THE EXPLORERS TRAIL - UGANDA AND RWANDA GROUP TOUR

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrival in Entebbe and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Today you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where we will meet you for a welcome drink and a briefing, and transfer you to your hotel to freshen up. We then drive (5 hours, 250km, 150 Miles) to Lake Mburo National Park, where we check in to our lodge

Overnight: Lake Mburo Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 Lake Mburo National Park

This morning we enjoy a game drive by ATV. We have on the opportunity to approach wildlife to within distances not normally possible with normal game viewing jeeps. Our guides and rangers will ensure that this will be a highlight of your trip. Alternatively, you can experience the park on horseback - another unique activity for Uganda

This afternoon, we enjoy an optional boat trip on Lake Mburo to view the area’s hippo and birdlife population, or laze by the pool overlooking the plains far below.

Overnight: Lake Mburo Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 3 Lake Mburo - Queen Elizabeth National Park

We continue our journey west (8 hours, 285km, 171 Miles) to Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4 Ishasha

This is a more remote part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, but one which has a sense of exclusivity. There is prolific plains game and this means that predators are in attendance. Spotted Hyena and Leopard are occasionally sighted. However, a prime attraction for Ishasha is its large lion population, and the frequency of sightings is higher here than anywhere else in Uganda. An added bonus is that they have learned to climb trees to escape the midday heat, and one is usually rewarded by lions relaxing in a tree.

Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5 Ishasha - Kigali

This morning we charter back to Entebbe for lunch, and then board the scheduled flight to Kigali. Arriving in the late afternoon, we then drive (3hours, 115km, 70 Miles) north to Ruhengeri and the Volcanoes National Park. This drive undulates over Rwanda’s picturesque countryside, and as you near the end of your journey, you will (weather permitting!) begin to catch glimpses of the Virungas – a chain of 9 impossibly steep and lofty volcanoes straddling the western branch of the Rift Valley from east to west.

Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 6 Volcanoes National Park - Kigali

The grand finale of our trip - our encounter with the Mountain Gorilla. Today’s activities may be amongst the most challenging you have undertaken. The Gorillas in Rwanda are part of a worldwide population of just 720 individuals. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to either one of seven habituated family groups. For up to five years each, these groups have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild.

The gorillas are not tame, and are completely wild animals. However, experienced guides will accompany us on our tracking, many of who have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas’ habits to locate the group’s whereabouts.

Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7 Optional Activities

This morning, we can choose from a number of optional extras, if available at the time of booking: an additional gorilla track, Golden Monkey tracking, or hiking to one of several places of interest. In the afternoon, we travel back to Kigali

Overnight: Kigali Serena
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8 Departure

Today we depart on our international flight home

Meal Plan: Breakfast

PRICE
US$4,973 per person in twin
US$485 single room supplement

Subject to availability at the time of booking:
US$150 Optional Golden Monkey tracking on day 7
US$600 Optional Gorilla Tracking on day 7 

Each departure will run with a minimum of 2 travelers, and will be limited to a maximum of 6 travelers.

We retain the right to substitute the accommodations shown above with other suitable accommodations if there is no availability, and we retain the right to run the itinerary in a reverse direction to fit the availability of accommodations.

TAILOR MADE
We can run this itinerary as a private tour if you wish - supplements will apply

INCLUSIONS
Accommodation in standard twin rooms
Meals as indicated in the daily meal plan
All road and air transfers as indicated
1 gorilla permit per person.
Services of an English speaking driver guide
Park fees
All activities described in the itinerary, unless specified as extras
Mineral water, tea and coffee in the vehicle
Medical Evacuation to a hospital in Nairobi

EXCLUSIONS
International Air Fares, entry visa fees, domestic and international departure tax
Beverages other than those in the vehicle
All expenses of a personal nature
Tips and gratuities to your driver/guide hotel/camp staff etc.