Day 1

On arrival at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, one of our representative/guide who will welcome you to Rwanda and brief you about your safari will receive you. Thereafter, you will be transferred to your accommodation for relaxation and the overnight stay.

Day 2

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, and 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. The drive is a bit longer but incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green countryside. You will not get bored at all.

Day 3

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.

Day 4

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. With a strenuous day ahead, you will reach and just check into your accommodation and relax. Later, enjoy your dinner plus the overnight stay.

Day 5

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 currently has two 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 and cross border into Bwindi Impenetrable NP – Uganda where you will undertake the gorilla trekking the next day.

DAY 6

Have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure. 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 for some rest time and lunch. Depending on interest and time permitting, you may proceed for the optional community, cultural encounter. Else, just relax after a strenuous early part of the day.

Day 7

Have breakfast then set off for a breathtaking game viewing of Ishasha sector – famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70% though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Hoping you get the chance to spot them, the sight will be spectacular! You will also be able to see other wildlife such as the Uganda kob, Cape buffalo, elephant and warthog that have settled in this area. Thereafter, head to the accommodation (North) Queen Elizabeth NP for relaxation, dinner and later overnight.

Day 8

Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive to the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus the big cats: lions, leopard (but very 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. You will have dinner and overnight at your accommodation.

Day 9

Be up early and have your breakfast then proceed for an early morning game drive. Thereafter, continue to Kibale Forest NP. You will reach Kibale in time for lunch and some rest before proceeding out for the Bigodi swamp excursion. The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a fascinating area, located in Magombe swamp. This area boasts of 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 sanctuary is the Great Blue Turaco. Later, relax and overnight at the booked accommodation.

Day 10

Have breakfast 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, 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. This is going to be quite a long drive but incredibly scenic. You will reach Murchison and do little but check into your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and the overnight stay awaiting next day’s activities.

Day 11

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. OPTIONAL: If interested, you may opt for the hot air balloon safari (instead) at an extra cost (on ground).

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. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Miss it only if you must. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.

Day 12

Be up early and have your breakfast then set off to Entebbe Airport with a detour to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. At Zziwa, you will have an hour of rhino tracking then continue with the drive to Entebbe Airport. The assigned driver/guide will drop you off at the airport to catch flight out (recommended for 18:00 onward).

We hope to see you (or any referral) when next, you visit and thanks for choosing Bush Bound Africa Safaris!