Deemed some of the best safari destinations in the World, experience the beauty of the Pearl of Africa (Uganda) as well as the land of a thousand hills (Rwanda) during our 15-day wildlife safari introducing travelers to the gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, cultural and big game experiences like never before. There will be a chance to walk through the dense rainforests of Volcanoes to trek with golden monkeys and mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the mountain gorillas, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, and the chance to see the big game (elephants, Hippos, buffaloes, and waterbucks among others) during your visit in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Highlights
• Trekking through Bwindi Impenetrable and Volcanoes National Parks to meet face-to-face with the endangered mountain gorillas.
• Walking through Kibale Forest National Park to see chimpanzees up close.
• Get treated to Kigali’s outstanding hospitality, culinary experiences, art, and history.
• Tour the Gorilla Guardian village to learn about Rwanda’s traditional rural life as well as culture.
• Visit the local community around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to learn about Batwa and Bakiga culture.
• Encounter big game- elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and antelopes in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Depart from Kampala to Murchison falls National Park, northwestern Uganda.
Day 2: Murchison falls National Park game drives and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls.
Day 3: Leave Murchison falls National Park for Kibale Forest National Park, western Uganda.
Day 4: Kibale Forest; Trekking chimpanzees and wetland walk in Bigodi.
Day 5: Enjoy a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, an afternoon game drive.
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park; Big game viewing experience and boat cruise in Kazinga Channel.
Day 7: Depart from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi National Park via the Ishasha sector.
Day 8: Bwindi National Park; Walk to see endangered mountain gorillas and community visit.
Day 9: Depart from Bwindi National Park to Kigali, Rwanda and City Tour.
Day 10: Historical Tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park, Northern Province.
Day 11: Volcanoes National Park; Walk through the forest to see mountain gorillas & visit Gorilla Guardian Village.
Day 12: Volcanoes National Park; Golden monkey tracking & drive back to Kigali City.
Day 13: Drive from Kigali City to Akagera National Park, Eastern Province.
Day 14: Akagera National Park game drives and boat ride.
Day 15: Departure, International flight.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Depart from Kampala to Murchison falls National Park, northwestern Uganda
Early in the morning, you will meet your driver at the Hotel lounge or any other place of residence in Kampala, you will embark on the journey to Northwestern Uganda, where Murchison falls National Park. After 3 hour drive, make a stop at Nakasongola with a de-tour to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Get the chance to track Uganda’s only Rhino population in the wild and start the tracking adventure that lasts 1-2 hours before these big game are found. While on this walk, come across different wildlife species- Uganda Kobs, bushbucks, waterbucks, and warthogs as well as lots and lots of bird species. Leave Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and proceed to Kabalega diners for lunch then proceed to the Park, about 4 hours away. When you get to Murchison falls National Park, you will get treated to a drive to the top of the falls for photography before heading to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Murchison falls National Park game drives and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
Your Murchison falls National Park full adventure is on this day and starts with breakfast at the Lodge before going on the game drive. On this game drive, you will explore some of the wildlife-filled game tracks with sights of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, Hippos, Defassa waterbucks, Rothschild giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeests, bushbucks, and warthogs among others. After the 3-4 hours’ game drive, you will have time to grab some lunch, rest, and later continue with your adventure.
Later in the afternoon, you will again be picked up by your safari driver for a drive to the Paraa jetty for a boat ride. Cruise through the calm Victoria Nile for the next 2-3 hours until the bottom of the falls while spotting elephants, Hippos, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, and Uganda Kobs, as well as wetland and aquatic bird species. Have enough time for photography and at the end of the boat cruise, you will enjoy dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Day 3: Leave Murchison falls National Park for Kibale Forest National Park, western Uganda
After a sumptuous breakfast, your safari driver will meet you at the Lodge lounge bright and early before heading off to Kibale Forest National Park. Located on the western side of Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park is home to 13 primate species and about 375 bird species. The journey to your final destination takes about 7-8 hours with views of the Albertine Escarpment, the countryside, and the Rwenzori Mountains. Your lunch will be at the Lodge on arrival, and later relax while enjoying beautiful views.
Day 4: Kibale Forest; Trekking chimpanzees and wetland walk in Bigodi
Today, you will first attend the briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Center before entering the rainforest to search for chimpanzees in one of their natural habitats. The highlight of the day is meeting face-to-face with these Great Apes, but also look-out for other primates, birds, tree species, and butterflies during this trek. Having trekked for 1-4 hours and found the chimpanzee community, you will have one hour to watch these exciting creatures playing, grooming, resting, and feeding.
You will enjoy a picnic lunch and continue to Bigodi wetland Sanctuary for another unmissable adventure. You will walk through this renowned birding Sanctuary to see different wetland species such as Great Blue Turacos, Papyrus gonolek, and many others.
Day 5: Enjoy a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, an afternoon game drive
You will continue to your next destination on this day, after having breakfast. This transfer is approximately 2-3 hours while views of the Rwenzori Mountains and the countryside is enjoyed and as you get closer to the Park, keep an eye on the change in vegetation. Having settled in at the Lodge, enjoy lunch and rest until the afternoon when you will get set for your activity.
You will have an afternoon game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park where Uganda Kobs, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and Hippos are sighted. Wrap up your game drive and head back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park; Big game viewing experience and boat cruise in Kazinga Channel
You will have the entire day to explore Queen Elizabeth National Park through game drives and boat cruises. The best way to catch a glimpse of many animals is to start early and for this reason, you will grab a cup of coffee/tea before starting at 6:00 am with sights of lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs and Hippos to be enjoyed. After the adventure, you will enjoy a proper breakfast or a drink while waiting for lunch.
