Email: info@exclusivegorillavacations.com
OPEN : 8:30AM CLOSE 5:30PM Monday- Saturday
Tel: +2567054520806 +256783558263
Overview
This 14 Day Uganda and Rwanda safari takes you for gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest national park and Volcanoes National park in Rwanda, game drive in Murchison falls national park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest national park, Golden monkeys and Dian Fossey hike in Volcanoes, and a city tour in Kigali. This trip is a combined African adventure safari vacation which helps you explore Uganda and Rwanda Safaris. The safari starts in Uganda and ends in Kigali Rwanda.
You will have a warm welcome by our tour guide/driver at Entebbe airport (EBB) who will take you to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. He will give a briefing about the entire safari and ensure that all the equipment and resources to make the safari successful are in place.
Safari lodges: Boma hotel
Meal Plan: Dinner
On this day, you will enjoy your breakfast at your hotel in Entebbe OR Kampala set off for Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. I really advise that you make this stop over since it will give you the complete feel of the “big five” in Uganda. With an en-route lunch, you shall make a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to track the endangered southern white rhinos before continuing to Murchison. Ziwa rhino sanctuary is home and the breeding place to the endangered southern white rhinos for their re introduction into the wild where they existed before being wiped out in the 1980s. It is the only place where they can be spotted in the wild. Then proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. Continuing your adventure, visiting the magnificent Murchison Falls. Marvel at the breathtaking views and the thunderous sound of the falls as they squeeze through the narrow gorge, cascading into the pool below. The driver/guide will then transfer you to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Safari lodges: Pakuba safari lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Start your day bright and early at 6 am with a steaming cup of coffee and a quick snack to fuel your body for an exciting adventure ahead. Grab your packed breakfast, hop into your safari vehicle, and kick off the morning with an exhilarating game drive safari in Murchison Falls National Park. The early hours offer prime opportunities to spot a variety of wildlife, including elusive nocturnal creatures and predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas in their active state before retreating to their dens.
As you navigate through the park, keep your camera ready to capture sightings of antelopes, giraffes, buffaloes, and hippos among other herbivores. Murchison Falls National Park is renowned for its population of Nubian Giraffes, ensuring you a remarkable encounter with these majestic creatures. Your knowledgeable safari guide will provide insights into the diverse wildlife species you encounter, enhancing your safari experience.
After a break for breakfast, continue your game drive until midday before returning to your lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a scenic 3-hour boat cruise along the Nile River, starting from Paraa and cruising upstream towards the majestic falls. Marvel at the sight of Nile crocodiles, hippos, and a variety of aquatic bird species along the riverbanks. Keep your eyes peeled for land mammals such as elephants and buffaloes quenching their thirst in the river.
Upon returning to your lodge, enjoy a leisurely evening before heading out for a thrilling night game drive safari. This nocturnal adventure offers unique opportunities to spot elusive animals like lions, leopards, porcupines, and spotted hyenas in their natural habitat. Capture the magic of the nighttime wilderness before returning to your lodge for a restful overnight stay, cherishing the unforgettable experiences of the day.
Safari lodges: Pakuba safari lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Today wake up early in the morning and have your bags loaded into your safari vehicle, be severed breakfast, check out drive slowly through the park and reflecting on the beautiful memories shared.
After enjoying Murchison falls National Park, drive to Kibale Fores National Park for chimpanzee tracking experience. While in Kibale National Park, you will encounter various Primate species like black and white colobus monkey, red tailed monkey, blue monkeys, olive baboons, Grey cheeked mangabeys, L’hoest’s monkey and red colobus monkey. The park is home to the forest elephants and some antelopes, 370 bird species which includes the 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
On your way to to Kibale Forest National Park, you will enjoy the spectacular views of tea estates, several forests where olive baboons are parading alongside the roads and shadow of thee legendary Rwenzori Mountain that forms a mystic backdrop to the beautiful volcanic landscape with a stopover in Fort portal City for lunch. Later continue with your journey to check in at your booked lodge for overnight stay.
Safari lodge: Kibale forest lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
On this day, you will wake up early and enjoy quick breakfast. You will head to the park head quarters for a briefing session regarding chimpanzee tracking code of conduct. Thereafter, you will be guided to the forest and experience tracking of the chimps and other primates in their natural habitant (this is the primate capital of the world). The park’s site guide will take you through this adventurous experience where you may be blessed with enormous encounters of various forest primates like the L’hoest, black faced colobus monkeys, baboons and other forest species. The chief highlight of this day will be the chimps. You will enjoy them as they play, sing, communicate and eat. 1 hour is usually allowed with the Chimps. You may also be rewarded with wonderful sightings of forest bird species like the African broadbill, Ross’ and great blue turraco, butterflies and flora.
