CLASSIC RWANDA UGANDA SAFARI

This tour offers the best of Uganda and Rwanda; two countries located along the western arm of the Rift Valley, characterized by different landscapes, but unified by the presence of the green colors and green hills. This tour is a full immersion in true nature, forests and biodiversity. You will encounter cultures and traditions of the central African region, follow the Nile River at Murchison Falls in Uganda, descend along the Albertine Rift escarpment down to the "Thousand Hills" and lakes of Rwanda. Highlights include the chance to track mountain gorillas in the wild, chimpanzee tracking, see Murchison Falls on the Nile River, game drives, a chance to see game both on water and on land, forest walks, meeting local people and enjoying local culture. You will also have an opportunity to give back by visiting an orphanage and a school in Rwanda.
Prices start at $4425 per person (all prices are in $US).

We have two pricing options, one using luxury hotels, the other using mid-range hotels.

• Mid-range price: $4425.00 per person in shared accommodation. $580 single supplement.
• Luxury price: $5270.00 per person in shared accommodation. $690 single supplement.

Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe, Uganada!

Upon arrival, you will be met by your safari guide at the airport and transferred to your hotel for a welcome drink and safari briefing.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Resort
Mid-range: The Boma Hotel Entebbe

Day 2: Entebbe-Murchison Falls

After breakfast, leave Kampala driving Northwest. Have lunch in Masindi. Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest conservation area in Uganda, spanning 3,840 KMs, named after the falls on the Victoria Nile. Stop at the site of the "top of the falls" to enjoy the marvelous views of the falls from above.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Paraa Safari Lodge

Note: The Paara Sarafi Lodge is luxury; it is used for both luxury and mid-range options as there are no suitable mid-range options in this area. crocodile

Day 3: Game Drive & Boat Trip on the Nile River

After an early breakfast, take a game drive in the northern sector of the park towards the delta area to view elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, giraffes, Uganda Kobs, and there is also a chance to see a pride of lions and leopards. Birds are numerous. In the afternoon, there is a chance to experience one of Uganda's great experiences: A boat cruise on the Nile River, up the river towards the falls. Expect to see a plethora of mammal and bird species in all their glory. Numerous crocodiles, hippos, elephants, and buffalo also call the riverbanks home.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Paraa Safari Lodge

Note: The Paara Sarafi Lodge is luxury; it is used for both luxury and mid-range options as there are no suitable mid-range options in this area.

Day 4: Murchison Falls to Fort Portal

This morning, drive from Murchison Falls heading Southwest via the Albertine Escarpment of the great Western Rift Valley, through Hoima and reach Fort Portal, the capital of the Tooro Kingdom, situated in the shadow of the fabled "Mountains of the Moon," the Rwenzori. Have lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Tooro Botanical Gardens and learn about the medicinal plants in the Albertine Rift Area.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Mountains of the Moon Hotel
Mid-range: Rwenzori View Guest House.

Day 5: Fort Portal to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Enjoy an early morning breakfast after which we shall proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park with a stop at the equator where there is an opportunity to take photos before continuing. This magnificent national park features the full African safari experience: view buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and more. This afternoon, enjoy a game drive before retiring to the lodge to enjoy a relaxing drink as the sun sets on a wonderful day.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking & Boat Trip on the Kazinga Channel

This morning, join local guides at Kyambura Gorge, a forested canyon within Queen Elizabeth National Park. Track a group of wild chimpanzees and learn of the subtle differences in behavior that this isolated population displays. This experience should highlight the existence of varying cultures amongst different chimpanzee societies. Later, return to the lodge for a relaxing lunch where we can discuss the morning's activities. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. This is a passage of water that connects Lakes George and Lake Edward. This water system hosts the highest concentration of hippos in the world, and this excursion brings us up close to them. We will also see crocodile, buffalo, elephants and other game that drink from the channel, and experience the profusion of bird life that is supported here. As dusk falls, prepare for dinner and a good night's sleep.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

Day 7: Mweya to Ishasha Wilderness Area

After an early breakfast, travel to the remote wilderness of Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, an area famous for abundant wildlife and most notably, a unique population of the tree climbing lions. This is Africa at it's best; a perfect blend of magnificent scenery and abundant wildlife. Expect to see elephants, buffalo, topi, Uganda Kob, and tree climbing lions, among other species.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Mid-range: Savannah Resort

