14 Days Rwanda & Uganda Family Vacation

After early served breakfast, go for briefing at the park headquarters in Kinigi before entering the forest for golden monkey trekking. As you enter the forest in search of the golden monkey trekking, expect to see other different primates. Return for lunch and in the evening, go to Gorilla Guardians village, also known as the Ibyiwacu cultural center as you get learn more about the traditional Rwandan culture. The village is operated by former poachers who welcome guests and show them local hunting techniques, traditional dances, and other aspects of Rwandan life. This evening you’ll head back to the lodge for dinner and much-deserved rest.

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury) Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) La Palme Hotel (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Enjoy your buffer breakfast at the lodge by 6:30 hours, and later jump onto your jeep and drive to the park headquarters in Kinigi for briefing by 0700 hours. Registration is a simple process where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The Park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the 1^st gorilla trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening. There is a total of 96 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of 8 trekkers visiting any one group. Your guide would have asked you about your fitness and interests, so as to choose a gorilla group that matches your interest to join for the day.

Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s lead ranger guide briefs the trekkers of the trekking procedures as well as the dos and don’ts while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point. Gorilla trekking can take from 2-6 or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way. Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting and raising their young ones. Coming face to face with these giant silverbacks is one of the greatest wildlife encounters on earth. You will later return back to your lodge, catch up with lunch and in the afternoon, you will transfer to Uganda, this journey takes you through Cyanika border as you get to enjoy the beautiful views of the Rwanda’s green vegetation parks. Arrive at the booked facility in time for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury) Ichumbi Lodge (Mid-range) Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After early served breakfast, go for briefing at the park headquarters where you will meet guides who will brief you especially on the guidelines of gorilla habituation. Remember here you are given chance to spend four full hours with the gorillas. Later you enter the forest in search for man’s closest relatives. Coming face to face with the gorillas is one of the most rewarding and thrilling experience and this will leave you with the most precious memories of a life time. Later return to the lodge for relaxation and in the afternoon, visit the Batwa community and interact with them as well. Get to learn about their early days in the forest as well as their ways of living and how they used different skills to look for food and survival in this forest. Participate in the traditional dances by the women group and orphaned children. Later return to the booked facility for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury) Ichumbi Lodge (Mid-range) Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today morning after a relaxed breakfast, we will transfer to Ishasha the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. We will check in to the lodge and later proceed to the Ishasha park game area. We will today traverse through the park in search for the tree climbing lions and more wildlife. Hyenas, hippos, buffalos, elephants, Topis, lions, leopards and much more wildlife to see. Let’s enjoy a great sundowner and watch the sun go down in Golden lights.

Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury) Ishasha Jungle Lodge (Mid-range) Ishasha Pride Lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After an early served breakfast, you will have a scenic drive from the southern to the northern sector. Upon arrival at your lodge, check-in and head out for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. This 2hour cruise will give you the opportunity to see highest hippopotamus populations and other animals on the lake shores. This cruise provides the best opportunity for taking good photographs. Water animals as well as birds can be seen during this cruise. Return to your lodge for lunch as you prepare for an afternoon epic lion experiential adventure in the park. During this experience, also expect to see other animals like elephants, leopards, topis, Uganda kobs, cape buffaloes, waterbucks and giant forest hogs among others. Return to the booked facility for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Elephant Plains Safari Lodge (Luxury) Mweya Safari Lodge (Mid-range) Euphorbia Safari Lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today, you will have an early morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive out for yet another exciting game drive to spot some of the mammals and bird species that you may have missed the previous day before you embark on the journey to Kibale forest national park with en-route visit to one African home and we shall share a typical African-Ugandan meal prepared to you by a typical African Woman in a typical African surrounding. The meal is called the Luwombo and the guides shall go through with you in this African life and setting as part of our Authentic Local experiences. Later, proceed to the park and check in at the booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Primates Lodge (Luxury) Turaco Tree Tops (Mid-range) Kibale Forest Lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Your driver guide will transfer you to the briefing place right after breakfast, he will then hand in your details and permits for registration and allocation of chimpanzee community to trek. You will then be allocated to a chimpanzee community and your ranger guide will lead you on the trek in search of this great ape. Watch the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor, feed, play and rest.

In the afternoon, explore the Bigodi village. You have opportunity to visit a swamp with abundant butterflies, plants, animals and spectacular birds like Great Blue Turaco and will be of great interest to birders. After this experience you will take a village walk that will lead you to the Coffee experience, banana bear making, busked making and traditional healer.

Accommodation: Primates Lodge (Luxury) Turaco Tree Tops (Mid-range) Kibale Forest Lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After early served breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on the journey to Murchison falls national park. Upon arrival at your booked lodge check-in, relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury) Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range) Fort Murchison Lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Early in the morning, go for a game drive in the park and expect to see different animals most especially the early grazers like elephants. You can as well be able to see cape buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, lions, spotted hyenas, bush pigs and buffaloes among others. Later return to the lodge for late breakfast and relax. In the afternoon, go for a boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls. The boat stops at approximately 10metres from the Devils cauldron and this is also a good spot for beautiful pictures. Expect to see different animals like the water bucks, hippos and crocodiles. You will also hike to the top of the falls for a spectacular view of the albert Nile, a great sundowner experience awaits you upon reach on the top of the world’s strongest waterfalls. Return to the booked lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury) Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range) Fort Murchison Lodge (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Early in the morning, go for a community visit at Mubaku. This community mainly aims on conservation and girl child education. Participate in the local performance dance conducted by the Mubaku community members. Later drive back to Kampala with an enroute stopover at Ziwa rhino ranch for rhino tracking. Proceed and arrive at the booked accommodation for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Kampala Hilton Garden Inn (Luxury) Forest Cottages (Mid-range) Forest Cottages (Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After served breakfast, you will go for shopping around Kampala crafts village as you get souvenirs to take back home for your loved ones. Later drive to Entebbe international airport for your departure back home.