SELF DRIVE SAFARI IN RWANDA & UGANDA 

When you embark on one of our self drive safaris in Africa, you are in the driver’s seat. Enjoy game driving through Africa’s premium game parks while you decide how long to spend watching wildlife.

We’ll provide the safari plan, the Land cruiser vehicles, international vehicle paperwork and advice on what to pack. The crew prepares your activities; you simply drive and enjoy the scenery.

What more could you ask for on self drive safaris in Africa?

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DETAIL ITINERARY:

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Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to your hotel

On arrival, our staff will be there to welcome you and after a short brief transfer you to your hotel in Kampala for check in and after a short rest, have lunch and depart for afternoon tour of the City. If the flight arrives before 1600 hours local time, there will be city tour around Entebbe and later drop off at your hotel for dinner and overnight at your hotel.

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Overnight: Kampala Forest cottages

Day 2: Kampala to Kibale National Park

Depart from Entebbe and drive to Kibale 358km. You will depart early in the morning and drive west through Mityana and proceed for a lunch break in the beautiful town of Fort Portal. Marvel at the stunning palace of Toro Kingdom, the Royal tombs, the numerous shops and the mosque before driving on to Kibale, only a couple of kilometers ahead. On arrival, you will check into Kibale Forest Camp. Actually, Kibale national park hosts the highest number of primates in the whole of East Africa including chimpanzees, baboons, black & white colobus monkeys and the blue monkey. (Optional) Have a primate walk in the afternoon to Kanyanchu river camp; this is the most popular of all walks inside the park. It takes you through a diversity of flora zones and unveils a number of wild animals along the way living inside the forest. Head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Kibale forest camp

Day 3: Chimp Tracking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth

Today the forest opens its doors for an exhilarating chimpanzee tracking experience. Kibale Forest is reputable for having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkey and many others. Upon sighting the chimpanzees, you will spend an unforgettable hour with them as they go about their daily life - feeding, playing, grooming, taking care of their young, howling and screeching, in their natural habitat.
After the trek you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain range for most of the journey) lunch on the way and enjoy an en-route game drive until 4pm, when we arrive at Kazinga Chanel for sundowner boat cruise a natural waterway between Lake Edward and Lake George. This cruise will be one of the highlights of your safari as you sight abundant birdlife and view elephants, buffaloes and school of hippos cooling off at the shores.
After Kazinga Channel we will take you to your accommodation for check in, dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Overnight: Bush Lodge

Day 4: Game Drive and transfer to Bwindi Nat Park
The day begins early as we start with game drives. We head towards Bwindi, driving through the southern sector, offers you an opportunity to see Lions, Leopards, Giant Forest Hogs, Cape Buffaloes, Elephants, Defassa Waterbucks, spotted hyenas, Uganda Kobs, Topi, Bush bucks and bird species. After the game drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park through the verdant country side, you will pass traditional homesteads and enjoy panoramic views of the Rwenzori Mountains. Arrival in Bwindi National Park, home of the endangered mountain gorillas, you will be checked in for your dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Overnight: Lake Bunyonyi Overland

Day 5: Gorilla Tracking and Transfer to Kigali
06:00hrs: After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the National Park headquarters at to meet your guides for the day. Complete our park formalities, and then embark on a spectacular mountain tracking adventure. Once you spot them, you'll spend time observing these gentle giant gorillas is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure that will leave you with long lasting memories of a truly unique experience. The trekking will be strenuous; up to 6 hours or longer at a relatively high altitude, you’ll enjoy taking photographs after which you will descend back to the lodge.  Most treks will be finished before lunch and we will return you to your lodge for freshen up and check out.  Your lunch is already packed and will be eaten en route as we leave for Rwanda. The return drive to Kigali, Rwanda is extremely scenic and we will stop to take pictures of the 5 Volcanoes and the Land of a Thousand Hills.
In all the transfer takes around 4.5 hours

Overnight: Yambi Guesthouse

 

Day 6: Kigali City Tour

After breakfast we start the day starts with a tour of the city. First head to Nyamata and visit the mellinium Village, return for the rest of the tour of Kigali, Named in 1907 by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda; Kigali city is surrounded by lush hills of green and is referred to as the land of a thousand hills. Get to visit interesting spots which may include; the craft market, Gisozi genocide memorial site & Museum of Art for presidential museum.. 

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Overnight: Yambi Guesthouse
 

DAY 7: Depart for Nyungwe Nat Park and Canopy Walk
After breakfast our guide will be waiting to pick you up and you will depart for Nyungwe National park which takes about 6 ½  hrs drive via Butare visiting enroute, 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 collection, the design and concept all realized in co-operation with the Royal Museum for Central Africa of Tervuren; Belgium. Ethnographic objects are grouped together according to the theme giving premium 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.Have Lunch in Butare and thereafter continue to Nyungwe national park arriving for dinner and overnight at your hotel.

