15 days Rwanda and Uganda safari offers you chance for double gorilla trekking with Africa Adventure Safaris. This package includes gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda; a visit the twin lakes of Rudondo and Burera. Golden monkey tracking the next day and finally transfer to Uganda’s Bwindi NP to tracking mountain gorillas and lastly wildlife viewing and relaxing in Lake Bunyonyi. The guest is free to either proceed to Kampala with a long overland drive of about 9 hours or simply return to Kigali.
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Trip Highlights
Day 1: Arrival – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Forest & Visit to Twin Lakes
Day 3: Golden Monkey Tracking – Transfer to Bwindi National Park
Day 4: Second Gorilla Trekking in Uganda & Optional Community walk
Day 5: Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park
Day 6: Game viewing Drive – Transfer to either Kampala or Kigali
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Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport
Your 15 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari begins upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. Your safari guide will welcome you before transferring you to your hotel in Kigali. The journey usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. After checking in, spend the rest of the day relaxing after your flight. If you arrive early, enjoy a short drive through Kigali to experience the city’s clean streets and rolling hills. You may visit Nyandungu Eco-Park, a restored wetland with walking trails, indigenous trees and many bird species. The park offers a peaceful introduction to Rwanda’s natural environment. Coffee lovers may also enjoy visiting one of Kigali’s speciality coffee shops to sample locally grown Arabica coffee. In the evening, your guide will brief you about the safari before you return to your hotel. Accommodation options includeThe Retreat by Heaven (luxury), Hotel des Mille Collines (mid-range) and ONOMO Hotel Kigali (budget).
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
After breakfast, leave Kigali and begin the journey to Nyungwe National Park. The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours through Rwanda’s countryside. Your first stop is the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza. The museum explains Rwanda’s traditional monarchy and features the famous long-horned Inyambo cattle. Continue to Huye where you will visit the Ethnographic Museum. The museum displays traditional tools, cultural objects, music and historical collections from across Rwanda.
Enjoy lunch before continuing towards Nyungwe. As the road climbs into the mountains, the landscape changes into rolling tea plantations and dense rainforest. Before reaching your lodge, stop at Gisakura Tea Estate. Take a guided walk through the tea fields and learn how tea is grown, harvested and processed. Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon. If time allows, enjoy a short nature walk near the lodge. Accommodation options include One&Only Nyungwe House(luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel(mid-range) and Gisakura Guest House (budget).
Nyungwe National Park is located in southwestern Rwanda near the border with Burundi. It protects one of Africa’s oldest mountain rainforests and covers more than 1,000 square kilometres. The park is home to chimpanzees, thirteen primate species, over 320 bird species, hundreds of butterfly species and thousands of plant species. Nyungwe is also famous for its canopy walkway, scenic hiking trails, waterfalls and tea plantations that surround the forest.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking, Canopy Walk and waterfall trail
Wake early before heading to the park headquarters for a briefing. Experienced rangers will lead you into the rainforest in search of chimpanzees. The walk may last between one and four hours depending on the chimpanzees’ location. Once found, spend one hour observing their natural behaviour. Watch them feed, groom, climb trees and communicate through different calls.
Return to your lodge for lunch before visiting the Nyungwe canopy walk. The suspended bridge stretches about 160 metres and stands around 70 metres above the forest floor. The canopy offers beautiful views across the rainforest and opportunities to spot monkeys, birds and butterflies. Later, continue on the waterfall trail. This peaceful forest walk passes giant trees, orchids, ferns and small streams before reaching a scenic waterfall hidden within the forest. The trail receives fewer visitors than the canopy walk and offers a quieter rainforest experience. Return to your lodge before dinner. Accommodation options include One&Only Nyungwe House(luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel(mid-range) and Gisakura Guest House (budget).
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, leave Nyungwe National Park and travel north towards Volcanoes National Park. The drive takes about 6 to 7 hours. Follow the scenic road along Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes. Stop in Karongi to enjoy views across the lake before continuing to Rubavu. The lakeside route passes fishing villages, coffee farms and small beaches. After lunch, continue towards Musanze. Before reaching your lodge, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. The centre explains mountain gorilla conservation through interactive exhibits and educational displays. If time allows, visit a local coffee cooperative where farmers explain Rwanda’s coffee-growing traditions. Arrive at your lodge in the evening. Accommodation options include Bisate Lodge (luxury), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (mid-range) and Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (budget).
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking Adventure and visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Go 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 sometimes take a full day. At the finish of this trek, you will return to your lodge for lunch and relax. In the afternoon if interested setout for Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, also known as Gorilla Guardians Village. Former poachers now work as guides, sharing traditional dances, music, storytelling, local farming practices, and medicinal plant knowledge. The visit also explains how conservation has created new opportunities for surrounding communities. Return to your lodge during the evening.
Day 3: Golden Monkeys Tracking – Transfer to Bwindi National Park
Wake up early for your breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for breifing the Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus Kandti), now listed as endangered because of their small numbers. You will be separated in groups of 6 people maxixum, and the trackking will take most of the day. After the trek, return to the lodge for relaxation and drive to Uganda later crossing the border to Bwindi national park. Dinner and Overnight at Bakiga lodge, Gorilla Mist Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge
Day 4: Second Gorilla Trekking in Uganda & Optional Community walk
Today wakeup early for a quick breakfast and head out for briefing from the guides, set off for the gorilla tracking in the impenetrable forest. All travelers should be assembled at the briefing point by 8.00am. You need to carry packed lunch, drinking water, rain jacket and walking stick will be provided. After briefing, enter the forest to track gorillas, the time taken to find the magnificent primates is unpredictable since it depends on when the gorillas where last seen. If time permits take an afternoon community walk before retiring for dinner at your lodge. Meal plan –Breakfast, lunch &Dinner in accommodations of previous day
Day 5: Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park
Enjoy breakfast, with packed lunch go for the Batwa trail. The Batwa people used to live in Bwindi forest, but it was gazetted into a national park IN 1991 and they were misplaced. They now live with the rest of the communities, but most of them are still isolated. Return to Lodge for lunch and drive off to Lake Mburo reaching in time for an afternoon boat ride, do some sport fishing and see the Crocodiles, Pelicans, Shoebill stork, Hippos, Cormorants, Fish eagles along the shores of the lake.
Dinner and Overnight
Day 6: Game viewing Drive – Transfer to either Kampala or Kigali
After early breakfasts, go for an early morning game drive which will offer a wonderful encounter with wild like; Zebras, Waterbucks, Buffaloes, Topis, Elands, Leopards, and a variety of bird species. After the game drive set off to either Kampala for departure or Kigali for drop off at the airport or Hotel.
End of Safari
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[tab title=”Inclusions”]
Included in this tour package;
- Gorilla Permit.
- Cultural entertainment
- Park Ranger Fees
- Relevant Government Taxes.
- Full Board Accommodation (2 nights) and en-route meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- Full time English speaking Driver/Guide
- Ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends.
Exclusions:
- Airfares
- Visa Fees
- Personal Insurance
- Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.
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Related Safaris
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