Best of Rwanda & Uganda

Day 2: Discovering Kigali- Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial museum Transfer to Nyungwe with a stop over in Butare to Visit  Rwanda Historical museum and be entrtained by Rwandan Traditional Dancers- Night at Gisakura Lodge. The Kigali Genocide Memorial. The exhibition in the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre tells the history of Rwanda leading up to genocide in 1994 and catalogues the details of the genocide using photographs, video, written accounts and a range of artifacts. It includes personal testimonies and a moving memorial to the children of the Rwandan genocide. The exhibition also has a section called “wasted lives”, which reflects on the holocausts and genocides in Armenia, South-West Africa, Bosnia and Cambodia. The Kigali Memorial Centre has gained a word-wide reputation for the powerful exhibition and its work in promoting peace; take your time to absorb its important message. The National Museum in Butare was donated in 1989 by the Belgium government and gave back a part of the ethnographic collection acquired during the colonial period. The design and concept of the museum was realized in co-operation with the Royal Museum for Central Africa of Tervuren, Belgium. The modern building has different sections and displays a wide collection of monochrome pictures, traditional artefacts and objects, tools and different craft products. Ethnographic objects are grouped together according to theme giving excellent information on the daily life. Traditional ceramics and basketry are still manufactured and belong to the finest handicrafts of the region. The National Museum remained surprisingly untouched during the civil war in 1994. At the museum of Butare you will have a spectacular performance of the national ballet with the Intore-dancers. The performance is regarded by many as one of the highlights of their tour in Rwanda. Stay a night at Ibis or Credo hotel. The “Intore”, once the elite of the traditional Rwanda army, were not only trained as military but also in high jump and dance. They were known for their remarkable technique allowing them to jump over 2m40. The Intore became worldwide famous as dancers in 1958 when the World Expo was held in Brussels. Today Intore dancers are part of the rich Rwanda folklore. The warriors dance is a jewel of the choreographic heritage of Rwanda. Dressed with a mane made of sisal fibre, Tied up on ankles, little bells jingle on each step, giving the warriors dance a thrilling rhythm. Throughout the Intore ballet, physical confrontation turns into artistic rivalry and then at “the end” comes out into a vigorous hug of the warriors. This is the most artistic gesture of friendship mutual aid and protection

Day 4: Transfer to Gisenyi to relax at the lake kivu- Night at Paradise Malahide or Kivu Serena Hotel The Lake Kivu is a large deposit of fresh water that marks the western border with DR Congo and one of the Great Lakes of Africa. The lake is in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika. Beneath the lake lie vast reserves of approximately 55 billion cubic of dissolved methane gas which have not been exploited. Lake Kivu is a tourist center, safe to swim, There are nice beaches, gorgeous landscapes and the sunsets are regularly stunning.

Virunga

Day 6: Gorillas Trekking- Night at Kisoro tourist Hotel. Trekking in the forest on the edge of the Virunga mountain chain to find one of the last mountain gorilla families in the world. 

Murchison Falls

Day 8: Transfer to Jinja- Source of Nile- Night at Trigle Hotel Morning after Breakfast- Depart from Murchison Falls by road to Jinja (8 hours drive) – Enroute have a Stopover for lunch at Kampala and then Proceed to Jinja town to visit the source of Nile, the major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. However, recent findings suggest that the Amazon River may be longer – arriving in the afternoon and overnight at sunset Hotel Or Triangle Hotel

Day 10: Visit Ngaba island- Night at Entebbe Guest house. After Break fast Drive to Entebbe. Will be driven to the pier near the Uganda Wildlife Education Center(UWEC). After briefing by your guides, you will be leaving for the island by motor boat on Lake Victoria at around 9.00am. The boat takes about 45 minutes or an hour depending the boat you take and ride to Ngamba Island, crossing the Equator en-route. On arrival at the island, home to orphanage chimpanzees, you will be given a short introduction and briefing on the sanctuary. After which, it’s feeding time! It is interesting to watch the chimps interact with each other and with their keepers. In the relatively short amount of time you are there you will be able to see such different personalities amongst the group, with some whistling for food and others clapping. Obviously the best alternative would be to re-introduce these orphaned chimpanzees to the wild however this is not possible for a number of different reasons and the sanctuary is not bad for second best. You will return to the mainland where you will meet your safari guide who will drive you to Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre or boatnical gardens depending on your choice.   There are many of the country’s conservation zones such as savannah, wetlands and tropical forest. This a must point to see a shoebill as well as rhino- Overnight at Entebbe Guest House.