16 Days Uganda Rwanda Adventure Safari
Safari overview
Our 16 days Uganda Rwanda safari takes you for an interesting exploration around this region’s prominent wildlife safari destinations. In Uganda, we will visit Murchison falls national park for wildlife viewing and scenic viewing, Kibale national park for chimp tracking, Queen Elizabeth national park where you have a chance to see the tree climbing lions and Bwindi for gorilla trekking. On crossing to Rwanda, you can do an extra gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park, visit Lake Kivu and enjoy a city tour in Kigali.
Detailed itinerary of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda adventure safari
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the lodge/ hotel in Entebbe or Kampala
The company representative and safari guide will warmly welcome you on arrival at Entebbe airport (EBB). After introduction and a briefing about the tour, they will take you to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. That’s where you will have your dinner and the overnight.
Lodge/Hotel options: Lake Victoria hotel / Boma hotel / Central Inn
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls via Ziwa for rhino tracking
Rise up early for breakfast at your hotel in Entebbe OR Kampala and prepare to set off for Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. I really advise that you make this stop over since it will give you the opportunity to complete the “big five” in Uganda. A visit to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary takes you to view the endangered rhinos before continuing to Murchison. After the walk around the sanctuary, you will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. The driver/guide will take you for a short game drive and thereafter transfer you to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Safari lodge options: Paraa safari lodge / Kabalega wildness / Redchill rest camp
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of falls
Take pleasure in a morning game drive towards the Albert and Victoria Nile and watch a great deal of wildlife and birds. Along the way, you will see big herds of elephants, giraffes, antelopes, the Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, waterbucks and can sight lions or leopard. You will also see several bird species. Later on in the day after lunch, embark on a launch cruise to the base of the falls. This 3 hour cruise from Paraa is a rewarding trip that will expose you to many various wildlife species including hippos, crocodiles, elephants (quite occasional here) and a variety of the bird life that may include the pied kingfisher, malachite kingfisher and African fish eagles. You will then hike to the top of the falls and enjoy the aerial view of the falls as well as other flora and fauna. You will then return to the lodge for wonderful dinner and rest.
Safari lodge options: Paraa safari lodge / Kabalega wildness / Redchilli rest camp
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale forest national park.
Breakfast at the lodge in the morning and thereafter transfer to Kibale forest National Park. Kibale is home to Primates such as chimpanzee, baboons and monkeys. With en-route lunch meals. Upon arrival, you will check in at your lodge for dinner and peaceful rest.
Safari lodge: Primate lodge / Kibale safari lodge / Chimpanzee guest house
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and community walk
On this day, you will wake up quite early and enjoy quick breakfast. Thereafter walk or drive to the park headquarters for a briefing session about chimpanzee tracking including the code of conduct. Minutes after the session, you will be guided to the forest by the guide for tracking.
The park’s site guide will take you through the forest for adventurous experience where you may be blessed with enormous encounters of various forest primates like the olive baboons, L’hoest, black faced colobus monkeys and other forest species. The chief highlight of this day will be the chimps and you will enjoy them as they play, sing and eat. Trekkers are allowed 1 hour with the Chimps and then get back to the lodge.
After your lunch (you can either enjoy a picnic lunch in the park or return to your lodge for lunch), the driver / guide leads you to the Bigodi swamp or community for another evening tour. This wetland sanctuary near Kibale forest is famed for the colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and a variety of bird life; highlight – the African Broad-bill and the Great blue Turaco. Back to the lodge for dinner.
Safari lodge: Primate Lodge / Kibale Safari lodge / Chimpanzee Guest house
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
You will wake up and enjoy a relaxed breakfast, then set off for Queen Elizabeth national park.
Safari lodges: Mweya safari lodge / Parkview Safari Lodge / Mweya hostel
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 7: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Begin your day with a healthy and delicious cup of coffee/tea before setting off for the game drive on different trails in the park including the one along the Kasenyi trail.
In Kasenyi plains, there is a great opportunity of seeing big heards of animals like water bucks, Uganda Kobs, elephants, buffaloes and lions, warthogs as well as various birds. After the drive, return to lodge and have breakfast and lunch.
