14 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari

Overview

Embark on this amazing safari to the pearl of Africa and the land of a thousand hills to encounter wildlife, nature and culture. Visit notable national parks such as Bwindi, Nyungwe, Kibale and more. This is a big five safari with primates, taking part in activities like game drives, boat cruises, gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking, community tours and many more. Visit some of the famous attractions in Kigali city such as the genocide memorial centre, Kimironko market and many more others.

Detailed Itinerary

Day1. Airport pick up and transfer to the hotel in Kampala/Entebbe

On arrival, be picked up by the driver who will take you to the booked hotel. This will be the start of the safari. In case you arrive early, take a short city tour in either Kampala or Entebbe with different alternatives to visit.

Day2. Head to Murchison falls, enroute Rhino trekking

Leave the hotel after breakfast, followed by a transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, home to the four of the African big five animals. On the way, bypass and make a stopover at roadside markets to buy fresh fruits like yellow bananas, pineapples, jackfruits, oranges, passion fruits and many more others.

Also, have a stopover at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino trekking. This is the only place in Uganda to spot rhinos in the wild on foot. Trekking can last about 2 hours as you spot animals like kobs, duikers, bushbucks and more. Proceed after lunch and head to the booked lodge in Murchison Falls NP known for one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls.

Day3. Game drive and Boat cruise

Take a morning game drive in the savannahs where you expect to meet animals like leopards, lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalos, hyenas, jackals, bushbucks and more for about 3 hours. This includes a break to enjoy nature and wildlife at the hippo pool while enjoying fruits.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise where you get a chance to spot animals like crocodiles, hippos, different bird species and many more others. The boat cruise rewards you with an experience of enjoying a view of the falls from the bottom, not forgetting the different bird species such as Giant Kingfisher, Giant Heron, Shoebill stork and more.

Day4. Transfer to Kibale National park, Isunga community tour

Wake up and have your breakfast at the lodge which will be followed by a transfer to Kibale National Park a journey taking about 6 hours drive. Arrive and enjoy breakfast followed by a community tour of Isunga village where you learn about the cultures of this area through music and dance, storytelling, exploring crater lakes, passing through coffee gardens, tea plantations and more. Head to the lodge booked for refreshment.

Day5. Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Have morning breakfast, followed by a short drive to Kanyanchu visitor centre for briefing before trekking commences. This exercise introduces you to the rules and regulations to follow, the requirements needed for trekking, the assignment of the park ranger guide, cross-checking the chimpanzee tracking permits and more. Trekking will create everlasting memories since there is a lot to spot such as birds, small primates and vegetation cover. On meeting a community of chimpanzees, start capturing photos, recording videos and more for an hour but the overall experience can take about 5 hours.

Have lunch at the lodge and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a home to diverse wild animals including the rare tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. Arrive and head to the lodge for your dinner.

Day6. Game drive and boat cruise

Take a morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise where you encounter different land and water animals and birds such as hippos, crocodiles, buffalos, elephants, Uganda kob, hyenas, cheetahs, lions and many more. Each experience can last for about 2 to 3 hours but worth it since there is great scenery creating opportunities for great photos.

Day7. Game drive in Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Head for another morning game drive in the park and this time it will be in the Ishasha sector with the main goal of spotting the rare tree-climbing lions. Spot them in the tree branches eyeing the prey, after transfer to Bwindi National Park home to the rare endangered mountain gorillas. Apart from the gorillas, the park is home to other large and small mammals such as duikers, elephants, buffalos and more.

Day8. Gorilla trekking

Wake up and head to the park offices after breakfast for a gorilla trekking adventure which will begin with briefing. Be told about the dos and don’ts to follow such as don’t use flashlight cameras, keep a distance all the time, don’t litter the park premises, don’t make noise, do not mimic and more.

The trek will begin by passing through the impenetrable forest while spotting vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, colobus monkeys and many of the birds and vegetation. Meeting a gorilla family rewards you with a great time (an hour) spent taking photos and recording videos though the overall experience can take about 7 hours. Head back to the lodge after being awarded a certificate.

Day9. Head to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

Hit the road to Rwanda after a leisurely breakfast as you find a way to Volcanoes National Park. The journey to this park is amazing since it offers a beautiful landscape in the countryside of terraced rolling hills. Lunch en route will be at one of the local restaurants in Rwanda and then proceed to the park lodge for leisure or opt to take an optional nature walk.

Day10. Golden monkey trekking and Ibyiwachu cultural village tour

Like the day in Bwindi National Park, head to the park offices for briefing and this time, the park ranger guide will take you through what to expect during the adventure. Trekking will begin with a high chance of meeting the gorillas since this territory holds the largest number of these unique primate species. Trekking will take about 8 hours of great adventure. After the experience, have lunch and encounter the Rwandese culture by visiting the Ibyiwachu cultural village where you enjoy storytelling, music and dance.

Day11. Head to Nyungwe National Park

Check out from your hotel and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park home to the 13 primates including chimpanzees, our close relatives. The journey is amazing as you enjoy the countryside of Rwanda’s landscapes, green environment and many more others. Arrive and head to the lodge and this will be the end of the day.

Day12. Chimpanzee tracking and head to Akagera National Park

Wake up and head for chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest which will commence immediately after breakfast and briefing. There is a lot to see while in the forest such as vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, colobus monkeys, birds like Rwenzori turaco, purple breasted sunbird, Shelley’s crimson wing, regal sunbird, Ruwenzori night jar among others.

Meeting the chimpanzees will offer you an opportunity to spend an hour in their presence learning while capturing memories with your camera. The whole experience can last for about 6 hours of great adventure in your lifetime. After head to Akagera National Park, the only savannah park in Rwanda and home to the African Big Five animals. Arrive and head to the lodge for your dinner.

Day13. Game drive, hot air ballooning and boat cruise

Take part in the hot air ballooning tour around Akagera National Park and this will reward you with an opportunity to enjoy wildlife and the surroundings with a panoramic view. Take a game drive to enjoy animals like giraffes, lions, elephants, buffalos, zebras, warthogs, rhinos and more. After lunch, take a boat cruise where you expect to spot animals like hippos, crocodiles, buffalos and more.

Day14. Head to Kigali, city tour and departure

Wake up ready to check out from your lodge and transfer to Kigali after breakfast. Have a short city tour where you expect to visit the Rwanda genocide center, local markets like Kimironko market and many more others. Be dropped at the airport and this will mark the end of the safari.