12 Days Best of Uganda and Rwanda Safari
12 Days Best of Uganda and Rwanda Safari
These 12 days Uganda and Rwanda wildlife safari will offer you some of the best Eco-tourism wildlife experiences in both countries. The two countries have remarkable primate experiences i.e. gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, and golden monkey trekking. In addition, you have an opportunity to explore the Savannah National Parks of Uganda for the Big Five namely, Rhinos (at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary), Elephants, Leopard, Buffalo, and Lions. This safari will also give you great opportunities to see bird species, crocodiles, and Hippos while on a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile in Murchison Falls National Park and Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Itinerary highlights
- Day 1:Arrival at Entebbe airport
- Day 2:Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Rhino tracking
- Day 3:Uganda Wildlife Safari in Murchison Falls NP
- Day 4:Transfer to Kibale National Park
- Day 5:Chimp tracking in Kibale National Park
- Day 6:Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 7:Transfer to Ishasha – tree-climbing Lions
- Day 8:Transfer to Rwanda
- Day 9:Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Day 10:Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Day 11:Transfer to Nyungwe forest
- Day 12:Nyungwe forest canopy walk and transfer to Kigali for departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1:Arrival at Entebbe airport
You will be picked up by Safari Vacations and travel services driver guide from Entebbe International Airport and transferred to your hotel overnight. The hotel of choice will either be located in Entebbe or Kampala depending on the time of arrival.
Meal plan – Dinner
Accommodation
Upmarket – Kampala Serena Hotel
Mid-range – Cassia Lodge
Budget – Forest Cottages
Day 2:Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Rhino tracking
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located on the route to Murchison Falls National Park, making an appropriate stopover for one of the Big Five mammals. We leave early morning after breakfast, the plan is to arrive at Ziwa before the heat from the sun intensifies causing the Rhinos to take a nap in the shades of the trees. After a short briefing from the ranger guide on how to behave while in search of the Rhinos, we start the trek into the bushes. In case the Rhinos are far from the briefing point, we shall drive part of the distance.
After this experience with the Rhinos, we leave for lunch at a restaurant not too far from the sanctuary. After lunch, the wildlife safari continues to Murchison Falls National Park. Depending on the location of your lodge, we will stop at the top of the Murchison Falls and see how the Mighty Nile forces itself through a narrow 7-meter gorge forming thunderous falls that are among the strongest in the world. Otherwise, the falls will be seen the next day after the boat ride on the Victoria Nile. We hope to arrive at the lodge later that evening overnight with anticipation of a full day of game drive and boat safari the next day.
Journey time – 5 hours
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Upmarket – Bakers Lodge
Mid-range – Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget – Fort Murchison (Tents)
Day 3: Uganda Wildlife Safari in Murchison Falls NP
After breakfast drive northwards to the renowned Murchison Falls National Park which is also Uganda’s largest well-protected wildlife area covering 3,840 sq km. Move to the top of the Falls to view the natural beauty of these falls.
At this place, the river squeezes itself through a 7-meter narrow gorge from a width of more than 1 km and drops below with a thunderous roar forming a water spray that rainbow that results in a stunning rainbow of the wonders of the Nile River! Dine and slumber.
Accommodation Options; Paraa Safari Lodge(Luxury), Fort Murchison/Pakuba Safari Lodge(Mid-range), Red Chilli Rest Camp/Heritage Safari Lodge(Budget)
Day 4:Transfer to Kibale National Park
After that experience in the Savannah plains of Murchison Falls National Park, we leave for Kibale National Park known as the primate capital of the world because of its high concentration of primates and the ease of seeing them. This long journey takes you through beautiful views of the countryside and colorful local markets in some places. With a stopover for lunch, we arrive at the lodge in the evening ready for chimp trekking the next day.
Journey time – 7 hours
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Upmarket – Papaya Lake Lodge
Mid-range – Turaco Treetops
Budget – Chimpanzee guesthouse
Day 5:Chimp tracking in Kibale National Park
Have an early breakfast and drive straight to the briefing point in the park at 7.00 am. The ranger guide will offer you a brief about the forest, what to expect while in the forest, and the way to behave once in the forest. The chimps are generally moving all over the place which requires you to be fit and in position to keep following them as they search for food. The hike in the forest can take anything from a few minutes to about 4 hours depending on where they nested the previous night. Your ranger guide will lead the way as you hike through the forest.
You have chances of sighting other primates like red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white Columbus monkeys, various bird species, and mammals like Elephants, Buffaloes, or wild pigs. Once you locate the chimps, you are allowed 1 hour in their presence and remember that flash photography is not allowed and so is eating or smoking in the presence of the chimps.
In the afternoon we visit the Bigodithethe community. This village walk will take you to the swamp which is home to different bird species, primates, and plants. You will also visit the home for a coffee experience, banana beer brewing, basketry, and listening to the tales of the medicine man.
