Safari Overview ~ the Safari in Summary
The 10 days Uganda and Rwanda tour offers you opportunity to explore and experience the world’s rare attractions while in their natural habitat. This is an exceptional wilderness safari experience crafted for you to discover East Africa’s distinct primates, wildlife, unique cultures and traditions. It covers Uganda and Rwanda, the two amazing East African safari destinations known to offer mesmerizing mountain gorilla adventures.
The safari highlights of your 10 days Uganda and Rwanda tour comes with a mixture of memorable activities including trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda and Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, Game viewing/game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park and city expeditions. En-route, there are magical sites for you to make stop visit. Your trip will begin from Entebbe city/Kampala capital and end in Kigali capital city of Rwanda.
Detailed Itinerary ~ Day By Day Itinerary
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to the hotel/guesthouse upon arrival at Entebbe Airport
A warm welcome and greeting awaits you from your driver guide upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Later, get briefed on your 10 days Uganda and Rwanda tour then transfer to the hotel/guesthouse in Entebbe.
Accommodation:
- Protea Hotel (Luxury)
- 2 Friends Beach Hotel/Boma Hotel (Moderate)
- Papyrus Guesthouse (Basic)
Day 2: Kibale Forest National Park; 5-6 hours’ drive from Entebbe
After your breakfast, meet your driver guide for transfer from Entebbe via Kampala to Kibale National Park. On 5-6 hours’ drive, the towns to expect to cover include Mityana, Mubende and Fort Portal then you get to Kibale Forest National Park in Western Uganda. Lunch will be had in a hotel in Fort Portal Tourism City, 26kms from Kibale. Upon early arrival, check into your lodge for relaxation and optional activities you may have include nature walks, visit the crater lakes.
Accommodation:
- Papaya Lake Lodge/Primate Lodge (Luxury)
- Kibale Forest Camp/Isunga Lodge (Moderate)
- Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Basic)
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking Kibale & bird watching in Bigodi
Go chimpanzee trekking after breakfast in your lodge and briefing at Kanyanchu Tourist Centre by park official. Actual trek to see chimpanzees begins at 8:00am and lasts for 2-4 hours which is inclusive of 1 hour with these unique apes. This also includes photography and in-depth learning about chimpanzee behaviors. Kibale Forest shelters more than chimpanzees, and expect to come across many other species of primates, birds and floral species.
Retreat from a chimpanzee trek to have lunch, relax and leave your lodge for Bigodi nature walk and birding. Over 138 bird species have been recorded in Bigodi Wetland including the Great Blue Turaco; primates such as baboons, blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys. Get back to chill, share your memories of the day and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation:
- Papaya Lake Lodge/Primate Lodge (Luxury)
- Kibale Forest Camp/Isunga Lodge (Moderate)
- Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Basic)
Day 4: Kibale, 3 hours’ drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have a delicious breakfast and leave Kibale for Queen Elizabeth National Park, 3 hours’ drive through Fort Portal. Lunch can be had in Fort Portal or at the lodge upon arrival at Queen Elizabeth National Park the only home to tree climbing lions in Uganda. After you have relaxed, you may have a quick game drive in the evening for 2-3 hours which gets you great sight of savanna species as they rush back to their areas to retire for the night.
Accommodation:
- Mweya Safari Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Katara Lodge (Luxury)
- Marafiki Safari Lodge/Bush Lodge (Moderate)
- Mweya Hostels/Marafiki Safari Lodge (Basic)
Day 5: 2-3 hours’ Game drive in Kasenyi & Launch cruise on Kazinga Channel
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and later begin your 2-3 hours’ drive early. This is a great opportunity for you to look out for diverse wildlife species and enjoy excellent view of them in a 4WD with pop-up roof. The interesting creatures to expect to sight here range from lions, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs to bird species. Drive back to have lunch and later, go for yet another 2-3 hours on a launch cruise. This will be done along Kazinga channel which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. This channel is known for clear view of Nile crocodiles, hippos, aquatic birds. Get back for dinner and comfortable night stay at the lodge.
Accommodation:
- Mweya Safari Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Katara Lodge (Luxury)
- Marafiki Safari Lodge/Bush Lodge (Moderate)
- Mweya Hostels/Marafiki Safari Lodge (Basic)
Day 6: Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions & drive to Bwindi
Get up for breakfast in the morning and leave your lodge for Ishasha in the southern Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will have a game drive along Ishasha while enjoying amazing view of tree climbing lions and other wildlife, birds. After, head to Savanna Resort Hotel about 8kms from Ishasha sector and 43kms from Bwindi. Upon arrival at Bwindi National Park a home to mountain gorillas, check into your gorilla lodge.
Accommodation:
- Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Luxury)
- Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Moderate)
- Nshongi camp/Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Buhoma community rest camp (Basic)
Day 7: Gorilla trekking
Have breakfast and later get to Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo region to meet park ranger/official for briefing. Get insight into the set gorilla trekking rules and regulations. After being allocated a gorilla family, the park guide takes on gorilla trek starting at 8:00am. How long it will take you to find mountain gorillas entirely depends on your speed of hike, where they are found and nature of the environment. But in most cases, it takes 2-6 hours and it covers 1 hour of photography and exploring more about gorilla daily behaviors. Return to rest at the lodge and along the way, don’t miss interesting birds and primates.
In the evening, you will complement your gorilla adventure with cultural tour in the Batwa community. Your experience at the Batwa community includes interacting with the Batwa pygmies, learning about their traditions, lifestyles and get entertained by the dances, music performance.
Accommodation:
- Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Luxury)
- Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Moderate)
- Nshongi camp/Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Buhoma community rest camp (Basic)
Day 8: Bwindi to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri
Have a heavy breakfast and later, cross to Rwanda via Katuna/Chanika border. Take about 3-4 hours to drive up to Volcanoes National Park where you will check in at a gorilla lodge.
Accommodation:
- Virunga Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury)
- Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci (Moderate)
- Kinigi Guesthouse (Basic)
Day 9: Gorilla trekking
Enjoy the best of Rwanda’s cup of tea or coffee and assemble at Kinigi offices. Get briefed by the park ranger and also have a habituated gorilla group assigned to you. A trek to see gorillas commences at 8:00am with park guide and you may cover 2-6 hours. You return after 1 hour of magical encounter and later, visit Iby’Iwacu cultural centre for an inspirational cultural experience.
Accommodation:
- Virunga Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury)
- Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci (Moderate)
- Kinigi Guesthouse (Basic)
Day 10: Connect to Kigali from Volcanoes National Park-Kigali city tour
After breakfast, next is check out of the lodge. Meet your driver guide who will take you to Kigali for a city tour which includes a visit to Kigali genocide site and many other sites. After, lunch at a hotel then drop off at Kigali airport or hotel for relaxation.
End of your trip
Safari Inclusions
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee permits
- Airport transfers
- Bottled drinking water
- Travel in 4×4 safari vehicle
- Fulltime English-speaking driver
- All relevant government taxes
- Activities in the travel plan but not the optional ones
- Game drives
- Boat cruise
- Park entry fees
Safari Exclusions
- International Flight fares
- Personal insurance
- Tipping
- Telephone calls
- Additional/optional activities
- Hotel fees before and after the trip
- Laundry services
- Beverages of personal interest
- Visa fees
