8-Day Rwanda & Uganda Safari
This tour combines two of East Africa’s fastest growing safari destinations. This trip covers both the African savanna wildlife drama and the enchanting rainforest jungle. There’s no other place in Africa where you’ll be able to combine the two attractions easily than in Rwanda and Uganda.
This tailor-made safari begins in Rwanda, continues in Uganda and closes in Rwanda. You will have the most amazing game drives and spot the big game like elephant, lion, buffalo, hippo, large herds of antelope and some rare species of birds. You’ll then be challenged to track the mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable and or Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Seeing the mountain gorillas is very captivating.
Day 1:
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly received by our company representative who will help you exchange some money into local currency then drive to the hotel for an overnight stay. Your professional guide driver will be at the airport ahead of time waiting for you. Depending on time, you will take a tour of the city on the hills – Kigali City. Starting off with the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, we will check different city landmarks and craft markets.
Day 2:
After an early breakfast, you will visit the Volcanoes National Park and have the rare opportunity to see the famous golden monkeys. You will undertake the golden monkey trekking and observe the famous Rwandan monkeys in the Volcanoes National Park. You will spend time with them, then return to the base for lunch. You will have an afternoon of cultural experience at the Gorilla Guardians, formerly Iby’wacu Cultural Village.
Day 3:
After an early breakfast, you will go to Park offices for a pre-trek briefing and choose the gorilla group you want to trek to. You will have an intimate experience trekking the endangered mountain Gorillas all morning. You will retreat for lunch at the base.
In the afternoon you will check out the legendary Dian Fossey’s resting home. This lady, with a massive heart, took all the guts to protect the mountain gorillas from savages and let the world know about the treasure. You will then cross the border into Uganda and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Cyanika border.
Day 4:
The drive to Bwindi Impenetrable forest will showcase Uganda’s natural countryside that the world has not yet fully explored; the rolling hills, emerald green blanket, backdrops of stunning mountain sides and myriad faces of natives dotted along the highway. You will enjoy every minute of the countryside trip.
After lunch, you will take a nature walk around the villages to see first-hand, the African people and their cultures uninfluenced by modern development. Your gorilla tracking experience will begin the next day.
Day 5:
After a briefing by the park rangers, you will be escorted into the misty jungles to find the gorillas. These gentle giants light up all your natural love for the wild and alter all your perceptions about wild creatures that occupy jungles across the world. It’s a moment you want to keep forever so make sure you’re ready to be rewarded for your courage to come to Africa.
After your encounter, you’ll have your packed lunch and head back to the lodge. The afternoon will be spent driving to Lake Bunyonyi. This lake is the second deepest lake in Africa (900 meters deep) and one of the most beautiful places in western Uganda. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge.
Day 6:
After breakfast, you will take a boat ride on this lake to tour different islands. The breathtaking view will give you wonderful photographic sceneries that will crown your photo gallery. After this experience, you will head to another border – Katuna border – to cross to Rwanda. You will be transferred to Akagera National Park, located along the eastern border of Rwanda.
Day 7:
After breakfast, you will drive through Akagera National Park, a wonderful savanna of the Great Rift Valley which is a unique habitat and home to big game, primates, birds, fish and many aquatic animal and plant species. It is dominated by lakes, swamps and marshland and boasts of a huge complement of nature and wildlife that cannot be found elsewhere in the country. On this day, you will enjoy the southern Lake Circuit Game drive
Day 8:
After breakfast, you will embark on the Northern Circuit Game drive. The early morning game drive starts with a spectacular sunrise and early morning bird songs. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and landscape through the northern circuit where you will see hippos, crocodiles and even more wildlife than on the lake circuit. You will then be transferred to Kigali in time to catch your flight.