12-Day Botswana Safari and Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Experience

The 12-Day Botswana Safari and Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Experience redefines what it means to explore Africa. It is a masterfully curated journey through two of the continent’s most inspiring destinations the volcanic rainforests of Rwanda and the pristine wetlands of Botswana. This 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari adventure brings together Africa’s most powerful contrasts: mist-shrouded mountains inhabited by endangered mountain gorillas, and the sunlit floodplains where elephants roam across the Okavango Delta.

Crafted by Deks Uganda Tours, this 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari itinerary merge intimacy and grandeur, culture and wilderness, land and water. In Rwanda, travelers connect deeply with primates in Volcanoes National Park, home to the last remaining families of mountain gorillas. Here, the Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour unfolds as a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, where every step through the dense bamboo forest leads closer to a rare and humbling communion with nature. Guests also experience Rwanda’s vibrant culture, resilience, and beauty a nation reborn with grace and strength.

From there, the adventure transitions southward to Botswana’s untouched wilderness, one of the most exclusive safari destinations in Africa. The Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, embodies tranquility, diversity, and raw beauty. Its mirrored lagoons, rich wildlife, and remote luxury camps create an atmosphere of total immersion in nature. Further north, the Savuti and Chobe ecosystems offer thrilling big game viewing, where lions stalk herds of buffalo and elephants gather by the river at sunset.

This unique 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari Tour is designed for those who crave authenticity and elegance. It balances adventure with comfort, reflection with discovery, and luxury with meaning. Every moment is tailored every detail perfected. By the end of this 12-day journey, travelers will have touched Africa’s soul through two of its most compelling landscapes.

 

Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari

Uganda Primates and Wildlife Safari

Detailed 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari

Day 1 – Arrival in Kigali: The Gateway to Rwanda’s Spirit

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, a warm welcome from your Deks Uganda Tours representative sets the tone for the journey ahead. Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, stands as one of Africa’s cleanest and safest cities a beacon of hope, resilience, and cultural renaissance. Transfer to your boutique hotel, surrounded by green hills and blooming bougainvillea. After a refreshing drink, settle into the rhythm of Rwandan hospitality, where smiles are genuine and service feels personal.

If time allows, embark on an afternoon Kigali City Tour. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a place of remembrance and education that honors lives lost and celebrates the strength of recovery. Continue to the Inema Arts Center, where local artists transform contemporary African expression into vibrant canvases and sculptures. End your day at a cozy local restaurant savoring Rwandan coffee, grilled tilapia, and plantain dishes infused with homegrown spices.

In the evening, unwind at your hotel terrace, overlooking the city’s glowing hills. Tomorrow, the adventure ascends into Rwanda’s mountain heartlands a landscape that promises one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking in the fabled Volcanoes National Park.

 

Day 2 – Kigali to Volcanoes National Park: Into the Land of a Thousand Hills

After breakfast, your private 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari guide escorts you northward on a scenic three-hour drive toward Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park. The route showcases Rwanda’s beauty rolling green hills stitched with terraces, banana plantations swaying gently in the wind, and smiling villagers waving as you pass.

Midway, stop at a local tea estate to experience one of Rwanda’s most beloved exports. Walk through aromatic tea fields, meet farmers who explain their craft, and enjoy a tasting session with sweeping views of the valley. Continuing north, the landscape becomes dramatic distant volcanoes rise like ancient sentinels, their peaks veiled in mist.

Arrive at your eco-lodge nestled at the edge of the park, blending seamlessly with nature. The rest of the day is for relaxation. Enjoy the comfort of your suite, the crackle of a fire, or a stroll through lush gardens alive with birdlife. As evening falls, the sun dips behind Mount Sabyinyo, painting the horizon in gold. Over a chef-prepared dinner, your guide briefs you on the next morning’s adventure: your Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Expedition the highlight of your 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari odyssey.

Day 3 – Gorilla Trekking Expedition: Face to Face with the Gentle Giants

Dawn breaks with soft golden light filtering through mist and bamboo. After an early breakfast, you set out for Volcanoes National Park headquarters, where experienced rangers and trackers prepare you for the trek. Equipped with your permit, walking stick, and anticipation, you begin the ascent through lush jungle terrain.

The Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari is both a physical and spiritual journey. The air grows cooler as you climb higher, surrounded by towering hagenia trees, tangled vines, and bird calls that echo through the forest. Each rustle or broken twig builds excitement until suddenly the moment arrives.

Through a clearing, a family of mountain gorillas appears. A silverback sits regally, his massive form radiating calm power. Youngsters tumble in playful abandon, mothers groom tenderly, and the air fills with the quiet hum of forest life. For one precious hour, you stand within arm’s reach of one of the planet’s rarest creatures. It is an encounter that stirs the soul and defines a lifetime of travel memories.

After descending the slopes, return to your lodge for lunch and a well-earned rest. Spend the afternoon reflecting on the encounter or exploring nearby markets. In the evening, enjoy a fireside storytelling session with park rangers or conservationists who share insights into gorilla protection and Rwanda’s conservation success story.

 

Day 4 – Golden Monkey Trek or Community Visit: A Deeper Connection to Rwanda

This day invites you to explore another layer of Rwanda’s ecological and cultural fabric. Early morning, choose between a Golden Monkey Tracking Excursion or a Community Cultural Experience.

The golden monkeys, playful and rare, inhabit the bamboo forests at the park’s edge. Their vibrant fur catches the sunlight as they leap effortlessly between branches, creating a mesmerizing spectacle for photographers. The trek is less demanding than gorilla trekking but equally rewarding for its beauty and biodiversity.

Alternatively, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, where Rwanda’s traditions come to life through song, dance, and storytelling. Participate in drumming, learn about local medicine, or try your hand at crafting banana beer a Rwandan delicacy. These encounters foster understanding and appreciation for local communities that live harmoniously alongside wildlife.

Return to your lodge for lunch and an afternoon at leisure. Unwind with a spa treatment, read on your terrace, or take in views of the volcanic skyline. As twilight settles, dine under lantern light, savoring a final night in Rwanda. Tomorrow, your 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari adventure continues southward to Botswana the second chapter of your African safari masterpiece.

 

Day 5 – Return to Kigali and Fly to Botswana: Crossing the Wild Frontiers

After breakfast, depart Volcanoes National Park and journey back to Kigali. En route, make optional stops at roadside markets or pottery cooperatives for handcrafted souvenirs. Upon arrival in Kigali, board your international flight to Johannesburg, then connect to Maun, Botswana, the gateway to the Okavango Delta.

At Maun Airport, a representative from Deks Uganda Tours assists with a seamless transfer to your charter flight bound for your safari camp deep within the Delta. From the air, the view is extraordinary countless winding channels, shimmering floodplains, and scattered islands where wildlife thrives in abundance.

Upon arrival, you’re greeted with a cool drink and warm smiles at your luxury tented camp. As the sun sets, the sky blazes in hues of amber and violet while hippos bellow from the nearby lagoon. Dine under the stars and listen to the chorus of frogs and crickets the soundtrack of the African night. Your 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari Adventure begins in nature’s purest form.

 

Days 6–8 – Okavango Delta Exploration: Water, Wildlife, and Wonder

For three unforgettable days, immerse yourself in the rhythms of the Okavango Delta, a paradise where land and water dance together in timeless harmony. Morning game drives reveal elephants splashing through flooded plains, lions lounging in the tall grass, and leopards stalking silently through the reeds.

By midday, relax back at camp before setting out again on a mokoro (dugout canoe) safari, guided by expert polers who glide you through crystal-clear channels framed by papyrus and lilies. Each turn reveals surprises a malachite kingfisher perched on a reed, a herd of red lechwe bounding across shallow waters, or the elegant silhouette of a fish eagle overhead.

The Okavango is more than a safari; it’s a sanctuary of peace and perspective. Evenings bring the glow of lanterns and stories shared around a fire. Under a vast sky jeweled with stars, you feel the stillness of wilderness uninterrupted, untouched, eternal. Every sunrise here is a painting; every sunset, a poem. This is luxury 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari travel at its purest, curated by Deks Uganda Tours for discerning explorers.

