Rwanda has a number of unique delights to offer travellers. Parc National des Volcans in the Virunga volcanoes is home to the mountain gorillas to which Dian Fossey dedicated her life. Nyungwe Forest, one of the largest montane forests in Central Africa, is renowned for its large troops of colobus monkeys and rich variety of orchids. Akagera National Park is a savannah park with elephants, hippos and crocodiles including the famous antelope (Eland), Impalas, Giraffes and many others. Lake Kivu is a beautiful inland sea enclosed by steep terraced hillsides that allows a visitor to view the other side of DR Congo. There are a large variety of birds. Rwanda has a rich culture with its second city, Butare, having one of the finest cultural museums in Africa.
A 12 day safari starting in Kigali and ending in Kampala.
This safari can also be done on a private basis. (One gorilla permit is included in the cost.)
This safari traces the western Rift Valley, from the Virunga volcanoes to the Rwenzori mountains. Seeing some of over remaining 700 mountain gorillas in the world is a fantastic experience and this safari takes through the gorilla protected national parks – Parc National de Volcans (PNV) in Rwanda and Mgahinga and Bwindi in Uganda. It offers an opportunity to track gorillas five times, twice in PNV, once in Mgahinga / Bwindi in Uganda. PNV in Rwanda has about 8 habituated gorilla families and tracking most groups in the afro-montane forest usually takes only a few hours. You can also climb a volcano, visit the remains of Dian Fossey's grave or visit the endangered golden monkey. Mgahinga, in Uganda, is a great place to appreciate the unique Virunga volcanoes and it has one habituated family. Sometimes this group moves across the border and you can track gorillas at Nkuringo in Southern Bwindi instead. You can also climb a volcano or go for a nature walk, visit the endangered golden monkey or go birding. Bwindi in Uganda has four habituated families and the gorillas there live in thicker tropical forest and tracking is more challenging as the hillsides are steeper. You can also go for nature walks to see birds, monkeys and orchids.
Continue to Ishasha (roads permitting) and go on the hunt for the tree-climbing lions lounging on old fig trees. Further north see the great game of Africa in Queen Elizabeth National Park - elephant, lion, buffalo, hippo, and leopard. Track the fast moving and elusive chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge. See the rich wildlife and array of birds on the Kazinga Channel. Visit to the primate forest in Kibale national park, introduces you to the most intelligent human closest friend (Chimpanzees). Semliki is the most un discovered wild and animals still have their natural instinct behaviours. Fly out from Entebbe.
Itinerary details
Day 1. Meet our guide on arrival at the airport and transfer to Kigali. Briefing on your safari. After lunch depart for PNV at 2pm. The journey north goes through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterise much of Rwanda's landscape, gradually climbing to the base of the awesome volcanoes, sometimes with as many as five peaks visible. Over Night at your hotel/lodge of choice (FB).
Day 2. Ready for gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans (subject to permit availability at the time of booking). Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virungas is a magical experience. If you are lucky you can get to the gorillas, spend an hour with them, and be back at the base in time for a late lunch! Some gorilla families however are more elusive and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy. Over Night at your hotel/lodge of choice (FB).
Day 3. Either go gorilla tracking again in Parc National des Volcans (on payment of supplement at the time of booking), or visit the golden monkeys or drive to Gisenyi, visit and Lake Kivu or climb the Visoke/Muhavura volcanoes, or trek to Dian Fossey's grave, or visit the local school, community projects or walk to Lake Bulera. Over Night at your hotel/lodge of choice (FB).
Day 4. After breakfast, cross to Uganda and arrive to your hotel/Lodge for lunch and then evening walk along the lakes and Kisoro town market. Over Night at your hotel/lodge of choice (FB).
Day 5. Drive to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, through the Switzerland of Africa, with the road winding through many hills and valleys, with distant views of the volcanoes and lakes. Encounter with different kind of birds and monkeys en route to Ishasha. Over Night at your hotel/lodge of choice (FB).
Day 6. After breakfast, go for early morning game drive looking for the famous tree climbing of Ishasha sector and other wildlife including hyenas, leopards, elephants, Uganda Kobs, Buffalos, warthogs, topis, and many other bird species. Return to your lodge for Lunch. Over Night at your hotel/lodge of choice (FB).
Day 7. After breakfast, check out of the lodge and proceed to the northern sector of queen Elizabeth (Mweya). Game drive en route with a chance of encountering with the tree climbing lions again. Arrive at your lodge of choice for lunch. Evening game drive to the famous royal circuit with a chance of encountering with the elephants, leopard, giant forest hogs. Alternatively go for a leisurely nature or community walk. Over Night at your hotel/lodge of choice (FB).
Day 8. Morning game drives on this day start at 6:30am to 12:00pm. Queen Elizabeth National Park's diverse Eco-system of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. Game drives in this park; provide excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, and bush buck. Return to the lodge/ Hotel for lunch. Afternoon launch trip begins at 3:00pm on the Kazinga channel that joins lake Edward and lake George. The trip passes through possibly the highest hippo concentration in Africa and many mammals may be seen drinking at the water's edge. The cruise offers an excellent platform for photography and game viewing. The birdlife is colorful and abundant. The game drive and boat trip are a memorable experience of discovering a vast array of Ugandan wildlife. Over Night at your hotel/lodge of choice (FB).
Day 9. An excursion to Kyambura Gorge nearby to track the fast moving and elusive chimpanzees, one of man's closest relations. The chimp population is quite mobile and viewing is unpredictable but the walk is enchanting. Lunch en route and then afternoon transfer to Kibale forest national park. Arrive at your hotel for overnight stay and dinner F/B.
Day 10. Morning guided walk in Kibale Forest National Park to see primates (chimpanzees). Evening swamp walk for birding. Lunch at your hotel in Kibale forest national park. Over Night at your hotel/lodge of choice (FB).
Day 11. After breakfast, drive to Semliki Wildlife reserve. Arrive for lunch. Late evening night game drive with a chance of seeing the nocturnal animals. Wildlife here include; lions, elephants, Uganda kobs, warthogs, leopards chimpanzees, baboons and a variety of birds. Overnight at Semliki Lodge F/B.
Day 12. After breakfast transfer to Entebbe for transfer to the airport for return flight. End of your tour (HB).
Price: Affordable and on request
Accommodation:
Middle class lodge: Hotel la Palm, EER Church, Muhabura oldest hotel in the region, Katala lodge, Savanah lodge, Travellers Kisoro.
Budget Accommodation: Kinigi guest house, Heritage Kisoro, Golden Motel, Ecology hostel, Chimp guest house.
Price includes:
Ground transport, chosen accommodation, and all the activities mentioned above with an English/French speaking driver/guide and 1 gorilla trekking permit per person.
Note:
Gorilla permits are obtained from park offices of Rwanda in Kigali at a cost of 750 US dollars each. This includes entry fees to the park, guide fee and community levy and government taxes. Due to competition on gorilla visit, the above mentioned amount of money for gorilla permit has to be transferred through the bank as soon as you confirm your trip to secure the place and to avoid inconveniences during the gorilla visit.
Any and all tours can be combined or modified to fit your particular needs. Please tell us your specific requirements in your inquiry.
Prices are subject to change based upon accommodation availability, your tour alterations and other parameters until time of full and final confirmation.
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