Day 1: Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast at 8:00 AM, your safari guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala for a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Enjoy a stop at the Uganda Equator Line for photos and a brief demonstration of the Earth’s hemispheres. Continue through rural villages, rolling hills, and expansive farmlands before reaching the lush tea plantations near the park.
Arrive with breathtaking views from the escarpment overlooking the vast savannah plains. Lunch will be served en route or at your lodge. Check in, relax, and enjoy your first evening in the African wilderness.
Day 2: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Start early with a morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Spot wildlife including:
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Elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards
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Ugandan kobs, bushbucks, hyenas, and waterbucks
In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, linking Lake Edward and Lake George.
Expect:
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Large hippo pods
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Nile crocodiles
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Elephants and buffalo along the shores
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Rich birdlife including African fish eagles and kingfishers
Return for dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After an early breakfast, head to Kalinzu Forest Reserve for chimpanzee trekking.
Observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat—playing, feeding, and interacting—an incredible wildlife encounter.
Later, drive through scenic highlands to Lake Bunyonyi near Kabale. Relax by this peaceful lake, often called the “Place of Little Birds.”
Day 4: Lake Bunyonyi & Batwa Cultural Experience
Enjoy a cultural walk around Lake Bunyonyi and visit the Batwa community.
Learn about:
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Traditional forest life
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Indigenous customs and storytelling
In the afternoon, take a canoe ride across the lake’s scenic islands before transferring to Kisoro for overnight.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking & Transfer to Rwanda
Head to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for your gorilla trekking experience.
Trek through the Virunga forests (2–6 hours) to find a gorilla family. Spend one unforgettable hour observing these gentle giants.
After the trek, cross into Rwanda and transfer to Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Day 6: Cultural Experience & Transfer to Kigali
Visit Lake Kivu and nearby hot springs before heading toward Kigali.
Stop at the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to experience:
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Traditional Intore dance
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Rwandan heritage and storytelling
Proceed to Kigali for overnight.
Day 7: Kigali City Tour & Transfer to Kibuye
After breakfast at 9:00 AM, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi, a place of solemn remembrance honoring the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Here, you will learn about Rwanda’s tragic history, reflect on the resilience of its people, and gain a deeper understanding of the events that claimed over a million lives in just 100 days.
Following the memorial, enjoy a guided tour of Kigali, Rwanda’s vibrant capital. Explore the city’s thriving markets, modern infrastructure, and picturesque mountainous terrain, showcasing a remarkable contrast between its recent history and its present-day prosperity.
After lunch in Kigali, embark on a scenic drive to Kibuye, a beautiful town on the shores of Lake Kivu, where you will check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Napoleon Island & Nyungwe Forest
After breakfast at 9:00 AM, embark on a boat trip to Napoleon Island on Lake Kivu. This island, also known as Nyamunini Island, rises over 100 meters above the lake, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding islands and shoreline. From a distance, the island’s distinctive shape resembles the iconic hats worn by European army officers in the 18th century, earning it the name Napoleon Island.
Napoleon Island is home to fascinating wildlife and bird species. Tall trees provide a habitat for palm nut vultures and African fish eagles, while species like hammerkop and kingfishers are commonly spotted. The island is also famous for its large colony of straw-colored fruit bats, with as many as 40,000 bats roosting here.
After your island exploration, return to the hotel for lunch before embarking on a scenic drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of East Africa’s most pristine rainforest reserves, where you’ll check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest & Transfer to Burundi
After breakfast at 8:00 AM, depart your lodge for an unforgettable canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Begin the experience along the 2.1 km Igishigishi hiking trail, which leads to a 160-meter-long suspended bridge high above the forest canopy. This gentle hike offers occasional steep points due to the mountainous terrain, but it is manageable for first-time hikers and families.
As you walk across the canopy bridge, enjoy breathtaking views of the lush rainforest, spot native birds and monkeys, and capture memorable photos. Be sure to wear hiking shoes or boots, carry a rain jacket, water, snacks, and your camera for the best experience.
Return to your lodge around 12:00 PM for lunch before embarking on a scenic drive to Bujumbura, Burundi, where you’ll check in at your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10: Gitega Cultural Tour & Burundi Drummers
Travel to Gitega.
Visit:
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National Museum
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Gishora Drum Sanctuary
Experience the world-famous Burundi drummers and traditional performances.
Day 11: Bujumbura City Tour
Return to Bujumbura.
Visit:
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Lake Tanganyika viewpoints
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Livingstone–Stanley Monument
Enjoy panoramic views and historical insights.
Day 12: Departure from Bujumbura
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Bujumbura for your onward flight.
