17-Days Uganda & Rwanda Active Adventure

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, our company representative or your driver guide will warmly welcome you and transfer you to your guest house, a short 15-20 minute drive, depending on traffic.

If your flight arrives early, consider spending the afternoon exploring the nearby Mabamba Swamp, renowned for its exceptional bird watching opportunities. This wetland, located approximately 50km west of Kampala, is a newly discovered habitat for the elusive Shoebill stork.

Embark on a guided canoe tour through the marsh channels, spotting an array of bird species, including; white-winged warbler, papyrus gonolek, yellow-backed weaver, northern brown-throated weaver, blue-headed coucal, among others.

• Driving distance: 10-20 minutes
• Activities: Optional like shoebill excursion/botanical gardens depending on arrival time
• Overnight: Karibu Guest House (Bed & Breakfast)

After a leisurely breakfast, your guide will collect you and embark on a scenic drive to Lake Mburo National Park. En route, you'll pass through the charming Kayabwe town and make a memorable stopover at the iconic Equator, where you'll have the opportunity to capture stunning photographs. Afterward, your journey will continue, arriving at the lodge in time for a delicious lunch. As the evening unfolds, you'll venture out on an exciting game drive within the park.

• Driving distance: 5-6 hours
• Activities: Rhino tracking
• Overnight: Rwakobo Rock
• Meal plan: Full Board: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Following a refreshing cup of coffee, we'll embark on a guided bushwalk within the park, led by an experienced Ranger. This 1.5-hour walk offers a unique opportunity to explore productive wildlife areas, getting up close and personal with incredible animals such as zebras, giraffes, and impalas.

After working up an appetite, we'll return to the lodge for a hot breakfast, check out, and begin our journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival, time permitting, we'll venture out on an exhilarating evening game drive through the Kasenyi plains, searching for majestic predators like lions and leopards, as well as elephants, buffalos, and an array of antelopes.

• Driving distance: 4-5 hours
• Activities: A.M Walking Safari
• Overnight: Kasenyi Safari Camp
• Meal plan: Full Board - breakfast, lunch and dinner

Embark on a thrilling game drive in western Uganda's prime viewing area, where a network of tracks allows you to discover elephants, buffaloes, and other wildlife in the lush grassland thickets of the north Kazinga area, near the Mweya peninsula.

For a reliable lion sightings, head to the Kasenyi plains, a typical open savanna east of the Kasese/Mbarara highway. This area is renowned for its high concentration of Uganda Kobs, the primary prey of the resident lion prides. Game drives in this area are most rewarding during the early morning and late afternoon hours.

In addition to game viewing, the northern sector is also home to the iconic Kazinga Channel, a 32km-long waterway linking Lake George to Lake Edward. This dominant feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park attracts a diverse range of animals and birds, including one of the world's largest concentrations of hippos.

Take a leisurely two-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, departing at 2 pm. From the comfort of a covered boat launch, observe the incredible wildlife and birdlife that call this channel home. After the boat cruise, embark on a brief game drive en route to the lodge, rounding off an unforgettable day of wildlife exploration.

• Driving distance: 2-3-4 hours
• Activities: Game Drive & Boat Cruise
• Overnight: Kasenyi Safari Camp
• Meal plan: Full Board: breakfast, lunch and dinner

This morning, begin a breathtaking journey to the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, nestled adjacent to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The scenic drive winds its way through the picturesque Echuya forest, offering stunning vistas along the way.

Upon arrival, choose from a selection of optional activities to enhance your experience. Take a serene canoeing or boat cruise excursion on Lake Mulehe, basking in the warm glow of the sunset (time permitting).

Alternatively, explore the lush Bwindi forest on a hike from the north to the south sector. After your adventure, you'll be picked up and driven to the lodge, a journey of approximately 1.5 hours, depending on the terrain.

• Driving distance: 5-6 Hours
• Activities: Enjoying the scenic drives/ canoeing
• Overnight: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
• Meal plan: Full Board: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After an early breakfast, we will drive for about 1-1.5hours journey to the base of Mgahinga, where you will meet the park rangers for briefing to set your journey to the summit of this beautiful volcano. Hiking to the summit of mount Gahinga, a stunning volcano in the Virunga Mountains gives a breathtaking views, diverse wildlife and a challenging trail. This adventure is perfect for experienced hikers seeking a thrilling experience. This challenging expedition gives you an opportunity to gain an elevation of 1100m, around trip that is approximately 10kms.

• Driving distance: 1-2 hours
• Activities: Hiking Gahinga Volcano
• Overnight: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
• Meal plan: Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Again after having breakfast, our journey will take us to the base of this extinct volcano for briefing from rangers. This trail is about 14kms roundtrip and makes you gain an elevation of 1300m. Once you get to the summit, there are such breathtaking views and this gives you a chance to step into 3 countries at once –Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Mount Sabyinyo offers an unforgettable hiking experience, with its stunning views, unique wildlife and rich culture. Be prepared, respect nature and get ready for an adventure of a life time in Uganda’s beautiful Virunga Mountains.

• Driving distance: 1-2 Hours
• Activities: Hiking Sabyinyo Volcano
• Overnight: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
• Meal plan: Full Board: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Golden Monkeys: Embark on the golden monkey trekking safari which takes about 3-5 hours hiking through the jungles of Mgahinga National Park consisting of giant lobelias and bamboos. Golden monkey trekking is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Mgahinga National Park after gorilla tracking and it’s one of the few parks in the Virunga massif that offers golden monkey trekking experience. Other parks with golden monkeys are; Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Gishwati and Nyungwe forests.

