Wander Across Uganda and Rwanda

Aug 18

Highlights: Arrival day, evening orientation, welcome dinner

Dinner

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), you’ll be picked up and transferred to our hotel on the shores of Lake Victoria. Once everyone has settled in and had time to recover from the journey, we’ll begin the trip with an evening orientation and welcome dinner, giving us a chance to get to know one another over our first Ugandan meal.

Aug 19

Highlights: Uganda Equator, drive through rural Uganda, night game drive

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll leave Entebbe and begin the roughly five-hour drive southwest to Lake Mburo National Park, passing through towns, farming communities, and the countryside of rural Uganda. We’ll take our time and make several stops whenever we come across something interesting, whether it’s a roadside scene, a good viewpoint, or something our guide would like to show us. Our main stop will be in Kayabwe, where the Equator passes through the centre of town. Here we’ll stand with one foot in each hemisphere and watch the popular water demonstration, which uses basins placed north of the line, south of it, and directly on it to show how the water appears to drain differently in the three locations. We’ll continue to our lodge at the edge of the national park, arriving for lunch with time afterward to unwind or use the swimming pool. After dark, we’ll enter the park with a ranger for a night game drive, using a spotlight to search the savanna and woodlands for giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and hippos grazing away from the water. We may encounter bush pigs, hyenas, genets, and, with a little luck, one of the park’s elusive leopards. Dinner will be waiting when the drive ends.

Aug 20

Highlights: Game drives and mountain views

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The morning begins within Lake Mburo National Park, where we’ll head out after breakfast for a game drive during the cooler hours of the day. Zebras and impalas are commonly found grazing in the open grasslands, giraffes feed among the acacia trees, and buffaloes move between the woodlands and wetlands. More than 300 bird species live in the park, giving us plenty to watch for as we travel. By midmorning we’ll leave Lake Mburo and turn west for the four-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The road passes through the rolling hills and farmland of western Uganda, with the Rwenzori Mountains rising in the distance on a clear day. We’ll reach our hillside lodge with views across the park, check into our cottages, and pause before heading out as the heat eases. Queen Elizabeth National Park’s savanna, wetlands, crater lakes, and forests are home to almost 100 mammal species. During the game drive, we may find elephants crossing the plains, herds of buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks, hippos, and Uganda kobs. Lions are frequently seen near the kob herds, while leopards are harder to spot. As daylight begins to fade, we’ll leave the park and sit down for dinner.

Aug 21

Highlights: Chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu Forest, Kazinga Channel wildlife cruise

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we’ll head to Kalinzu Forest to track chimpanzees in their natural habitat. We’ll have an early breakfast and make the approximately 45-minute drive to the forest, where we’ll meet the trackers and receive a briefing on what to expect and how to behave in the chimpanzees’ presence. We’ll leave the safari vehicle and set out on foot beneath the forest canopy. Because no fixed route exists, the trackers will follow the chimpanzees’ calls, nests, feeding remains, and additional fresh signs as they move through the trees. The search can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, and we may hear them calling through the forest before we see them. When the group is located, we’ll have up to one hour to watch them feed, groom each other, climb through the branches, and interact from a safe distance. After the trek and lunch, we’ll make our way to the Kazinga Channel for a two-hour boat cruise along the 20-mile waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. The channel attracts wildlife from across the park, and the slow-moving boat will bring us close to large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles resting on the banks, and elephants and buffaloes coming to the water to drink or cool off. Keep an eye out for African fish eagles, kingfishers, pelicans, and many birds found along the shoreline. The boat will dock at the end of the cruise, leaving us time to freshen up before dinner.

Aug 22

Highlights: Kigezi Highlands drive, Lake Bunyonyi views, relaxation at the lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

With four activity-filled days behind us, we’ll slow things down and head into the Kigezi Highlands on our way to Lake Bunyonyi. The drive takes around five hours, passing steep green hills, terraced farms, hillside villages, and winding mountain roads through a region nicknamed the “Switzerland of Africa.” We’ll pause at a number of viewpoints and whenever we come across something interesting. As we draw closer, Lake Bunyonyi and its 29 islands will appear below us, surrounded by farmed hillsides. We’ll arrive at our lodge, perched high above the lake, in time for lunch overlooking the water. We’ll then check into our cottages, all with a private deck facing the lake and islands. We’ve intentionally left the afternoon unplanned, allowing you to settle into the surroundings at your own pace. Treat yourself to a massage at the spa, curl up with a book on your deck, or find a seat on the main terrace with a drink and watch the light change across the lake.

Aug 23

Highlights: Drive to Buhoma

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll have an unhurried start to the day, with ample time for breakfast and views of Lake Bunyonyi, plus one last chance to take in the hotel before beginning the three-and-a-half-hour drive to Buhoma. The route winds through the Kigezi hills, passing cultivated farms and village settlements as the fields gradually give way to the thick forest surrounding Bwindi. This UNESCO World Heritage Site protects almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and is considered one of Africa’s most biologically rich forests. We’ll be staying in Buhoma, the sector in the north of the park and our base for the coming days. After checking into our lodge at the forest edge, the hours after arrival will be ours to relax on the terrace, walk the property, and settle into the surroundings ahead of tomorrow’s Batwa Trail.

Aug 24

Highlights: Batwa Trail, fire-making and forest skills, songs and dancing

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bwindi is known worldwide for its mountain gorillas, but the forest is closely tied to the history of the Batwa, its Indigenous inhabitants. After breakfast, we’ll meet our Batwa guides and set out on foot for a community-led experience in Buhoma. The Batwa lived as hunter-gatherers in this region for generations, relying on the forest for food, medicine, shelter, and nearly every part of daily life. As we walk, our guides will show us how their families made fire without matches, hunted with bows and arrows, gathered honey, built shelters, and identified plants used as remedies. We’ll hear stories and songs passed down through generations, watch ancestral dances, and may even have the chance to try using a Batwa bow and arrow ourselves. The visit will give us a better understanding of how Batwa life changed when Bwindi became a national park and they could no longer live in the forest. Once the experience ends, we’ll have time to enjoy the property before dinner.

