East Africa is home to the endangered mountain gorillas that can only be encountered in the Virunga massif and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Tour experiences here comprise of game viewing experiences, birding, boat cruises, nature walks, city tours, gorilla treks, chimp treks, mountain hikes, cultural tours and much more.

A combined tour in Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda could be done in exciting sites like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Nimule National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Akagera National Park, Kibale National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Kigali, kampala and Juba etc. A combined tour here offers the opportunity to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, the African Big Five, the Mundari, the Batwa Pygmies and the Great Nile Migration etc.

Game Safaris

Game viewing safaris are some of the best tourist activities you will wish to experience in Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. In Rwanda, you will enjoy viewing a great number of wild animal species and birds in Akagera National Park. Here, you will have a game drive to see the African Big Five (elephant, lions, leopard, rhino and buffalo). Other animals to spot in Akagera National Park are the giraffe, topi, oribis, zebras, impalas, cheetahs, hyenas, elands, sitatungas and waterbucks etc.

In Uganda you will enjoy game viewing in numerous protected areas. These include key national parks like Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley, Semuliki and Lake Mburo. You will have a chance of spotting 4 of the African Big Five in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks. In South Sudan you will have a game viewing experience in Nimule National Park. Animals to see here include jackals, hyraxes, elephants, hippos, oribis and warthogs.

Gorilla trekking safaris

This is among the few activities that you can do only in Africa. A mountain gorilla trek can only be done in the Virungas and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In Rwanda, come for a gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park. In Uganda, you can go for a gorilla trek in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. You will need a gorilla permit to enjoy a gorilla trek. Only people aged at least 15 years old are allowed into the forests for a gorilla trek.

The activity starts with a briefing by the park authorities at around 07:00 AM. Then you are guided into the forest by a ranger guide and armed ranger to see a habituated gorilla group. The ranger guide will ensure that you encounter the gorilla family during the trek. You will stay in their presence for a precious 1 hour. You will observe their behaviors., then you will trek back to the staring point. The entire gorilla trek may last between 2 to 6 hours depending on your fitness and the location of the habituated gorilla group you are tracking.

Boat Cruises

A boat cruise is a peaceful activity that you will enjoy while on a motor boat moving on a water body. In Rwanda, you will enjoy boat cruises on Lake Kivu and Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park. In Uganda, boat cruises are enjoyed on Lake Victoria, Nile River, Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo in Lake Mburo National Park. In South Sudan, you can experience an amazing boat cruise along the White Nile from Nimule National Park to Juba.

Boat cruises are perfect ways of viewing the wildlife species along the river banks and lake shores. Major wildlife to see includes Nile crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, elephants and waterbucks etc. You can also sport a variety of bird species and fish species while enjoying your boat cruise. Birds include pied kingfishers, shoebills, grey crowned cranes, red-necked spurfowls. You may see fish species such as the Nile Tilapia, Nile perch and various species of catfish.

Golden Monkey trekking adventures

A golden monkey trek can be enjoyed in either Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Volcanoes National Park. These old-world monkeys prefer the bamboo forests in highland areas within the mentioned national parks. A golden monkey troop can be tracked throughout the year. You need to purchase a golden monkey permit through us. You will be allowed to spend 1 hour in their presence with the entire activity taking 2 to 4 hours. The guided tour starts with a session at around 07:00am, where a park ranger offers you knowledge on the trekking rules.

Minimum age to enjoy a golden monkey trek is 12 years. This is an intense adventure, so you must evaluate whether you are fit enough to walk for a couple of hours. The minimum age for you to be allowed to track golden monkeys in either Volcanoes or Mgahinga is 12. While on a golden monkey trek, you might need to go for plenty of other activities in either Mgahinga or Volcanoes. You can enjoy a birding tour or hiking volcanoes Sabinyo, Mikeno, Karisimbi and Bisoke. There is also the Batwa trail, hike to Dian Fossey grave and gorilla trek.

