Burundi, Congo,Rwanda & Uganda

Day 1: Arrival at Bujumbura airport- Night at Hotel Keza, or at Club du lake Tanganyika At your arrival you will be welcomed by our Driver and local guide – transfer to the Hotel- Briefing- After Lunch we visit the mausoleum of Prince Louis Rwagasore, a hero of the independence of Burundi. We then climb to the “Belvedere” on the top of the hill, a dominating point of Bujumbura, offering a unique view over Lake Tanganyika- Be Entertained by le ’’Les tambourinaires du Burundi’’ or Burundi Drummers. Overnight in Bujumbura. Mid Hotel: Keza/ Top: Club du lac Tanganyika

Nyungwe Forest

Day 3: Early morning transfer to Nyungwe Forest- Night at Gisakura Lodge. (6Hours Drive) After Breakfast drive to Nyungwe forest national park in Rwanda- We will pass through magnificent views of the beautiful hilly countryside which gives Rwanda its name as “a country of a thousand hills”- Arrive at Lunch time- After lunch we start the trekking in the forest to find the Blue monkeys, Angolan Colobus monkeys among others- Overnight at Gisakura Lodge. (Mid class Hotel) Nyungwe Forest national park is a preserved part of rain forest which houses 13 species in all, including humankind’s closest living relative the chimpanzee, as well as the handsome L’hoest monkeys and hundred-strong troops of the delightfully acrobatic Angolan Colobus which may be over 300 individuals. These are the largest troops of this species known in the world! Nyungwe forest counts 25% of the African Primates! There are L’hoest monkeys and blue monkeys present and often observed around Uwinka, requiring less strenuous hiking.

Day 5: Transfer to Kigali Visit Rwanda National museum and the Genocide memorial site- (3 Hours Drive)- Night at Okapi or at Hotel de mille collines. After breakfast- visit the Rwandan national Museum- Transfer to Kigali where You will Visit Rwanda Genocide Memorial to understand what happened in Rwanda in 1994 a year in which 1 million people died within 100 days and Overnight in Kigali. Mid Hotel Okapi, Top: Mille collines 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 artifacts 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.

Virunga

Day 7: Gorilla trekking- Trekking in the forest on the edge of the Virunga mountain chain, to find one of the last mountain gorilla families in the world. Night in Goma at Lava Stone or Ihusi Early in the morning, before proceeding to the park head quarters where visitors assemble at 07.00 for a briefing on how to” behave” while in the company of a gorilla group. You will meet your guide here and proceed to the starting point of the trek to our allocated group of gorillas. The length of the trek varies depending on where the gorillas are as well as what the weather conditions are. Meeting these gentle giants Gorillas in their natural habitat is a world unique experience everyone should have the privilege to experience. It is important to bring good hiking boots, long trousers and gloves for protection against stinging nettles, some snacks & sweets as well as sufficient amount of water as the rain forest gets hot and humid during the day. You spend one hour with the gorillas which is a truly amazing experience “before trekking back to the base and return to your lodge / hotel. Mid Class: Shangwe or Lavastone, Top; Ihusi.

Day 9: Back from the volcano- Relax in Goma. (3 Hours Drive) After breakfast at 7.00am, Back down from the Volcano- arrive in Kibati village at around 10 or 11.00am- Meet your Driver and transfer to Goma. after lunch enjoy a short city tour of Goma. Then Relax at Your Hotel. Lavastone or Ihusi hotel  

Queen Elizabeth

Day 11: Queen Elizabeth- Game drive- Boat Cruise on kazinga chanel and Overnight After an early breakfast- Set off with packed lunch for a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot some wild animals like Lion, Topis, Elephants large herds of Uganda Kobs and buffaloes- in the Afternoon enjoy the unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of Hippos, buffalos, elephants and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species- Overnight in Kasese at Rwenzori International Inn. Top: Mweya Lodge Transfer to Jinja driving through the scenic country side of Ankole – Take a stop over at the Equator for Photography and presentation from the guide, we will also have a short stop in Kampala for Lunch before Proceeding to Jinja – Transfer at your Hotel for Overnight at Triangle Hotel Or Nile Resort

Day 14: Transfer at Entebbe Airport for Departure Take breakfast and then visit local markets or a Craft shop for souvenir shopping-Personal good bye- be transferred to the airport for your flight back What to Bring: You must bring appropriate walking or hiking shoes as trainers are not suitable for the forest terrain. Waterproof clothing, preferably dark in colour as bright colours will attract insects, is necessary since the forest is at high altitude so there is a good chance of rain. Remember to bring high-factor sunscreen and a hat too. During your trek you will need to have plenty of water with you, so it is a good idea to hire a porter for the day. Many of the porters are kind, so, let them help you, be generous and create a job for a day! NOTE/ Clients who choose to stay in Rwanda for more days at the end of their safari are free to do so. We can arrange hotel accommodation for your extended stay. Should you wish to spend more time exploring Rwanda, Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania, we can arrange further safaris and city tours to meet your requirements.