The 14 days Uganda-Rwanda safari offers exceptional travel experiences in Uganda and Rwanda ranging from wildlife and adventure to cultural and historical experiences. Some of the most amazing experiences in this tour include gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game viewing, golden monkey tracking, cultural tours, among others.
14 Days Uganda-Rwanda safari – Trip Highlights
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Kampala
Day 2: Kampala-Jinja for rafting-Kampala
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
Day 6: Game drive and Launch Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Day 7: Game drive in Ishasha
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for a Boat trip
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi national park
Day 10: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi and transfer to Mgahinga NP
Day 11: Golden monkey tracking / Batwa cultural trail and transfer to Rwanda
Day 12: Gorilla Tracking in Volcanos NP
Day 13: Transfer to Kigali for Gisozi Genocide Memorial Site
Day 14: Shopping in Kigali handicrafts Centre and Departure
Detailed itinerary of the 14 Days Uganda-Rwanda safari
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kampala
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our company representative who will drive you to Kampala for refreshment and overnight stay at Sheraton hotel (luxury)/ La petit Village(deluxe)/ Nexus Resort(budget)
White Water rafting at the Source Of the Nile
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja for rafting
After morning breakfast, your guide will transfer you to Jinja for rafting. Explore the Nile on a boat cruise as you peddle past six different grades of rapids with your wooden peddle. Expect to be overturned with your boat as you pass these rapids. Enjoy one of the most thrilling adventures where only the strong hearted will participate. Enjoy lunch and later drive back to Kampala. Overnight at Mestil Hotel, Sheraton hotel (luxury)/ La petit Village(deluxe)/ Nexus Resort (budget).
Day 3 :Transfer to Kibale national park
This day is reserved for the transfer to Kibale national park. The drive to the west through Mityana, Mubende and later to Fort Portal is approximately 6 hours. At Mubende, you have a chance to visit the Nakayima tree which acts like a shrine where local people always visit to seek blessings from the spirit Nakayima, a Muganda goddess.
Superstitions surround the Nakayima tree. This 400 years old tree is like a house, with an entrance where ladies with trousers are prohibited from accessing it. There is no proper place for a good lunch other than Fort Portal. The city environs here, offer a lot to visit. The stalagmites – ” Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru” are worth a visit. The Tooro kingdom palace is also a great cultural site one should not miss.
After lunch a 40 minutes drive to Kibale Forest national park with scenic views of the crater lakes and the slopes of Rwenzori mountain ranges are nice to look at. Overnight say at Tabebuia Safari Lodge (luxury)/ Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge(deluxe)/ Chimpanzee guest house (budget)
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking
Take an early breakfast and report to the park headquarters with packed lunch for briefing about Chimpanzee tracking. You will then proceed to track these primates that are believed to share 98.4% of the DNA with human beings. While in this forest, you are likely to encounter other primates like the black and white colobus monkey, the red tailed monkey, the olive baboon, the blue monkey, grey cheeked mangabey, Vervet monkey, bush baby, L’hoest’s monkey among others.
A number of bird species will sing for you good melodies as you track primates. Of the park’s 325 species, 6 are endemic to the Albertine rift including the black capped apalis, blue headed sun bird, dusky crimsom wing,and the red-faced woodland warbler among others. Remember that Kibale Forest is regarded as the Primate capital of the world for its 13 primate species; the highest primate population in Africa.
It is also home to the East Africa’s largest population of the threatened red colobus monkey. After your lunch,you will take a nature walk around Bigodi wetland sanctuary. The walk will reward you with primate and bird viewing as well as a chance to visit different community projects at Bigodi and interact with the local people. Return to Tabebuia Safari Lodge (luxury)/ Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge(deluxe)/ Chimpanzee guest house (budget)
Queen Elizabeth National Park Plains
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
Enjoy breakfast at leisure and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park whilst enjoying en route views of the magnificent Rwenzori mountain, a chance to visit the Ndali crater area for scenic viewing and later glance at the local businesses in Kasese town. Proceed to enter the park with a game drive, viewing different wildlife species. Arrive at the lodge early enough for lunch.
After lunch take a game drive around the park as you look out for the common residents like elephants, buffalos, bush bucks among others. Continue to reach the Katwe crater area as you glimpse at the locals mining salt and learn of the other community projects. Return in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari lodge(luxury)/ Enganzi lodge (deluxe/ budget).
Day 6: Game drive and boat cruise
After an early breakfast, embark on a rewarding game drive along the Kasenyi trail with hopes of viewing a variety of wildlife like the elephant, the buffalo, the giraffe,topi, water buck, bush buck, kob, warthogs among the park’s 100 mammal species. Do not forget to look out for the carnivores like lions, jackals, spotted hyenas, and leopard if lucky as they retire from a night’s hunt.