Days 9–10 – Savuti or Linyanti Wildlife Region: The Drama of Predators and Prey

After breakfast, fly to the legendary Savuti or Linyanti regions in northern Botswana territories renowned for raw beauty and dramatic wildlife interactions. These regions bridge the Okavango and Chobe ecosystems, attracting abundant game year-round.

Here, lions rule the savannas, wild dogs hunt in coordinated packs, and massive buffalo herds create dust clouds that shimmer in the sun. Morning and evening game drives promise adrenaline-pumping encounters, while quiet moments reveal the softer side of the bush elephants drinking delicately from pools, giraffes nibbling on acacia leaves, and colorful carmine bee-eaters darting across the horizon.

Your lodge, elegantly designed to blend with the wilderness, offers both luxury and intimacy. Between drives, unwind by the pool or watch elephants wander past your deck. As dusk falls, savor gourmet meals paired with fine South African wines, then drift to sleep to the sound of distant roars. The Savuti Safari Experience captures the untamed heartbeat of Africa thrilling, raw, and endlessly captivating.

 

Day 11 – Chobe National Park and River Cruise: Sunset Among Giants

Today, transfer by light aircraft to Chobe National Park, famous for hosting the world’s largest elephant population. The park’s life revolves around the mighty Chobe River, a vital water source that draws animals in vast numbers, especially during the dry season.

Your afternoon unfolds aboard a luxurious riverboat during a Chobe River Safari Cruise. Glide silently past elephants wading through the shallows, hippos yawning in the sun, and crocodiles basking on sandy banks. As the sun dips toward the horizon, the sky transforms into a spectacle of crimson and gold, mirrored perfectly on the water’s surface.

After disembarking, return to your riverside lodge where the evening’s serenity feels infinite. Reflect on the journey from the gorilla-filled forests of Rwanda to Botswana’s golden floodplains. The 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari Combination has revealed Africa’s diversity in every sense: its landscapes, its wildlife, and its people.

 

Day 12 – Departure from Kasane: Farewell to the Wild Continent

Awake to birdsong and the gentle flow of the Chobe River outside your window. Enjoy a final breakfast on the terrace as elephants graze across the water. After heartfelt goodbyes to your guides and hosts, transfer to Kasane Airport for your onward flight.

As the plane lifts above Botswana’s wilderness, the journey replays in your mind the soulful eyes of a mountain gorilla, the laughter of children in a Rwandan village, the silent glide of your mokoro across the Delta, and the thunderous crossing of elephants at sunset.

The Botswana Safari and Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Experience by Deks Uganda Tours is not merely a 12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari itinerary it is a personal story of connection. You leave with more than photographs; you carry the essence of Africa wild, timeless, and alive in your heart forever.

12-Day Botswana and Rwanda Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

Tour Highlights

 

Safari Inclusions

  • 11 nights’ accommodation in luxury lodges and safari camps
  • All meals and selected beverages throughout the itinerary
  • Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit ($1,500 value)
  • Golden Monkey permit or cultural experience
  • All internal flights, transfers, and airport assistance
  • Daily game drives, mokoro rides, and river safaris
  • Services of professional, English-speaking guides
  • Park entry and conservation fees

 

Safari Exclusions

  • International flights to/from Africa
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
  • Premium alcoholic beverages and personal expenses
  • Visa fees for Rwanda or Botswana (if required)
  • Gratuities for guides and lodge staff

 

Final Reflection by Deks Uganda Tours

The 12-Day Botswana Safari and Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Experience unites two of Africa’s most iconic wildlife frontiers in one seamless, luxurious narrative. It celebrates the continent’s diversity the emotional intimacy of gorilla encounters and the cinematic drama of Botswana’s floodplains.

Each moment, from the whispers of the forest to the roar of lions at dusk, is a reminder that Africa is not just a place it is a feeling, a rhythm, a calling. With Deks Uganda Tours, travelers don’t just witness Africa; they become part of its living story one journey, two worlds, infinite memories.