14 Days Thousand Hills Safari - Rwanda

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14 Days Thousand Hills Safari - Rwanda

Destination: Rwanda

This combined cross-country itinerary between Uganda and Rwanda gives you the opportunity to discover the Western Circuit of the Albertine Rift Valley of Uganda, following in Rwanda to Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu and Nyungwe Forest National Park. We include in the group program the following activities: eco-tourism trekking of the chimpanzees in Kibale and Nyungwe; the eco-tourism gorilla trekking in Uganda; a choice of walk in Volcanoes National Park. The activities on Lake Kivu are optional.

Travel by road
14 day Itinerary

DAY PLACE ACTIVITIES
DAY 1 Entebbe / Kampala


On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda our representative will welcome you and transfer for overnight in BB in Entebbe.

Overnight at: Hotel No.5 / Boma Guest House / 2Friends Guest House - BB

DAY 2 Murchison Falls National Park


After breakfast your adventure in Uganda will begin driving northwest to Masindi and Murchison Falls National Park. First activity is the nature walk in Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, the rhinos breeding project which has brought back to Uganda the endangered white and black rhinos and you will see them closely while walking freely. Lunch. Proceed to Murchison Falls, the largest national park in Uganda, that offers beautiful sceneries of grassland acacia and palm trees savannah in the north and tropical forests in the south. Before evening you check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight. Note: Today transfer is about 6 hours drive, part of it through dirt road within the park.

Overnight at: Paraa Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge Supplement for (Bakers lodges) (C) or Pakuba Lodge (E). Full Board

DAY 3 Murchison Falls National Park


your adventure in Uganda will begin driving northwest to Masindi and Murchison Falls National Park. First activity is the nature walk in Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, the rhinos breeding project which has brought back to Uganda the endangered white and black rhinos and you will see them closely while walking freely. Lunch. Proceed to Murchison Falls, the largest national park in Uganda, that offers beautiful sceneries of grassland acacia and palm trees savannah in the north and tropical forests in the south. Before evening you check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.After a cup of coffee, you will depart for an early morning game drive using our safari vehicle to explore the savannah, in the region of the delta of the Nile on Lake Albert, Northern bank. Among other animals in the wild, you might find elephants, lions, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, spotted hyenas and, very rarely, the leopards. Relax as you drive back to the lodge where you will have lunch. In the afternoon, another safari will be organized by boat along the river Nile to the base of the Murchison Falls. It is amazing the concentration of wildlife in the bank of the river Nile, including hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species, like African eagles, pelicans, kingfisher, Egyptian geese and much more. You conclude the excursion by walking along the Nile to the beautiful Murchison Falls and you will have a view from the top of the falls.

Overnight at: Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge Supplement for (Bakers lodges) (C) or Pakuba Lodge (E). Full Board

DAY 4 Albertine Rift Valley and Fort Portal


After breakfast you leave the National Park proceeding southwest along the Lake Albert and Rift Valley escarpment, which offer a lot of sceneries and view points. You pass via Hoima the capital town of Bunyoro kingdom and through sugarcane, tea, banana, coffee and cocoa plantations. Lunch en route. By evening you reach Fort Portal, the capital town of Tooro kingdom on the shadow of Rwenzori Mountains, the biggest mountain range in Africa. Note: Today transfer is about 7 / 8 hours drive, through dirt road and the conditions are variable according to the rains.

Overnight at: Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge / Crater Safari Lodge (C) (supplement for Papaya Lodge) or Chimpanzee Forest Guest House / Isunga Lodge (E). Full Board

DAY 5
From Fort Portal to Queen Elizabeth National Park


After breakfast, depart heading Southwest to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You have a game drive en route as you are going to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, from Mweya peninsula you take the most exciting safari by boat along Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife, bird’s life and opportunities for good photographs. Moreover, you will see plenty of hippos, buffaloes and elephants while drinking from the channel. In the evening you go for another short game drive and try out your luck. Return at lush to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight at: Mweya Safari Lodge / Mazike Lodge (C) or Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge / Park View Safari (E). Full Board

DAY 6 Queen Elizabeth National Park


In the early morning, after breakfast drive to Kyambura Gorge for the trekking to see the chimpanzees in the wild. The gorge is over 16 km long and 100 meter deep following the river Kyambura and the Albertine Rift Valley Escarpment in the eastern boundary of the park. Lunch from the lodge. In the afternoon, be ready for a long game drive along the tracks of the national park, in the Northern sectors and towards Lake George and Kasenyi village, using our safari vehicle. You might see lions, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Ugandan kobs, perhaps the leopard though is shy and rare to be seen. The wildlife population in Queen Elizabeth has much recovered from the dark period of the Seventies, and now the park is a good place to spot animals. Queen Elizabeth enjoys unique landscapes and views of crater lakes and the Albertine Rift Valley, which make this area special and unforgettable. By afternoon, there is a short transfer up to the south of Queen Elizabeth Park in the Ishasha sector.

Overnight at: Dinner and overnight at Ishasha Jungle lodge (Supplement for Ishasha Wildness Camp). Full Board

DAY 7 Ishasha – Lake Bunyonyi


After breakfast, you leave the Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth and proceed to the South, where are found the rain tropical forests which are hosting the remaining world population of the endangered mountain gorillas. The choice of the area of the gorilla safari depends on the availability and allocation of permits. According to the road and climatic conditions, you will pass via Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth, the Southern region of the park. You will have a game drive in search for the so called “tree climbing lions”. During the hot hours of the day, lions of this area enjoy resting lying on top of Figs trees and it is exciting to see this spectacular spot. Lunch en route. You reach by evening the Lake Bunyonyi after Kabale town. Note: Today transfer can be long up to 5 hours and depends on roads conditions.

