4 Days Wild Akagera Safari
Tour Details
For many tourists, gorilla tracking is the highlight of their trip and often a reason to travel to Uganda. In Uganda, you can visit the Gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP and Mgahinga Gorilla NP. Bwindi is Africa’s oldest rainforest and has beautiful ridges, steep valleys, and waterfalls. Be prepared for some steep hikes though. Buhoma is the most accessible track, whereas in Rushaga you can find the largest number of primates. Mgahinga is the path less traveled. Occasionally the gorillas cross to Rwanda but don’t worry as you will get a replacement ticket for Bwindi.
The Batwa Experience in Buhoma (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park) is the original Batwa cultural walk. The Batwa Trail and the Buniga Forest Walk are heavily inspired by its success, attempting to replicate it with Batwa communities from other parts of the Gorilla Highlands region.
The Batwa Experience happens in a forest bordering the national park, an area that can be relatively steep. A path in excellent condition leads from one station to another, showcasing traditional herbalist knowledge, hunting techniques, forest shelters, and more. The crescendo is reached at a spacious purposely-built hut that acts as a dance floor and dining area. The dancing includes an elaborately and impressively costumed deity that is quite a scary sight. The food served has little to do with the Batwa forest diet; it is instead a tasty example of what rural Ugandans usually eat: matooke (plantains), goat stew, and fruits.
The activity lasts about 5 hours and can be started any time from early morning to early afternoon. Up to 12 visitors can go at once; two groups per day can be served.
Trip Highlights
- Batwa Experience
- Uganda Cultural Safaris
- Gorilla Tracking
- Bwindi Impenetrable N.P
- Mgahinga Gorilla NP
- Wild Expeditions Uganda
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: On arrival at Kanombe International Airport
Your safari guide from Wild Expeditions Uganda the arrival section will meet you and transfer you to your hotel, which is about 20 minutes from the Airport. After checking in your room, you will meet up with your guide and get a detailed briefing on your safari program. Depending on your time of arrival, you will have a city tour of Kigali, visit the Genocide memorial site; visit the king’s palace and beautiful craft markets. This tour can take about 3 hours and later return at the lodge. Overnight at The Heaven Motel, Park in By Radisson Blu, or The Retreat.
Day 2: After an early morning breakfast
You will depart for Akagera National Park. The journey will take about 2 hours arriving in time for lunch at your lodge. Akagera National Park is found in North Eastern Rwanda, at the country’s border with Tanzania. Swamps and small lakes dominate it with the flow in the wake of River Kagera. All the water sources work together to create a piece of spectacular scenery. It is quite a remarkable ecosystem. The Park was obviously named after River Kagera. As you enter the park, you are welcomed by lots of wildlife roaming the savannah, Zebras, buffalos, Roan Antelopes, bushbucks, Hynes, Topi’s, and Klipspringers. In the afternoon, head out for a boat ride on the Akagera River. Launch Trips or rather Boat trips/cruises in Akagera National Park, give visitors the chance to explore the beautiful crystal lakes within the national park. Most boat cruises in Akagera are carried out on Lake Ihema where you will get to see lots of hippos and crocodiles. Boat trips in the park are scheduled four times a day at exactly 7:30 am, 9 am, 3 pm and 4:30 pm. However, there are also unscheduled boat trips available in the park for visitors who wish to take private tours. After your boat ride, head back to your lodge. Overnight at Magashi Tented Camp, or Ruzizi Camp, or Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 3: Have an early breakfast and head out for a game drive
Akagera National Park is the ideal place to be for any visitor who wishes to see wildlife animals in Rwanda, especially the Big Five animals. The national park sits on a 1,123 square kilometre piece of land and has over 8,000 large wildlife animals including elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, and buffalos. Travelers visiting the national park can view a variety of wildlife like; the Burchell’s zebra, giraffes, antelopes, impala, topi, Statunga, jackals, and hyenas among others. The game drive will take about 4 hours with stopovers for coffee and a Bathroom stop. Or you may choose to take a whole day drive, with packed lunches returning late evening say at 4 pm in time to enjoy and relax at the swimming pool. Overnight at Magashi Lodge, Ruzizi Camp, or Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 4: Today, head out for a nature walk in the park
During the nature walks, you will have amazing experiences where you will have the time to see a number of attractions like the water bodies, where you will see the different animal species quenching their thirst from the water, a number of bird species can also be seen while carrying out the guided nature walks. Return to the lodge for lunch, and after head for Kigali in time for your flight back home.
Mugisha Henry
Hotel Information
- Kyambura Gorge Lodge
- Ishasha Wilderness Camp
- Jacana Lodge
- Mweya Safari Lodge
The price includes
- Ground transportation in a safari customized 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser with gasoline/fuel, Mineral water in the vehicle, services of an English speaking Driver/guide, Accommodation as shown at the lodges mentioned in the itinerary; Meals as shown (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), all Park Entrance Fees, Equator shopping, Gorilla Tracking, Batwa Experience, and Airport Transfer.
The price excludes
- International Airfares; Excess baggage charges; Ugandan Entry Visa Fees; fees for International travel Vaccinations and Inoculations; Items of personal nature such us Room service, Beverages, Communications charges (telephone, fax, internet), Laundry, etc.; Postage fees, Porterage fees, Tips and Gratuities for your Driver/guide and Hotels staff, Shopping charges for Curios and Crafts, International Airport Departure Taxes, Optional activities unless specified as included, Any other services not expressly shown in the itinerary or indicated as included.
NB: Prices are current, net and subject to change. Availability of accommodations and activities is not guaranteed; reservations will be made after receiving confirmation of the final itinerary and the requested deposit. Should any of the included accommodations not be available, we reserve the right to substitute it with alternative suitable accommodation, which might affect the final quoted price. Gorilla and Chimp permits can only be secured after receiving the requested deposit. The estimated travelling hours are based on the actual hours of driving. Stops for lunch and photos are not included.