This 6-day/5-night Rwanda-Uganda Gorilla Trek and Wildlife Tour begins in Kigali, where you will stay at Hotel Des Mille Collines before crossing the border to Bwindi National Park in Uganda. There, you will stay at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, and on day three, you will embark on gorilla trekking. On day four, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and explore the Ishasha sector before arriving at Mweya. The tour offers a unique opportunity to see the resident tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and over 600 bird species in their natural habitat.
Kigali
7:00am
Itineraty at a glance:
| Day | Location | Accommodation | Meals | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KIGALI | Hotel Des Milles Collines | D | Trsf |
| 2 | Bwindi National Park | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge | FB | Trsf |
| 3 | Bwindi National Park | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge | FB | Gorilla trekking |
| 4 | Queen Elisabeth Park | Buffalo Savannah Lodge | FB | Trsf |
| 5 | Queen Elisabeth Park | Buffalo Savannah Lodge | FB | Game Drive, Boat cruise |
| 6 | Kampala City | Check out | B | Trsf |
| Legend: L-Lunch, D-Dinner, BB-Bed and breakfast, FB- Full Board, B – Breakfast, Flt-Flight, Trsf-Transfer | ||||
Below are the key tour highlights of the tour:
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 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.
Meals Plan: Hotel Des Mille Collines – https://www.millecollines.rw/, Meals Plan: Breakfast.
After a leisure morning breakfast at around 9:00 am, Transfer to Uganda/Bwindi National Park in the south western part of Uganda/Rushaga Sector. Cross through Kyanika Boarder points which is a 30 minutes’ drive from Ruhengeri. 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 lake Mutanda. The journey to Bwindi from Musanze takes around 3 Hours.
Arriving in Bwindi you will check in to your Hotel, have lunch and after lunch in the afternoon at around 3:00 pm you will take a short walk to the Batwa trail. The Batwa Experience begins with a nature-walk, hike through the forest seeing the forest in a new way, through the eyes of the original people of the Forest. Local community visits through local villages provide insights into the lives of the Bakiga and Batwa pygmy people living beside the Bwindi Forest.
Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, 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.
Habituation of a gorilla group takes a minimum of two years, with daily visits to allow the gorilla group to tolerate human presence. It is only when the gorillas are completely comfortable with human presence that tourists are allowed to share the daily hour of contact with them.
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 the reminder of your day at leisure.
Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Meals plan: Full Board
After a morning breakfast, we dive to Queen Elizabeth National Park through Ishasha sector in the southern part of this Park. The Ishasha sector is notably known for its resident Tree Climbing Lions that are an exceptional attraction and one among the highlights on all safaris taken within the park. We shall proceed to northern part of this park in Mweya and the journey will take around 6 – 7 hours. You will keep your eye open as we drive to North since It is a habitat for elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Lions, Leopards, hyena and over it is a home for more than 600 species of bird species.
Overnight at Buffalo Savannah Lodge, Meals plan: Full Board
Be up for a cup of Tea/coffee at 6:00 and start the morning game drive at 6:30 am, you will go for game drive to catch up with early risers before returning to their hiding places. It is a good opportunity for great wildlife sightings. Drive along the Kasenyi game trails. You will encounter game as lions, hyenas, bush bucks, elephants among others. After more than three hours of great wildlife sightings return to the lodge to relax and have lunch. Thereafter, you will go for the boat ride on Kazinga Channel.
The Kazinga cannel connecting lake George to Lake Albert. It is where many buffaloes rest in the water while big herds of elephants and different bird species can be seen enjoying themselves along the channel shores. There is also a concentration of hippos, crocodiles and birds. In short, this water cruise offers an admirable stage for clear photography, extensive bird-watching and an all embracing game viewing. You will then return to your Hotel for Dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Buffalo Savannah Lodge, Meals plan: Full Board
