Experience the best of Uganda and Rwanda in just 2 nights with the Uganda Gorilla Express tour. Arrive at Kigali International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Kigali, a city that has made tremendous progress since the 1994 genocide. Explore the city and visit the genocide memorial site before heading to Kisoro near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Enjoy a scenic drive and witness spectacular views of the terraces and Twin Lakes. On day 3, wake up early and head to Bwindi National Park for gorilla trekking. Spend an hour with the gorilla family group, an experience that will stay with you forever, before returning to Kigali in the evening.
Kigali
7:00am
Tour at a glance:
| Day | Location | Accommodation | Meals | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KIGALI | Mille Collines Hotel. | D | Trsf |
| 2 | Kisoro/Mgahinga Park | Ichumbi Gorilla Hotel | FB | Trsf, City tour |
| 3 | Kigali | Check out/Kigali Hotel | B | Gorilla trekking |
| Legend: L-Lunch, D-Dinner, BB-Bed and breakfast, FB- Full Board, B – Breakfast, Flt-Flight, Trsf-Transfer. | ||||
Below are the key tour highlights:
Upon arrival at Kigali International airport, disembark from the aircraft; all arrivals will be proceeded to the migration for visa process, collect luggage and exit into arrivals area where you will be welcomed by our driver-guide who will shortly brief you about your tour then immediate transfer to your Hotel in Kigali City.
Hotel Des Milles Collines is a 4*- star property located in the natural business hub and in the suburb area of the city – KIGALI. This Hotel has been extensively famous known for the Movie Hotel Rwanda. The drive from the airport to your Hotel will take approximately 15 minutes.
Kigali was founded in 1907 as small colonial outpost by Dr. Richard Kant, the first German colonial resident of Rwanda. The city has made tremendous progress since 1994 genocide. Considered one of the safest and friendliest of African capitals, Kigali is blessed with a moderate high altitude climate. It is inhabited by approximately more than 1 million people who now enjoy the benefits of peace. You will be pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it feels to be among the gentle people of Rwanda who will be delighted to welcome you to their beautiful, exceptionally friendly country.
Upon arrival to your Hotel you will immediately check in to your room for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Hotel Des Mille Collines – https://www.millecollines.rw, Meals Plan: Breakfast.
After a leisure morning breakfast at around 8:00 am, Transfer to Uganda/Kigali at Mgahinga National Park in the south western part of Uganda.
You will first do a short tour around Kigali and enjoy this impressive beautiful city and after all visit to the genocide memorial site; a grim reminder of the senseless massacre of innocent’s lives in 1994.
Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to 1994 genocide and how Rwanda has dealt with that past. We continue with our tour and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience.
You will have lunch at one of the famous restaurant in Kigali and later transfer to the Ugandan boarder.
Cross through Kyanika Boarder points which is a 30 minutes’ drive from Ruhengeri now Musanze. You will need an East African Visa that you will have obtained at the Kigali International airport for a fee of $100. After the boarder clearance you will proceed through the hills of Kisoro. You will witness spectacular views of the terraces and Twin Lakes. The journey to Kisoro/Mgahinga from Kigali takes around 4 Hours.
Arriving in Kisoro you will check in, Dinner and Overnight.
Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Hotel, Meals plan: Dinner
Wake up for an early morning breakfast and at around 7:00 am, we head to the BWINDI National Park Head quarter for the briefing from the park rangers about the dos and don’ts while with the Gorillas.
You will then enter the juggle to meet the silverback. Move in a company of experienced ranger guides through the forest while searching for mountain gorillas. Only eight people are able to track each habituated group. Time taken while searching for these great apes, rangers between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla groups as their territory can range up to 40km. The park rangers and guides will clear the way and assist you through the forest. Once the gorilla group is located you will spend an hour with them as they feed, rest and play.
Sitting with the mountain gorilla is one of the most amazing wildlife experiences you will ever have. A dominant male silverback can weigh over 200 kilos and is the largest living primate. He will control our meeting as well as deciding when his group will eat, sleep and move on. His females care for their young with affection and playfulness but also with discipline. They are very curious, and are capable of making over 25 different vocalizations, including chuckling and purring. Communication also includes posturing, chest beating and if all else fails – the charge! The privilege of spending an hour with this family group is an experience that will never leave you. After your hour is up, you wind your way slowly out of the forest and back to the camp to swap stories about your amazing experience.
After the Gorilla trekking, you will return to your Hotel refresh a bit and immediate transfer to Kigali to arrive late in the early evening.
N.B: If departure flight is on this day should be at least from 8:00 pm.
