Est African Safari Fly into Kigali, pick up and overnight. Transfer to Nyungwe National Park for chimp tracking before heading to Volcanoes NP. In Volcanoes, you will enjoy golden monkey trekking and cross the border into Bwindi (Uganda) where you will enjoy the epic gorilla trekking. After Bwindi, transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP via Ishasha – known for tree-climbing lions.
From Queen NP, you drive to Kibale NP for the Bigodi swamp excursion. Continue to Murchison Falls NP and visit Ziwa rhino sanctuary en-route to Entebbe. Our decades of personal experience, valuable local insights, and the comfort of knowing our Travel Designers are originally from Africa, bring our travelers back again and again for more custom, highly curated travel experiences. Discover for yourself. Get started planning today!
DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION
Kigali City (Google Map)
DEPARTURE TIME
Set Off time is usually very early in the morning.
INCLUDED
On arrival at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, you will be received by one of our representative/guide who will welcome you to Rwanda and brief you about your safari. Thereafter, you will be transferred to your accommodation for relaxation and the overnight stay.
Accommodation: (Reserved Hotel or lodge) | Meals: Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 10-15 minutes.
Morning pick up (after breakfast) by the assigned tour driver-guide who will take you around Kigali City for the city tour. Expect excursion to places like the national museum, local markets, art and craft shops, genocide memorial ground. Thereafter, you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Filled with stunning beauty, Nyungwe in southwestern part of Rwanda is not a place to miss on a Rwanda safari offering memorable wildlife experiences. A visit to Nyungwe takes you through the great natural forest comprising of ancient trees which have all favored the inhabitation of a number of primates including chimpanzees, black & white colobus monkeys among others. #Optional: En route, you may make a stop to visit Kings Palace museum.
Accommodation: (Emeraude Kivu Resort-Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 5-6 hours.
Sheltering the highest population of chimpanzees in Rwanda (roughly 400), Chimpanzee trekking is a major activity done in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Have your breakfast and transfer to the trekking point where you will first receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during chimp trekking. Thereafter, enter the forest to encounter these fascinating and human-like primates firsthand in their natural habitat. Return to the accommodation for lunch and some rest before going out again for the canopy walk experience. The two hours walk starts and ends at the park’s headquarters – Uwinka information center. Travelers walk on the built trail which hangs 60 meters above the forest rewarding them with an aerial view of the national park, wildlife, adjacent communities, Virunga volcanoes and attractions in the neighboring countries.
Accommodation: (Emeraude Kivu Resort-Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: n/a.
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation and then hit the road to Volcanoes NP. Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The drive is a bit long but incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green countryside. You won’t get bored at all. With a strenuous day ahead, you will reach and just check into your accommodation and relax. Later, enjoy your dinner plus the overnight stay.
Accommodation: (La Palme Hotel-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 6 hrs.
Golden monkeys trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park and at the same time (7:00 am) just like gorilla trekking. These rare monkey species are also listed as endangered and Volcanoes NP has habituated groups that are available for trekking by visitors. The exercise starts with a short briefing from the park ranger at the RDB Office. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the golden monkeys through the rainforest of the volcanoes NP. Return to the accommodation for some rest and lunch. After lunch, drive off to Cyanika Border Post. From Cyanika, you will be received by our Uganda-based Professional Tour Driver-guide who will take over from his Rwanda-based colleague. You will cross border into Uganda and overnight at a property close Bwindi National Park where you will undertake the gorilla trekking the next day.
Accommodation: (Gorilla Valley Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: 3-4 hours.
Have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger-guide) on the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure and encounter. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, and take some rest after a strenuous day.
Accommodation: (Gorilla Valley Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: n/a.
Be up early, have breakfast and embark on a transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP – famously known for its tree-climbing lion population. Once there, undertake a game drive in search of this rare species of lions. Should you get the chance to spot the lions up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and unforgettable. From Ishasha (south), exit and head to the booked accommodation in the north sector. Check in and take rest. #Optional: If interested, you may consider a late afternoon-to-evening game drive/safari in the Kasenyi plains.
Accommodation: (Irungu Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 6 hours.
Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive/safari in the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. #Optional: If interested, you may go for a brief late afternoon-to-evening game viewing and then, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: (Irungu Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: n/a.
Be up early and have your breakfast then proceed for another morning game drive/safari. Thereafter, continue to Kibale Forest NP. You will reach Kibale in time for lunch and some rest before proceeding out for the Bigodi wetlands excursion. The Bigodi is a fascinating area that boasts of an extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primates’ species like the baboon, black & white colobus monkey. The Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. Among the major bird species within the wetland is the Great Blue Turaco. Later, relax and overnight at the booked accommodation.
Accommodation: (Kibale Forest Camp-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: 2-3 hours.
Have breakfast, check out and embark on the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, leopard, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Then surely, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. For birders, Murchison Falls boasts about 450 bird species including the grey parrot, dwarf king fisher and the Goliath heron among others. Expect lunch en route. The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way (with very little/no room to be bored). Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and just relax.
Accommodation: (Fort Murchison-Room-Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: 8 hours.
Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the look for wildlife including: lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. #Optional (extra cost): If interested, continue with a hike to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and relax.
Accommodation: (Fort Murchison-Room-Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: n/a.
You will have your breakfast and then drive off to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Once in Zziwa, you will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking in the company of a ranger-guide. From the rhino tracking you will embark on a transfer to Entebbe Airport to catch flight (recommended for 18:00 or later). #Optional (extra cost): In case you have a late night flight and interested, you may consider an excursion to some touristic sites in/around Kampala City before heading to the Entebbe Airport.
Accommodation: Recommended on Request | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Drive Time: Approx. 7 hours.
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NB : An African safari is a thrilling chance to see wild animals going about their daily lives in their natural habitat, which is why they’re one of the most popular activities on the continent. East Africa (specifically Uganda and Rwanda) has a huge variety of national parks that offer adventurous opportunities to see wildlife up close. For Inquiries, reach out to us at [email protected]
