19 Days Rift Valley Experience in Uganda

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Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, the company representative welcomes you to Uganda and drives you to your reserved lodge in Entebbe.

Overnight and dinner at Protea Hotel Entebbe (luxury)/Lake Victoria Hotel (moderate)/Boma Hotel(budget)

Have breakfast at the hotel, then proceed to Mabamba Bay swamp which is a wetland site very famous for the shoebill storck, Uganda’s most sought after bird by Uganda birding tourists. The swamp is situated west of Entebbe on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, covering 2424 ha with the thick marshes of papyrus, water lilies and other wetland grasses. It has got over 300 bird species including globally threatened species, 7 of Uganda’s 12 Lake Victoria Biome restricted species and many wetland specialties. The wetland has also got huge flocks of paleartic migrant’s every year from October to March.

After the birding session, return to the lodge for a late lunch as you relax for the evening at the hotel.

Overnight and dinner at Protea Hotel Entebbe (luxury)/Lake Victoria Hotel (moderate)/Boma Hotel(budget)

The guide picks you from the hotel by 7:30 am and you start your drive to Jinja having stopover at Ssezibwa falls. These are located 35km east of Kampala of Mukono district. These waterfalls are believed to have been born by humans many years ago. These falls are one of the most spiritual and cultural centres where many natives come for blessings, wealth and fortunes. There is a traditional healer who performs ceremonies for those seeking love, children, and successful business. You get to engage into a guided walk to view the waterfalls at up-close.

After proceed to Mabira Forest where you have lunch and also engage in a nature walk with in the forest to see different species of birds, monkeys, snakes and many more.

Later after proceed with your drive to Jinja for an overnight.

Dinner and overnight at Jinja Nile Resort ( luxury) Nile Village Hotel & Spa (Moderate) Bilkon Hotel ( Budget)

Wake up early enough and have your breakfast at your hotel or lodge, the guide drives you to the starting point where you will be given a briefing about your safety which is be followed by a practical training before starting the raft. Get to raft for close to 15kms. Your raft is concluded with fantastic Buffet lunch as well as complementary drinks after the safari.

After Lunch, You are driven to the source of the Nile; take a boat cruise to the actual source of the Nile. The source of the Nile is a point where River Nile starts its long journey to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the largest fresh water lake in Africa. After, you can also buy some souvenirs before getting back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Dinner and overnight at Jinja Nile Resort ( luxury) Nile Village Hotel & Spa (Moderate) Bilkon Hotel ( Budget)

Have breakfast at the lodge, drive to Lake Mburo National Park, this is a long distance since you spend over 7 hours to arrive at the park.

Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest of all the national parks in Uganda and is located close to the highway that connects Kampala to the western national parks. It’s filled with wildlife species including the 350 bird species, zebras, impalas, eland, buffaloes, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippos, hyenas, topis, as well as reed buck.

You have lunch enroute to the park, upon your arrival at the park, check at the lodge and proceed for an evening game drive where you view the above mentioned animals in the park. After, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Dinner and overnight at Mihingo safari Lodge (luxury)/ Mburo safari Lodge (moderate)/Eagle’s Nest Lodge (Budget)

Have breakfast at the lodge; proceed for a guided nature walk followed by a game ranger who is armed. You move all over the park looking for wildlife species; among these include; zebras, impalas, kobs, antelopes, eland, water buck and many more. Return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare to have an afternoon boat cruise on the lake. You are to see many water animals including; hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and water birds.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.

Have breakfast at the lodge before proceeding for a morning game drive in the park to view many animal including the zebras, impalas, waterbucks, antelopes, kobs as well as many species of birds. After proceed to Rwenzori National park via Kasese- Nyakalengija. You have your lunch enroute.  Upon your arrival, check in at Ruboni community camp for dinner and overnight.

Have breakfast at the camp, get the things ready and start the Mahoma trail walk. You ascend through the rain forests along the Kyambogho ride where you have a view of the Mubutu valley and the Rwenzori Mountains. As you proceed, you expect to see blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, some birds like the Rwenzori Turaco and the three horned chameleon. You reach the OmukaKizza camp where you have dinner and an overnight.

Have breakfast at the camp and then continue with the trail. You move through the bamboo and heather forest and you expect to see some forest elephant or the foot prints in this area. You can find them having a drink at the hot springs. You get to move along the ridge that leads to the Rukenga valley where you will see the giant lobelias that can grow for up to 8 meters or more and the everlasting flowers that are so good to look at, making it a beautiful spot for taking photos. Arrive at the campsite near Lake Mahoma where you will have dinner and spend a night.

Have breakfast at the camp, walk around the MahomaLake which is the deepest lake in the Rwenzori and then descend back through the Mpanga ridge that will lead you to the Mubuku valley. Continue to Nyakalengia and finally back to Ruboni camp. Have dinner and spend an overnight.