The boat cruise through Kazinga Channel is in the afternoon and starts with a drive to the Mweya jetty, starting point of the activity. Take 2 hours on this cruise with sights of Hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and buffaloes as well as bird species. Relax at the Lodge with memories from the day’s adventures.
Day 7: Depart from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi National Park via the Ishasha sector
You will depart from Queen Elizabeth National Park in the morning via a game drive through the Park and then head out to Bwindi National Park. After a short game drive through Ishasha sector, you will continue for lunch at Savannah Resort and to Uganda’s popular Gorilla Sanctuary. Check-in at the Lodge where you will spend the next two nights.
Day 8: Bwindi National Park; Walk to see endangered mountain gorillas and community visit
Having fueled up with breakfast at the Lodge, your safari driver will meet you at the Lodge Lounge for this day’s adventure. In the first part of your adventure, you will be trekking the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and starts with briefing at the Park Headquarters. Get entertained, be briefed and be allocated any of the gorilla families based on age, physical abilities and interest. Walk through the forest for 1-6 hours and have a moment of photography that lasts 1 hour.
A community visit is in the afternoon after a hot meal at the Lodge and here, you will be treated to traditional dance performances, catch a glimpse on the life and cultures, purchase art and crafts before getting back for dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Day 9: Depart from Bwindi National Park to Kigali, Rwanda and City Tour
Today you will have time to cross the border to Kigali, Rwanda. It’s a wonderful day of enjoying views of these two countries as you head to your next destination via Cyanika border. Once you arrive in Kigali, undertake a city tour with a chance to do craft shopping and get transferred to the Hotel for meals and overnight.
Day 10: Historical Tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park, Northern Province
This morning, you will have breakfast and then visit the famous Kigali Genocide Memorial Site to learn about the painful Rwandan genocide. This center is one of the former slaughter places for victims of the 1994 genocide and if you are faint-hearted, then be prepared to shed tears while listening to the sorrowful story. After the tour, have lunch and continue further to the Northern Province to visit Volcanoes National Park. The 3-hour drive is a wonderful photography opportunity and you will arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Volcanoes National Park; Walk through the forest to see mountain gorillas & visit Gorilla Guardian Village
After a hearty breakfast at the Lodge, you will head into Volcanoes National Park but first, attend the briefing at Kinigi Park Headquarters on the guidelines to be followed while trekking and spending time with the Giant Apes. Be sure to carry enough drinking water, snacks, your camera, and binoculars. Transfer to the trailhead by car and this takes 20-30 minutes. 1-6 hours into the gorilla trek, you will find the individuals with whom you will spend one-hour taking photos and learning more about their behavior.
Having enjoyed lunch and rested very well, you will visit the Gorilla Guardian village for an immersion into the culture and life of a typical Rwandan (before modernity. Time flies faster as the experience gets more exciting but your dinner and overnight will be at the Lodge.
Day 12: Volcanoes National Park; Golden monkey tracking & drive back to Kigali City
Grab a quick breakfast and return to Volcanoes National Park again to track the golden monkeys, another exciting primate found in this 160-square-kilometer Protected Area. You will learn about the cunning ways of these small creatures, take photos and return back to the Lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will drive for 3 hours back to Kigali for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Drive from Kigali City to Akagera National Park, Eastern Province
Rise to enjoy the Kigali sunrise views, enjoy breakfast and continue to your next destination on this 15 days Uganda & Rwanda wildlife safari. Undeniably many travelers’ favorite big five safari destination. The journey is only two and a half hours and will be followed by a game drive that ends at the Safari Lodge. This 1122-square-kilometer Park is in the East of Rwanda, sheltering the big five animals, lots of antelopes, giraffes, and the highest ever-recorded bird species in the country totaling 500.
Day 14: Akagera National Park game drives and boat ride
You have a full day to discover why Akagera National Park is one of the best game viewing destinations in East and central Africa. While on the 3-4-hour game drive, wildlife species such as elephants, hippos, lions, spotted hyenas, Masai giraffes, elands, Topis, blue monkeys, leopards, buffaloes, waterbucks, Olive baboons, and many others are sighted. One of the best experiences and you can easily spend the entire day without noticing. However, you will need to get back to the Lodge for lunch and rest as you prepare for your afternoon activity.
Still in stock is your boat ride in Lake Ihema. Leave the Lodge and drive to the Park’s largest Lake for an adventure that will introduce you to the Park’s Hippos and Crocodiles as well as more elephants, buffaloes, and a wide array of bird species. Sadly the day’s adventure ends after the 2-hour boat ride, allowing you to return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 15: Departure, International flight
Sadly this day marks the end of our 15 days of Uganda & Rwanda wildlife safari which starts with breakfast at the Lodge followed by a transfer to Kigali. Catch a flight back home or continue with your African adventure. Safe travels!!!
The 15-day package includes;
• Border crossing.
• Private road transfers by our customized safari vehicle.
• Gorilla permits (Uganda and Rwanda).
• Chimpanzee trekking permit.
• Park entry fees, where required.
• Golden monkey tracking permits.
• Big game viewing experiences.
• Boat rides.
• A private safari driver.
• Relevant government taxes and levies.
This package excludes;
• Medical and travel insurance.
• Airfares.
• Visa fees.
• Air tickets.
• Laundry fees.
• Telephone calls.
• Cigarettes.
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
