$5,059 to $5,279 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Arrive Kigali + Nyandungu Eco-Park birding
Arrive Kigali + Nyandungu Eco-Park birding
Your safari begins the moment you land. Our guide meets you at Kigali International Airport and transfers you to your hotel for check-in. In the afternoon we head to Nyandungu Eco-Park, Kigali's rewarding urban wetland home to over 200 bird species including papyrus endemics and great blue turacos. This is a wonderful first experience for the birder in your group and a gentle, exciting introduction to the remarkable wildlife that awaits across the coming days.
- Main Destination:
- Kigali (Rwanda)
- Accommodation:
- Five to Five Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Volcanoes NP, Ellen DeGeneres Campus + Ibyiwacu Cultural Village
Volcanoes NP, Ellen DeGeneres Campus + Ibyiwacu Cultural Village
We drive to Musanze in the Volcanoes National Park region, about two and a half hours through beautiful Rwandan countryside. Our first stop is the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, one of the world's most important gorilla research and conservation centres. You will learn about the science behind gorilla protection and the extraordinary legacy of Dian Fossey. In the afternoon we visit Ibyiwacu Cultural Village for traditional dance, a guided village walk, and a fascinating museum.
- Main Destination:
- Ruhengeri (City, Rwanda)
- Accommodation:
- Isange Paradise Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Golden Monkey Tracking + Twin Lakes Scenic Drive
Golden Monkey Tracking + Twin Lakes Scenic Drive
Morning golden monkey tracking in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park. These wonderfully playful and endemic primates are found only in the Virunga mountains, and their vivid golden and black colouring makes for exceptional photographs and memories. After tracking we enjoy a scenic afternoon drive past the breathtaking Twin Lakes, Burera and Ruhondo, two stunning crater lakes framed by the Virunga volcanoes on the horizon. A perfect and varied day in the mountains.
- Main Destination:
- Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Isange Paradise Resort
Wildlife in Volcanoes NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Mount Bisoke Hike Volcano and Crater Lake
Mount Bisoke Hike Volcano and Crater Lake
One of the most rewarding days of the entire trip. We hike Mount Bisoke (3,711m), an active volcano in the Virunga chain. The four to six hour ascent takes you through rich montane forest teeming with birdlife before opening up to panoramic views of the Virunga range and a breathtaking crater lake at the summit. Standing on the rim of an active volcano looking down into a perfect mountain lake is an experience that stays with you forever. Porters are available and highly recommended.
- Main Destination:
- Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Isange Paradise Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
We cross the border into Uganda and drive south to the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The journey rolls through terraced hillsides, lush valleys, and vibrant rural communities, offering a fascinating glimpse into everyday Ugandan life. As you approach Bwindi the ancient forest rises dramatically around you, dense and alive with sound. By the time you arrive and settle in for your evening briefing with the ranger guide, the anticipation for tomorrow is almost unbearable.
- Main Destination:
- Rushaga Sector (Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Mountain Gorilla Trekking, Bwindi
Mountain Gorilla Trekking, Bwindi
The centrepiece of the safari and one of the greatest wildlife encounters on earth. After a morning briefing at park headquarters, you trek into the forest with a ranger escort in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. The trek can take one to five hours, and when you find them you are rewarded with one full, unhurried hour in their extraordinary presence. With fewer than 1,100 remaining in the world, every encounter is a privilege. Bwindi also holds over 350 bird species including rare Albertine Rift endemics.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Lake Bunyonyi Island Boat Excursion
Lake Bunyonyi Island Boat Excursion
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, one of the most beautiful lakes in all of East Africa. Set among steep emerald terraced hills with 29 islands each carrying its own fascinating history and character, the lake is a place of extraordinary peace and beauty. We spend the full day on a boat excursion visiting Punishment Island and Bwama Island, birding along the lush shores, and soaking in one of Uganda's most breathtaking natural settings. Please note that the boat departs at a set time and punctuality is essential, so we kindly ask all guests to be ready at the agreed meeting point on time to make the most of every moment on the water.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)
- Accommodation:
-
Itambira Island Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
We drive north through the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda's most celebrated and diverse wildlife destination. The landscape transforms beautifully as you descend from the highlands onto the open savannah. On arrival we check in and head straight out for a brief evening game drive across the golden plains, where elephant, buffalo, Uganda kob, warthog, and a spectacular array of birds are commonly encountered within minutes of leaving the lodge..
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- Enshama Game Lodge
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Chimpanzee Trekking + Kazinga Channel Cruise
Chimpanzee Trekking + Kazinga Channel Cruise
A packed and unforgettable day. The morning is spent chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, a dramatic forest gorge that cuts deep through the open savannah and is home to a habituated chimp community. In the afternoon we join a launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa's greatest wildlife spectacles. Massive herds of hippo and buffalo line the banks alongside Nile crocodiles, and the birdlife is extraordinary. The shoebill stork, one of the world's most sought-after birds, is a real possibility here.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- Enshama Game Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Full Game drive inside Queen Elizabeth
Full Game drive inside Queen Elizabeth
A dedicated full day immersed in Queen Elizabeth National Park's remarkable savannah ecosystem. We explore the Kasenyi plains in the morning, prime territory for lion and elephant, before heading south to the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, a behaviour unique to this park. Leopard, waterbuck, topi, and a staggering variety of birdlife complete the day. With over 600 species recorded, Queen Elizabeth is one of Africa's finest birding destinations and your birder companion will be thoroughly in their element.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- Enshama Game Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 11
Transfer to Lake Mburo NP + Nocturnal Game Drive
Transfer to Lake Mburo NP + Nocturnal Game Drive
We drive east to Lake Mburo National Park, the only park in Uganda where you can see Burchell's zebra. An afternoon game drive introduces the park's wonderful cast of characters including zebra, giraffe, eland, impala, topi, and buffalo against a scenic backdrop of lakes and acacia woodland. After dinner we head out on a nocturnal game drive, one of the most atmospheric experiences of the entire safari, in search of leopard, spotted hyena, civet, genet cat, and serval.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Mburo National Park (Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- Hyena Hill Lodge
Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 12
Lake Mburo to Entebbe
Lake Mburo to Entebbe
A final sunrise game drive or nature walk in Lake Mburo, one of Uganda's best kept birding secrets with over 350 recorded species. After a leisurely breakfast we begin the drive to Entebbe, arriving in good time for your departure flight from Entebbe International Airport. If time allows before your flight we can arrange a visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria, a wonderful final experience before you fly home. It has been a true privilege to journey with you.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Mburo National Park (Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
