6-Day Rwanda and Uganda Safari with Gorilla Trekking and Kazinga Cruise

• Warm welcome: Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, meet your Ibyiza Safaris guide for a friendly reception and a brief overview of your upcoming adventure.
• Kigali city tour: Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a guided tour of Rwanda's clean and modern capital. Visit Kimihurura Market for local crafts and experience the sobering Kigali Genocide Memorial, a place of remembrance and insight into Rwanda's healing journey.
• Scenic drive to Volcanoes National Park: Travel through Rwanda's famed rolling hills to Musanze (Ruhengeri), the gateway to Volcanoes National Park.
• Cultural immersion at Iby'iwacu Village: Experience Rwanda's rich traditions at the Gorilla Guardians Village. Engage with reformed poachers through dance, storytelling, and hands-on cultural activities.

Dinner and overnight: Retreat to your lodge near Volcanoes National Park and rest under the cool breeze of the Virunga foothills.

• Golden monkey trekking: Begin your day with an exhilarating trek in Volcanoes National Park in search of golden monkeys - playful and curious primates found only in the Virunga Mountains.
• Cross to Uganda: After the trek, cross the Cyanika border into Uganda and journey through the lush hills of Kisoro toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

• The big day: Today, experience a life-changing encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas of Bwindi.

• Pre-trek briefing: Your experience begins with a detailed briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines to ensure your safety, the safety of others, and the protection of the gorillas and their habitat.

• The trek: Led by an experienced guide and ranger, you'll venture into Bwindi's dense forest. The trek winds through lush vegetation until that magical moment when you come face-to-face with the mountain gorillas - a humbling and life-changing experience. The trek can take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours on average, depending on how far into the forest the gorillas are.

• Reflection and rest: After returning to your lodge, take time to absorb the moment, the deep connection, the stillness of the forest, and the privilege of witnessing these rare creatures in their home.

• Transfer to Ishasha Sector: After breakfast, journey to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to one of Africa's rarest wildlife spectacles - tree-climbing lions.
• Ishasha game drive: Spot these unique lions draped lazily across fig trees and acacias. While sightings are not guaranteed, the Ishasha plains are alive with topi, Uganda kobs, elephants, and diverse birdlife like the striking saddle-billed stork.
• Evening at the lodge: Arrive at your lodge for dinner and an evening of bush serenity.

• Morning game drive in Kasenyi: Start your day with a game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, prime lion territory. Look out for elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and even the elusive leopards. The dramatic predator-prey scenes all come alive here.
• Lunch and leisure: Return to the lodge for a relaxed lunch break.
• Afternoon boat safari: Take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, where water meets wildlife in mesmerizing proximity, perfect for photography and birdwatching.
• Dinner and overnight stay.

• Kalinzu Forest adventure: Start your day with an early breakfast before heading to Kalinzu Forest Reserve for an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experience. Known for its thriving population of wild chimpanzees, Kalinzu offers a rich and immersive encounter with primates in their natural habitat. As you trek through the forest, keep an eye out for olive baboons, colobus monkeys, and a vibrant array of birds and butterflies that add colour and life to the journey.

• Lunch and border crossing: After trekking, enjoy lunch and begin your journey back to Kigali via the Katuna border. Stop in Kabale for souvenirs and cultural interaction.

• Departure: Drop-off at Kigali International Airport in time for your onward flight.