14 Days Burundi Rwanda – Uganda Cultural & Wildlife Safari

Detailed Itinerary of the 14-Day Burundi Rwanda- Uganda Cultural and Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrive at Bujumbura Airport, city tour – Transfer to your Hotel.

Our English/French-speaking guide will meet you at Bujumbura airport to start the 14 Days Burundi Rwanda – Uganda Cultural & Wildlife Tour

After Greetings, the guide will shortly brief you about your Tour and start a short tour of Bujumbura. It will include a visit to the mausoleum of Prince Louis Rwagasore a hero of independence of Burundi. We continue our way to visit the reptile park, Musee Vivante, The Buyenzi Muslim Quarter, the Islam Culture Centre, City Hall, the President’s Office, Lake Tanganyika, and its surroundings. We later climb to the Belvedere on top of the hill, a dominating point of Bujumbura offering a unique view over Bujumbura and Lake Tanganyika. The places you’ll visit on the city tour will depend on the time available. After the tour, you will be transferred to your Hotel for check-in, dinner, and overnight.

Overnight: Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika  or Star Hotel Bujumbura

Day 2: Travel to visit the Karera Water Fall, Source du Nil, Gitega, and the Gishora Drummers

In the morning, your driver-guide will pick you up from the hotel after breakfast. You’ll then drive off to the Source of Nile, and then Karera waterfalls. On our route, magnificent tea plantations and landscapes will make you carry your camera ready for pictures. After Karera waterfalls, drive to Gitega, the second town and colonial capital of Burundi. Visit of Gitega National Museum with its collection of artefacts, Gitega city administrative offices, Catholic location of Mushasha.

In the late afternoon, you will enjoy the drummers at Gishora before you head to your Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Gishora Drummers is one of the famous drum sites of Burundi. Gishora is perched on the top of a hill at 7km from the urban center of Gitega and 200m from the Gitega-Ngozi route.

The site of Gishora also houses two ritual drums that were never beaten: Ruciteme (the one for whom we clear the forest) and Murimirwa (the one for whom we cultivate). The two names are intimately linked to the farming vocation and refer clearly to the fertility, characteristic of the king. We have also ordinary drums ‘Ingendanyi’ (retinue), which the Batimbo could beat on special occasions in the country.

Overnight: Tropitel Gitega Hotel or Helene Hotel

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe N. Park en route Visit the Dr. Livingstone Site and the Pygmies.

Today we travel to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. It is one of the Largest mountain rainforests in East and Central Africa. Also, it’s home to more than 11 species of primate including the Chimpanzees. About 15 Kilometers North of Bujumbura we will stop a bit to visit “La Pierre de Stanley et Livingstone”. It is a commemorating stone of the place where the famous explorer Stanley uttered the infamous Dr Livingstone, I presume on meeting the legendary Scotsman. This was on the 25th of November, 1871.

Arriving in the South and about to get to the border near the Kibira Forest we will go to visit the pygmies’ village of Busekera which is located on the southern edge of Kibira National Park, at about 5km from the crossroads of Bugarama. This population, who in former times lived on hunting and gathering, like most pygmies in central Africa, has remarkably changed their lifestyle in Burundi. Although they settled near the forest, they no longer wore costumes made from the foliage of wild trees. Their size is neither less normal than the rest of Burundians.

Arriving in Nyungwe you will check in to your Lodge for Dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel/Gisakura Guest House

Day 4: Optional Nature Walk in Nyungwe N. Park, Colobus Monkey, Canopy, etc..

After early breakfast report to the park reception for registration. Then, you’ll start partaking in one of the optional activities on this 4th day of the 14-day Burundi Rwanda-Uganda Cultural and Wildlife Safari;

Black and White Colobus Trekking

There are large troops of black and white colobus monkeys ( Colobus Angolensis) residing in Nyungwe Forest. These primates often travel in groups of over 300 individuals. Angola Colobuses in this park are the biggest troops of this species recognized in the world! You shouldn’t miss Walking through a montane rainforest and being surrounded on all levels by these active and cheeky monkeys.

Canopy Walkway

Is located in the middle of the Igishigishi trail and is the biggest walkway in East Africa it is, at its highest point, situated at 90 above the ground, which should enable the trekking tourist to gain inside of the upper tree level as well as their inhabitants such as different primate, birds, and Orchids. The whole process of planning and building the canopy took at least five years during which there were mainly 25 men constantly involved in the construction process.

Forest Walks

Extensive networks of a well-maintained walking trail lead you through the forest to various waterfalls and viewing points. There are a variety of trails:

Colored Trails – these are left over from the late 1980s when an early attempt to develop tourism in Nyungwe was made. There are seven trails through the forest each marked by a particular colour. The trails range in length from the 1km Grey trail to the 10km Red trail. All the trails are well-maintained and offer the chance to see a diversity of primate and bird species.