• Driving distance: 1 Hours
• Activities: Golden Monkey Trekking
• Overnight: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
• Meal plan: Full Board: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Following an early breakfast, you'll depart for the base of Mount Muhabura, where you'll meet park rangers and team of porters. A comprehensive briefing will ensure you are well-prepared for the 2-day hike ahead.

Mount Muhabura, a hidden gem in the Virunga Mountains, offers a unique hiking experience. Located on the Uganda-Rwanda border, this stunning strata volcano boasts breathtaking views, diverse wildlife, and varied landscapes. The 12km hike to the summit takes you through lush forests, alpine meadows, and rugged terrain, with scenic viewpoints and stunning vistas along the way.

The itinerary allows for flexibility, depending on your pace. You may choose to overnight at the campsite before summiting on day two, or reach the summit on day one and descend to the campsite for a well-deserved rest.

Please note that we'll purchase our own food for the hike, and your porters will transport everything to the campsite. Two porters will be assigned to carry food and bags, and they'll also prepare meals at the campsite. These services are included in the package.

The campsite features a wooden cabin with metallic roofing, where warm bedcovers and mattresses are provided. However, we recommend bringing your own sleeping bag to ensure adequate warmth, as the mountain temperatures can drop significantly.

After descending the mountain, your driver-guide will meet you and transport you to your accommodation.

• Driving distance: 10 minutes
• Activities: Hiking Mount Muhabura
• Overnight: UWA campsite (Elevation 3500m)
• Meal plan: Full Board: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Embark on an unforgettable gorilla tracking experience in Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Meet the gentle giants of Bwindi! This experience is a dream come true for hikers and nature lovers. Venture into the beautiful ecosystem of the park, where you'll trek through lush landscapes, steep slopes, and muddy paths, with the possibility of rain. The reward? A face-to-face encounter with majestic mountain gorillas.

Observe these incredible creatures as they eat, play, and rest in their natural habitat. This unique experience allows you to connect with these magnificent beings, and a glimpse into their eyes will leave you in awe.

Did you know? The mountain gorillas in Mgahinga and Bwindi are part of a global population of only about 1,000 individuals. Your gorilla family visit will be with one of Uganda's habituated family groups, which have undergone a delicate 5-year habituation process.

Experienced guides, some of whom have been involved in the habituation process, will accompany you on this adventure. Your group will have a maximum of one hour with the gorillas, an unforgettable experience that will leave you with lifelong memories.

• Driving distance: 1 Hour
• Activities: Gorilla Trekking
• Overnight: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
• Meal plan: Full Board: breakfast, lunch and dinner

After morning breakfast, transfer to Rwanda via Chanika border. After clearing with immigration at the customs office, you will drive to Rwanda (Musanze) where, you will arrive in time for lunch and get a chance to stay at another lodge facility overlooking the volcano. This day will give us time to prepare for the next expedition of summiting another beautiful volcano.

• Driving distance: 1-2 hours
• Activities: Transfer day/Relaxation
• Overnight: Ingagi Park View lodge
• Meal plan: Full Board: Breakfast, lunch Dinner

After an early breakfast, we will drive to the headquarters of the Volcanoes National Park for briefing from the park rangers and later on back into our respective jeeps to drive to the nearest starting point where will you meet another team of support staff known as porters to assist you with your backpack at a cost but this is optional if one is able to carry their own rucksacks. This takes you to explore the stunning Bisoke volcano, part of the Virunga Mountain in Rwanda. This thrilling hike offers breathtaking views, unique wildlife encounters and unforgettable experiences. This trip takes around 6kms roundtrip and it makes you gain an elevation of1100m.

• Driving distance: 30 minutes
• Activities: Hiking Bisoke
• Overnight: Ingagi Park View Lodge
• Meal plan: Full Board: Breakfast, lunch Dinner

After making several preparations, and once we are done with early breakfast, we will embark on our journey to summit Mt Karisimbi via the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for briefing and for more preparation. You will have a team of porters who will carry your sleeping gears, food and other items needed for the hike. This 2 days exhilarating experience on Karisimbi volcano- the highest peak in Rwanda offers exploring diverse vegetation zones from bamboo to alpine meadows, exotic birds, primates and mammals. Overnight at Karisimbi wooden camp perched at an elevation of about 3500m. If the speed has been good, you could visit the summit on day one and descend to have an overnight at the camp otherwise, you could have an overnight at the camp before hiking to the summit and this means that after breakfast, you will hike to the summit and descend the same day to the base of Karisimbi where you will be awaited by your driver guide to transfer you to Lake kivu-Gisenyi. Stay at Malahide Paradise Resort.

• Driving distance: 30 minutes
• Activities: Hiking Mt Karisimbi
• Overnight: Sabyinyo Camp (elevation 3500m)
• Meal plan: Full Board: Breakfast, lunch Dinner

Spend the morning at leisure to stretch the body muscles after several volcano hikes or else indulge into the optional activities mentioned above. After lunch. You will embark on a journey to the Rwanda’s capital-Kigali through the rolling hills with incredible and stunning views.

• Driving distance: 0 hours
• Activities: Equator Boat ride on Lake Kivu, kayaking, cycling, hiking Congo Nile trail etc.
• Overnight: Hotel Des Mille Colline-Kigali
• Meal plan: Full Board: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

On this day, you will do optional activities by visiting the Kigali genocide memorial, Kimirongo market, craft market, king’s palace among others. All the activities will depend on your departure flight. Kindly, consider 2-3 hours of checking in before the departure time.

• Driving distance: 1-2 hours
• Activities: City Tour
• Overnight: None
• Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast