Uganda and Rwanda are some of the most phenomenal safari destinations in the African Continent. In only 12 Days, this Uganda & Rwanda itinerary will lead you around only the most popular and unmissable places in these two countries. Start in Uganda’s Capital City, then hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Enjoy a game drive, boat rides and scenic viewing. Other places to look out for in Uganda are Kibale Forest National Park for Chimpanzee trekking and guided walk through Bigodi Swamp, Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive and launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel, as well as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to trek the endangered Mountain Gorillas.
For Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park will be visited for Golden monkey tracking and gorilla trekking before heading to Kigali for a visit to the Kigali Genocide memorial site.
Highlights
• Enjoy face-to-face encounters with the endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitats
• Visit the endangered chimpanzees.
• Relish scenic views of the jaw-dropping Crater Lakes, Virunga Volcanoes and the lush vegetation.
• Village walks for a chance to meet local communities to catch a glimpse of the culture. Traditional activities and lifestyles.
• Tracking the exciting golden monkeys in their natural habitats.
• Rhino Tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala- Murchison falls National Park road transfer, via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Day 2: Rewarding game viewing experience & boat ride to bottom of the falls.
Day 3: Drive to the top of the falls and journey to Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 4: Kibale Forest chimpanzee trekking & Wetland walk
Day 5: Road transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth game viewing & Kazinga Boat ride.
Day 7: Ishasha game drive and transfer to Bwindi National Park.
Day 8: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour & Village walk.
Day 9: Cross the Uganda-Rwanda border, then drive to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 10: Volcanoes Golden monkey tracking & Gorilla Guardian Village Tour.
Day 11: Volcanoes National Park- Kigali Transfer, Genocide visit.
Day 12: Departure.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala- Murchison falls National Park road transfer, via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After your breakfast, a private safari driver will pick you up from the Hotel and transport you to the first destination on the 12 days Uganda & Rwanda safari. This scenic drive takes 7-8 hours. There will be a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track the endangered southern white rhinos in their wild. The Rhino tracking tour will last one hour, thereafter continue to Murchison Falls National Park. Depending on the time you arrive the Park, you will drive to the top of the falls or do it another day.
Day 2: Rewarding game viewing experience & boat ride to bottom of the falls.
On this day, continue getting to understand Murchison falls National Park. Two activities are planned on this day. The game drive will start by 6:00 am and expect to see Elephants, bushbucks, Cape buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, Rothschild’s giraffes, Oribis, duikers, warthogs, Olive baboons, Jackson’s hartebeests, vervet monkeys and Defassa waterbucks. Settle for a delicious lunch at the Lodge and continue to discover the Park in the afternoon.
Your adventure continue at 1:30 pm with a transfer to the Paraa jetty, then boat cruise that starts at 2:00 pm. Nile Crocodiles, hippos, more elephants and buffaloes will be spotted inside or along the banks of the River. A number of bird species such as African fish eagles, Egyptian geese, giant and pied Kingfishers, goliath heron, great white and pink-backed pelicans, saddle-bill storks, and sometimes the rare shoebill stork will also be spotted. The best part of this boat cruise is watching large volumes of water forcing through a 7-meter gorge into the “Devil’s Cauldron”. This is a perfect opportunity for taking pictures.
Day 3: Drive to the top of the falls and journey to Kibale Forest National Park
Before transferring to Kibale Forest National Park, first drive to the top of the thunderous Murchison falls”. Start the 7-8 hours’ journey to Kibale Forest National Park. Take in views of the lush countryside dotted with traditional homesteads, the escarpment and farms while continuing to your next journey. A delicious lunch will be enjoyed on arrival at the Safari Lodge around Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 4: Discover Kibale Forest through chimpanzee trekking & Wetland walk
On this day, you will get the chance to discover Kigali Forest National Park through chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, home to the highest concentration of primates in the East African region. Over 13 species of primates are here and the must-see are Chimpanzee. While tracking the Great Apes on this day, the black and white Colobus, Olive baboons, L’Hoests monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Blue monkey, and Red-tailed monkey are sighted.
