The small loop of East Africa

We begin our foray into rural Rwanda, and take the good paved road crossing the country at an average altitude of 1,500m towards the splendid Lake Kivu.

We then discover a country in every shade of green. The Eucalyptus trees separating the plots lean towards a blue-green, while dark green is characteristic of the cypress trees lining the paths. But as a backdrop, it is the tender green of the rice paddies nestled at the bottom of the valleys that dominates.

We see unfolding before our eyes the life of the inhabitants, a Hutu majority of Bantu origin and a Tutsi minority of Nilotic origin who, after the terrible years of the 1990s, have enjoyed for more than 20 years the benefits of a peace that now seems long and lasting.

A privileged climate explains the extraordinary fragmentation of the plots of land that cover the valleys where coffee, sorghum and tobacco crops border fields of beans, potatoes, corn, thus creating a palette of very varied hues.

We finally arrive at the shores of Lake Kivu. Located at 1,460 m altitude, it will surprise you with the beauty of its shores and lush vegetation. In the afternoon, we set out on a boat excursion which will allow us to better appreciate the bay and its surroundings.

Dinner and night on the shore of the lake at the Bethany Centre – Lake front Garden.

A good road that winds through the lush vegetation of plantain bananas and coffee fields, runs along the lake, climbs at times to over 2,000 m and offers us grandiose views of the hundreds of islands that stand out on the shimmering surface. Stops in lively and colorful villages. Vast tea plantations undulate with the hills up to the edge of the Virunga chain which we skirt around from the north to arrive at Cyanika the border post.

Passage through Ouganda and journey across a hilly region that will lead us towards the renowned Bwindi Forest where we await our encounter with the Mountain Gorillas.

Dinner and night at Rushaga Gorilla Camp

Note: In Ouganda, we purchase gorilla permits for a specific group. We purchase permits for 4 sectors distributed across the entire Bwindi park and not for a given gorilla group. Each of these 4 geographical entities has an office where travelers converge on the morning of the trekking and where the manager assigns them the group to visit. Therefore, the hotels as well as the travel time may change depending on the availability of gorilla permits.

Here is finally arrived the long-awaited experience of your trip to Ouganda: the encounter with Mountain Gorillas!

Early morning wake-up, then departure to the Park reception from where we will set off accompanied by trackers and our specialized guide in search of Gorillas. These latter appreciate humid forests and are vegetarians. The clans are composed of 8 to 20 individuals including the dominant male, adult females and teenagers. The male has a silver-colored back and can reach a height of 1m70 and weigh up to 250 kg. Our distant cousins are peaceful and good-natured animals that will observe us while continuing to search for their food in their vegetable universe. Intense emotion and sensation guaranteed for all nature lovers!

Hours of walking: 3 to 7 hours of forest with ranger-trackers depending on the assigned group.

After this exceptional moment spent in the company of primates, we resume our journey towards Lake Bunyoni where we can appreciate the beauty of the landscape of hills cultivated in terraces descending steeply into the lake. It extends in sinuous curves at nearly 2000 meters altitude and encompasses 29 islands and islets.

We take a walk in the surrounding area where we will have the chance to observe some of the 200 bird species recorded in the area and which gave the place its name in Rugika: "The place of many birds"

As the lake is perfectly suited for swimming, why not let yourself be tempted by a few strokes in these enchanting waters.

After a few hours enjoying the beauty of the surroundings in the morning, departure via the town of Kabale, a bustling major commercial center; the road winds through the Kigezi region and often offers stunning views of a landscape with an incredible palette of greens, the blue-green of eucalyptus trees that separate countless plots, the dark green of cypresses that border the tracks, the tender green of rice paddies at the bottom of steep valleys.

Further on, the rounded hills with short grass are crossed by the remarkable herds of Banyankole pastoralists, the valleys are home to lush plantations where banana and coffee plants mingle.

Arrival at the edges of the Kibale forest in the early afternoon and check-in at the reception of your tented camp in the shade of tall trees.

In the afternoon, our expedition takes us to the Bigodi wetlands which are home to over 300 bird species that we will have the pleasure of admiring.

An extraordinary moment awaits us today, discovering the Kibale Forest which has one of the densest primate populations in the world. In the morning, we set off on a approximately 4-hour trek through the forest where we will be able to observe many monkeys, including chimpanzees, red colobus and blue monkeys.

In the afternoon, on a good asphalt road, a journey of approximately 5 hours through varied scenery of the Ruwenzori foothills from which we may, with a bit of luck, admire the eternal snows, immense tea plantations, a zone of high altitude plateaus carved out by deeply entrenched valleys at the bottom of which rivers transform into marshes. Several important villages dot the route and serve as exchange places for farmers often bringing their harvest on their backs. Agricultural and pastoral activities.

Arrival at the outskirts of the Ugandan capital and the city of Entebbe built on the edge of the immense Lake Victoria.

Visit of Entebbe, then transfer to the airport for a direct Auric air charter flight Entebbe - Serengeti 11:55 - 13:55.

Welcome by our Tanzanian team and safari heading to your camp. Evening safari.

A hot air balloon flight is always a magical moment, but the experience will be all the more beautiful in the Serengeti! You will depart early in the morning before sunrise to the meeting point and then board in a small group with a team of English-speaking professionals to take flight in the Serengeti sky. From above, the savanna is so different, the plains are endless, the elephants seem so small and the migration even more incredible. After 1 hour in the skies, it will be time to return to earth. The icing on the cake, a small breakfast will await you at the foot of the basket.

Safari across the great central plain towards the Olduvai Gorge, one of the highlights of human paleontology. After visiting the very interesting museum, the winding track climbs the slopes of one of the mythical volcanoes of East Africa, Ngorongoro.

Exit from the reserve, crossing Karatu, stop at the edge of a ravine which offers an exceptional view of Lake Manyara.

Direct flight to Zanzibar scheduled with Costal Aviation 11:25 - 14:20. Welcome by our English-speaking representative, transfer to your hotel. Visit to Stone Town.

Private transfer to your beach hotel with a stop at a spice plantation. 2-day stay with half board on the Indian Ocean.