Uganda-Rwanda Private Safari – Gorilla and wildlife holiday experience
Our 12-Days Uganda-Rwanda private safari has been designed due to an increased demand for combining the best safari of Uganda with Rwanda. There is time to trek the Mountain Gorillas in BOTH Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, but also included in this dynamic trip is the Chimpanzee trekking, and some incredible game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
This trip includes Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Parks and ending in Kigali-Rwanda.
This itinerary is just a suggestion; at Great Adventure Safaris we can run it with Rwanda first, and/or increase the number of days actually spent Gorilla tracking. Whatever you prefer we can make it happen for you to have the best of your safari experience.
Tour Highlights:
Chimpanzee trekking
Gorilla trekking (optional)
Game viewing and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day One:
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by a Great Adventure Safaris representative and transferred to hotel.
Set in the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe is a small town that is easy to explore on foot or local boda bodas (motorbike taxis). Explore the markets, hunt for souvenirs or crafts, meander through the Botanical Gardens or relax with a boat cruise on Lake Victoria. You will find a wide variety of restaurants, bars and clubs where you can sample the local beer, catch a game of football and meet the friendly locals.
Nestled in the leafy suburbs of Entebbe, Hotel No.5 is a stylish boutique hotel. With all luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool, this is a great option for guests looking for an intimate stay in a tranquil setting. Make you at home unwind beside the swimming pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work up a sweat in the hotel gym. Attention to detail, outstanding dining and an attentive guest experience are synonymous with Hotel No 5 Entebbe.
Day Two:
Depart after breakfast to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive via rural villages and towns will take approx. 6-7 hours, stopping for a picnic lunch en route.
Kibale National Park is an enchanting ancient forest, and supports an incredible range of flora and fauna. Rich in wildlife, it is most noted for its primate population including red-tailed monkey, diademed monkey, olive baboon, chimpanzee, and black and white colobus.
Optional excursions around Kibale Forest (aside from Chimp trekking) include a guided forest walk, visit to the Bigodi Swamps, or the Vanilla Farm close to Ndali crater area.
Day Three:
Today is to be exhilarating. Transfer to the National Park headquarters, for your Chimp trek briefing point. Head off into the forest in search of the Chimpanzees sometimes stepping off well-defined paths following their markings.
Chimpanzee tracking can be exciting as unlike their cousins the Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees tend to be more active and often keep moving through the forest canopies, so you may find yourself following a family through dense jungles! Of course sightings cannot be guaranteed, but the chances of seeing them are very good. Once amongst the Chimpanzees, spend approximately an hour observing and following them. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure to rest or explore the Kibale Forest area.
Day Four:
Depart early to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a drive of approximately 3 hours. Queen Elizabeth National Park is set in the Great Rift Valley and is a home to a wide variety of wildlife including Elephants, Lions, Hippos, Buffalo, Uganda kob, Baboon, and many species of bird species. With both a riverine and savannah habitat, the National Park includes the southern sector of Ishasha with its tree climbing lions and the Maramagambo, one of the largest surviving natural forests in Uganda.
Enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometre long natural channel linking the two water bodies of Lake Edward and Lake George. Kazinga Channel’s shores are dotted with herds of lazy Buffalo, pods of Hippos wallowing without a care, and countless bird species. Drift past local fishing villages, and soak up the peaceful tranquillity of this beautiful African day. Cruise normally departs at 11h00, although this depends on availability when booking and is subject to change –no drinks/ snacks provided on boat.
Day Five and Six:
Days at leisure to enjoy game viewing in Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day Seven:
Uganda-Rwanda private safari takes you From Queen Elizabeth National Park, we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a World Heritage site. Bwindi Forest is one of the richest ecosystems in East Africa and home to over 120 mammals, 345 species of bird species, 200 species of butterflies and 160 species of trees. The National Park contains an estimated one half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorillas, making it an extremely valuable conservation site.
Awaken to chattering forest bird species, and watch out for the occasional mountain gorilla that has ventured right in to visit the lodge.
Day Eight:
It’s up early today as one of the most humbling and enthralling wildlife experiences imaginable awaits your discovery. Coming face to face with an endangered mountain gorilla is something words cannot aptly describe. Please note that Gorilla trekking is strenuous with treks ranging from 45 minutes up to eight hours, at high altitudes in hot African conditions. The thrill of the hour you spend quietly observing these gentle giants once you find them is well worth the hike to get there. Although Mountain Gorillas are wild animals and it should be noted that sightings cannot be guaranteed, viewing success rates are well over 95%.
Head back to the Lodge for relaxation after your trek, or explore the surrounding the community area.
Please note that days 8 and 9 are interchangeable depending on when we can secure Gorilla permits.
Day Nine:
Those with additional pre-purchased Gorilla permits will depart for a second Gorilla tracking experience. Guests not tracking for the second time have the day free to explore the Bwindi area optional activities include forest walks, a visit to a local school/orphanage/hospital or Batwa pygmy village, and some local curio shopping.
Day Ten:
From Bwindi Forest National Park, we drive through the ‘Little Switzerland of Africa’ along winding mountain roads, and through rural villages, to the border of Rwanda in Kisoro boarder town. On a clear day, view the Virgunas ‘standing sentry’ along the border a row of massive, dormant volcanoes watching over the region.
Crossing into Rwanda (border crossing takes about 1 hour), we continue to the Volcanoes national Park.
Day Eleven:
Trekking Mountain Gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park is a very similar experience to that in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park just as challenging, equally memorable. If you have opted not to trek today, take a hike to Dian Fossey’s grave or enjoy forest walk with Golden Monkey tracking. You will only be able to enjoy one of these activities (as they all take place in the morning) and pre-booking is essential.
After lunch (and depending on when your trek ends) we drive to Kigali city, the capital of Rwanda a bustling, clean and safe city.
Day Twelve:
Visit the haunting Genocide Memorial centre before your transfer back to the Kigali International Airport for your flight back to your country home and end your 12 days Uganda-Rwanda private safari
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