13-Day Explore Uganda & Rwanda Safari

Tour Uganda "the pearl of Africa" and Rwanda "the land of a thousand hills" during this safari. A combination of savanna parks and jungles lets you see the best of what these two countries have to offer. Including game-drives and boat-cruises to spot lions, elephants, buffaloes and more in Murchison Falls NP and Queen Elizabeth NP and a trek to meet rhinos at Ziwa rhino sanctuary before we focus on primates with treks in the jungles to see gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival to Uganda

Arrival at Entebbe airport for the Explore Uganda & Rwanda safari. We meet our tour guide and make the journey to Kampala getting a first taste of Uganda along the way. Get to the guest home in Kampala to relax after the flight and be ready for the adventure starting the next day.

Accommodation: Mamaland Guest home

 

Day 2 Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino and top of the falls

Leave Kampala in the morning to head to Murchison Falls national park. Along the way we make a stop at Ziwa rhino sanctuary where they are working to reintroduce rhinos to Uganda. Here you go for a trek to meet these impressive animals. You then continue on having lunch along the way and drive on to Murchison Falls NP for a visit to the top of the falls. This is a magnificent classic highlight as an explosive dash of water at close range gushes through a narrow crevice. After this we drive on to the lodge just outside the park.

Accommodation: Twiga Tales Lodge

 

Day 3 Game drive and boat-cruise in Murchison Falls NP

In the early morning we set off for a game-drive in the park. You have the chance of seeing Big cats hunting, Elephants, Giraffes, Buffalos, plus more as the checklist of mammals reaches 76. We continue browsing the Drive circuits to the Delta point for a cocktail of Birds and mammals. Enjoy a relaxed lunch and then go for a 3 hour boat ride on the river Nile to the base of the falls where you get to see the Hippos (You have never seen more hippos yawning, Grooming in there Pods anywhere else than here- Believe me you)! Nile Crocodiles, Elephants and a variety of beautiful bird species along the banks. If you are a keen birder this might be your magnet to catch them. This is a grand start to your visit in this Great Animal home!

Accommodation: Twiga Tales Lodge

 

Day 4 Transfer to the Kibale Forest environs

After breakfast transfer towards the environs of Kibale Forest. It’s a long drive, so be prepared to relax in the car. A punctuation of stopovers at sceneries like the Rift valley escarpment on Lake Albert if the day is clear with the Congo mountains in view - typical African village setup in the far countryside and tea plantations along the drive offer us chances of stretching. We check in late afternoon at the lodge bordering Kibale Forest in an area with an amazing display of primates. A night in this forest gives you the calls from the nocturnal life plus famous Frog concerts in this forest area revealing a true pristine Africa.

Accommodation: Isunga Lodge

​

Day 5 Transfer through the crater lakes area to Queen Elizabeth NP & boat-cruise on Kazinga channel

We leave the lodge after breakfast and drive through the crater lakes region with beautiful scenery and chance of seeing primates like black and white colobus and red tailed monkey along the way. Our target is Queen Elizabeth NP and the afternoon boat-cruise on Kazinga channel.

This natural channel connects Lake George - Lake Edward. Here you can see Hippopotamuses yawning, Nile Crocodile gaping along the Banks, Savannah version of Pigs the Warthog, impressive elephants and more. After the boat we continue on to the lodge for dinner and a relaxed evening.

Accommodation: Engiri Game Lodge

 

Day 6 Game-drive in Ishasha and transfer to Kisoro by Mgahinga NP

After breakfast we leave the lodge and head towards Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. Ishasha is known for its tree-climbing lions, one of two places in Africa where the lions have the habit of regularly climbing trees to rest. We drive along the tracks seeing buffaloes, topis and hopefully the lions in the fig-trees. After the morning game-drive we continue the journey to Kisoro, drive through the bamboo area via the echuya forest with the Golden scenery of the Volcanoes at eye level in view as we drive down the meandering road to Kisoro volcanic stone town!

Accommodation: Mucha Hotel

​

Day 7 Gorilla trekking day- Mgahinga National Park

In the morning we drive to the gorilla trekking starting point where your adventure will begin. You are lead into the forest in a group with a specialized guide and make a trek to the point where the gorillas are. Then you get to spend one unforgettable hour with the gorilla family. After the trek we set off for our target destination Rwanda, the second country in the Uganda & Rwanda safari. Drive out to cross the relaxed border post and continue on through a beautiful landscape in Rwanda to reach the town of Ruhengeri where we spend the night.

Accommodation: Muhabura Hotel

​

Day 8 Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park

This morning you set off to meet the golden monkeys. Your guide takes you to the starting point and you set off with a specialized guide for the trek. You’ll experience beautiful nature and get a great experience of primates After the trek you can enjoy a relaxed afternoon.

Accommodation: Muhabura Hotel

 

Day 9 Transfer to Lake Kivu and relaxed afternoon

After breakfast we leave Ruhengeri and make the short journey to Lake Kivu. The target is to be by the lake for lunch and then you can enjoy a free afternoon relaxing in the beautiful surroundings at Lake Kivu. Possible to go for a boat-ride or just relax with a book (no activities included in the price).

Accommodation: Paradise Malahide

 

Day 10 Transfer Nyungwe forest national park

We continue exploring Rwanda and this day the target is to transfer to Nyungwe Forest. Enjoy the landscape passing by the windows and take in the Rwandan countryside. In the afternoon we check in at the guesthouse close to Nyungwe forest and enjoy the evening.

Accommodation: Gisakura Guest House

 

Day 11 Chimps trekking in Nyungwe forest national park

This morning you head into Nyungwe forest to meet our close cousins the chimpanzees. Go with a specialized guide and trek the chimpanzees. Hopefully you get a good sighting and wonderful experience of the jungle. After the trek we head back to the guesthouse.

Accommodation: Gisakura Guest House

 

Day 12 Transfer to Kigali

We start our journey in the morning with Rwanda's capital Kigali as our target destination. Ones again we get to experience the countryside and scenic landscapes along the way. We expect to arrive in the city during the afternoon and check in at the hotel.

Accommodation: Step Town Motel

​

Day 13 Kigali city tour (depending on flight time) and flight day

Have a city tour of Kigali (depending on your flight time) including the genocide war memorial and traditions and culture of Rwanda in the crafts villages. Your guide will be throwing light on this former French –Belgium colony on how the apocalypse started and how it ended. We have now reached the end of the Uganda & Rwanda highlights safari. Transfer to airport depending on flight time.