Wild Encounters: Rwanda & Uganda — Gorillas, Game & the Shoebill

Breakfast at the hotel.

Enjoy a guided city tour exploring Rwanda’s clean and vibrant capital. Visit some of the city’s highlights, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local markets, craft centres, and panoramic viewpoints that showcase Kigali’s rolling hills.

Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero – UNESCO World Heritage site.

Between April and July 1994, an estimated one million people were killed across Rwanda. The victims of the genocide are commemorated in a serial property composed of four memorial sites — two were scenes of massacres: a Catholic church at Nyamata and a technical school at Murambi. The Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi is where more than 250,000 victims have been buried.

Rest of afternoon at your leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel.

At about 0830, we depart Kigali for Uganda, driving through the beautiful countryside. The scenic drive offers spectacular mountain landscapes and rural villages.

We will arrive at Cyanika border point. Complete immigration formalities before continuing to the Rushanga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in south-western Uganda, Bwindi covers 32,000 ha and is home to more than 160 species of trees, over 100 species of ferns, and many endangered species, including the mountain gorilla.

Driving time: approximately 5–6 hours from Kigali to Bwindi.

Lunch on arrival at your lodge. Afternoon at your leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a briefing before beginning one of Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is home to almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.

8 tourists are allocated to trek a single gorilla family each day. Spend an unforgettable hour observing a habituated gorilla family in their natural forest habitat. The morning experience can take from 2–4 hours.

Following lunch, depart Bwindi and continue to the famous Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned worldwide for its rare tree-climbing lions.

If time and conditions permit, enjoy an evening game drive in search of lions resting in fig trees, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and numerous bird species.

Wake up early for a game drive through the Ishasha plains where wildlife is most active.

After breakfast, continue north through Queen Elizabeth National Park towards the Kasenyi Plains, one of Uganda’s premier wildlife viewing areas.

Arrive in time to relax before enjoying another afternoon or evening game drive across the vast savannah, where lions, elephants, Uganda kob, buffaloes, warthogs and numerous bird species are commonly seen. Game drives take about 2 hours each.

Breakfast at the hotel.

We begin the morning with a game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, famous for predator sightings.

Later, enjoy a boat safari along the spectacular Kazinga Channel, one of Africa’s richest wildlife waterways. The cruise offers exceptional opportunities to observe hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and hundreds of bird species gathering along the shoreline.

Return for an evening game drive before overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning, head to Kyambura Gorge for an exciting chimpanzee tracking experience. The dramatic forested gorge is home to a habituated chimpanzee community as well as several monkey species and diverse birdlife. Accompanied by experienced rangers, trek through this unique ecosystem while searching for our closest relatives in the wild.

Spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing or enjoying optional wildlife viewing around the park.

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, begin the scenic drive towards Entebbe. Along the journey, stop at the Uganda Equator crossing for photographs, shopping and refreshments before continuing via Kampala towards Entebbe.

Arrive in Entebbe in the evening and relax at your hotel.

(KLM Royal Dutch Airlines direct flight from Entebbe (EBB) to Amsterdam (AMS) departs at 23:50)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out of the hotel.

Rise early for one of Uganda’s most unique birding experiences. Board a traditional canoe and quietly paddle through the wetlands of Lake Victoria in search of the prehistoric-looking Shoebill Stork, one of Africa’s most sought-after birds. Besides the shoebill, expect to encounter kingfishers, herons, egrets, cormorants and many other wetland birds.

Return to your hotel for the afternoon at leisure. You may choose to visit the botanical gardens, relax by Lake Victoria or explore Entebbe town.

Depending on your flight time, transfer to the airport. The tour ends at the airport for check-in and security formalities and to board the flight home.