You will have an opportunity to go for a community walk in Bigodi for experiences like African homesteads, Banana bonga products, chimpanzee robusta coffee experience, traditional healers/doctors, handcraft making (ladies weaving baskets and cultural dances), cultural weddings, iron smith, and milking experiences. As the day draws to a close, retreat to your booked lodge for a delightful dinner and a peaceful overnight stay, filled with memories of cultural exploration and scenic wonders.
Safari lodge:Kibale safari lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
After a relaxed breakfast, you will drive to queen Elizabeth national park one of the most unique safari destinations on the African continent. Queen Elizabeth National Park is more famous for the big cats like lions, leopards, the kazinga channel which has the largest population of hippos in the world. There are 612 bird species, 95 mammal species including the African elephants (25,000), cape buffaloes( 10,000) , hippos(5000). On arrival in Queen Elizabeth National Park before checking in at your booked lodge go for an evening game drive through the kasenyi plains for sighting animals as they feed before the sun sets up , lions can also be spotted in the cool evening as they prepare for night activity since they are nocturnal animals. Good time for taking sun set photographs and also experiencing the sun set in the savannah. After drive to your booked lodge to refresh, have dinner and overnight stay.
Safari lodge: Bufallo safari lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Wake up early in the morning at 5:30 am to prepare yourself for the day. Today, you can put on light clothes, simple shoes and then pack a sweater for emergency, have an extra camera battery, have binoculars. Have a cup of coffee and thenget a box of your packed full breakfast, and later leave your lodge 06:30 am to Kasenyi Plains found in the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park for the morning game drive safari. Its always important to start your game drive as early as possible because during these cool morning hours animals like herbivore and cats are active during these hours before going into sheds when temperatures rise.
Queen Elizabeth National Park provides the best savannah destinations in Africa to encounter several wildlife species like African elephants, buffaloes, hippos, Uganda kobs, Deffassa water bucks cats like lions, leopards. Bird species like African fish eagle, pied kingfishers. Your guide will help you spot many animals on your game drive while sharing information about behaviour of different animals.
Later around 11:30 am, retire from the game drive to return to your lodge to be served lunch then after go for your 2 hour afternoon boat cruise along Kazinga channel. While on the boat cruise you will spot aquatic reptiles like Nile crocodiles, monitor lizards , hippos, herds of elephants and buffaloes as they take take water and a bath in the hot afternoon. There after the boat cruise on kazinga channel, drive toback to the park for the evenning game drive in serach for more animals including the cats , hyenas and enjoy the sun set in the wild . after the game drive drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Safari lodge: Buffalo safari lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Forest National park via ishasha.
Wake up early in the morning (5:30am) to prepare yourself. Today , you will have a relatively long journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park about 8 hours. You will drive from Queen Elizabeth national park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with interesting stopovers. You will reach late in the evening and when time allows, you will go for hike to the Batwa pygmies local village is situated will go up a steep hill where you will get to meet them and interact with thee community pygmies. Once you reach their village, it welcomes you with an open big smile. During your visit , you learn how they hunt, honey gathering, making medicine from herbs, how they made clothing while they still lived in the first, how they kept their children as they did their house duty. They prepare lunch during the trail and later a very beautiful dance and drumming. The Batwa trail is very wonderful experience which you can add on your gorilla safari while in Bwindi Impenetrable .you will then return to lodge for the overnight.
Safari lodge: Bakiga safari lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Prepare for an unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking experience by rising early to don the recommended attire for the adventure: long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, waterproof hiking shoes, a waterproof jacket, a round hut, and heavy-duty gloves to combat the unpredictable forest weather. After a hearty breakfast and packing your lunch, rendezvous with your safari guide and head to the park information center for a thorough pre-trek briefing. Here, you’ll learn the essential Dos and Don’ts, expectations, and code of conduct when encountering the gentle giants of the forest.
Grouped with eight fellow trekkers, you’ll be assigned a specific gorilla family to track, accompanied by armed rangers and a knowledgeable guide. Embark on a forest expedition, traversing various trails in search of the mountain gorillas. The trek duration can range from 45 minutes to 6 hours, depending on the gorilla family’s location and movements. Mental and physical preparedness is key for navigating the rugged terrain, with the option to choose a family closer to your fitness level for a more comfortable trek.