Overnight at: Dinner and overnight at Bird Nest Resort / Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi (C) or Bunyonyi Eco-Resort (E). Full Board

DAY 8 Lake Bunyonyi - Virunga Volcanoes Area


After breakfast, you will enjoy one of the most extraordinary wildlife and birding experience by boat crossing the Lake Bunyonyi. With its forested and green islands, the lake is home to species of endemic birds and the guide will help you to spot many of them. You can visit Kabale town and the bakiga cultural museum. Lunch. By afternoon, the journey proceeds to either Kisoro in the area of Bwindi Forest National Park or Musanze in Volcanoes National park. You have the option to choose the gorilla tracking between Uganda or Rwanda which is in the territory of Virunga conservation area.

Overnight at: Dinner and overnight at Five Volcanoes Hotel / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Da Vinci Lodge / Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge (E). Full Board

DAY 9 Mountain Gorillas tracking in Virunga conservation region


Optional activity: Gorilla trekking. After breakfast, in the morning starts the trekking in the forest of Virunga in search for one of the habituated families of the mountain gorillas. The tracking can be booked in either the region of Uganda or in the region of Rwanda which must be booked in advance. After the briefing from the park rangers, you follow them as they guide you through the forest’s trails. Bring with you water and packed lunch. It is not predictable the time you will spend to find the gorillas. You have one hour for observing the primates and their behaviors, while taking photographs. By evening, we organize the Iby’lwacu cultural village tour in Kinigi.

Overnight at: Dinner and overnight Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Five Volcanoes Hotel (C) or Da Vinci Lodge / Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge (E). Full Board

DAY 10 On the shores of Lake Kivu Kibuye


This morning breakfast at the lodge: Optional activities in the morning – Dian Fossey visit to the Old Karisimbi tomb site or golden monkey trek in the Volcanoes national park. The journey continues to Kibuye in the direction of South Western Rwanda along the road on the shores of Lake Kivu and you arrive for dinner and overnight . Note: All optional activities ought to be booked in advance

Overnight at: dinner and overnight at Cormoran Lodge (C) or Rwiza Village Hotel (E). Full Board.

DAY 11
On the shores of Lake Kivu and Southern Rwanda


After breakfast, optional activities on Lake Kivu: Kayaking on the Lake, Boat cruise to the Napoleon Island, Half day cycling tour along Lake Kivu. Lunch in Kibuye. By afternoon you leave Kibuye in the direction to Cyangugu, on the Southern cost of the lake. The small town is the gateway to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Note: Gisakura Guest House has no guarantee for self-contained rooms t

Overnight at: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (C) (Supplement for Nyungwe Forest Lodge) or Emeruade/Gisakura Guest House (E). Full Board

DAY 12
Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park


After an early with packed breakfast, at 6 am you enter Nyungwe forest for the trekking to see the chimpanzees and other primates like the beautiful Angolan colobus. The park is spread for over 970 sq km of green hills, the largest uncontaminated piece of tropical forest in Eastern Africa. Nyungwe hosts 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzee, the Rwenzori colobus, the Hoest Monkey, the silver monkey, owl faced monkey, red tailed monkey, velvet monkey and olive baboon. Ensure you carry with you water and picnic breakfast. Lunch. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (C) (Supplement for Nyungwe Forest Lodge) or Emeruade/Gisakura Guest House (E). Full Board. Note: Gisakura Guest House has no guarantee for self-contained rooms

Overnight at: . Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (C) (Supplement for Nyungwe Forest Lodge) or Emeruade/Gisakura Guest House (E). Full Board

DAY 13
Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park


After an early with packed breakfast, at 6 am you enter Nyungwe forest for the trekking to see the chimpanzees and other primates like the beautiful Angolan colobus. The park is spread for over 970 sq km of green hills, the largest uncontaminated piece of tropical forest in Eastern Africa. Nyungwe hosts 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzee, the Rwenzori colobus, the Hoest Monkey, the silver monkey, owl faced monkey, red tailed monkey, velvet monkey and olive baboon. Ensure you carry with you water and picnic breakfast. Lunch. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (C) (Supplement for Nyungwe Forest Lodge) or Emeruade/Gisakura Guest House (E). Full Board. Note: Gisakura Guest House has no guarantee for self-contained rooms

Overnight at: . Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (C) (Supplement for Nyungwe Forest Lodge) or Emeruade/Gisakura Guest House (E). Full Board

DAY 14
Butare - Nyanza - Kigali


After breakfast you will drive to Kigali. Lunch in Butare, the second town in Rwanda, considered the cultural capital, hosting the university and the National Museum. Very rewarding are the handicraft shops where are sold typical products made by Rwandan artisans, especially in the weaving and baskets. As you proceed, a stop over is made in Nyanza, that in the past was the political capital and it hosts the antique Royal palace, entirely renovated for the visitors, displaying original items and pieces of history of the Mwami, the king. Arrive in Kigali for your flights at Kigali International airport. Half Board



The price includes:
1. Water on board
2. Eco-tourist activities and nature walks
3. Boat excursions
4. Entrance fees to national parks and photographic safari
5. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo
6. English speaking Driver/Guide
7. Ground transportation by 4x4 tourist Land Cruiser (or minivan for 6 pax)
8. Full board accommodation excluding drinks
9. Airport transfers

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You can reach us easily at safari@greatugandajobs.com or +256782163148