A Luxury 13 Day Uganda, Rwanda And Kenya Itinerary

A Complete 13 Day Kenya Rwanda And Uganda Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali

Hello there! You have arrived at Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. There will be a welcoming meeting this evening at 6 pm after you are transferred from the airport to your hotel. Staying in the renowned Hotel des Mille Collines, which saved over a thousand lives during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, for the next two nights will be an extraordinary experience. You can probably take your time visiting Kigali if you get there early. Stop by a local cafe to find out why Rwandan coffee is regarded as among of the world’s best, or head to Nyamirambo, the Muslim neighbourhood, to enjoy some huge grilled fish. You and your commander will have dinner at a prominent East African restaurant tonight. Come for the real deal—a shared eating experience with a regional twist—and stay for the live music, beverages, and breathtaking vistas.

Day 2: Kigali

Leave the city this morning to visit the Ntarama Church, a place of sobriety. According to the local guide, this memorial symbolises the location where five thousand innocent individuals were brutally killed during the genocide. The remnants of the departed, such as clothing and skeletal remains, are interred in the church. Proceed to the Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre, housed in a converted church that was the site of the horrific death of fifty thousand innocent people. The leader of your group will tell you about the Tutsis’ experience of seeking safety in churches, which unfortunately became death traps. The next stop is the Genocide Museum, where you will have an impactful and harrowing encounter that will help you comprehend the horror and the strength of the Rwandan people. In the afternoon, fuel up with a local lunch and sample some traditional Ugandan and Rwandan cuisine. Then, follow your tour guide as they show you around the city and the Kimironko market. The rest of the day is at your leisure to discover whatever interests you.

Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Leaving Kigali after breakfast, make your way to Uganda’s Bwindi National Park. Your Feature Stay for the following three nights, the Gorilla Heights Lodge, is waiting for you when you arrive. The lodge, perched on Nteko Ridge, provides breathtaking views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a habitat for half of the 800 mountain gorillas in the world. View the craggy Virunga Mountains, which form a boundary between Rwanda and the Congo, from your vantage point in Uganda. The cottages are solar-powered and feature private balconies that gaze out over the forest canopy. Join a Gorilla Doctors field veterinarian at your resort this evening for an inside peek at their work. Through the use of veterinary care and scientific research, this organisation is devoted to rescuing the mountain and eastern lowland (Grauer’s) gorilla species. In order to prevent the animals from suffering from diseases or injuries that humans have brought about, they administer medical treatments. During this special event, you will gain a deeper understanding of their intriguing work.

Day 4: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

The Uganda Wildlife Authorities will educate you on today’s gorilla walk at the park headquarters, so get up early. The opportunity to witness endangered mountain gorillas and the amazing biodiversity of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest make the sometimes difficult, damp, and unpleasant trip worthwhile. Hire some local porters to help you carry your gear and provide you personalised, experienced advice as you hike. It makes the walk easier and gives them a chance to earn money at the same time. There is a lot of regulation around gorilla trekking. Staying with a troop of gorillas for an hour allows you to see them in all their natural habitat, from grooming each other to playing, all while being watched over by a massive silverback. Enjoy a picnic meal amidst the lush tropical jungle.

Day 5: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Savour a leisurely breakfast while gazing out at the forest from the terrace. Feel free to take it easy or get a lot done this morning. A second day of hiking is available for individuals who would like to have another encounter with the mountain gorillas. See the Buniga Batwa Cultural Trail later in the day. When the Batwa people’s native woodlands were designated as national parks in 1991, they were uprooted from their homes as hunter-gatherers and forced into exile. You may see the Buniga Batwa people’s traditional lifestyle on the Buniga Batwa Cultural Trail. Along the way, your local guide and translator will fill you in on the history of the forest and its inhabitants, including how they gathered food, caught animals using snares constructed from branches, and used natural materials to create tools and medicines. Learn how they constructed their homes and “nests” in trees to keep youngsters safe from wild animals, and see them hunt and build fires the traditional way. Your next stop should be at a terraced restaurant with views of the mountains, where you and your group leader can have dinner.

Day 6: Kigali

Our four-hour journey back to Kigali will begin after breakfast as we leave the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Once you reach the capital, you can spend the day doing whatever makes you happy.

Day 7: Nairobi

Take an unaccompanied plane to Nairobi after your transfer to the airport. After a brief ride to your hotel, you’ll meet your local leader and small group for a welcome gathering at 6 o’clock in the evening. If you get here earlier, you may spend the afternoon perusing the cultural and artistic exhibits at Nairobi Gallery or just relax by the pool at your centrally located, posh hotel—a place with striking pan-African artwork, a steam room and sauna, and incredibly helpful staff. Gather with your group’s leader and other travellers at a vibrant local eatery serving up updated takes on classic dishes after your meeting. Share plates of delicious samosas, fried plantains, and tilapia with your new travel partners; this is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the local culture through food.