Waterfall Trail- This trail takes between 3-6 hours depending on how often you stop en route. It is a very pleasant walk through the tree-fern-covered ravines, across several bubbling streams until you reach a pretty waterfall. Monkeys are often seen along the way and the steep slopes allow for good views into the canopy, making this trail a favorite among the birders as it is very rewarding for true forest interior birds, with a good chance of spotting Albertine rift endemics, such as the Rwenzori turaco.

Kamiranzoru Trail

This trail is 4km and takes about 3 hours. This trail is different from the other forest walks because it takes you through low-lying marshy areas. They are rich in orchids and localized swamp-associated bird species.

Bigugu Trail

This is the toughest trail and you need to be relatively fit as it leads you up the Bigugu Peak. The Bigugu Peak is 2,950m high and is the highest point in Nyungwe Forest. The place offers fantastic views of the landscape.

Overnight: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel/Gisakura Guest House

Day 5: Transfer To Kigali – Visit the National Museum en route & the ancient King Palace

On this day of your 14-day cultural & wildlife safari, you’ll have a leisurely morning breakfast, and transfer to Kigali Via Butare. The Journey takes about 6 ½ hrs drive. En route, you’ll visit the famous National Museum at Butare and the ancient King´s Palace at Nyanza. The museum was donated in 1989 by the Belgium government with some ethnic collections.  The design and concept were all realized in cooperation with the Royal Museum for Central Africa of Tervuren; Belgium.

Ethnographic objects are grouped according to the theme giving premium information on 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. Have Lunch in Butare and if time allows you can also visit the Murambi Genocide Memorial. This is one of the genocide museums that witness the true reality of the Rwandan Genocide.

Arriving in Kigali in earlier evening you will check in to your Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Hotel Des Mille Collines/Hotel Chez Lando

Day 6: Kigali City Tour – Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park.

After morning breakfast you will first do the city tour of Kigali and after all, visit the Kigali Genocide memorial site. It’s a grim reminder of the senseless and anti-human massacre of innocent lives in 1994. Learn about Rwanda’s History from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide and how Rwanda dealt with the past. We continue with our tour to see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. Later we head to visit the old Kigali, the art and crafts market, the business and administrative quarter.

After the tour, you’ll head to the Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda. The drive is through beautiful rolling hills, and awesome landscapes, bypassing coffee, tea, and banana plantations on a comfortable paved road, and is approximately 3 hours from Kigali to your lodge. Check in to your lodge for Dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Davinci Gorilla Lodge

Day 7: Golden Monkey Trekking – Transfer to Bwindi National Park /Uganda

After an earlier morning breakfast at around 6:40 AM, you will report to the park ranger station ready to go for the Golden Monkey trekking.

The golden Monkeys are the most endangered primates within the forest. Golden Monkey trekking is another activity you can do to enjoy the wildlife at Volcanoes National Park. The Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti) is a subspecies of the “Blue Monkey” endemic to high-altitude forests of the Volcanoes National Park. They are so playful and always inquisitive about anything! They mostly live in bamboo vegetation and normally the easiest trek takes between 1 – 2 Hours.

u are very sprightly creatures, and leap from tree to really entertaining tree, if a little difficult to photograph! We recommend setting your camera to a fast shutter speed to allow for low light in the dense undergrowth and to better your chances of capturing the golden monkeys on film. In the Virunga volcanoes, we have 2 Habituated families of Golden Monkeys, one group comprises around 80 – 100 members and has its home at the foot of Mt Sabyinyo.

After the Golden Monkey Trekking, you will be transferred to Bwindi National Park. Proceed to Uganda on your 14 Days Burundi Rwanda – Uganda Cultural & Wildlife Tour

We will make our scenic journey through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills of Kabale and Kisoro with terraced landscape; an area referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa” heading to Bwindi via the Cyanika Border.

The Journey from the Volcanoes to the Bwindi National Park/Uganda takes approximately 3 – 4 hours including border crossing.

Arriving at the lodge you will check in to your Lodge for Dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, or Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

On the 8th day of the 14-day cultural and wildlife safari, you’ll Wake up for an early morning breakfast. Then, around 6:00 AM, you’ll head to the Rushaga sector headquarters. Assemble at the park headquarters for your Gorilla Trek experience. You’ll b begin with a briefing from the park rangers about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas.

Today, your gorilla trek is sure to be the highlight of your tour. We will be at the ranger station by around 7:30 am, where you’ll be allocated a gorilla family before heading into the forest. You will track one of the habituated Gorilla groups. Move in a company of experienced ranger guides through the forest while searching for mountain gorillas. The time it takes to search for these great apes ranges between 2 to 6 hours. It largely depends on the movement of the gorilla groups as their territory can range up to 40km. The park rangers and guides will clear the way and assist you through the forest. Once you locate the gorilla group, you will spend an hour with them as they feed, rest, and play.

After finding them, you spend an hour in their presence. You can use this time to monitor their behavior, take pictures, and record videos for memories.

After the Gorilla trekking, you will go back to your Lodge and the remainder of your Day is at leisure.