As you explore the forest, be on the lookout for other wildlife such as forest elephants, L’Hoest monkeys, and a variety of bird species, including the endemic Red-throated Alethe. Upon encountering your assigned gorilla family, relish an hour in their presence, observing the dynamics of the group led by the dominant silverback. Maintain a respectful distance, avoid direct eye contact, and follow your guide’s instructions for a safe and enriching interaction.
After your magical hour with the gorillas, return to the starting point to receive your trekking certificate as a token of gratitude for supporting gorilla conservation efforts. Conclude the day with a drive back to your lodge for a well-deserved dinner and overnight stay, reflecting on the awe-inspiring moments shared with these endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Safari lodge: Bakiga safari lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Today, wake up at your own convenient time, be served breakfast and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for your boat canoeing safari on lake Bunyonyi, which takes about 2 hours of exploring the lake and visiting different islands in the lake with a local canoe guide who is well experienced with the places and all attractions around. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by 29 islands of varying sizes a cross the water, making it one of the most magical views. Each of the 29 islands on lake Bunyonyi has its own unique and interesting story behind it, which your local guide will narrate to you during your canoeing safari experience such as Akampane island (punishment island) which was was used by the bakiga community to punish girls who would get pregnant before official marriage by isolating them there to death as away to teach a lesson to the rest not to make mistakes. So, poor men could not afford to pay the bride price would go to this island to get free wives from among those that could have been exiled to this island. In Africa society, it was a disgrace for a girl to get pregnant before her official marriage and this would cause the family lose community respect. So, this made parents be strict with their girl child child as away of protecting them. Then drive back to your lodge for dinner and over night stay.
Safari lodges: Birdnest resort
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Transfer to Rwanda for the mountain gorilla tracking. These groups of gorillas in Rwanda are easier to track and so will reward you with a more interesting experience without much trouble. Your guide will drive you to ParcNationale de Volcanoes( Volcano National Park). Along the journey to Ruhengeri, you will enjoy the beautiful hilly landscapes from which Rwanda is named the “land of a thousand hills” this journey, will only be amused at how those hills could be arranged in such a beautiful manner so much in a descending order, with undulating greenery grass all over them. Arrive in time for dinner and overnight.
Safari lodge: Da vinci Gorilla Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
On this day after enjoying a very early breakfast, the driver/ guide will be ready to drive you to the headquarters of Parc Nationale des Volcans for the memorable gorilla tracking experience. Tracking in Rwanda is a much rewarding experience especially when combined with a visit to the Dian Fossey cave. Brief update on Dian Fossey: she was an American zoologist who had committed all her life to Gorilla conservation and habituation in Rwanda. She is famously known for her work in habituating gorillas (you might want to see “Gorillas in the Mist movie”). She was murdered in Rwanda in the Volcano Mountains believably by Gorilla poachers and was buried in a cave beside “Digit” her Gorilla friend who passed on in 1977. A visit to this cave will probably be a major highlight while in Rwanda. After the briefing from the ranger guides at the park, you will start the gorilla trekking (with your packed lunch) through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga. Hiking and tracking gorillas may take 1-8 hours or less and this mainly depends on your physical ability and stamina (it can be shorter). The driver will return with you to your lodge for your tasty dinner and wonderful overnight.
Safari lodge: Da vinci Gorilla Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Lake kivu is the largest, is like a giant inland sea with some interesting lakeside towns. Kibuye, two hours from Kigali, is a relaxing retreat for swimming, canoeing and water-skiing. Gisenyi, a famous resort in the past, now has a sleepy forgotten air with some fine but neglected buildings from the Belgian era. Dinner and wonderful overnight at the booked lodge/hotel.
Safari lodges: la classe Hotel
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
After a healthy breakfast, you will drive towards Kigali city, if time allows, you will take a city tour.Later proceed for departure at Kigali airport for your flight back home.
Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch
Package price includes:
– Gorilla Permit each person in Uganda($800)
– Gorilla permit each person in Rwanda
– Car hire transportation in 4WD tourist car
– Fuel for the entire trip
– Park entrance fees in the parks
– Bird watching while on tour
– Kigali city tour
– Visiting lake kivu in Rwanda
– Guided game viewing in all parks
– Launch cruise in all National parks
– Warm lunches during transfer days
– Chimpanzee permits at Kibale park($250)
– Canoe ride in Lake Bunyonyi
– Safe drinking mineral water in car full time
– Meals at the lodges
– Services of English speaking driver-guide
– Accommodation for 13 nights on full board meals
– Airport /Hotel transfers
Package price excludes;
– Air ticket and visa fees
– Soft sodas and alcoholic drinks
– Extra activities out of itinerary
– And other personal items/expenses