16-Day Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Big Five Safari

Upon landing at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your Afraeka Adventures driver-guide. You will be transferred to your comfortable hotel in Kigali, the vibrant capital of Rwanda. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax from your journey or explore the local surroundings. Overnight stay in Kigali.

After breakfast, embark on a full-day Kigali city tour. Visit the poignant Kigali Genocide Memorial to gain a deep understanding of the country's history and its incredible journey of reconciliation. You will also explore the vibrant local markets, art galleries, and the traditional craft centers. The evening is free to relax at your hotel.

Drive north from Kigali towards the majestic Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas. The scenic drive takes you through rolling hills and lush green landscapes. Upon arrival, check into your lodge, which offers stunning views of the Virunga Mountains. Rest and prepare for the adventures ahead.

Today, enjoy a guided hike to track the playful Golden Monkeys in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park. In the afternoon, visit the Karisoke Research Center, founded by Dian Fossey, to learn about the history of gorilla conservation and the ongoing efforts to protect these magnificent primates. Overnight at your lodge.

Wake up early for a briefing at the park headquarters. Venture into the dense, misty forest with expert rangers to track one of the habituated mountain gorilla families. Upon finding them, you will have one unforgettable hour to observe them interacting, playing, and feeding in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge to celebrate this life-changing experience.

After breakfast, drive to the Cyanika border crossing to enter Uganda, often called the "Pearl of Africa." Continue your journey through beautiful countryside landscapes and arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of the most biodiverse forests on earth. Check in to your lodge and enjoy the evening surrounded by nature.

Today, you will experience your second gorilla trek. Bwindi offers a completely different, more ancient and dense forest environment than Rwanda. Track a different gorilla family and spend another captivating hour with these gentle giants. This double-trek experience is rare and offers a unique comparison of two distinct habitats.

Depart Bwindi and drive north to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Your route takes you through the remote Ishasha sector, which is famous for its unique tree-climbing lions. Spend the evening on a game drive here, looking out for lions lounging in the branches of large fig trees. Overnight at a lodge in the Ishasha sector.

Spend the full day exploring the diverse ecosystems of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives across the open savannas, where you will encounter elephants, buffalo, antelopes, and massive hippo pods. Your Afraeka Adventures guide will navigate to the best spots for wildlife viewing.

Today, take a spectacular 2-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. This 32-kilometer waterway boasts one of the highest concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in all of Africa. You will also see a vast array of water birds and bathing elephants along the banks. Enjoy another game drive later in the afternoon.

Drive to Kibale Forest National Park, recognized as the primate capital of the world. The drive offers beautiful scenery as you pass through lush tea plantations and local farming communities. Check into your lodge, located right on the edge of the forest. Rest up for an exciting day tomorrow.

Participate in an immersive Chimpanzee Habituation Experience. This is not just a standard trek; you will spend the entire day with researchers and trackers following a troop of wild chimpanzees. Watch them climb trees, eat, groom each other, and communicate in their natural habitat. This deep-forest encounter offers an intimate and educational experience.

Drive north to Uganda’s largest and most impressive protected area, Murchison Falls National Park. The journey takes you through the heart of Uganda. Upon arrival, check into your safari lodge and take in breathtaking views of the Nile River.

Enjoy an early morning game drive on the vast plains of Murchison, where you have excellent chances of spotting the Big Five (Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos, and Buffalos). In the afternoon, take a boat cruise up the Nile River to the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the world's longest river forces its way through a narrow 7-meter gorge, creating a powerful and majestic 43-meter waterfall.

On your way back to the capital, stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Here, you will take a guided walking safari to track the reintroduced Southern White Rhinos. This is the only place in the country where you can see rhinos roaming freely in the wild. After the trek, continue your drive to Kampala for your final overnight stay.

After a leisurely breakfast at your Kampala hotel, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport. This is the end of your incredible 16-day East African journey with Afraeka Adventures, filled with treasured memories and stories of the gorillas and the Big Five. Depart for home.