This 16 Days Uganda Rwanda safari tour takes you into two (2) beautiful countries; Uganda, branded as the ‘Pearl of Africa’ and Rwanda, branded as ‘the land of a thousand hills’.
The Uganda Rwanda safari tour is ideal for visitors seeking for long haul holidays in Africa and willing to take the best adventure discoveries. In Uganda, you will visit up to 5 top Uganda National Parks, including Semuliki, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth along with the Ishasha plains into Bwindi Impenetrable famous for gorilla tours in Uganda.
This safari cuts into Rwanda, with a visit to Parc Volcanoes for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and golden monkey trekking. Then Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee tours, Lake Kivu excursion and Kigali city tour. This Uganda Rwanda safari tour exceeds your safari expectations on your African journey to Uganda and Rwanda.
Uganda Rwanda Safari Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival Entebbe Airport – Entebbe
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our guide who will then take you to Kampala Serena Hotel in Kampala (high-end facility), for an overnight stay. Meal Plan: BB
Day 2: Kampala – Semuliki National Park
Leave Kampala after breakfast for the fascinating drive through papyrus swamps and thick jungle of the Nile Delta to Semuliki National Park just above the mighty Rwenzori Mountain ranges. Get your afternoon lunch in Fort Portal and then get ready to visit the Batwa cultural village just outside the park.
The Batwa, as they call themselves, are little people and who traditionally lived of what the forest could give them. They were hunter-gatherers who use to get their food, shelter, medicine and tools they needed from the forest. In modern times, forests have largely turned into farmlands and much of what remains is protected as a national park. As a result, this left the Batwa with limited access to the areas they used to dwell in. So, your visit to the Batwa in their cultural village shall give you an idea of their rich culture, don’t forget to buy their handmade crafts as souvenirs.
Dinner and overnight stay at Semuliki Safari Lodge (high-end facility). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 3: Wildlife Tour Semuliki National Park
This morning after your breakfast is dedicated for a bird watching experience in Semuliki, so get ready for a boat ride on Lake Albert for an amazing birding opportunity. Look out for such birds like Blue Swallow, White-throated Blue Swallow, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Spotted Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Lowland Akalat, Red-throated Alethe and Fire-crested Alethe among others.
The evening is dedicated for a game drive. Semuliki National Park is home to forest elephants and buffaloes, which are smaller versions in size, compared to their savannah-dwelling relatives. It is also a home for over 53 mammals of which 27 are large mammals. 11 species are endemic to the park including the pygmy antelope and two flying squirrel species. Semuliki is also home to the peculiar water chevrotain, known as the ‘fanged deer’.
Dinner and overnight stay at Semuliki Safari Lodge (high-end facility). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4: Semuliki – Kibale Forest National Park – Part of Uganda Rwanda Safari
After your breakfast, visit the famous Sempaya hot springs of Semuliki National Park. Sempaya Hot Springs are Semuliki’s most famous attraction. The male spring, known as ‘Bintente’, measures 12m in diameter and is set in a lush swampy clearing.
The female spring ‘Nyasimbi‘, meaning ‘the female ancestors’, is a boiling geyser (103°C) which spurts bubbling water and steam up to two meters high. The steam cloud can be seen from as far as 2km away. Local people used to cook their food in these boiling pools. Thereafter, drive to Kibale Forest.
Get on the afternoon guided Bigodi nature walk in the crater lakes area of the park for an outstanding bird watching experience. Take on one of the trails in the park to look out for the stunning Green-breasted Pitta, Fire-crested Alethe, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, colorful butterflies and other primate species.
Meals and overnight stay at Kyaninga Lodge (high-end facility). Meal Plan: B, L, D
Day 5: Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Walk Kibale
After early morning breakfast, report to Kanyanchu Tourist Centre where tourist activities begin and set out for chimpanzee tracking in the forest. Chances of viewing the chimps are over 90%, but not a guarantee.
Kibale National Park is one of the beautiful and stunning forests in the Uganda. It is home to our closest living relatives, the endangered chimpanzees, the threatened red colobus monkey and the rare L’Hoest’s monkeys.
The forest also boasts of having one of the highest diversity and density of primates in Africa, totaling to 13 species which include the black and white colobus, blue and red-tailed monkeys. Grey-cheeked mangabeys, bush babies and pottos. After lunch, you will visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary from where you will take on a guided nature walk around the swamp, giving you an opportunity to see a wide range of flora and fauna.
Don’t miss views of a variety of colorful butterflies, bird species and other insects and have a tour of the crater region around Ndali lodge. You may also stop over at any tea plantation along the road if you wish, and then return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Kibale – Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the afternoon shall be spent on a two hour boat trip along the famous Kazinga channel. This is a worthwhile opportunity to see a variety of wildlife, including hippos, buffaloes, Kobs, elephants and warthogs among others. This trip also gives visitors a chance to see spectacular bird species.
Dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge (high-end facility). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Begin your day with a cup of coffee, and get ready for an early morning game drive along Kasenyi and Queens’ Mile. This makes visitors encounter a variety of elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, warthogs, lions, Uganda Kobs and a variety of bird species.
Return to the lodge for mid-morning breakfast and lunch, and then drive and head to the Ishasha sector; where you will go through a unique western rift valley escarpment. Then take on yet another evening game drive in search for the famous tree climbing lions.
Dinner and overnight stay at Ishasha Wilderness Camp (high-end facility). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 8: Ishasha – Bwindi
Enjoy an early morning guided bush walk for a closer interaction with nature. The mid-morning will be spent on a game drive searching for the tree climbing lions. Thereafter, head to Bwindi, which journey takes about 2 hours, but driving through interesting features, until you reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi is home to the rare mountain gorillas, but apart from gorillas, there are a wide variety of other primates to see including the blue and red-tailed monkeys. The forest itself is lush and green with streams of water running through it.
Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Lodge (high-end facility). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 9: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking – Part of Uganda Rwanda Safari
Begin the day with breakfast and get ready for a gorilla trekking tour, which begins at 8:00am with a briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority staff. Ensure that you carry along with you a rain jacket, drinking water, snacks and jungle boots among others.
Guides will lead you inside the jungle to see the shy primates for a group you have been booked for. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare mountain gorillas, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. This tracking may take between 2 to 6 hours, but it’s worth the effort.
The afternoon is spent on a village walk, so, get on the Buhoma Village Walk which gives you a great opportunity to see how the people surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest live. It is also a great way to support the local community in a direct way. The walk begins with your guide at Buhoma Community Rest Camp and is most informative, rewarding to the average visitor. It will amaze you how resourceful the local people are as you see and learn their ways.
Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Lodge (high-end facility). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Parc Volcanoes- Rwanda
After breakfast, drive to Rwanda, to Ruhengere via Musanze while enjoying the rolling hills for which Rwanda is well known. You will then drive by the lakes, Ruhondo and Mutera, arriving at Parc Volcanoes in the afternoon. The evening is spent on sightseeing and relaxation around the hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay at Virunga Lodge (high-end facility). Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
After a briefing from your guide, set off for a gorilla tracking tour in Rwanda. Spend an hour in awe while watching these lowland gorillas go about their activities. You are likely to enjoy close views of the adults feeding, grooming and resting as youngsters frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully playful display.
Dinner and overnight stay at Virunga Lodge (high-end facility). Meal Plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 12: Rwanda Golden Monkey Trekking – Lake Kivu
Golden monkey trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park and at the same time, 7:00am just like gorillas. The exercise starts with a short briefing from the park rangers at the RDB office. Thereafter, you will proceed to track the golden monkeys through the rainforest on the volcanoes. After trekking, you will head to Kivu Lake for sunbathing and enjoyment of the beach.
Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (high-end facility). Meal Plan: (FB)
Day 13: Lake Kivu – Nyungwe Forest National Park
Have a morning breakfast and then go for boat ride enroute Nyungwe. Thereafter, embark on the journey to Nyungwe National Park. Nyungwe National Park lies in southwest Rwanda, partly abutting the Burundi border. It’s a vast area of mountain rainforest, home to many species of chimpanzees and owl-faced and colobus monkeys.
The canopy walkway is one of the highlights while in Nyungwe, because of the high suspension bridge with views over the valley and the surrounding forests. You will enjoy scenic drive to Nyungwe National Park, arriving in time for lunch and an afternoon relaxation enjoying the lodge’s amenities and an evening tea ceremony.
Day 14: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe – On Uganda Rwanda Safari
Enjoy your breakfast and thereafter depart to Cyamudongo, where your chimp trekking will begin. You will return to your accommodation after the chimp trekking experience for lunch and then wait for the canopy walk experience.
After your lunch and a brief repose at the accommodation, head out to undertake the canopy walk in Nyungwe. This is one of the most incredible adventures you don’t want to miss. You will have the opportunity to see the monkeys move around in the tree tops, different bird species flying above and a beautiful view of the huge Nyungwe forest. It’s also an amazing sight.
Dinner and overnight stay at Nyungwe House (high-end facility). Meal Plan: (FB)
Day 15: Nyungwe Forests – Kigali
Have an early morning breakfast and then checkout to proceed to Butare, where you will visit the ethnographic museum and loyal palace museum. After the ethnographic museum, you will also visit King’s Palace Museum – Rukari, which is based in Nyanza, 88km south of Kigali City. This was the residence of King Mutara III Rudahigwa and where the royal palace was traditionally built.
This palace offers a detailed look into Rwanda’s traditional seat of their monarchy, so, it is an impressive museum, which was restored to its 19th century state and made entirely with traditional materials.
Dinner and overnight stay at Kigali Radison Blue Hotel (high-end facility). Meal Plan: (FB)
Day 16: Kigali City Tour – Departure – End of Uganda Rwanda Safari
After the morning breakfast, have a full day Kigali city tour including the visit of Kigali Genocide Memorial centre and also have a souvenir shopping experience prior to your departure flight at Kigali International Airport. Meal Plan: B & L.
Uganda Rwanda Safari Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:
Includes
- Batwa visit Semuliki
- Visit the hot springs
- Boat trip along Lake Albert
- 2 Gorilla Permits 1 in Uganda and 1 in Rwanda.
- All Meals and accommodation as per the itinerary.
- All ground transportation in a comfortable 4×4 Land Cruiser
- 1 litre bottled mineral water per person per day whilst on safari
- Park entrance fees.
- Services of a full time English speaking driver/guide.
- Water, coffee or Tea while on safari.
- All boat trips.
- Batwa experience
- All game drives.
- All activities at stipulated in the itinerary.
- Chimpanzee trekking Kibale and Nyungwe Forest Rwanda
- All government taxes/levies.
- Community walk Bwindi
- Hike to the top of the falls
- Ferry crossing fees
- Crater walk
- Enroute Lunches
- Bush walk Ishasha
- Bigodi walk
- Border Crossing fees
- Kigali City Tour
- Canopy Walk Nyungwe Forests
- Airport drop Kigali
- Government taxes
Excludes
- Expenses of personal nature like; visa to Uganda and Rwanda, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone,
- Porter fee while trekking,
- Personal insurance, tobacco and,
- Any other program not mentioned herein this safari program