Later in the afternoon, you will take pleasure in an experience on the 2 hours boat along Kazinga channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward, while on the boat you will see a good number of animals like Hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, kobs among others and also a collection of birds like the malachite kingfishers, pink backed pelicans, on the banks and in trees. Dinner and Overnight at the lodge.
Safari lodges: Mweya safari lodge / Enganzi lodge / Mweya hostel
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 8: Drive to Ishasha sector for the tree climbing lions
After having breakfast at the lodge, the safari driver will transfer you to the Ishasha sector for a game drive. This will give you a chance to see tree climbing lions and other animals.
Safari lodge: Ishasha wildness / Ishasha jungle lodge / Ishasha river camp
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Forest National park via Ishasha.
On this day, you will wake up and enjoy your breakfast, then set off to Bwindi. Along the way to Bwindi, you will enjoy sightseeing of community home steads. Check in at the lodge, and prepare for the next day.
Safari lodges: Gorilla resort / Silverback lodge / Buhoma rest camp)
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 10: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi
Wake up early morning and have breakfast at the lodge, then get lunch and water packed. Head to the starting point where you will be briefed about gorilla trekking and the code of conduct.
Thereafter, you will get into the forest for the lifetime experience in this magnificent of gorilla tracking. The trek may be short or long depending on where the gorillas have gone in the forest. That is the reason you have to move with enough drinking water and energy giving snacks. At the time when the gorillas spoted, it is great excitement… trekkers are allowed to stay with the gorillas for an hour then leave the forest.
Safari lodges: Gorilla resort / Silverback lodge / Buhoma rest camp
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, you embark on a scenic journey through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills of Kabale to Lake Bunyonyi. After the strenuous adventure at Bwindi, most clients will want to relax on this day and Lake Bunyonyi is perfect for this. You will enjoy an evening canoe ride on the lake. Retire for dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge besides Lake Bunyonyi.
Safari lodges: Birdnest resort / Bunyonyi safari lodge / Overland resort camp
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 12: Border crossing from Uganda to Rwanda
After your breakfast, you will set off southwards to the Uganda Rwanda border, cross and head to Volcanoes national park. You will do another gorilla tracking there. The groups of gorillas in Rwanda are easier to track and so will reward you with a more interesting experience without much trouble. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Safari lodges: Gorilla view lodge / Lebabou lodge / Kiningi guest house
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 13: Gorilla tracking in Rwanda and Visit Dian Fossey grave
An early morning breakfast at the lodge, then transfer to the headquarters of Volcanoes National for the memorable gorilla tracking experience. A visit to this cave will probably be a major highlight and insight of how gorilla conservation started in Volcanoes national park.
After briefing session at the park headquarters, you will start the gorilla trekking, get through the light mountain forest with easier hikes until you spot the gorillas. After the adventure, the driver will return you to the lodge for your overnight.
Safari lodges: Gorilla view lodge / Lebabou lodge / Kiningi guest house
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 14: Head to Lake Kivu for a relaxation
Lake Kivu is the largest lake in Rwanda and offers a wonderful place for relaxing. The fresh air, scenery and the activities there are amazing. Activities include swimming, canoeing and water-skiing. Gisenyi, a famous resort in the past, now has a sleepy forgotten air with some fine but neglected buildings of the Belgian era.
Safari lodges: Lake Kivu Serena hotel / Paradise hotel deluxe rooms / Paradise hotel standard rooms
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 15: Full day relaxing at Gisenyi beach relaxing at the hotel
Enjoy a full day relaxation at the beach, and you can go for a boat ride.
Safari lodges: Lake Kivu Serena hotel / Paradise hotel deluxe rooms / Paradise hotel standard rooms
Accommodation type: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget
Day 16: Transfer to Kigali City heading to Kigali Airport
After a healthy breakfast, you will drive towards Kigali city. If you still have time before the hour for the flight, then you will first have a city tour around Kigali. Later proceed for departure at Kigali airport.
END OF SAFARI