Wake up so early for your breakfast; start your drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park, home to over 480 mountain gorillas. Have lunch enroute as you travel to the park. Upon your arrival, check in at the lodge and relax for the evening.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Lodge (luxury) Silverback lodge (moderate) Buhoma Community rest camp (budget)

Start the day with breakfast, after proceed for a briefing at UWA headquarters by 8:00am. Always ensure to carry along a rain jacket, drinking water, snacks, the jungle boots etc. The rangers will lead you inside the forest to see these primates for a group you have booked for. Always carry lunch boxes and all the necessary gears to track the rare mountain gorillas, conceivably one of the most thrilling wildlife experiences on earth. The tracking takes between 2 to 6 hours and it’s worth the effort.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Lodge (luxury) Silverback lodge (moderate) Buhoma Community rest camp (budget)

Have breakfast at the lodge and then proceed for a briefing at UWA headquarters by 8:00am. Always ensure to carry along a rain jacket, drinking water, snacks, the jungle boots etc. The rangers will lead you inside the forest to see these primates for a group you have booked for. Always carry lunch boxes and all the necessary gears to track the rare mountain gorillas, conceivably one of the most thrilling wildlife experiences on earth. The tracking takes between 2 to 6 hours and it’s worth the effort. After, return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for a community walk to the nearby villages. You get to lean about their way of life.

After, return back to the lodge.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Lodge (luxury) Silverback lodge (moderate) Buhoma Community rest camp (budget)

Have breakfast at the lodge and after start your transfer to Mgahinga National Park.Upon your arrival at the lodge, check in and then proceed for a hike through the forest to the deep Sabinyo Gorge which is a massive gash within the flank of Mount Sabinyo that provides great birding opportunities and the chance to see the RwenzoriTuraco. The walk takes four hours and passes through the Rugezi swamp which is a great destination for bird watching.

After the hike, proceed to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Dinner and overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (luxury) Lake Chahafi Resort (moderate)Virunga Hotel and Campsite

Have breakfast at the lodge as you prepare to proceed for a batwa trail experience.  Thistrail leads you from the base of Muhavura cave. The walk I a living museum where you can learn about the Batwa people which is a pygmy’s tribe that used to live in the Mgahinga national park. These people were hunter- gatherer and o fierce who depended on the forest for shelter, food and medicine.

You are to be entertained by these people into many song and dances. Get to buy some of their local handmade crafts mostly made by women.

After the trail visit, return to the lodge for lunch as you relax in the evening.

Dinner and overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (luxury) Lake Chahafi Resort (moderate)Virunga Hotel and Campsite

Breakfast in the morning, and then start your drive to Volcanoes national park. This is home to 400 mountain gorillas found in Volcanoes national park of Rwanda. Upon arrival at the park, check in at the lodge and prepare for a visit to Dian Fossey tomb, this was a great primatologist who dedicated her life to taking care of mountain gorillas. Enjoy the hike and learn more about this great conservationist.

After the hike, return to the lodge for a late lunch as you relax for the evening.

Dinner and Overnight at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Luxury)/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Moderate)/ Muhabura Hotel (Budget)

Have breakfast at the lodge, after proceed for a briefing at the park headquarters to know about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. After, proceed for the search for mountain gorillas, once found, you spend 1 hour with them as you get to enjoy their company. You are to enjoy close views of adults feeding, grooming, and resting as the youngsters swing from one tree to tree. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare to visit the Ibucway village, this is a great opportunity gives the visitors the chance to get to know Rwanda and the village in a meaningful and personal way. You also get to see the traditional house of a local king as well as herbal mixtures prepared by the medicine man.

Dinner and Overnight at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Luxury)/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Moderate)/ Muhabura Hotel (Budget)

Have breakfast at the lodge and after proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing about golden monkey trekking. You are told about the do and don’ts of golden monkey trekking. After, proceed to search for these beautiful and playful monkeys. Once found, you are given some time to spend with them as you take some photos. You view them as they play from one tree to another.

After this trek, return to the lodge for lunch as you prepare to drive to Kigali city to visit the genocide memorial site, as well as buy some souvenirs from the traditional markets of Rwanda.

The guide later takes you to the Hotel in Kigali for your dinner and overnight.

Dinner and overnight at Kigali Marriott Hotel (Luxury)/ Hotel Des mille Collines (Moderate)/ Urban by City Blue (Budget)

Breakfast in the morning, the guide is always around to transfer you to the Airport for your departure flight.

Tour inclusions

• Professional driver guide
• 3 gorilla permits in Uganda & Rwanda
• Golden monkey trekking permit
• Accommodation as per the itinerary
• Enroute Meals
• Transport in a 4×4 vehicle
• Entrance fees
• Ranger fees
• Chimpanzee trekking permits
• Activities as per the itinerary
• Airport Transfer fees

Tour Exclusions

• Items of personal nature
• International Flights
• Drinks & Laundry
• Telephone fees
• Personal insurance