Classic Uganda & Rwanda - East Africa Safari in 214

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Arrive at Entebbe Airport where you are welcomed by your guides and briefed on the great African adventure. Set off on the southbound road at 10am. On the way see the royal drum makers, stand on the Equator and be in both hemispheres at once, bargain at the roadside markets bursting with fruit & vegetables. Continue to the escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley: an unforgettable sight. Time permitting, visit the Tropical Bee Care Centre to look at their range of community projects from bee keeping & honey making to the community nursery for children. Descend to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, keeping an eye out for game.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Jacana Camp

Day 1: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Arrive at Entebbe Airport where you are welcomed by your guides and briefed on the great African adventure. Set off on the southbound road at 10am. On the way see the royal drum makers, stand on the Equator and be in both hemispheres at once, bargain at the roadside markets bursting with fruit & vegetables. Continue to the escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley: an unforgettable sight. Time permitting, visit the Tropical Bee Care Centre to look at their range of community projects from bee keeping & honey making to the community nursery for children. Descend to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, keeping an eye out for game.
Meals : FB

Day 2: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Go for an early morning game drive to seek out wildlife, rest during the heat of the day and then go on an evening game drive. The game drives in QE depend on the season. The Kasenyi plains support large concentrations of game especially lion. The area around the 7 crater lakes in the northern hills are very scenic but game viewing is erratic. The Mweya peninsula is usually good to see the large mammals, bushbuck, waterbuck, and elephant, as well as the unusual giant forest hog. Leopard may also be seen in this area.
Meals : FB

Day 2: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Go for an early morning game drive to seek out wildlife, rest during the heat of the day and then go on an evening game drive. The game drives in QE depend on the season. The Kasenyi plains support large concentrations of game especially lion. The area around the 7 crater lakes in the northern hills are very scenic but game viewing is erratic. The Mweya peninsula is usually good to see the large mammals, bushbuck, waterbuck, and elephant, as well as the unusual giant forest hog. Leopard may also be seen in this area.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Jacana Safari Lodge

Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Go on an excursion to the nearby Kyambura gorge to track the fast moving and elusive chimpanzees, one of man's closest relatives. The chimp population is quite mobile, hence viewing is unpredictable. The walk in this "lost world" is nevertheless enchanting. Alternatively, go for a nature walk in Maramagambo Forest. This forest harbours some unusual species - red-tailed and L'Hoest's Monkey, potto, giant forest hog, pygmy antelope, and giant elephant shrew. You can also visit the bat caves and the blue lake. In the afternoon a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel is especially rewarding for viewing a variety of game, especially hippo, buffalo, elephant and a vast array of birds.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Jacana Safari Lodge

Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Go on an excursion to the nearby Kyambura gorge to track the fast moving and elusive chimpanzees, one of man's closest relatives. The chimp population is quite mobile, hence viewing is unpredictable. The walk in this "lost world" is nevertheless enchanting. Alternatively, go for a nature walk in Maramagambo Forest. This forest harbours some unusual species - red-tailed and L'Hoest's Monkey, potto, giant forest hog, pygmy antelope, and giant elephant shrew. You can also visit the bat caves and the blue lake. In the afternoon a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel is especially rewarding for viewing a variety of game, especially hippo, buffalo, elephant and a vast array of birds.
Meals : FB

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Start for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Either drive via Ishasha, home of the tree climbing lion, roads permitting, or take the alternative route through cultivated expanses. Time permitting, go for a guided nature walk.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge

Day 5: Bwindi National Park
You can go gorilla tracking (subject to permit availability at time of booking), walking up steep, densely forested tracks. In this thick, humid forest you almost have to cut your way through the undergrowth but eventually should come across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation, an inspiring moment. Tracking in Bwindi requires stamina and can often take most of the day. Alternatively, you could go for a leisurely walk on one of the different trails that meander through the Impenetrable Forest.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge

Day 6: Bwindi National Park
Either go gorilla tracking again (on payment of supplement at the time of booking, subject to permit availability) or go for a guided nature walk in the thick forest, rich in birds, butterflies and monkeys. Alternatively, look out for monkeys and birds near the river below the lodge.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge

Day 7: Mgahinga National Park
Leave for Mgahinga, making brief stops at places of interest en route, including Kanaba Gap to view the dramatic Virunga volcanoes and beautiful terraced hills. You can either continue directly to Mgahinga, or make a detour to Lake Mutanda. Here you can take a gentle stroll on the lake shores whilst watching local life, or, weather permitting, take a canoe to Toyo Island, before continuing to Mount Gahinga. The afternoon is at your leisure.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Lodge

Day 8: Mgahinga National Park
You can choose to go gorilla tracking again, this time in Mgahinga, on the northern side of the Virunga mountains, (on payment of supplement at time of booking), climb the Muhavura or Gahinga volcanoes, or go for a nature walk. Mount Gahinga Lodge, at 2 300m, nestles in the shadow of the dramatic Virunga volcanoes.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Lodge

Days 9: Parc National des Volcans
Either relax, walk near the lodge, or do one of the activities mentioned on Day 8 in the morning and transfer to Rwanda after lunch. (Note: clocks go back 1hr). Visit local communities around Virunga Lodge, or simply take in the panoramic sunset over the volcanoes.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Gorilla Nest Hotel

Days 9: Parc National des Volcans
Either relax, walk near the lodge, or do one of the activities mentioned on Day 8 in the morning and transfer to Rwanda after lunch. (Note: clocks go back 1hr). Visit local communities around Virunga Lodge, or simply take in the panoramic sunset over the volcanoes.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Volcanoes Virunga Lodge

Day 10: Parc National des Volcans
Go gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans (on payment of supplement at time of booking). Tracking the gorillas through the lush forested 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 are more elusive and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Gorilla Nest Hotel

Day 10: Parc National des Volcans
Go gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans (on payment of supplement at time of booking). Tracking the gorillas through the lush forested 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 are more elusive and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Volcanoes Virunga Lodge

Day 11: Parc National des Volcans
Go gorilla tracking again in Parc National des Volcans (on payment of supplement at time of booking), visit the golden monkeys, climb the Visoke volcano, trek to the remains of Old Karisoke, visit local communities or simply relax.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Volcanoes Virunga Lodge

Day 11: Parc National des Volcans
Go gorilla tracking again in Parc National des Volcans (on payment of supplement at time of booking), visit the golden monkeys, climb the Visoke volcano, trek to the remains of Old Karisoke, visit local communities or simply relax.
Meals : FB
Accommodation : Gorilla Nest Hotel

Day 12: Kigali
Leave for Kigali. Time permitting, go for a tour of the city including a visit to the market, a pottery project, a widows' project which sells quilts, handicraft shops, the Franco-Rwandan cultural centre and a genocide memorial. Transfer to the airport.
Meals : HB