Chimpanzee trekking

You can enjoy a chimpanzee trekking tour only in Uganda and Rwanda. In Uganda, chimpanzee treks can be done in Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, Bugoma Forest and Kalinzu Forest. In Rwanda, a chimpanzee trekking tour is primarily done in Nyungwe National Park. While on your chimpanzee trekking tour, expect to start with a briefing by the park authorities. Then you will be guided to look for a group of habituated chimpanzees in the forest.

You will encounter these lively great apes and allowed a precious 1 hour observing them in their natural homes. You will need a chimpanzee trekking permit to get the opportunity of seeing these primates. This permit can be purchased through us, and it is best if you do this in advance to avoid missing out. Chimpanzee trekking opportunities are only offered to people at least 15 years old. You should also check if you are fit enough to engage in this thrilling activity that involves walking for at least 2 hours in a rugged dense forest.

Cultures in Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan?

Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan are composed of people from diverse cultures. Uganda has 56 main tribes each speaking distinct languages and practicing different cultures. For example, the Banyankole, are primarily cattle keepers in southwestern Uganda. In central Uganda are the Baganda. This is the largest kingdom in East Africa and headed by the Kabaka. Other tribes to visit in Uganda include the Basoga, Banyoro, Acholi, Batooro, Batwa, Langi, Karimojong and more. All of them have unique cultures and speak different languages.

Another important aspect of the Ugandan culture is music, dance and drama. They use a variety of traditional instruments to entertain themselves, for example xylophone and drums. The Ugandans also have unique styles of dressing that have persisted for centuries. The Gomesi and Kanzu are local fashions widely used in Uganda. The population is largely Christian with Roman Catholics making the majority and Anglicans following. Other religions in Uganda include Muslims, Pentecostals, Hindus and others.

In Rwanda, there are 3 distinct tribes, namely the Twa, Tutsi and Hutu. A cultural tour in Rwanda offers insight into their history. For example, you will learn about how the Tutsi were mostly wealthier than the majority, Hutu. Their history also includes the 1994 Rwandan Genocide when over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were tragically killed. Currently, the key languages spoken in Rwanda include Kinyarwanda, English, French and Swahili. Explore the Twa Pygmies who reside adjacent to Volcanoes National Park to learn about their cultures.

The Rwandese people love entertainment through music and dances. This can be seen in various ceremonies like traditional weddings. The ladies wear beautiful dresses called Umushanana. The Batwa also demonstrate different skills in hunting for food like they used to do in the past. They are a source of indigenous knowledge when it comes to herbal medicine to treat various ailments. Majority of people in Rwanda are Christian with Roman Catholics and Anglicans the main ones. Muslims are a minority religion.

In South Sudan, there are about 64 different tribes, each with its own culture, heritage, and language. The largest of the tribes are the Dinker people. These are primarily cattle keepers. Other tribes in South Sudan are the Shiluk, Acholis, Lango, Lugbara, Mundari, Nuer, Bari, Azante, Aja and Anuak etc. The people here are mainly Christian, African animists and also have a Muslim minority. The Christians in South Sudan are mainly divided into Roman Catholic and Anglicans.

The Mundari culture in South Sudan?

Despite being one of the least populated people in South Sudan, the Mundari are unique and provide great opportunities for cultural tours. Located in the Central Equatoria State, they are part of the Kalo people who speak ‘Kutuk la Mundari’ and are situated in Tereka. Cattle are a significant part of the Mundari culture and they treasure large herds of cattle. Men with the greatest herds of cattle are highly respected in the Mundari culture. The cattle are also used as currency and as bride price for a man to get a wife.

Other activities you can witness among the Mundari is agriculture. You will also see how they engage in different gender roles. For example, the adult males usually tend to cattle, while females usually remain back home to prepare meals. For boys to be considered men, they must undergo initiation. This usually involves receiving a scar shaped ‘V’ on their forehead. In the Mundari culture you will also gain insight into how they use cow dung as pest control. The males also utilize cattle urine to bleach their hair. The urine is also used to wash teeth, hands and face.