Day 8: Lake Naivasha / Lake Nakuru

Today, we will travel to the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. Our first stop will be at Elsamere, the home of Joy Adamson, the author whose 1960 book ‘Born Free’ popularised the importance of protecting wildlife. Elsa, the lioness who began it all, is featured prominently in the house’s museum-quality exhibits honouring the works of Joy and George Adamson. Take a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, the Great Rift Valley’s tallest lake and a sanctuary for hippos. Then, with the tranquil lake as a background, have high tea on the grounds that Joy loved for so long. Get to your Lake Nakuru accommodation in the early evening after lunch. The lodge offers breathtaking views of Lake Nakuru and the abundant wildlife and birdlife in the neighbouring national park. The infinity pool at your resort is the perfect vantage point from which to take it all in.

Day 9: Lake Nakuru National Park

Embark on a four-wheel drive (4×4) tour of Lake Nakuru National Park this morning. The park’s lake serves as its breathtaking highlight. You should pack warm clothing since mornings might be chilly here. The world’s largest ornithological display has been said to take place at this enormous soda lake, and it’s easy to see why. Massive flocks of flamingos may transform the scenery into a breathtaking shade of pink. The park is home to a plethora of animals, including gazelle, waterbuck, and reedbuck, although the bird population has tragically declined due to recent flooding. Additionally, leopards can be found here, and the likelihood of seeing one is high. Get back to the lodge for lunch, then go on another game drive in the afternoon. Be on the lookout for the black rhinoceros, one of the most secretive and endangered animals in Africa. Although seeing a white rhino is not out of the ordinary, seeing a black rhinoceros is an incredible experience.

Day 10: Maasai Mara National Reserve

One of the best African game reserves, the Maasai Mara, is southwest of Nairobi. Continue over the Great Rift Valley, past the Maasai-inhabited Loita Hills. This is a rare example of a community that has managed to maintain its traditional ways of life mostly unaffected by modernisation. Make a pit stop at Tepesua Village to see Maasai Warriors perform traditional dance and song to greet you. Upon meeting your Maasai hosts, you will go on a stroll to the communal hamlet and listen to an enlightening lecture on this long-lost culture. By participating in the “Tepesua Widows Income Project,” which allows widowed women to sew eco-friendly items to sell to locals and tourists, the hamlet provides assistance, safety, and economic prosperity. See a traditional Maasai house and cow corral while learning about village life. After that, you’ll spend the following three nights at Zebra River Camp, your Feature Stay location. Here, you can have beverages in the plush lounge area while watching flaming sunsets and sharing stories over the fireplace. Then, retire to your luxurious lodgings. Private verandas with breathtaking views of the nature, huge, comfy mattresses, and en suite bathrooms characterise the tent rooms.

Day 11: Maasai Mara National Reserve

During today’s morning and afternoon game drives, you’ll have the opportunity to explore more of the park in a 4×4. Since we will be travelling to the most remote area of the park, we will be leaving for our game drive first thing in the morning, so we may bring our packed lunch. See the amazing migration of animals that call this place home. You may see predators keeping a watchful eye on the migration of the many wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle species. It is not uncommon to see a variety of birds, as well as elephants, giraffes, and elands. The area’s verdant plains and riverine forests are well-known for their abundance of wildlife; if you’re lucky, you might see a cheetah, leopard, or black-maned lion among them. There are few better ways to end a day of wildlife watching in one of the most fascinating places on Earth than to pause as the sun begins to set and enjoy it all with a drink in hand. Several creatures may be observed in the area around your camp when the sun goes down. We get back to camp in the late afternoon, giving us plenty of time to shower and get ready for dinner.

Day 12: Maasai Mara National Reserve

You have the morning to do with it what you like. Forget about sleeping in and instead embark on a walking safari or game drive first thing in the morning. Or you could just relax with a cup of coffee on your private terrace while keeping a look out for wildlife in the reserve. Taking a hot air balloon flight above the Maasai Mara at daybreak is an unforgettable way to explore the park for the first time. The providers are dedicated environmentalists; a percentage of the revenues from each flight goes directly to deserving park conservation initiatives. You can reserve a balloon trip in advance or at the park (based on availability). Before the sun comes up, you’ll be picked up and glided through the sunrise, occasionally even up in the trees, so you can take advantage of the breathtaking photo chances. On occasion, you will climb to a vantage point that overlooks the vast Maasai Mara plains, where you may watch the herds as they move about in the morning. Meet up again in the afternoon for more thrilling off-road park adventures.

Day 13: Nairobi

Leave the Maasai Mara behind and head back to Nairobi. When you get there, which should be in the late afternoon, your experience will officially conclude. Because of the possibility of unforeseen delays, we ask that you refrain from scheduling any foreign flights out of Nairobi foreign Airport prior to 8 o’clock today evening. You can reserve extra rooms in advance (pending availability) if you want to stay in Nairobi for a longer period of time.

End of the 13 Day Kenya Rwanda And Uganda Itinerary