15 days Rwanda and Uganda safari offers you chance for double gorilla trekking with Africa Adventure Safaris. This package includes gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda; a visit the twin lakes of Rudondo and Burera. Golden monkey tracking the next day and finally transfer to Uganda’s Bwindi NP to tracking mountain gorillas and lastly wildlife viewing and relaxing in Lake Bunyonyi. The guest is free to either proceed to Kampala with a long overland drive of about 9 hours or simply return to Kigali.
Trip Highlights – 15 days Rwanda and Uganda safari
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport
Day 2: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Day 6: Golden Monkey Tracking and Twin Lakes Visit
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience
Day 9: Transfer through Ishasha to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 10: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Day 11: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 12: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Day 13: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 14: Walking Safari, Boat Cruise, and Transfer to Entebbe
Day 15: Entebbe City Tour and Departure
Tour Itinerary – 15 days Rwanda and Uganda safari
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport
Your 15 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari begins upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. Your safari guide will welcome you before transferring you to your hotel in Kigali. The journey usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. After checking in, spend the rest of the day relaxing after your flight. If you arrive early, enjoy a short drive through Kigali to experience the city’s clean streets and rolling hills. You may visit Nyandungu Eco-Park, a restored wetland with walking trails, indigenous trees and many bird species. The park offers a peaceful introduction to Rwanda’s natural environment. Coffee lovers may also enjoy visiting one of Kigali’s speciality coffee shops to sample locally grown Arabica coffee. In the evening, your guide will brief you about the safari before you return to your hotel. Accommodation options includeThe Retreat by Heaven (luxury), Hotel des Mille Collines (mid-range) and ONOMO Hotel Kigali (budget).
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
After breakfast, leave Kigali and begin the journey to Nyungwe National Park. The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours through Rwanda’s countryside. Your first stop is the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza. The museum explains Rwanda’s traditional monarchy and features the famous long-horned Inyambo cattle. Continue to Huye where you will visit the Ethnographic Museum. The museum displays traditional tools, cultural objects, music and historical collections from across Rwanda.
Enjoy lunch before continuing towards Nyungwe. As the road climbs into the mountains, the landscape changes into rolling tea plantations and dense rainforest. Before reaching your lodge, stop at Gisakura Tea Estate. Take a guided walk through the tea fields and learn how tea is grown, harvested and processed. Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon. If time allows, enjoy a short nature walk near the lodge. Accommodation options include One&Only Nyungwe House(luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel(mid-range) and Gisakura Guest House (budget).
Nyungwe National Park is located in southwestern Rwanda near the border with Burundi. It protects one of Africa’s oldest mountain rainforests and covers more than 1,000 square kilometres. The park is home to chimpanzees, thirteen primate species, over 320 bird species, hundreds of butterfly species and thousands of plant species. Nyungwe is also famous for its canopy walkway, scenic hiking trails, waterfalls and tea plantations that surround the forest.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking, Canopy Walk and waterfall trail
Wake early before heading to the park headquarters for a briefing. Experienced rangers will lead you into the rainforest in search of chimpanzees. The walk may last between one and four hours depending on the chimpanzees’ location. Once found, spend one hour observing their natural behaviour. Watch them feed, groom, climb trees and communicate through different calls.
Return to your lodge for lunch before visiting the Nyungwe canopy walk. The suspended bridge stretches about 160 metres and stands around 70 metres above the forest floor. The canopy offers beautiful views across the rainforest and opportunities to spot monkeys, birds and butterflies. Later, continue on the waterfall trail. This peaceful forest walk passes giant trees, orchids, ferns and small streams before reaching a scenic waterfall hidden within the forest. The trail receives fewer visitors than the canopy walk and offers a quieter rainforest experience. Return to your lodge before dinner. Accommodation options include One&Only Nyungwe House(luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel(mid-range) and Gisakura Guest House (budget).
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, leave Nyungwe National Park and travel north towards Volcanoes National Park. The drive takes about 6 to 7 hours. Follow the scenic road along Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes. Stop in Karongi to enjoy views across the lake before continuing to Rubavu. The lakeside route passes fishing villages, coffee farms and small beaches. After lunch, continue towards Musanze. Before reaching your lodge, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. The centre explains mountain gorilla conservation through interactive exhibits and educational displays. If time allows, visit a local coffee cooperative where farmers explain Rwanda’s coffee-growing traditions. Arrive at your lodge in the evening. Accommodation options include Bisate Lodge (luxury), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (mid-range) and Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (budget).
