This 12 days Uganda and Rwanda wildlife safari takes you to both Uganda and Rwanda for an ultimate safari adventure. You will track the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. You will have a wildlife experience where you will have an opportunity to sight the Big 5 in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Akagera National Parks. You will also have a Kigali City tour where you will visit places like the Genocide Memorial Center.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Upon arrival you shall be welcomed by our guide at Entebbe International Airport from where you will be transfered to your booked accommodation for the night. Depending on your time of arrival at the airport, you will have lunch before transferring to your hotel in Kampala for some rest as you prepare for the ultimate Uganda and Rwanda Safari experience the following day.
Meal plan : Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park with an afternoon swamp walk in the Bigodi wetlands
After your early morning breakfast, you will be picked by our guide and start your journey to Kibale National Park in Fort Portal through the tea plantations and rolling hills to reach Fort portal town. While in Fort portal you will have an en-route lunch before proceeding to Kibale National Park.
After checking into the lodge, you will embark on a guided nature walk in the Bigodi wetlands and you will have a chance to spot 138 bird species. You will then return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal Plan : Breakfast ,lunch , dinner
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will wake up early in the morning for breakfast and then report at the park headquarters at Kanyanchu at 7:30am for briefing by the guides about the dos and don’ts while with the chimpanzees. You will then embark on a trek for the search of the chimpanzees and once you have spotted a group, you will spend one hour with them observing their different behaviours and you will also spot other primates in the forest.
After the chimpanzee tracking experience you will be awarded a chimpanzee tracking certificate and after you will return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch you will check out of the lodge and start the journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will arrive at the lodge later that evening and check in as you wait for dinner.
Meal plan : Breakfast ,lunch , dinner
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Have your breakfast very early in the morning, depart for an early morning game drive as early as 6am to the rolling plains of Uganda’s second largest National Park and look out for: lions, leopards, buffaloes, hippos, waterbucks, warthogs, leopards, Uganda Kobs, oribis, and elephants. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the lodge for some rest time and lunch.
After lunch at the lodge, you will go for a 2-hour boat cruise trip on the Kazinga Channel which connects Lakes George and Edward and you will surely be fascinated by the concentrations of giant hippos, buffaloes, elephants and crocodiles among others. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. You will have dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions
After the morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on a journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. As you exit Queen Elizabeth you will pass through the Ishasha plains for another epic game drive on your way to Bwindi and you will be able to spot tree climbing lions.
After the game drive, you will transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will have lunch on the way as you head to Bwindi. You will arrive at the lodge in Bwindi later in the afternoon and then check in.
Meal Plan : Breakfast ,lunch , dinner
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking Experience
You will wake up early in the morning for breakfast and then report at the park headquarters at 7:30am for a briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas. Remember to carry your packed lunch and enough drinking water since you may stay in the forest up to afternoon in search of these gentle giants in their natural environment.
Gorilla tracking exercise is physically demanding but an exciting activity. You may need to hire a porter to assist you during tracking and these are readily available at the park headquarters. Time allowed to spend with gorillas is 1 hour when you have found them and this is enough to ask all the questions about their behaviour. Return to the lodge after tracking and freshen up.
In the evening, Batwa pygmies will be invited to entertain you with their dances, storytelling after you have dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan : Breakfast ,lunch , dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After your breakfast at the lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you will check out and transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. You will enjoy a scenic drive from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. You will cross the border to Kigali at Cyanika. You will have lunch on your way to Rwanda. You will arrive at the lodge later in the evening.
Meal Plan : Breakfast ,Lunch , dinner
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes and Visit to the Gorilla Guardians Village
After your morning breakfast, you will then report at the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas. Remember to carry your packed lunch and enough drinking water since you may stay in the forest up to afternoon in search of these gentle giants in their natural environment.
When you locate the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas observing the gorilla troop go on with its daily life, babies playing on tree branches, silverbacks protecting the group and others picking vegetation to eat. After the gorilla experience you will return to the park’s headquarters for the awarding of certificates. Afterwards, you will return to the lodge for relaxation.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Gorilla Guardians Village where you will learn about the local culture of the community through interactive demonstrations and performances. After that you will return to the lodge for overnight stay and dinner.
Meal plan : Breakfast ,lunch , dinner
Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking and Visit to the Dian Fossey Museum
After your morning breakfast, you will then report at the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the Golden monkeys. When you locate the Golden monkeys, you are allowed to spend one hour with them. After the experience you will return to the lodge for lunch.
In the Afternoon, you will visit the Dian Fossey Museum and you will understand about the legacy of Dian Fossey and also see her works in Rwanda with pictorial representations. After this tour, you will return to the lodge.
Meal plan : Breakfast ,lunch , dinner
Day 10: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After your morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge in Volcanoes National Park and you will transfer to Akagera National Park. It’s quite a long journey that will take about five hours as you will enjoy beautiful scenic views of Rwanda on your journey. You will arrive at the lodge for lunch and check in afterwards. After lunch you will relax as you wait for the game drive and boat cruise in Akagera National Park.
Meal plan : Breakfast ,lunch ,Dinner
Day 11: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema
After your early morning breakfast, you will head out for a morning game drive in Akagera National Park. During the game drive you will have an opportunity to sight many animals such as Elephants, Rhinos, Buffaloes, impalas, zebras, bush bucks, water bucks, lions, leopards. You will be able to see many bird species as Akagera National Park is home to over 500 bird species. You will then return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch you will head out for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema as you will see animals like hippos, crocodiles and many bird species. After the boat cruise you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Meal plan : Breakfast ,lunch ,dinner
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali International Airport with a Kigali City Tour
After your morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge in Akagera National Park and transfer to Kigali. Depending on the time of your flight, you will have a Kigali City tour where you will visit the Genocide Memorial Center and the local handicrafts market before you transfer to the airport. Don’t forget to buy a souvenir as remembrance for your memorable safari in Uganda and Rwanda.
Meal plan : Breakfast ,lunch .
Safari Includes:
- Airport transfers & private transport
- Accommodation with meals as listed
- Gorilla trekking permit
- All park entry fees
- Guided cultural and nature activities
- Bottled water during travel
Not Included:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Tips and personal expenses
- Optional activities not listed