Uganda & Rwanda Game & Gorilla

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by a Wild Frontiers representative and transferred to Hotel No.5, or similar, for overnight.

Set on the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe is a small town that is easy to explore on foot or local boda bodas
(motorbike taxis). Explore the markets, hunt for souvenirs or crafts, meander through the Botanical Gardens or relax with a boat cruise on Lake Victoria. You’ll find a wide variety of restaurants, bars and clubs where you can sample the local beer, catch a game of football and meet the friendly locals.

Overnight: Hotel No.5 - View iBrochure

Nestled in the leafy suburbs of Entebbe, is the stylish boutique hotel, Hotel No.5. From the moment you arrive, you are warmly welcomed and cared for. With luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool, this is a great option for guests looking for an intimate stay in a tranquil setting.

Make yourself at home – unwind beside the swimming pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work up a sweat in the hotel gym. For one of the most flavoursome dining experiences in Entebbe, carefully planned menus are paired to an international wine list, and served with pride.

Attention to detail and an attentive guest experience are synonymous with Hotel No. 5, making it the perfect choice
for a restful stay in this busy town.

Transfer to airport for your short flight to Kihihi, from where you will explore Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park set in the Great Rift Valley is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants, lions, hippos, buffalo, Uganda kob, baboon, and many bird species.

Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp View iBrochure

Ishasha Wilderness Camp is an idyllic retreat for people who truly enjoy the wilderness, coupled with superb accommodation and exceptional service.

The thatched central lounge and dining area provides a cosy and relaxed space for guests, although meals are often served ‘al fresco’ beside the river. In the evening, the outdoor fireplace beside the river is the perfect place for guests to relax over sundowners and share their day’s experiences.

Each of the ten spacious framed canvas rooms, privately nestled along the riverbank, is comfortably furnished and feature en-suite bathrooms. Wake to the delicious aroma of morning coffee served on your private verandah.

Resident troops of Black-and-White Colobus and Vervet monkeys abound and if you are lucky you’ll spot Henry, the lone hippo, wallowing lazily below our viewing deck. Game roams freely through camp, with Elephant making frequent guest appearances.

Designed to respect and complement the environment, this low impact, eco-sensitive camp is really something special, and after a few days unwinding here, you may well not want to leave

Day at leisure to enjoy game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, looking out for huge herds of buffalo,
elephant and of course the famous tree-climbing lion typically found in the area.

Sundowner Drinks - Guests can enjoy late afternoon sundowners beside the Ntungwe River, or from a scenic viewing point along the ridge overlooking Ishasha. The activity includes local drinks and snacks, and also invites guests to drink in the vast vistas and atmosphere of this beautiful area of the park.

Overnight Ishasha Wilderness Camp.

A 2-3 hour drive through scenic country brings you to Bwindi Forest National Park. Time permitting, you may visit a Community Project en route. Immerse yourself in Agartha’s ‘Taste of Uganda’tour – it’s a fun, educational experience for the inquisitive visitor who wonders how a rural Ugandan lady lives. Watch how the local crops are transformed into local staples such as millet porridge and kalo bread.

Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a World Heritage site. Bwindi is one of the richest ecosystems in East
Africa and home to over 120 mammals, 345 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies and 160 species of trees.

The park contains an estimated one half of the world’s population of the endangered Mountain Gorilla, making it an extremely valuable conservation site.

Overnight: Buhoma Lodge - View iBrochure

Nestled at the gateway to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Buhoma Lodge is one of only two lodges set within the national park, and is the perfect lodge of choice when embarking on your bucket-list Gorilla trekking adventure.

Renowned for its warm welcome and attentive service, guests love the homely ambience of this Africa inspired lodge. Constructed using sustainable materials, the elevated central lounge, bar and dining area (serving delicious multi-course meals) offers a cosy spot for guests to unwind, and offers amazing uninterrupted views over the forest.

The crackling fireplace adds a mystical atmosphere to cooler evenings. Tranquil and cosy, the ten spacious eco friendly wooden chalets offer a private escape. Fall asleep to the sounds of the forest and awaken to chattering birds and monkeys as day breaks.

Enjoy morning tea/coffee on your private verandah with sweeping views over the primal forest– what better way to start the day. With Buhoma set just steps away from the trek start point, gorillas have been spotted popping in for an occasional visit, while our resident L'Hoest's monkey troup visit the gardens in front of the lodge almost daily, much to the delight of our guests

One of the most humbling and enthralling wildlife experiences imaginable awaits your discovery. Coming face to face with an endangered mountain gorilla is something words cannot aptly describe.

Please note that gorilla trekking is strenuous with treks ranging from 45 mins up to eight hours, at high altitudes in hot African conditions. The thrill of the hour you spend quietly observing these gentle giants once you find them is well worth the hike to get there! Although mountain gorillas are wild animals and it should be noted that sightings cannot be guaranteed, viewing success rates are well over 95%.

Head back to Buhoma Lodge for a complimentary massage after your trek, or explore the surrounding Bwindi
community.

Optional activities that may be enjoyed in and around the park include forest walks, visits to a local school or orphanage or Batwa pygmy village, and curio shopping.

Overnight Buhoma Lodge

From Bwindi, we drive through the ‘Little Switzerland of Africa’ along winding mountain roads, and through rural villages, to the border of Rwanda, Kisoro. Here, on a clear day, the Virungas can be seen ‘standing sentry’ along the border – a row of massive, dormant volcanoes watching over the region. It’s a long day – approx 7-8 hours on the road with a +- 1 hour border crossing.

Volcanoes National Park
Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face to face encounter with these intriguing creatures.

The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat. While the gorilla’s are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the crater lake on Mount Bisoke.

Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is perfectly situated for gorilla tracking in Rwanda. The 30 individual cottages have been built on 4 acres of land on the slopes of Mt Sabinyo. The stone and thatch cottages each have en-suite facilities, a small lounge with a fire place and a private veranda. The cottages are of a good size and are well positioned to give them privacy from each other. Being at altitude, it can get cold therefore each cottage has a fireplace in the room.

Located very close (about 15 minutes) from the main headquarters of Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park (Parc National de Volcans), this is a very handy base from which to explore the area and organise treks to see the Golden monkeys and, of course, the mountain gorillas. This is a great location with superb views of the volcanoes.

Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes National Park offers visitors the unique opportunity of discovering the 10 families of gorillas that live within the national park. Visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee before the trek starts and will be separated into groups of 8 depending on their physical abilities. Each group is guided by a guide and two scouts who are well trained in emergency situations. The amount of time set aside per trek is different depending on where the gorilla family is situated. Some trips may take as little as half an hour and some taking the better part of the day.

If you’ve opted not to trek today, take a hike to Dian Fossey’s grave or enjoy forest walk with Golden Monkeys. You will only be able to enjoy one of these activities (as they all take place in the morning) and pre-booking is essential.

Overnight Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

After lunch, we drive to Kigali, the bustling capital of Rwanda. Optional visit to the haunting Genocide Museum.

Kigali Genocide Memorial
The Kigali Genocide Memorial site is a grim reminder of the senseless massacre of innocent’s lives in 1994. The memorial is the final resting place for more than 250 000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, a place for remembrance and learning. The Memorial also sheds light on other massacres including Cambodia, the Balkans and the Holocaust.

Drop off at airport – please book a late flight home or overnight in Kigali.

End of safari