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After the great experience of meeting the chimps who share 98.7% DNA with human beings, we traveled to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is a 2-hour drive. Lunch will be at a restaurant in Queen Elizabeth National Park after which we drive to Kazinga Channel which connects Lakes Edward and George for a boat safari. On this boat cruise, look out for Crocodiles, Hippos, Elephants, and several bird species, especially the elegant Pied and Malachite Kingfishers. After the boat safari, we leave for the lodge overnight.
Journey time – 2 hours
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Upmarket – Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Mid-range – Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
Budget – Elephant Hab Lodge
Day 7:Transfer to Ishasha – tree-climbing Lions
We continue exploring the immersed wildlife of Uganda by continuing our safari to the Ishashathe sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park later in the afternoon. After an early breakfast, we leave for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi section of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The uniqueness of Queen Elizabeth National Park comes from the backdrop of Mount Rwenzori and a host of several habitats for wildlife. We shall go all out searching for Lions, leopards, and more easily Warthogs, Buffaloes, Elephants, and buffaloes, etc.
After this experience, we leave for the Ishasha sector in the southern part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park which is home to several families of lions that love to climb trees.
Journey time – 2 hours
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Upmarket – Ishasha wilderness camp
Mid-range – Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Budget – Enjojo Lodge
Day 8:Transfer to Rwanda
The next morning at 7 am, after breakfast we check out of the lodge and try our luck looking for the tree-climbing lions in case we missed them the previous day before leaving for Rwanda through the Cyanika border and continuing to Musanze/Kinigi – Rwanda arriving later that afternoon.
Enjoy the beautiful landscape of southwestern Uganda.
Journey time – 6 hours
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Upmarket – Five Volcanoes
Mid-range – Le Bambou gorilla lodge
Budget – Grace Place Hotel
Day 9:Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After an early breakfast, you transfer to the park headquarters for briefing before your gorilla trek. Volcanoes National Park is a magnificent mountain range and home to the rare mountain gorillas. You should be at the park headquarters briefing at 7.00 am to receive a briefing before your gorilla trek. Enjoy pure Rwandan coffee as you listen to the briefing with interludes of traditional dances.
After the briefing from the ranger guide you will be divided into different groups and you start your journey. The highlight of your trip will be spending an hour with the remarkably peaceful gorillas as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting, and raising their young.
Afternoon you will visit a cultural village or community walks interacting with the Rwandan people.
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10:Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today after breakfast, we transferred again to the briefing area but this time for Golden Monkey trekking. This is the same place we had the gorilla trekking briefing. The procedure is more or less like the gorilla trekking with briefing from the ranger guides before splitting into different groups depending on how many people are present. There are only two habituated groups of golden monkeys for tourism.
You will soon notice once you locate the golden monkeys that they are more active and this therefore requires you to be fit as you move to follow them. The experience will keep you on your toes as you watch find food, especially the bamboo shoots, and occasionally uproot post-harvest potatoes from the gardens of people living adjacent to the park. Return to the lodge for lunch and later leave for Kigali to return to your hotel or take your flight.
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 11:Transfer to Nyungwe forest
We start the journey to Nyungwe Forest through the winding roads of Rwanda. You will have great moments of photos as you explore the countryside of Rwanda and watch everyday Rwandans go about their daily lives. We arrive at the lodge later that evening ready for the Nyungwe forest canopy walk the next day.
Journey time – 7 hours
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Upmarket – One & Only Nyungwe Lodge
Mid-range – Emeraude Kivu Resort
Budget – EAR guest house
Day 12:Nyungwe forest canopy walk and transfer to Kigali for departure
In the morning after breakfast, we leave for Uwinka Visitor Center in Nyungwe forest where you receive a briefing before taking on the Canopy Walk. The canopy walk lasts about 2 hours with a specialized park guide who takes you through the hike to this amazing experience. Children must be 6 years and above to join in on the canopy walk and they must be accompanied by adults. You will learn about the Nyungwe forest and how it is the main catchment area for rain in Rwanda.
Enjoy the views of the forest canopy as you walk celebrate nature and have some sightings of monkeys, birds, and butterflies. This morning after breakfast, we check out the lodge and start the journey to Kigali from the legendary Nyungwe forest for your departure flight. You will have a stopover over in Huye and visit the ethnographic museum before proceeding to the airport. This marks the end of your special 12 Days Best of Uganda and Rwanda Safari.
Journey time – 5 hours
Meal plan – Breakfast & Lunch
Safari inclusions
- Activities as per the itinerary
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Full-time driver-guide
- Drinking water on the safari vehicle
- A 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for scenic views
- Meals as per the itinerary
Exclusions
- International flights and visas
- Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal travel insurance
- Any other services of a personal nature e.g. laundry
Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a Local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe. Moreover, Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a business for Ugandan natives. We specialize in life-changing experiences, sustainable tours, and holidays for all East African countries. Also, we are members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators and with registration from the Uganda Tourism Board. We have a good and long working relationship with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. We are making booking your gorilla permits and gorilla trekking safari easy. Safari Vacations and Travel Services is also high in Trip Advisor reviews.
