15 Days Rwanda and Uganda Combined Safari Adventure
Day 1: Kigali city tour- Transfer to Volcanoes Gorilla Park
Breakfast at the hotel and proceed for a city tour in Kigali, visit Gisozi genocide museum, local art and craft markets as well as fruit markets where you can choose your fruit basket. Lunch and hit the road to Volcanoes National Park, a home to mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
The 90 minutes journey goes through the beautiful majestic hills / terraced hillsides that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape. Dinner and overnight stay at Sabyinyo Sliver Back Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Mountain gorilla view lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Muhabura Hotel Or Kinigi Guest house.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Adventure- Afternoon community walk
Wake up early for heavy breakfast and prepare for today’s incredible experience of gorilla tracking. We shall assemble at Park Headquarters with packed lunch and water, attend a briefing on the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ while with Gorillas. Tracking gorillas take 2-8 Hours depending on their movements in their natural environment. You will stay with these giant apes for maximum of one hour for observation and photographing. Descend to your lodge for lunch, rest and if the evening is free, we can have a walk to nearby communities or Musanze local market, interact with them and learn more about their culture. Dinner and overnight as on Day 2.
Day 3: Visit the Dina Fossey Tombs, Cross to Uganda – Kisoro Town
Breakfast at the hotel / lodge and proceed for another adventurous hike to Dina Fossey Tombs near Karisoke research center where the Late Diane spent close to 20 year studying and habituating the mountain gorillas. The hike is so spectacular and you may see all sorts of animals such as forest elephants, monkeys and sometime gorillas. Alternatively, we do golden monkey tracking, or Mount Bishoke hiking, or Musanze caves exploration! After lunch, leave for Uganda through Cyanika boarder to Kisoro town or Mgahinga National Park, dinner and overnight at Gahinga Lodge, Travelers Rest Hotel Kisoro or Tourist Hotel.
Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga Forest
We shall visit Mgahinga Forest / National Park for Golden monkey tracking or hiking to the top of the mountain for fantastic scenic view of DR Congo, or spend the whole day in the forest with the Batwa people experiencing their ways of life; this is called the Batwa Trail! Later transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, famous for its beautiful islands and prolific bird life, settle into Arcadia Cottages, bird nest resort, Bunyonyi Luxury Resort or Bunyonyi Overland Resort!
Day 5: Canoe Ride – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (2-4hrs)
After breakfast, join a canoe ride that exposes you to excellent birding, and visit the beautiful Islands of Lake Bunyonyi including the Batwa people. However, this depends on the weather. After lunch, drive through the Switzerland of Africa, with the roads winding through many hills and valleys, with distant views of the Virunga volcanoes. Dinner and overnight at Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Gift of nature Lodge or Wagtail Eco safari camp.
Day 6: Second Gorilla tracking Adventure, Bwindi National Park
After heavy breakfast, we shall proceed to park offices with packed lunch and water for a briefing about the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ while with gorillas. The trek can take 2-8 hours depending on their movements. The hike involves walking up steep and densely forested hills before finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation. You will stay with these Giant apes for 1 hour for observation and photography. Dinner at your lodge as on Day 6.
Day 7: Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector viewing tree climbing lions
Take breakfast and set off to Queen Elizabeth Park, enjoy a game drive through the Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth Park, a home for tree climbing lions along side other animals. Lunch in Ishasha, then proceed for a 4pm boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, famous for the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa. Bird life is prolific with over 610 species and hundreds of Nile crocodiles. You will also see herds of elephants and buffaloes drinking water on the channel. The boat provides a clear platform for photographing. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge, Enganzi lodge, Bush Lodge or Twin Lake Lodge.
Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking – Afternoon Game drive
Have early breakfast and drive to Kyambura Gorge nearby to track the fast moving and elusive wild chimpanzees, one of man’s closest relations. Kyambura Gorge habours the only family of habituated chimpanzees in Africa. Chimpanzee tracking safaris depart from Fig Tree Camp each morning at 08:00 Hrs and other primates include Red tailed monkeys, Vervet, Black and White colobus monkeys, olive baboons and Giant forest hog. Return to the lodge for lunch and proceed for an evening game drive along Mweya Peninsular before sunset. Dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
Day 9: Early morning Game drive – transfer to Kibale Forest National Park (3hrs)
Wake up early for a cup of tea or coffee and take a morning game drive to Kasenyi plains to catch up with early raisers and predators returning to their hideouts. You will be exposed to large variety of animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, and several Antelope species, Lion, leopard and many more. Return to your lodge for full breakfast and relax as we wait for lunch. Depart for Kibale forest following the Rwenzori ranges. The journey will reward you with big game viewing en-route. Visit Toro King’s Palace and take a drive around Fort portal town and markets, interact with local people. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge, Kyaninga lodge, Kibale safari lodge, Chimp Nest Lodge or Chimpanzee guest house.
Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking – nature/cultural walk
Have early breakfast and assemble at Kibale Park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. The trek will expose you to other primates like Colobus Monkeys Giant forest hog, Vervet, red-tailed monkeys, the Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, Olive Baboons, and over 350 bird species. Return for lunch; Relax as we wait for an evening cultural walk to nearby communities or to Bigodi swamps. Dinner and overnight at your lodge on Day 10.
Day 11: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park (6-8hrs)
Breakfast at the lodge and hit the road to Murchison falls national park, picnic lunch en route, visit Butiaba Escarpments, and the top of the falls for photographing. Dinner & overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchison River lodge or Red Chilli Rest Camp.
Day 12: Game drive and Boat cruise
Early morning go for a game drive in the Northern Nile delta circuit, quite a sight for checking out a high concentration of wildlife. You will spot the leopards along the leopard track, the Jackson’s hartebeest, large concentrations of Uganda Kobs because of the many breeding grounds and large families of the Defassa waterbuck, together with giraffe herds, groups of the dainty oribi and buffalo herds. The high supply of Kobs called for an inevitable prides of lions to the delta too. The delta also attracts birders with specials like the Abyssinian ground hornbill, shoebill (herons, waders and egrets around small pools of water) Senegal thick-knee and Denham’s bustard. In the evening head out for a launch trip on the famous Nile River and appreciate God’s creation of the Murchison Falls, the largest crocodiles, Hippos and elephants playing in the water, dinner and overnight at your lodge on DAY 12.
Day 13: Return to Kampala
Breakfast at the lodge and drive to Kampala with enroute visit to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino tracking. Arrive in Kampala by late afternoon or early evening for dinner & overnight at Kampala Serena Hotel, Cassia Lodge Buziga, Kampala Lodge.
Day 14: Kampala City tour or White water Rafting in Jinja
Breakfast at the hotel and visit Kasubi tombs, Bahai temple, Gadaffi mosque, Namirembe and Lubaga Cathedrals, Local art and craft shops along Buganda Road, National theater and Nakasero fruits market. Alternatively, we can have full day white water rafting in Jinja and adventurous experience for lifetime. Return for dinner and overnight as on day 14.
Day 15: Departure
After breakfast, we transfer to Entebbe international Airport for your flight back home.
End of the safari
