The 10 Days Rwanda Uganda and Kenya Safari is a Primates, wildlife and Big Five Combo, designed to allow you to experience the Primate Safari – Golden monkey tracking, Chimpanzee tracking and mountain gorilla trekking, a wildlife viewing in the best national park, and cultural experience of the most famous cultures in East Africa. This 10 Days Rwanda Uganda and Kenya starts in Rwanda – also known as a country of a thousand hills where you will experience and learn more about the genocide that caused a lot of damage to Rwanda as a country, visit the Volcanoes national park which is a home of the mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys in Rwanda. Then to Uganda, which is very close to the borders, while in Uganda, meet the most interesting apes – the Mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park.
Thereafter, you will connect to Africa’s best – Masai mara national reserve in Kenya which borders Serengeti national park in Tanzania. There you will experience the wildebeest migration the Big 5 game, the wild cats such as the cheetah, leopards and lions. Masai Mara is best visited in June, July and August for the wildebeest migration, however, other animals like the big 5 are available throughout the year. Finally, end your safari with visiting Lake Nakuru national park – home to the flamingo birds and black and white rhinos.
10 Days Rwanda Uganda and Kenya Safari Highlights
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Day 3: Boat trip on Lake Kivu – Visit the Ibyacuwa village – Volcanoes national park
Day 4: Golden monkey tracking – Transfer to Kisoro (Uganda) –
Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience – Batwa community tour
Day 6: Fly to Entebbe airport – Fly to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (Nairobi)
Day 7: Transfer to Masai Mara national park – evening game drive
Day 8: Full day game drive – Masai Mara plains
Day 9: Another day – Full day in Masai Mara – community tour
Day 10: Transfer back to Nairobi (4-5 hours’ drive) – Departures
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Depending on your location in Kigali, meet your driver and embark on your journey to Nyungwe forest national park, which is a 7-8 hours’ drive with en-route visit of the Rwanda national museum and Nyanza King’s palace. Upon arrival in Nyumgwe forest, connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at your booked lodge – Budget option: Gisakura Visitors Centre for budget/Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel for mid-range
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3 hours. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos before you drive back to your lodge for lunch.
Connect for a canopy walk. You will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees; you will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving below you. Dinner and overnight stay at provided lodge as above
Day 3: Boat trip on Lake Kivu – Visit the Ibyacuwa village – Volcanoes national park
After early breakfast, transfer to Volcanoes national park, which is about 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route detour on Lake Kivu for a boat trip. Thereafter, proceed to Volcanoes national park, have en-route lunch.
Later afternoon/evening, connect to Musanze, visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. Thereafter, proceed to Volcanoes national park and check-in at your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge for mid-range/Hotel Muhabura for budget
Day 4: Golden monkey tracking – Transfer to Kisoro (Uganda) –
After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing from the park warden about the endangered golden monkeys. After connect to the tracking starting point and enter the forest to search for the rare golden monkey. This activity can take about 1-5 hours and done at closer view of the other primates in the park like the red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys among other. After viewing the rare golden monkeys for an hour while taking pictures and studying their behaviors.
Thereafter, proceed to cross to Uganda via Cyanika border to connect to Kisoro to your booked lodge for check-in, relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge for mid-range/ Travelers’ Rest Hotel for budget
Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience – Batwa community tour
Have breakfast and transfer you to park offices for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking by a local guide. The time taken is usually between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Meeting the gorillas unexpectedly is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at very close range. You will observe adults feeding and groaning among themselves. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point where your driver will readily be waiting for you to return to the lodge. Visit the Batwa community for a cultural experience. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 6: Fly to Entebbe airport – Fly to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (Nairobi)
After breakfast, connect to Kisoro airstrip to catch your flight departing Kisoro airstrip at 8:30 am and arrive at Entebbe airport at 11:25 am. Thereafter, catch your own-booked flight to Kenya – Nairobi.
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta airport, meet your driver and connect to your booked hotel in Nairobi. Dinner and overnight stay at Central Park Hotel for budget/Hilton Nairobi Hotel for mid-range
Day 7: Transfer to Masai Mara national park – evening game drive
After breakfast, meet your safari driver and set off for Masai mara national reserve. It’s about 5 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Upon arrival, connect for an evening game drive. Thereafter, proceed to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Zebra Plains Lodge for mid-range/Mara Sentrim Lodge for Budget
Day 8: Full day game drive – Masai Mara plains
Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast and grab your packed lunch and meet your safari driver to head to the plains of Maasai Mara for a full day adventure in this stunning savanna vegetation of Masai Mara as you watch many animals in large numbers such as lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeests, zebras and many more. You will enjoy your picnic lunch and proceed for a game drive until the sun goes down. In the evening you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight at lodge as above
Day 9: Another day – Full day in Masai Mara – community tour
Optional activity; Hot air balloon – Wake early and be picked up by the air balloon team for your hot air balloon safari which starts in the early morning, just in time for sunrise. For about one hour you will be floating peacefully above the ground, with a bird’s eye view of the African bush below. The capacity for this activity is limited making this a very special and exclusive experience. Breakfast will be provided and thereafter connect back to the lodge.
After breakfast, you will head to the plains of the reserve for the final morning game drive sighting more animals, after the game drive you will head back to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will head to the Maasai village/Masai Loita Hills for a cultural experience. On this experience, you will enjoy getting a deeper insight into the Maasai culture by interacting with the local Maasai people, be entertained by local dancers, drama and Maasai warriors; buy local Maasai items such as local Maasai Shukas, beautifully made accessories such as necklaces and earrings and taste local cuisines. After the experience, you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight at lodge as above
Day 10: Transfer back to Nairobi (4-5 hours’ drive) – Departures
After morning breakfast at your lodge, you will checkout of your lodge and embark on a journey back to Nairobi where you will be dropped off at a location you advise or be dropped off at the airport for your onward flight back home.
End of 10 Days Rwanda Uganda and Kenya Safari
