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Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

  • You'll be collected from the airport.
  • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

Welcome to Rwanda & Transfer to Lake bunyonyi through Katuna Boarder

Welcome to Rwanda & Transfer to Lake bunyonyi through Katuna Boarder

Welcome to Rwanda-Uganda: Today, our dedicated guide will meet you in Kigali, at the ultra-modern Kigali-Kanombe international airport in Rwanda, and he will drive you through the Rwandan countryside to the town of Kabale in Uganda, crossing the Rwanda/Uganda border at Katuna. This journey takes approximately 3 hours.

Our destination, Lake Bunyonyi, lies only a few kilometers out of Kabale; it is a very beautiful freshwater lake dotted with 22 small islands. Quite breathtaking - you will quickly unpack your tripods to take some stunning shots! Winston Churchill dubbed Uganda “the Pearl of Africa” for a reason!

In the evening we will go for a photo walk and enjoy dinner together at the beginning of our adventure.

Main Destination:
Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)
Accommodation:
Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
  • Mid-range resort located at Lake Bunyonyi
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 2

Travel to Queen Elizabeth National park

Travel to Queen Elizabeth National park

On this day, we travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is situated in this south western corner of Uganda; we shall have our first game drive in the afternoon after lunch when we shall expect to see a variety of animals, especially elephants.

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Elephant and buffalo are very common, and lion are surprisingly easy to spot. Hyena can occasionally be spotted! There are many interesting antelope species such as Uganda kob, topi and bushbuck.

Following each day of Safari I will be offering a photo review session, so we can discuss what we are doing well and what we need to work on ready for the next day!

Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Best Time To Visit January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP

ChimpanzeeOccasional
ElephantCommon
LionCommon
BuffaloCommon
HippoAbundant
LeopardOccasional
Show more
ZebraNone
Accommodation:
Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 3

Game drives & Boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

Game drives & Boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

On this day, we will enjoy breakfast and travel the short distance into the park for a morning game drive where we will spot hippos (where there is one of the world’s largest concentrations), elephants, Nile crocodiles and different bird species including kingfishers and eagles.

The boat cruise provides a wonderful opportunity for close-up photography of wildlife along the shore of this natural channel which links Lake Edward and Lake George. Robert, the boat guide, is an expert birder, so expect to be enthralled!

Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Accommodation:
Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 4

Travel to Lake Bunyonyi

Travel to Lake Bunyonyi

On this day, we will wake and, leaving the national park, travel through and stopping at the scenic bunyaruguru tea plantations and Kagamba hot springs. We will then proceed to Ntugamo and then on through Kabale town to Lake Bunyonyi for an overnight stay.

Kabale is a bustling, vibrant urban environment where small children walk to school in their pristine uniforms as boda-bodas (motorbike taxis) weave in and out of the traffic on the main thoroughfare between the capital Kampala and Kisoro, a town on the border with the DRC.

Main Destination:
Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)
Accommodation:
Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
  • Mid-range resort located at Lake Bunyonyi
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 5

Photography & Canoe trekking

Photography & Canoe trekking

We shall wake up looking out over the misty lake with great memories of our exciting safari. After a good breakfast, we shall travel by boat to visit some of the islands within Lake Bunyonyi.

Then we will take a walk in the hills to meet local people and learn how they live. Key Gatatu staff members themselves originate from Lake Bunyonyi so have excellent contacts and local knowledge. There will be more outstanding photo opportunities.

Main Destination:
Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)
Accommodation:
Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
  • Mid-range resort located at Lake Bunyonyi
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 6

Gorilla tracking & Local experiences option-visit to Kabale/ school visit (Mwendo)

Gorilla tracking & Local experiences option-visit to Kabale/ school visit (Mwendo)

Gorilla tracking: the experience of a lifetime! Not an opportunity to be missed. We will wake up early, enjoy a delicious breakfast, and get a packed lunch. Leaving at 5:30am, we will drive to the Bwindi forest in Uganda where half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population live. The journey to Bwindi impenetrable National Park will take two hours. To undertake a gorilla trek you need to be fit and in good health. Tip: hire a porter if you’d like some support.

Richard, the Director of Gatatu, has founded a community school called Mwendo where you are invited to spend the day as a volunteer.

Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February
High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)
Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi NP

Accommodation:
Whitehorse Inn
  • Mid-range lodge located in or near Bwindi NP (Gorillas)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 7

Travel back to Kigali for next Destination

Travel back to Kigali for next Destination

Travel back to Kigali: This is will be the last day of the tour when we wake and enjoy breakfast together before travelling to the border at Katuna and on to the airport at Kigali in Rwanda. You will fly back home with precious memories and some amazing photographs. Remember that the currency in Rwanda is different, but if you don’t want to buy francs to spend the airport, credit cards are welcome.

Main Destination:
Kigali (Rwanda)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • You'll be dropped off at the airport.
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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Gatatu Safaris, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
  • If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
  • Gorilla tracking permits are subject to availability.