13 DAYS PRIMATES, PARKS & CULTURE: A UGANDA-RWANDA HOLIDAY SAFARI.

Enjoy a relaxed and lovely Christmas Eve at 4star hotel in Entebbe. With no planned excursions today, you can unwind in the tropical gardens, or opt for optional activities such as visiting the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (arranged independently & optional). Breakfast and dinner are available at the hotel, offering a calm, restful start to your festive safari adventure.

After an early breakfast at 7:30 AM, depart from Entebbe for a scenic 7-hour drive to Kibale National Park, passing lush tea plantations, small towns, and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. You'll stop for a picnic lunch or at a local restaurant en route. Upon arrival in the Fort Portal area, you'll check into the Lodge, nestled in the forest near Kibale. Christmas evening will be spent in this serene rainforest setting, preparing for an exciting chimpanzee trek the next morning

After a hearty breakfast, you'll transfer to the Kibale Park headquarters for a chimpanzee trekking briefing at 7:30 AM. The trek begins shortly after, led by park rangers through dense tropical forest. You'll hear the pant-hoots and calls echoing through the trees before encountering a habituated troop of chimpanzees. Watch them interact, groom, and swing through the canopy during your one-hour visit. In the afternoon, explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (2-3hours walk), a community-run ecotourism project rich in biodiversity, where you may spot colobus monkeys, hornbills, turracos, and more. Return to the Lodge for a well-deserved dinner

Enjoy breakfast and depart at 9:00 AM for a 2-hour journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, descending from forested hills into the open savannah. After checking in to the Lodge, you'll rest briefly before heading out for an evening game drive around 4:30 PM. Expect to see herds of elephants, Uganda kob, buffaloes, hyenas, and possibly lions against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains. As the sun sets, return to the lodge for dinner under the stars.

Start with a sunrise game drive at 6:30 AM, when predators are most active. The Kasenyi plains offer excellent chances of spotting lions on the hunt, leopard sightings, and large herds of antelope and buffalo. After brunch back at the lodge, you'll head to Mweya for a 2:00 PM boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. This is one of the best wildlife viewing spots in Africa for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a huge variety of water birds. Return to the Lodge by early evening.

After breakfast, depart at 9:00 AM for the remote southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, a 2-hour drive through savannah and acacia woodland. You'll check into Ishasha jungle lodge surrounded by wildlife and wetlands. In the afternoon, you will embark on a game drive in search of the elusive tree-climbing lions, often found lounging in fig trees, as well as topi, elephants, and buffaloes in this wild corner of the park. Return to the lodge for a relaxing evening.

Head out at 6:30 AM for a final morning game drive in Ishasha to maximize chances of spotting predators at dawn. After returning for breakfast, depart at 10:30 AM for a 4-hour journey to one of the deepest lakes in east Africa, offering breathtaking sunset boat cruise upon arrival you will check in relax and later that day enjoy a boat cruise.

after enjoying your breakfast, you will check out of bird nest resort and embark on adventurous trip through the Kigezi region landscapes. Cruising through the rolling hills offering scenic views. Along the journey you will enjoy the batwa cultural experience since the route to Kaara mountain gorilla lodge pierces through Echuya forest that’s home to this indigenous dwellers of the tropical forests of Uganda after this experience you will proceed to the lodge. Upon arrival you will check in and enjoy the breathtaking scenic views soaring above the thick lush green of the home to the highest population of gorillas.

Start the New Year with one of Africa’s most rewarding safari experience. You will drive to the park headquarters a 20-30minute drive from the lodge. Briefing starts at around 0700AM and the trekking starts at around 0800AM. Divided into groups of 8 you are assigned to a gorilla group to trek. This highlight can take about 5-6hours depending on the location of the gorilla family. After this activity you will head back to the lodge for relaxation.

After breakfast, depart at 8:30 AM for a 3-hour (Including border crossing duration) drive across the Cyanika border into Rwanda, heading toward the Volcanoes National Park area. Check into the peaceful Tilorezo Eco Lodge, surrounded by hills and farms. In the afternoon, immerse yourself in Rwandan culture through the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, where ex-poachers and local community members showcase traditional dances, medicinal plants, hunting techniques, and more. It’s a hands-on and respectful encounter that provides insight into Rwandan heritage.

After an early breakfast, head to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a 7:00 AM briefing, followed by a guided trek into the bamboo forests to find the rare golden monkeys, known for their playful antics and vibrant coloring. The trek is relatively gentle and offers excellent photographic opportunities. In the afternoon, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Gorilla Conservation Campus, part of the Dian Fosse Gorilla Fund, to learn about gorilla research and conservation efforts. Return to the Lodge for dinner and reflection.

After breakfast, check out and begin the 2.5-hour drive to Kigali, Rwanda’s clean and dynamic capital city. Upon arrival, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a deeply moving and informative center commemorating the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Through multimedia exhibits and peaceful gardens, this experience offers powerful insight into Rwanda’s journey of reconciliation and healing. Later, check in hotel des mille Collins, perched on a hill with panoramic city views.

Enjoy a leisurely final morning in Kigali. Depending on your flight time, you may relax at the lodge, explore local markets, or enjoy a quiet lunch at a local café. Your guide will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight, concluding this unforgettable cross-border journey through two of Africa’s most iconic and inspiring countries.