Aug 25

Highlights: Mountain gorilla trekking, one hour with a gorilla family

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This is the day many of us will have been waiting for: our trek into Bwindi to meet a family of wild mountain gorillas! We’ll start with an early breakfast before taking our packed lunches to the park headquarters in Buhoma. The rangers will check our permits, explain the rules for entering the forest, and divide us into small groups, each assigned to a habituated gorilla family. Porters from Buhoma will be available to carry our daypacks and help us across difficult sections of the trail. We’ll enter the forest with our ranger and begin tracking. The gorillas move freely, there is no fixed trail or exact trekking time. The search generally lasts between two and five hours, although it can sometimes take longer, with the route leading across steep slopes, uneven ground, and thick vegetation. Trackers will follow fresh nests, broken branches, footprints, and additional signs while staying in contact with teams already in the forest. When they signal that the gorillas are close, we’ll approach quietly and prepare for the moment we came to Bwindi to experience. We’ll spend one hour watching the family from a safe distance as they feed, lounge, groom one another, and move through the trees. We may see young gorillas playing nearby, mothers caring for their infants, and the silverback keeping watch over the group. We’ll begin the return walk, stopping for lunch at a suitable place along the trail. At our accommodation, a shower and a well-earned break will come before dinner. Later, members of the Buhoma community will join us for songs and dancing.

Aug 26

Highlights: Uganda–Rwanda border crossing, Virunga Mountain views, arrival in Kinigi

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll cross into Rwanda this morning, leaving Buhoma after breakfast for the five-hour journey to Kinigi, including time for border formalities. The road will take us through the hills of southwestern Uganda and past Kisoro before reaching the Cyanika border. With our passports checked, we’ll enter Rwanda and continue through the patchwork hills of the country’s Northern Province. On a clear day, the peaks of the Virunga Massif will begin to appear ahead of us, marking our approach to Volcanoes National Park. Kinigi sits at the foot of the volcanic mountain range, a brief drive from the park entrance. We’ll check into our welcoming lodge, surrounded by gardens and bamboo, with views toward Mount Sabyinyo and the neighboring volcanoes when the clouds lift. Nothing is planned after check-in, leaving the remaining hours for a walk through the grounds, a drink outside in the cooler mountain air, or simply taking it easy.

Aug 27

Highlights: Golden monkey tracking, Gorilla Guardians Village

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our first full day in Rwanda begins on the bamboo-covered slopes of Volcanoes National Park. Breakfast will be followed by a trip to the park headquarters in Kinigi to register, meet our ranger, and receive a briefing before entering the forest in search of endangered golden monkeys. These compact primates are found only in this part of Central Africa and are recognizable by the bright golden-orange fur across their backs and sides. Depending on where the troop has moved, the tracking portion can take between two and four hours along trails that may be uneven or muddy. When we find them, we’ll have one hour to watch as they feed on bamboo shoots, chase through the undergrowth, and leap between the bamboo stems. After leaving the forest, we’ll have lunch and a pause before visiting the Gorilla Guardians Village, previously known as Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. This community-led project includes former poachers who work in tourism and conservation. During our visit, we’ll hear their stories and learn about traditions from across the country through music and dance, banana-beer making, medicinal plants, farming practices, and further activities led by members of the community. We’ll sit down to dinner after the visit, bringing this varied day to an end.

Aug 28

Highlights: Drive through Rwanda’s northern hills, arrival in Kigali

Breakfast

A leisurely morning in Kinigi gives us time for breakfast before we depart for the approximately two-and-a-half-hour drive to Kigali. The road descends through the hills south of Musanze, passing cultivated farmland, towns, and increasingly busy neighborhoods as we approach the capital. Kigali is spread across a series of green hills, and the change from the mountain region to the energy of the city will be immediately noticeable. Upon arrival, we’ll check into our centrally located hotel, and the remainder of the day will be yours. You can cool off in the large outdoor pool, treat yourself to a massage or spa treatment, have a coffee or drink beside the tropical gardens, or spend quiet time in your room. Anyone wanting to explore can head out for a look around the surrounding area before our guided city tour tomorrow. The evening will be at leisure, with a choice of dining options at the hotel or elsewhere in the city.

Aug 29

Highlights: Kigali tour, farewell dinner

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The closing chapter of our journey will be spent understanding Kigali through its history, food, and contemporary art. Breakfast at the hotel will be followed by a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where we’ll learn about the events of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and Rwanda’s journey toward healing and reconciliation. We’ll have time to explore the exhibitions and memorial gardens at our own pace before continuing through more of the city. Next we’ll join a cultural and food experience, tasting a selection of Rwandan dishes made with ingredients such as plantains, beans, cassava leaves, vegetables, and grilled meats. Later we’ll visit the Inema Arts Center, one of Kigali’s leading spaces for present-day art. We’ll explore its gallery and studios, see paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media work by artists from across the country, and have time to browse the crafts and artwork offered for purchase. After returning to the hotel for a short break, we’ll gather for our farewell dinner. Over our final meal together, we’ll look back on everything we’ve experienced, from our arrival beside Lake Victoria to the chimpanzees, gorillas, mountain roads, and people we met along the way, before sharing one last night as a group.

Aug 30

Highlights: Departure day

Breakfast

A private driver will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the Kigali International Airport (KGL) in time for your departing flight.