forest, with your small group, in search of your gorilla family. Once found, you can watch them for one magical hour as they eat, play, groom and sleep – a truly memorable experience (Av. 3-6 hours). Enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the lodge.

Accommodation: Mutanda Lake resort, Bwindi impenetrable forest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, you will travel to the border between Uganda and Rwanda and cross into Rwanda – the land of a thousand hills. Travel past the rolling hills to Gisenyi, a beautiful lakeside town on the shores of Lake Kivu (approximately 4–5 hours). Upon arrival, relax at your lodge and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere and lake views.

Accommodation: Serena Kivu–Lake Kivu

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Join a local farmer for a coffee experience: tour the gardens to learn how coffee is grown, then it’s time to pound, roast and make a cup for yourself. Later in the afternoon, Explore the shores of Lake Kivu as you take a gentle kayaking trip on Lake Kivu. Look out for birds and monkeys in the trees.

Accommodation: Serena Kivu– Lake Kivu

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

07:00 transfer through Rwanda’s scenic countryside to Nyungwe forest, one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, with rich biodiversity (approx. 4 hours). Continue (approx.1 hour) to the park reception and take a 2-hour nature walk including the famous 160m ‘canopy walk’ on a bridge suspended 70m over the Nyungwe forest. Lookout for different primates and bird species in the trees.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lake Hotel, Nyungwe national park.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer approx. 2.5 hours to Butare and visit the fascinating Ethnographic Museum to learn more about cultural history and gain insights into Rwanda’s culture and history like agriculture, hunting, food preparation, fighting tools, religion, and music and see how the Kingdom was structured and how members lived their lives. After, continue (approx. 45 mins) to Nyanza to visit the King’s Palace where a guided tour will reveal the secrets of life in the royal palace. Continue your journey to Kigali (approx. 2.5 hours).

Accommodation: Serena Kigali, Kigali city.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

08:00 transfer to Akagera national park through the lush green countryside, past small towns and villages (approx. 3-4 hours). Check-in to your lodge and, in the afternoon, explore the park corners on a game drive in search of resident species like lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, leopard, hyena, topi, oribi, water-buck, roan antelope, duiker, klipspringer and other animals.

Accommodation: Akagera Game lodge, Akagera national park

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend your morning on a game drive exploring the park which is a home to a variety of wildlife including elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, leopard, hyena, lion and several antelope like bushbuck. Enjoy a variety of birds spices including the Papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher and Senegal Lapwing among others. After lunch, enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Expect to see animals like hippo, crocodile, buffalo and various water birds on the lake shores.

Accommodation: Akagera Game lodge-Akagera national park

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, embark on your journey back to Kigali (approx.3- 4 hours). En route, enjoy a walk at Nyandungu eco park on the outskirts of Kigali, a restored urban wetland where you can wander through the gardens, see medicinal plants and use the many footpaths and cycle/scooter lanes. Knowledgeable guides are available to introduce the park and share insights about its conservation efforts. In Kigali, you will have a day room at Serena Hotel to relax and freshen-up. Your guide will later transfer you to the airport for your evening departure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch