3 Days Kirara Plains 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: Pickup from Kigali – City Tour Transfer to Akagera National Park – Boat trip at Lake Ihema
A Guide from Wild Expeditions Uganda will pick you up in the morning from the Airport or your hotel in Kigali. After briefing you about the tour, you will have a tour of Kigali city Where you will visit the city markets, the Kigali genocide museum, the former presidential palace, a few art shops and other landmarks. After completing the city tour, you will leave for Akagera National Park. The journey to Akagera National Park takes between 2 to 3 hours. Before reaching the park, you will have a brief stop at the Nyakarambi village to learn about the cow dung paintings by the Kakira women’s cooperative. Their unique style of decorating houses using cow dung has intrigued many a visitor since Prince Kakira started it. The cow dung is first dried and then mixed with different colours from natural materials (including plants). The end product is a mixture of red and white paintings that are very eye-catching. Once you arrive at the park, you will make all necessary clearances at the gate and then proceed to the centre for visitors. From the centre, you will then proceed to your hotel. After checking in at the hotel, you will prepare to be taken for a boat cruise at the Lake Ihema. The boat trip provides opportunities to spot crocodiles, hippos and other animals coming to bathe or drink from the lake. Look out for the elusive Sitatunga (swamp antelope) and waterbucks. Dinner and overnight at Ruzizi Tented Camp (Luxury) or Akagera Game Lodge (Mid-range).
Day 2: Game drive in Akagera National Park – Picnic Lunch – Night Game drive
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. After an early dinner, head out for a night game drive where you will be able to spot some of the nocturnal animals. Overnight at Magashi Lodge, Ruzizi Camp, or Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 3: Morning Game drive – Return to Kigali
Wake up at your r leisure, have breakfast and prepare for one last game drive in the park just in case you didn’t see any of the animals. Our Guide/Driver will meet with the park guide and take you to another section of the park for yet more wildlife encounters. After you are done with this game drive, it’s time to start the journey back to Kigali. Lunch is taken while on the way back to Kigali. In case you missed the Kigali city tour or the cow dung paintings at the Nyakarambi village for some reason on the first day, this is the time to do it. Please note that a safari in Rwanda and the Akagera National Park in particular can be combined with chimpanzee trekking in the Nyungwe forest, hiking volcanoes, golden monkey trekking, biking along the Congo Nile Trail and gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park.
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.