 

Overnight: Gisakura Guesthouse

 

DAY 8:  Chimps Trekking + Transfer to Lake Kivu
Take an early morning breakfast then with your packed lunch drive to this park for the starting point of your chimpanzee trek. Two species of chimpanzee occur in Africa. There is the Bonobo and the Common Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes (often shortened to Chimpanzee, and sometimes referred to as the Robust Chimpanzee). The largest remaining populations occur in central Africa (Gabon, DR Congo and Cameroon). About only 400 individuals, the population in Rwanda is an endangered one. However; it should be mentioned that it is not guaranteed to see the chimps as they are unpredictable and can move long distances in one day. Nyungwe National Park is the largest block of montane forest in East and Central Africa and it is an incredibly rich area of biodiversity. Later depart for Lake Kivu. The unpaved road gently curves back and forth as it weaves through hills and mountains beside the lake from Gisenyi to Cyangugu. Eucalyptus trees line the road, while every corner of the hills is terraced with bananas. Villagers smile and wave; you’ll end up with hands tired from waving, and feel like royalty at the end of the trip! Arrive at your hotel, nestled on the shores of Lake Kivu. Dinner and Overnight at your hotel.

 

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Overnight: Discover Hostel Gisneyi

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Day 9: Lake Kivu

Today the day is spent in Gisenyi, the largest port on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu, in the company of your guide who will show you the town. Enjoy a short boat ride to one of the islands in Lake Kivu or simply explore the town, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the local market or wander through the leafy streets admiring the old colonial buildings. Later break for lunch and afterward afternoon we bid goodbye to our host in Kivu and transfer to Ruhengeri, Arrive at Red rocks Intercultural Exchange centre for lunch then join the local brew makers to understand the chemistry about the process of brewing a local beer from bananas fruits. If you find the activity interesting enough you can join the women in squeezing the juice out of the bananas and drink a glass of juice (Optional). Understand how long juice takes to turn into alcohol after adding in sorghum floor. Enjoy the big glass of our local brew. Among other activities they also do basket weaving and with your visit this local community will be proud of this activity and families supported financially. Later drive to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

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·         Overnight: Redrocks Hostel

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Day 10: Optional Golden Monkey/ Gorilla Trekking and Iby’iwachu Village Visit

This day is set out for Golden Monkey tracking in the Volcanoes National Park. Entering dense stands of bamboo interspersed with open glades; you will make your way deep into golden monkey territory. Guides lead visitors to the habitat of groups of ‘habituated’ golden monkeys – monkeys that have become accustomed to human presence. Though viewing is kept to a maximum of one hour, travellers can get an up-close look at the golden monkey in its natural habitat. Adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch. Females carry their young, completely comfortable among onlookers. Later visit Iby’iwacu 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. Return to your hotel to freshen up and have lunch then later dinner and overnight.

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Overnight: Redrocks Rwanda Hostel

 

DAY 11: DIAN FOSSEY TOMB + DEPART
After breakfast you will have breakfast, proceed for another adventurous hike to Dian Fossey graveyard/tombs. Return to the lodge for lunch and depart for Kigali, engage in last minute shopping in one of the friendliest African capitals, before returning to the airport for your onward international flight back home.

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Included

• 4×4 Land cruiser vehicle (max 4 people per vehicle or 2 adults and 2 children)

• Road tolls, spare parts, international vehicle paperwork, permits

• Airport or Hotel pick up and drop-off

• Meals as per the itinerary

• Accommodation in guest houses, hotels, cottages and tented camp/Lodges

• Lead vehicle with experienced crew

• All activities and entrance fees as per the itinerary

• Maps and local information.

• Free mineral water in the vehicle during the tour

 

 

Excluded

• Visa fees

• Drinks / alcoholic drinks

• Additional meals

• Tips

• Activities not part of the described programme

 

DON'T FORGET:

Pairs of Sunglasses, Prescription Glasses, Sunscreen, Closed Toe Shoes, Light Weight Scarf, Binoculars, Camera, A note on cell phones: Insect Repellant,  Hat, 10-Jacket or Coat

OUR TIPS:

Africa is home to dozens  national parks, game reserves and other safari destinations. Each one of them has something to different to offer, whether  large mammals dominated by the Big Five, the opportunity to trekk gorillas or chimpanzees, or more subtle pleasures such as looking for rare birds or colourful butterflies. But for first-time visitors wondering exactly where to go, the highlights below stand out as perhaps the ten best places to visit in Africa.    

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