12 Days Uganda – Rwanda Safari
A 12 days Best of Uganda Rwanda safari covering the best attractions in the two countries. This itinerary sets off from Kampala starting from Murchison falls national park, Kibale national park to track chimpanzees, wildlife viewing, mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, second gorilla tracking in Volcanoes and nature tours.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kampala
Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be transferred by our company guide to Kampala for refreshment and relaxation. Overnight and dinner at Sheraton hotel/Cassia Lodge/Ivy’s Hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls.
Early morning after breakfast, you will be picked from your hotel by our tour guide for a transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. You may branch off at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola to track the Rhinos and later continue to the park. Arrive in Murchison falls with a visit to the top of the falls for a remarkable sight of the Nile crushing through a narrow gorge of 7m wide before plunging 43m deep into the devil’s cauldron. You will then drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Paraa safari lodge/Kabalega Wilderness lodge/Red Chill Hotel.
Day 3: Game drive and Launch cruise
After a heavy breakfast, you will embark on an early morning game drive where you are likely to spot animals like Lions, buffaloes, waterbuck, Jackson’s hartebeest, Rothschild’s giraffe, Oribi among others. Return for lunch which will be followed by a breathtaking launch cruise for a wide view of Hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, several water birds such as the shoebill stork, the most sought after bird in Africa among others. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay (day 2)
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale national park
After an early breakfast, you will depart for Kibale National Park. The drive goes through the Albertan Escarpment of the western arm of the East African Rift valley with dramatic views of Lake Albert, traditional homesteads and scenic views of the mountains of the moon. Reach Fort portal in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at Primates lodge
Day 5: Chimp trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After Breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a short briefing and then proceed into the forest for a chimp trekking adventure. Watch out for other primate species such as the Colobus monkeys, grey checked mangabey, red Colobus, blue monkeys, Olive baboons among others that gives the forest the crown of the Primate capital of the World. Return for lunch and later Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park with a wide view of some animals en route such as the Elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs among others. Arrive in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Mweya safari lodge/Kyambura game Lodge/Buffalo Safari lodge.
Day 6: Game drive and Boat cruise
After a cup of coffee, begin the day with a game drive in the Kasenyi plains that may lead you to see bush buck, Uganda Kob, topi, Defassa waterbuck, and Cape buffaloes, Lions, elephants and many more. You will later return at the lodge for a late breakfast, relax as you wait for lunch. In the afternoon, you will enjoy an afternoon boat ride along the Kazinga Channel for a wide view of yawning hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, various bird species such as red chest, papyrus Gonolek, pink backed pelicans, malachite kingfishers, yellow crown, water thick-knee, yellow-billed stork, shoe bill stock among others. Return at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at (day 5)
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After a heavy breakfast, you will depart for Bwindi impenetrable national park- a home to half of the endangered Mountain gorillas in the world. It is a scenic drive with an en route game drive in Ishasha sector that offers an opportunity of viewing the tree climbing lions at a closer range and later continue to Bwindi with lunch en route. Arriving in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at Ruhiija Lodge/Bakiga Lodge/Gorilla Mist camp.
Day 8: Gorilla trekking and Nature walk
Following the morning breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters with packed lunch for a vital briefing prior to trekking the gorillas in the thick impenetrable forest. You get to spend an hour with the gorillas after having trekked for about 2-8 hours. If you have time and still feel strong just head for an optional brief community walk to the local Batwa community. Check out the curio shops, children’s school and also get a chance to explore more about their unique culture and many more. Dinner and overnight stay (day 7).
Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park-Rwanda.
After enjoying that wonderful experience of the gorillas in Bwindi, we will proceed for the one more prime destination for gorillas in Rwanda based in Parc National des Volcanoes PNV). Volcanoes national park is part of the Virunga Mountains which has different peaks like Bisoke, Karisimbi, Muhabura, Sabinyo. Marvel at this beautiful mountainous country also called “a land of a thousand hills.” Arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Le bambou Gorilla Lodge/Muhabura hotel.
Day 10: 2nd Gorilla tracking
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the park head quarters with your packed lunch for briefing and group allocation before going for a second gorilla experience. You will enter the forest for gorilla tracking adventure at 8:30am, and this will take 1-6 hours before locating the gorillas. You will be allowed only one hour with the gorillas to Observe and learn the behavior and communicating skills of these unique creatures among other things. Use this moment to learn and discover all there is about the gorillas. On return, depending on time and your energy, you may take an optional cultural walk to the Banyarwanda people where you will enjoy their different performances and also get a chance to explore more about their unique culture. Dinner and overnight stay.(Day 9)
Day 11: Transfer to Akagera National park.
After a heavy breakfast, you will set off to Akagera national park passing via Kigali where you will have a brief city tour to visit the genocide memorial, local markets among others. You will reach Akagera National park in the evening for dinner and overnight at Rusizi tented Lodge/Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 12: Game drive and transfer to Kigali for departure.
After an early breakfast, you will take a game drive up to the northern part of the park where you will be rewarded with game as Zebras, Impalas, Bush bucks, giraffes among others. You will then exit the park and drive back to Kigali with lunch en route reaching early in the afternoon to transfer to the airport for departure flight if on schedule.
End of Tour