Just 1-3 hours into the trek, the chimpanzees will be sighted and one hour will be spent watching and photographing them. Have a picnic lunch and later a guided nature walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This site offers amazing birding opportunities and nature walks. Settle for a nice dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Day 5: Road transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today, take the scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way, have stopovers for sightseeing at the Crater lakes region, then head to the medley of wonders. A game drive will be undertaken with hope of seeing elephants, Hippos, buffaloes, and Uganda Kobs among others.
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth game viewing & Kazinga Boat ride
Your Queen Elizabeth National Park game drive starts early enough (by 6:00am) and is undertaken through the Northern plains to search for elephants, spotted hyenas, lions, leopards, Uganda Kobs, Defassa waterbucks, bushbucks, giant forest hog, and Topis among others.
Return to your Safari lodge for a hot lunch and afterwards head out for a boat launch along the Kazinga channel. This natural channel’s shores harbor a profusion of wildlife species such as Hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes and elephants as well as birds such as African skimmers, great white pelicans, saddle-billed storks, pink-backed pelicans, to mention but a few.
Day 7: Ishasha game drive and transfer to Bwindi National Park
On this day, make your way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, situated in the southwestern side of Uganda. You will go through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a short game drive where tree-climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants and bushbucks at sighted. You will continue with the drive to Bwindi National Park, arriving in the afternoon for late lunch and relaxation.
Day 8: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour & Village walk
On this day, you will enjoy Bwindi National Park via a gorilla trekking tour that starts with a briefing at the Park Headquarters. The briefing begins at 7:30 am and is about the guidelines to be followed when trekking, watching and photographing these Giant Apes in their natural habitat. Expect to for 1-6 hours or more, then this is followed by one hour of photography and watching these creatures go about their daily routines.
Afterward, have a community walk through the Bakiga and Batwa to learn about their life, traditions, and culture. You will then spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge, enjoy dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Cross the Uganda-Rwanda border, then drive to Volcanoes National Park
Today, you will leave for Rwanda after breakfast by driving through the awe-inspiring part of the country that is popularly known as the “Switzerland of Africa’. Cross the border via Katuna then to Rwanda while taking in views of the verdant countryside, rolling hills, valleys and the Virunga Mountains.
Day 10: Volcanoes Golden monkey tracking & Gorilla Guardian Village Tour
Volcanoes National Park is a beautiful National Park known for its mountain gorillas, beautiful Virunga Volcanoes and so much more. It is a perfect gorilla trekking destination with 12 habituated gorilla families, but for this 12-day trip, you will trek the golden monkeys. Your day starts with a briefing at the Park headquarters and this is on the dos and don’ts of golden monkey tracking and then be allocated the troop you will be trekking. You will be led by experienced guides and escorted by armed Rangers into the forest to search for the Golden monkeys living along the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes. Once found, you will spend a maximum of one hour watching them in their natural habitat. Tracking takes 1-4 hours then you will walk or drive back to the Lodge for lunch.
Your afternoon is for visiting the Gorilla Guardian Village to learn about typical Rwandan culture, traditions, way of life, cultural dances and songs, use of herbal medicine to treat common ailments. After this wonderful cultural discovery, settle for lunch and overnight at the Lodge.
Day 11: Volcanoes National Park- Kigali Transfer, Genocide visit.
Today, you will return back to Kigali and the journey takes about 3 hours. Have lunch on arrival and later continue to the visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial site to get firsthand information on the 1994 Rwandan genocide, interact with survivors and later retire to the pre-booked Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Departure
On this amazing day, drive from the Hotel to Kigali International Airport to catch a flight back home or continue with your African Adventure.
End of our remarkable 12-day Safari
The package Includes:
• Gorilla trekking permit.
• Golden monkey permit.
• Chimpanzee permit.
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
• Relevant Government taxes.
• Airport transfers, on the first and last day of the safari.
• A private and comfortable Safari vehicle.
• Fuel fees.
• 11 nights’ accommodation and Meals.
• Services of a private English- Speaking driver-guide.
• Bottled water.
• Accommodation as per the itinerary.
• All park fees.
• All government taxes and levies.
The package Excludes:
• Domestic and International airfares.
• Visa fees, where necessary.
• Medical and Travel Insurance.
• Gratuities.
• Cigarettes and drinks.
• Souvenir shopping.