Overnight: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, or Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge

Day 9: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi

On this day of the 14-day cultural & wildlife safari, you will have a leisurely morning breakfast. Then later, you’ll head to Lake Bunyonyi; The scenic journey through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills of Kabale and Kisoro with terraced landscape which is referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa”.

The journey from Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi will take around 2 Hours. Upon arrival at Bunyonyi, you will check in to your lodge, and after you will take village walks. These will help you learn about the life skills of the local population, and farming activities and enjoy the surroundings of the lake.

Later in the afternoon, you can take a dugout canoe to discover the world of Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi means a place of small birds. You will have a chance to relax and swim if you are a good swimmer as this is one of the world’s deepest lakes. It is free of Bilharzia, no crocodiles so it is a pleasant moment for swimming.

Overnight: Arcadia Cottages or Birdnest resort

Day 10: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector of this park in search of the tree-climbing lions.  In the southern section of this park, the Lions are now and again spotted hanging on branches of huge fig trees whereas the Uganda Kob (which are the major food to these lions) graze in the plains of the Ishasha sector. Lions in this sector tend to climb trees to spot prey from a distance and hide from the scorching sun. You may also spot other animals like the Uganda Kob, elephants, etc. Later, you’ll proceed to the Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park- Mweya.

In the southern section of this park, the Lions are now and again spotted hanging on branches of huge fig trees whereas the Uganda Kob (which are the major food to these lions) graze in the plains of the Ishasha sector.

The Ishasha sector is located near the fur most south-western rim of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is not only one of the most liked parks but also the most visited national park in Uganda. The landscape in this section of the magnificent park is considerably different from that found in other parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Ishasha Sector within QENP is habitat to the internationally renowned tree-climbing lions which are unique to this very place. The males of these exceptional lions have black manes.

Overnight: Buffalo Safari Lodge or Bush Lodge

Day 11: Morning Game Viewing – Afternoon Boat Cruise

on this day of your cultural & wildlife safari, you’ll be up for breakfast at 6.30. You’ll then start the morning game drive at 7.00 am. It is a good opportunity for great wildlife sightings. Drive along the Kasenyi game trails to spot lots of elephants, buffalos, warthogs, lions, antelopes, waterbucks, and bushbucks. After more than three hours of great wildlife sightings return to the lodge to relax and have lunch.

After lunch, you go for the two-hour boat ride on the Kazinga channel. This is the highlight of a Queen Elizabeth tour as you get a chance for the best wildlife sightings at a close range. Expect to see lots of hippos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, buffalos, elephants, and lots of other animals. They come to the channel to cool off the afternoon heat and drink water. Others come to eat fresh grass, and some to take refuge from predators. The channel also has a concentration of bird species.

After the boat ride you retire back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Buffalo Safari Lodge or Bush Lodge

Day 12: Transfer To Kibale Forest National Park

On the 12th day of your cultural & wildlife tour, you will have a leisurely morning breakfast. You will drive around 2 and a half hours through Queen Elizabeth looking at a variety of wildlife on the way to Kibale Crater Valley also called “The Best in the West”. Arrive for Lunch and an afternoon relax and enjoy spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains, the legendary “Mountains of the Moon”. You’ll enjoy the views of Kibale Forest – an outstanding tropical rainforest environment. You’ll also see sensationally beautiful crater lakes, and you marvel at the magnificent kindness.

Afternoon relax and enjoy the nature of this beautiful paradise.

Kibale National Park covers an area of about 795km and is acknowledged to have one of Uganda’s most gorgeous tropical forests. It’s a habitat for many forest wildlife and among these include the primates along with chimpanzees. The forest occupies the northern as well as the central part of the park. Kibale in the northern part has a peak of about 1590m above sea level. The northern part is also well known as the wettest area with an annual rainfall of about 1700mm.

In the evening, you’ll embark on a Bigodi swamp walk. It is popular for its fascinating nature and the locals who actively participate in the conservation of tourism natural resources.

Overnight: Primate Lodge or Turaco Treetops Lodge

Day 13: Chimpanzee Trekking – Transfer to Kampala

On this day of your cultural & wildlife safari, You will have to wake up early in the morning, have your breakfast, and report for briefing before 8 am. It will be an exciting early morning walk through Kibale forest as you search for the chimpanzees and other primates with the help of a ranger. These are interesting animals to see, very organized, and very much more like human beings which is why they are called man’s closest cousins. At the park, you will see primates like L’hoest’s monkeys, red colobus, blue-red tailed and gray-cheeked mangabeys.

After the trek, we will drive to Kampala stopping at the Mpambire Royal drum makers en route if time permits us where you will be able to watch the ceremonial drums being crafted using methods passed down through generations. The journey from Kibale Forest to Kampala takes around 5 – 6 Hours.

You will be arriving at your Lodge in the late evening for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Sheraton Kampala Hotel or Fairway Hotel

Day 14: Transfer to Entebbe – Check Out

Today is your Day for packing, shopping, and getting ready to be transferred to the Entebbe airport for your outbound flight. This thus marks the end of the 14-day Burundi Rwanda-Uganda cultural & wildlife safari.