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking Adventure and visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Go gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans (subject to permit availability at the time of booking). Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virungas is a magical experience. If you are lucky you can get to the gorillas, spend an hour with them, and be back at the base in time for a late lunch! Some gorilla families however are more elusive and tracking can sometimes take a full day. At the finish of this trek, you will return to your lodge for lunch and relax. In the afternoon if interested setout for Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, also known as Gorilla Guardians Village. Former poachers now work as guides, sharing traditional dances, music, storytelling, local farming practices, and medicinal plant knowledge. The visit also explains how conservation has created new opportunities for surrounding communities. Return to your lodge during the evening.Day 6: Golden monkey tracking and visit to the twin lakes
After an early breakfast, drive to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing before golden monkey tracking. Golden monkeys live mainly in the park’s bamboo forests. They are active primates that move quickly through the trees while feeding on bamboo shoots, fruits, leaves and insects. The trek usually lasts between 2 and 4 hours depending on the monkeys’ location. After locating the troop, spend one hour watching them feed, play and move through the forest.
Return to your lodge for lunch before visiting the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. The drive takes about 45 minutes to one hour. The lakes are surrounded by terraced hills and offer some of Rwanda’s finest mountain scenery. Take a traditional canoe ride with local guides and learn about fishing methods used by nearby communities. You may also visit a small village where residents grow potatoes, beans, sorghum and vegetables on the volcanic slopes. Return to your lodge in the evening. Accommodation options include Bisate Lodge (luxury), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (mid-range) and Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (budget).
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, leave Rwanda and begin the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Cross into Uganda through the Cyanika Border Post. The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on your trekking sector and border formalities. As you travel through southwestern Uganda, enjoy views of rolling hills, terraced farms and small rural communities. Stop at one of the scenic viewpoints overlooking the Kigezi Highlands. This region is often called the “Switzerland of Africa” because of its steep hills and valleys. Before reaching your lodge, visit a local coffee cooperative if time allows. Farmers explain how Arabica coffee is grown, harvested, dried, roasted and prepared.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in southwestern Uganda along the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. It protects one of Africa’s oldest mountain rainforests and is home to the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world. The park has four gorilla trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Each sector has habituated gorilla families that visitors can track throughout the year. Besides gorillas, Bwindi supports many bird species, butterflies, forest elephants and several monkey species. Accommodation options include Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp and Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (luxury), Mahogany Springs Lodge and Gorilla Mist Camp (mid-range), Broadbill Forest Camp and Ride 4 A Woman Guest House (budget).
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Uganda & Optional Community walk
Today wakeup early for a quick breakfast and head out for briefing from the guides, set off for the gorilla tracking in the impenetrable forest. All travelers should be assembled at the briefing point by 8.00am. You need to carry packed lunch, drinking water, rain jacket and walking stick will be provided. After briefing, enter the forest to track gorillas, the time taken to find the magnificent primates is unpredictable since it depends on when the gorillas where last seen.
After lunch, visit the Batwa community. The Batwa people once lived inside Bwindi Forest before it became a protected national park. Community guides demonstrate traditional hunting methods, medicinal plants, music, dances, storytelling and fire-making techniques. The visit offers a better understanding of how conservation and local communities now work together. Return to your lodge before dinner. Meal plan –Breakfast, lunch &Dinner in accommodations of previous day.
Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park through Ishasha
After breakfast, leave Bwindi and drive towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey takes about 4 to 5 hours. Enter the park through the Ishasha Sector which is famous for its tree-climbing lions. Enjoy a game drive while searching for lions resting in large fig trees. Besides lions, look for elephants, buffaloes, topis, Uganda kobs, warthogs and several bird species. Continue north towards the Mweya Peninsula. Along the route, stop at scenic viewpoints overlooking the western Rift Valley and its volcanic crater lakes. If time allows, visit one of the fishing communities near Lake Edward. These small villages provide an opportunity to learn about traditional fishing methods and daily life around the park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park lies in western Uganda between Lake Edward and Lake George. It covers about 1,978 square kilometres and protects grasslands, forests, crater lakes, wetlands and the famous Kazinga Channel. The park is home to elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, antelopes and more than 600 bird species. Every part of the park offers a different wildlife experience. Arrive at your lodge during the evening. Accommodation options include Mweya Safari Lodge and Kyambura Gorge Lodge (luxury), Elephant Plains Lodge and Twin Lakes Safari Lodge (mid-range), Bush Lodge and Pumba Safari Cottages (budget).
Day 10: Morning game drive and Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Leave your lodge before sunrise for a morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains. The early hours provide excellent opportunities to search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, waterbucks and Uganda kobs. Your guide will explain how different animals use the park’s grasslands, wetlands and woodland areas. Return to your lodge for lunch before heading to the Kazinga Channel.
The afternoon boat cruise is one of Uganda’s best wildlife experiences. The channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and attracts animals throughout the day. Large groups of hippos spend much of their time in the water while Nile crocodiles rest along the shoreline. Elephants, buffaloes and antelopes often visit the channel to drink. The cruise also offers excellent bird watching opportunities. Common sightings include African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, pelicans, saddle-billed storks and African skimmers. After the cruise, visit the nearby Katwe Salt Lake. Local guides explain how salt has been mined by hand for many generations. The visit also provides an opportunity to meet local miners and learn how the industry supports surrounding communities. Return to your lodge before sunset. Accommodation options include Mweya Safari Lodge and Kyambura Gorge Lodge (luxury), Elephant Plains Lodge and Twin Lakes Safari Lodge (mid-range), Bush Lodge and Pumba Safari Cottages (budget).