Day 8: Ishasha to Rwanda

This morning, travel from Ishasha across the border into neighboring Rwanda. This is a leisurely drive taking most of the day. We climb out of the Rift Valley at first, and then travel through the Kigezi Highlands of Southwestern Uganda. The scenery gets increasingly more breathtaking as we switch back up and down the hills. Forty kilometers before the end of our journey, we see our objective: The mist-swathed Virunga Mountains. This is the Virunga Conservation Area, shared between Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. Our destination today is Musanze/Ruhengeri at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, the home of Rwanda's population of mountain gorillas. On arrival, we are welcomed to the luxurious Mountain Gorilla View Lodge with hot towels and a welcome drink. We retire to enormous cottages for a warm shower and meet later for dinner. After dinner, retire for the night.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Mid-range: Gorillas Hotel Musanze

Day 9: Gorilla Tracking

Today's activity is the most exciting and challenging of our entire expedition. The mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park are part of a worldwide population of just about 800 individuals. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to one of the 8 habituated family groups. For up to five years each, these groups have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period of time every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild. The gorillas are by no means tame, and are completely wild animals. Experienced guides will accompany the encounter. Many of them have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorilla's habits and information from the previous day to locate the groups' whereabouts. Because of this, the time required to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as one hour to as much as 8 hours before one returns to the lodge. Once the gorillas are located, our group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is one of the world's truly memorable experiences: a look into one of these magnificent creature's eyes brings home the poignant fact that they are on the edge of extinction, and that our presence here contributes to ensuring their continued survival. The hour is often over too quickly, and we slowly make our way back to our lodge to recount the day's adventures.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Mid-range: Gorillas Hotel Musanze

Day 10: Karisoke Research Station & Lecture

Visit the new site of the Karisoke Research Station where the famous primatologist Dian Fossey initiated her studies into the lives of mountain gorillas. Today, more than 30 years later, the research of this species continues and you will get the chance to meet with some of the researchers who continue Dian's legacy. In the afternoon we shall enjoy the cultural delights of this part of Africa by visiting the Iby Iwachu cultural group for cultural dancing and an informative experience about traditional medicine. This cultural group was formed by ex-poachers and pygmies. We shall listen to their side of the story after abandoning the illegal practice of poaching animals in Volcanoes National Park.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Mid-range: Gorillas Hotel Musanze

Day 11: Visit Carrs Orphanage/Farm and Lake Kivu

Breakfast is at leisure, leave Ruhengeri and proceed to Gisenyi traversing a scenic countryside with beautiful views of volcanoes and the rift valley. Along the way, we shall visit an orphanage founded by Rosamond Halsey Carr in late 1994 to care for the genocide orphans. Rosamond was a young American fashion illustrator when she married an adventurous hunter-explorer, Kenneth Carr. Together, they journeyed to the former Belgian Congo in 1949 but they later divorced. Kenneth left, but Rosamond stayed in the Congo until 1995. From there, she moved to Northwest Rwanda where she stayed for the next 50 years. She witnessed a big part of Rwanda's historical events including the 1994 civil war. She is the author of "Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda". Rosamond was a good friend of Dian Fossey and Dian used to visit her on many occasions. For those who have watched the movie, "Gorillas in the Mist," some of the scenes were shot on this farm. Later, we continue to Gisenyi; a pretty town located on the shores of Lake Kivu, the main water body of Rwanda.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena
Mid-range: Gorillas Hotel Kivu

Day 12: Gisenyi to Kigali to Akagera

Depart for Akagera National Park, located along the Tanzanian boarder of Rwanda. Have lunch in Kigali then continue to Akagera. This park is famous for game drives and boat trips on Lake Ihema. The park is also known for it's herds of game animals including Burchell's Zebra, lions, elephants, topi, giraffes, impalas and over 425 species of birds that include the Shoe Bill Stock, African Jacana, Sacred Ibis, Goliath Heron, and more. Dinner and overnight accommodations: Akagera Game Lodge.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Akagera Game Lodge
Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge Note: There is no luxury accommodation option in this area. The Akagera Game Lodge is above mid-range, so it is used for both the luxury and mid-range options.

Day 13: Akagera National Park

Enjoy an early morning game drive and in the afternoon, there will be a relaxing boat trip on Lake Ihema.
Overnight Accommodations
Luxury: Akagera Game Lodge
Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge

Note: There is no luxury accommodation option in this area. The Akagera Game Lodge is above mid-range, so it is used for both the luxury and mid-range options.

Day 14: Akagera to Kigali

Depart from Akagera, and have lunch in Kigali. There will be evening transfer to the airport for departing flights.

Note: Both luxury and mid-range options include all transportation, all park entrance fees (as indicated in the itinerary), a boat trip in Murchison Falls, a boat trip on Kazinga Channel and on Lake Ihema, chimpanzee tracking, game drives, gorilla tracking, golden monkey tracking or Karisoke research Station or any activity in the volcanoes park, Ross Carr's farm / orphanage, cultural visit, bottled water in the vehicle, and a professional guide.