Overview
6 days Uganda Gorilla and Akagera national park is an adventure that includes the majestic mountain gorillas and the wildlife in Rwanda including the Big Five; lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes. You will get to enjoy primates at their best like the monkeys and baboons; wildlife like zebras, giraffes, giant forest hogs, warthogs, impalas, bush pigs, golden cats, civets and stripped jackals and birds like African fish eagles, egrets, shoebill stocks, cormorants, African darter, strange weaver, Rwenzori batis, black-bee eaters, regal sunbirds, black-billed turaco, Bushshrike, Shelley’s crimsonwing, mountain oriole and many more. This 6 day safari provides a balanced mix of gorilla trekking and savanna wildlife experiences, offering a unique opportunity to explore two of East Africa’s remarkable national parks making a memorable and enriching experience. The trip will start in Uganda and end in Kigali.
Day by Day Program
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You will get to your agreed point and will be met by a driver guide from Omangwa Safaris brief you on how your trip will be after which you will set off for Bwindi which will take 8-9 hours. During the journey you will make one stop at the Igongo Cultural Center for lunch and also learn a little bit about the Ankole culture after which you will continue to Bwindi and arrive in time for dinner and check in the lodge for the night.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural tour
You will wake up early and have breakfast and head to the briefing spot by 7:30am where you shall be given the guidelines and safety precautions to be followed by a guide to ensure a smooth trek before you head into the forest to experience it. Depending on the targeted Gorilla families given to you to trek, the trekking will take between 30 minutes-6hours, it’s in this time that you shall get to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, how they live, care for each other, care for their young, how and when they eat, all this will be done with a guide and armed ranger on route with you.
During the trek you will be given water and a snack for when you need it. When done with the trekking, you will go back to your lodge and freshen up then have lunch. There after you will visit the Batwa people for a community tour. With the help of a local guide, you will be involved in different community activities like music, dance and drama, crafting and honey harvesting. Story telling will also be key as a way to learn the Batwa people’s history and what makes them an interesting group people. You will the return to the lodge, have dinner and end the day.
Day 3: Transfer to Kigali
You will wake up, have a beautiful breakfast, check out of your lodging then exit Bwindi for Kigali city which will take about 5hours. Driving from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda to Kigali in Rwanda you will enjoy a diverse and scenic landscape, showcasing the natural beauty of both countries; surrounded by lush greenery and dense forests characteristic of the area as Bwindi is known for its rugged terrain, mist-covered hills, and rich biodiversity.
Once you get to Kigali, you will have a late lunch, check into your lodging for the night. You will later checkout the city by visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an important and sobering site that commemorates the victims of the 1994 genocide. With many of the guides as survivors, the memorial provides a historical overview of the events and serves as a place for reflection with a personal touch from the guide and this will take about 2hours. When done you will return to your lodging, have dinner and retire at will for the night.
Day 4: Check-out and transfer to Akagera National Park
You will wake up, have breakfast and check out of your lodging and then you will have another city tour of Kigali by visiting the Kimironko market. You will experience the lively atmosphere of a local market as you explore the stalls selling fresh produce, crafts, textiles, and more. Locals allover Kigali come to the market to stock up as their needs come up and it’s a great opportunity to interact with local vendors and get a sense of daily life in Kigali. After this experience you will have lunch, then set off for Akagera national park which will take about 2-3 hours. You will enjoy the beautiful scenery with multiple hills for a view, green vegetation and trees and as you approach Akagera National Park, the terrain transitions from hilly landscapes to open savannah plains, you will check into your lodging for the night then enjoy dinner as you will have arrived in the evening.
Day 5: Morning game drive and Boat cruise
You will wake up very early and head out for your game drive and you will see animals like zebras, elands, warthogs, impalas, elephants, rhinos, giraffes and birds like African fish eagles, egrets, cormorants, shoebill stocks, African darter, strange weaver, Rwenzori batis and many more which will take about 2-3hours. After which you can have breakfast then head back to your lodge. You will relax as you wait for lunch after which you will head out for an afternoon boat cruise at Lake Ihema and this will also take 2-3hours, during this time you will see animals like crocodiles, zebras, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and birds like the rare shoebill stork, jacanas, sandpipers, malachite kingfisher, hawks, herons and many more. Once done you will head back to the lodge and have dinner, then relax with by the fire and retire at will.
Day 6: Checkout and departure
You will checkout of your lodge, have breakfast and then plan for your exit from the national park. At 10:00am you will set off for Kigali which will take about 2-3hours, during this time you will enjoy the beautiful green scenery, rolling hills, locals for picture moments and once you get to the agreed spot, this will mark the end of your 6 days Uganda Gorillas and Akagera national park safari.