Day 11: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and drive towards Kibale National Park. The journey takes about 2½ to 3 hours. The road passes through the crater lakes region, where volcanic activity formed dozens of small lakes surrounded by forest and farmland. Stop at one of the viewpoints overlooking the Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes. The scenery here is among the most beautiful in western Uganda. You may also visit a nearby tea plantation. Local guides explain how tea is planted, harvested, processed and prepared before export.
Continue to Fort Portal for lunch. The town sits beneath the Rwenzori Mountains and is known for its cool climate and fertile farmland. Arrive at your lodge near Kibale Forest in the afternoon. If time allows, enjoy a guided nature walk around the lodge to look for birds, butterflies and monkeys. Accommodation options include Kyaninga Lodge (luxury), Turaco Treetops (mid-range) and Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (budget).
Kibale National Park is located in western Uganda near Fort Portal. The park covers about 795 square kilometres of tropical rainforest and is one of Africa’s best places to track wild chimpanzees. Kibale is home to 13 primate species including chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys. The forest also supports over 370 bird species, butterflies and many native tree species.
Day 12: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi wetland sanctuary
Wake early and enjoy breakfast before driving to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre. Park rangers will explain the tracking rules before leading you into the forest. Chimpanzees move freely through Kibale, so trekking time varies depending on their location. As you walk through the forest, your guide will point out different tree species, medicinal plants, butterflies, birds and other primates. Once you locate the chimpanzees, spend one hour watching them in their natural habitat. You may see them feeding, climbing, grooming, resting, and communicating with one another. Return to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-managed conservation area next to Kibale National Park. The wetland is known for its rich birdlife and several monkey species. Look out for black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and forest birds. Continue into Bigodi village for a community experience. Visit a coffee farm where local farmers explain each stage of coffee production. You can also watch traditional basket weaving and learn how banana products are prepared. The visit supports local families while promoting wildlife conservation. Return to your lodge before dinner.
Day 13: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, begin the journey to Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes about 6 to 7 hours. Travel through Fort Portal, tea-growing areas, Mbarara and the rolling countryside of western Uganda. Stop at the Igongo Cultural Centre near Mbarara. The centre introduces visitors to the history of the Ankole Kingdom and the traditions of the Banyankole people.
You can also learn about the famous Ankole long-horned cattle and enjoy local cuisine. Continue to Lake Mburo National Park and arrive during the late afternoon. If time allows, enjoy a short evening game drive. The cooler evening hours often provide good wildlife viewing opportunities. Watch for zebras, giraffes, impalas, buffaloes, warthogs and elands. Return to your lodge for dinner.
Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest savannah national park. It lies between Kampala and western Uganda which makes it a convenient stop before returning to Entebbe. The park has open grasslands, acacia woodland, rocky hills, wetlands and five lakes. It is famous for zebras, impalas, giraffes, elands, buffaloes, hippos and many bird species. Accommodation options includes Mihingo Lodge (luxury), Lake Mburo Safari Lodge (mid-range) and Eagles Nest Camp (budget).
Day 14: Walking safari, boat cruise and transfer to Entebbe
Start the day with a guided walking safari led by an armed ranger. Walking through the park offers a different perspective from a vehicle safari. Your guide will explain animal tracks, bird calls, medicinal plants and the behaviour of different wildlife species. You may encounter zebras, giraffes, impalas and other grazing animals from a safe distance.
After breakfast, enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. The lake supports hippos, Nile crocodiles, African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons and many water birds. The shoreline often attracts buffaloes and antelopes during the warmer hours. After lunch, begin the drive to Entebbe. The journey takes about 4 to 5 hours. Stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photographs and a short break. Browse the nearby craft shops for handmade souvenirs before continuing to Entebbe. Arrive at your hotel in the evening. Accommodation options include Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe (luxury), 2 Friends Beach Hotel (mid-range) and Airport Guesthouse Entebbe (budget).
Day 15: Entebbe City tour and Departure
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before checking out of your hotel. Depending on your departure time, explore some of Entebbe’s attractions. Visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, established in 1898. The gardens contain indigenous trees, exotic plants, monkeys and many bird species. Continue to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. The centre cares for rescued wildlife and introduces visitors to Uganda’s rich biodiversity. If time allows, take a walk along the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake. You may also visit the local craft market to buy handmade baskets, fabrics, wood carvings and paintings. Enjoy lunch at one of Entebbe’s lakeside restaurants before your guide transfers you to Entebbe International Airport.
End of Safari
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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