9 Days Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Safari (Double gorilla trekking)

Day 1- Pick and Transfer to Akagera National park

Upon your arrival at Kigali airport, our company representative or driver / guide will be waiting to welcome you and drive through Kigali then connect through the terraced hills of Rwanda to Akagera National park. Upon arrival in the park, you will check in at your lodge for a bit relaxation and lunch.

In the evening go for a short southern Lake Ihema game drive. Look out for animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and many more like roan antelopes and do some sunset photography (Animals against the sun).

Meal plan (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Camp (High end)

                               Akagera Game Lodge (Mid-range)

                               Dereva Hotel (Budget)

Day 2 Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on L. Ihema

Wake up early in the morning have breakfast, after which you will go for a Northern circuit game drive to search for animals that you may have missed out in the previous game drive. This will be in search for the early risers like the lions, leopard, hyena, striped Jackal. It will also offer you an opportunity to encounter and enjoy to the fullest the variety of wildlife the park to offer. You will return to the lodge for lunch after the drive.

In the afternoon, do a boat cruise on L. Ihema which is the largest of all the lakes in the park. The cruise will bring you close the aquatic like in the park like hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birdlife (525 species recorded in the park) like African fish Eagle, African Jacana, King fishers among others.

Meal plan (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Camp (High end)

                               Akagera Game Lodge (Mid-range)

                               Dereva Hotel (Budget)

Day 3 Transfer to Volcanoes and cultural tour

After an early breakfast, connect to Volcanoes national park (216km) from Akagera national park. Volcanoes national park is known as  a haven for mountain Gorillas and is home to five of the Volcanoes that make the Virunga ranges. The park was base for Zoologist Diane Forsey. On arrival check in at your lodge for refreshment and lunch.

After lunch, take a cultural walk to Iby’iwachu Cultural Village a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. After return to your lodge for an overnight and folk tales as you gather on the fire.

Meal plan (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge(High end)  

                               Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range)

                               Kinigi Guest House (Budget)

Day 4 Gorilla tracking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Rise early and have breakfast at the lodge, then transfer to the  park headquarters where you will be briefed by park ranger on how to carry out gorilla tracking. Hiking on the slippery and muddy Volcanoes slopes with nettles is quite challenging. But the encounter with mountain gorillas erase all the challenges of the hikes. You will be allowed to stay with these gentle giants  for  an hour for observation and photography. (No flash lights allowed during photography)

After you will transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park (3hrs 30mins drive). Driving on a smooth tarmac road for about 3 hours. The park is well known for its endangered  mountain gorillas and Gorilla tracking is the major tourism activity. Arrive and check in at  your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Meal plan (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge(High end)  

                               Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range)

                               Kinigi Guest House (Budget)

Day 5 Gorilla tracking and Batwa cultural encounter

Have an early breakfast  and at 6:30 AM then set off for briefing at the park visitor where you will be grouped eight people per gorilla family, the forest is always live with a mass wildlife, lots of bird species, colorful butterflies, different plants and tree species, the lead guide does the interpretation as he keeps communicating with the advance tracker team, who will eventually lead the group to the silver back and the entire gorilla family, according to the rules and regulations only an 1 hour is allowed for the interaction with the mountain gorillas. You will carry  drinking water, packed lunch, rain gear, because the hikes into this dense forest can be hectic.

After a wonderful experience with the mountain gorilla we return to the Lodge for refreshment then get ourselves ready to visit community projects around Bwindi and learn about traditional medicines and agricultural practices, food, hand crafts, the Batwa pygmies and how tourism has helped them to be gainfully employed as an alternative means of survival other than hunting and gathering they did before, it role in conserving the gorilla forest. After return to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Meal plan: (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge(Luxury)

                              Gorilla Mist Lodge (Mid-range)

                               Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget)

Day 6 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park via Ishasha

Elizabeth national park via the Ishasha sector which is known for its tree climbing Lions. You will embark on the game drive that will give you a chance to see tree climbing lions in Ishasha. You will be amazed to see them resting on the branches of fig trees during afternoon hours this together with other wild animals and amazing vegetation cover and landscapes. You will have lunch en route as you proceed with the journey to the northern part of the park. Other animals to see include Warthogs, African Elephants, Uganda Kobs, Cape Buffalo and many tropical birds.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)

                               Ihamba Safari Lodge (Mid-range)

                               Simba Safari Camp  (Budget)

Day 7 Morning game drive and after noon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

You have an early morning breakfast and then go for a morning game drive within the park. Anticipate to see the famous big five including Buffalos, Elephants, Lions and other mammals like Wart hog, Bush bucks, Kobs, Hyenas and water bucks in the Kasenyi plains. In the afternoon  you will embark on a launch cruise along Kazinga channel. You will appreciate the high scores of Elephants, Hippos, Buffalos and crocodiles. A number of bird species will also be seen along including the Great Pelicans that are resident to the banks of the 40km long and 8 metre deep channel which joins two lakes Edward and George.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)

                               Ihamba Safari Lodge (Mid-range)

                               Simba Safari Camp  (Budget)

 Day 8 Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest and crater drive

Have an early morning breakfast and head to Kalinzu Forest for Chimpanzee tracking to meet man’s closet cousins in the wild. Kalinzu forest is in the proximity with the savannas of Queen Elizabeth National park. You will be amazed to see these primates as they play, swing on tree branches, fight for food etc.

Later after lunch we shall do a 27km crater drive in the park as we explore the formation of the crater lakes and dry craters that were as a result of volcanic eruption. We shall after return to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Meal Plan (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)

                               Ihamba Safari Lodge (Mid-range)

                               Simba Safari Camp  (Budget)

 Day 9 Transfer to Entebbe International airport for departure

This day will mark the end of the tour with a drop at the airport for your exit flight. You will have breakfast and drive from Queen Elizabeth to Entebbe with a  stop at the Equator kayabwe for the equator experience and Lunch.

Meal Plan (B, L)

Inclusions

• Ground transport per private 4WD safari vehicle
• English speaking driver/guide
• Airport transfer
• Equator stopover
• Gorilla permit
• Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
• Meals as described in the itinerary
• Bottled mineral water in the safari vehicle
• Entrance fees and ranger fees for national parks
• Activities and excursions mentioned in the program
• VAT for hotels and lodges outside Kampala

Exclusions

• Expenses of personal nature such as drinks, tips, telephone calls, laundry etc
• Personal insurance
• Souvenirs
• Tip/gratitude
• Visas and international air tickets
• Any other items which are not included in the itinerary