Return for lunch at your lodge before carrying out an afternoon boat trip along Kazinga channel which will captivate you with fascinating views of yawning crocodiles, hippos, buffalos, elephants and other wildlife that storm the channel for water as well as an array of bird species including the African fish eagle, African skimmer, the pelicans, and the prehistoric looking shoe bill among others. Return for an overnight at Mweya Safari lodge (luxury)/ Enganzi lodge (deluxe)
Day 7: Game drive in Ishasha
After your breakfast, take a game drive to Ishasha sector in the southern part of the park expecting to see the tree-climbing lions that are a popular species of this park.Your drive might reward you with sights of other animals like kobs and gazelles grazing in the Ishasha plains. You will have lunch there and proceed with another game drive across the plains. Return in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at Ishasha wilderness camp
Day 8: Transfer to Bunyonyi for a boat Trip
On this day, a scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi is quite rewarding. Lunch on a boat trip to explore the different islands on this 2nd deepest lake in Africa is quite a great experience. “Bunyonyi” refers to the “place of birds.” The overwhelming variety of birds makes this lake a great highlight. Dinner and overnight at Arcadia lodge/ Bunyonyi Overland Resort.
Lake Bunyonyi
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi NP
Take beakfast at leisure and depart for Bwindi through Kabale town. On the way expect the local people en route carrying out their daily activities. You may stop briefly to visit the local markets. Proceed to the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park.
On arrival at the lodge, one may decide to take an optional walk to the neighboring Bakiga community to explore how they make their local beer and traditional dishes among others. Overnight stay at Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge (luxury)/ Bakiga Lodge, etc.
Day 10: Bwindi Gorilla tracking
After an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for pre-tracking briefing by the senior park ranger guide. The time taken to encounter the Mountain gorillas ranges between 2 – 8 hours depending on where they will have spent the previous night. The guest is allowed an hour to interface with the gorillas. Overnight at Mgahinga safari lodge (luxury)/ Red chilli hideaway safari camp (budget)
Day 11: Golden monkey tracking/ Batwa trail experience and Transfer to Rwanda
On this day, one may visit the rare golden monkey on the slopes of Mt.Mgahinga. The Batwa cultural trail is also worth undertaking. This ancient Pygmy tribe has an interesting culture as you listen to their stories. A visit to their caves and participation in their traditional dances and other activities are quite memorable.
After the interesting activities in Mgahinga national park, transfer to Volcanoes NP in Rwanda. The park shelters a third of the World’s remaining mountain Gorillas. The 5 of the 8 volcanoes that make up the Virunga chain of Volcanoes including Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Sabinyo and Gahinga are found in this area. Overnight stay at Mountain Gorilla View lodge (luxury)/ Kinigi guest house (deluxe).
Day 12: Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes NP
Report to the park head quarters after a cup of coffee with your packed lunch for briefing by the Senior park ranger guide. Proceed to Volcanoes national park and track the man’s evolutionary cousin – the gorillas.
The time you will spend tracking will depend on where the Gorillas will have spent the previous night. Once you sight them, you will be given an hour to observe and learn much about their behaviors. After tracking, return to relax at your lodge or take an optional visit to the Banyarwanda community. Overnight stay at Mountain Gorilla View lodge (luxury)/ Kinigi guest house (deluxe)
Day 13: Transfer to Kigali for Culture tour and Genocide museum
After breakfast, transfer to Kigali city, just a 2 hours drive on a scenic road. On arrival in the city, a visit to the Gisozi genocide memorial site is necessary. Pictures and the terrifying memories of the 1994 survivors are part of the story to ever tell. One of the most horrific disasters the world has known where the Hutu massacred thousands of Tutsi and moderate Hutu in less than 100 days will always remain to haunt the perpetrators. The Hotel des Mille Collines where the movie; ‘Hotel Rwanda’ was acted is not far from the museum. The crafts and other local markets offer a great opportunity for supporting the local women on these stalls.
Very good lunch is served in some restaurants in this clean city. Overnight at Serena Hotel Kigali(luxury)/ Stipp hotel (deluxe)
Day 14: Departure
Take a cup of coffee at leisure and prepare to go for last minute shopping before transferring to the airport for your departure flight.
End Of Tour
Included in this tour package;
- Gorilla Permit.
- Cultural entertainment
- Park Ranger Fees
- Relevant Government Taxes.
- Full Board Accommodation (2 nights) and en-route meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- Full time English speaking Driver/Guide
- Ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends.
Exclusions:
- Airfares
- Visa Fees
- Personal Insurance
- Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.
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