Overview

This 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari tour having gorilla tracking in Uganda then Rwanda will start by visiting the magnificent Murchison falls and then proceed to Kibale National Park for Chimpanzee tracking, then transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park for a game drive and a boat cruise. Then you will proceed to Bwindi impenetrable National Park for Gorilla tracking safari which takes between 2 – 8 hours. From Bwindi, you transfer to Rwanda to track gorillas in Volcanoes National Park before connecting to Lake Bunyonyi for recreation, Lake Mburo National Park for more game viewing and eventually Jinja – the source of the Nile River.

 

Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park. Track white Rhinos in Ziwa Sanctuary en route and visit the top of the falls on arrival

Early morning after breakfast transfer northwards to Murchison via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for white Rhino tracking after which you proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. You can have lunch at Kabalega diner or in Masindi town. You will arrive in Murchsion and embark on the tour to the top of the falls in the late afternoon a time at which the Nile River’s looks splendid and spectacular especially the point at which this river compresses and squeezes itself from over a kilometer wide down through a less than 7-meter gorge creating a thunderous roar. This is the most powerful natural surge of water found anywhere in the world. Cross with the ferry to the northern section for the overnight.

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge
Wild Camping

Day 2: Do game drive in the morning and Nile launch cruise in the afternoon

Early morning you will have a game drive on the northern bank. The delta area is gifted with abundant wildlife such as buffalo, lions, hyenas, elephants, Jackson’s hartebeests, Rothschild’s giraffes, bushbucks, bohor reedbucks, oribi, waterbucks, and if lucky leopards. Return to the lodge for your late breakfast and have rest. Right after your lunch, embark on a boat cruise up the stream of the Victoria Nile and to the base of the falls. On this 17-kilometer cruise you have possibilities of wonderful crocodiles and hippos along with elephants, waterbucks and Uganda Kobs drinking water on the river side. Blessed with a variety of bird species such as the pelican bee-eaters, egyptian geese, Hornbills, goliath herons, the rare shoebill, stork kingfishers and cormorants. You settle for dinner and overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge
Wild Camping

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast traverse the Albertine Escarpment and the lush countryside, traditional farms and homesteads. Have a lunch break in Hoima and proceed to arrive in Fort Portal Area in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Ndali Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Wild Camping at Primate Lodge Campsite / Kanyanchu River Camp

Day 4: Do Chimpanzee trekking in the morning and Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon

Early morning after breakfast drive to Kanyanchu, Kibale Park Headquarters, before 8.00 am for chimpanzee trekking. Kibale forest harbors other primates on top of Chimpanzees including the Red-tailed and Blue tailed Monkeys, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, L’Hoest’s Monkey, Black and white colobus monkeys among others. The forest is also rich in verdant flora and beautiful birds along with butterflies. The 2 – 5 hour chimpanzee trek inclusive of one full hour direct encounter with them is indeed rewarding. A visit to Bigodi swamp eco-tourism site in the afternoon given its astounding flora and fauna will be a time worth adventure too. The wetland supports 138 bird Species including the Great Blue turaco and features swamp animals like Sitatunga which can be encountered. You will return to the lodge for lunch and later on your dinner and overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Ndali Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Wild Camping at Primate Lodge Campsite / Kanyanchu River Camp

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and do an afternoon Kazinga Channel launch cruise

After your early morning breakfast you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park- a trip that may take you approximately 3 hours driving along remarkable scenic views of Rwenzori Mountains – the legendary Mountain of the moon towering to 5,109m above sea level with snowcapped peaks. Your lunch shall be taken at Mweya Safari Lodge and in the afternoon, you embark on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel at 2pm cruising along the 45km long natural water channel connecting two Lakes Edward and George. In addition to the great variety of aquatic wildlife such as Hippos and Nile Crocodiles, the Channel has a great number of water birds and an average of 60 Species can be encountered including the African skimmer, a range of Kingfishers and yellow billed stork. You retreat from the activity and do a game drive along the channel track to explore the wild game in the evening including possible sights of leopard and elephant. Retreat for overnight at the lodge

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge:
Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge:
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages:
Wild Camping

Day 6: Do game drive / wild game viewing in the morning and afternoon Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge

Early morning before breakfast you will embark on a morning game drive in search of predators such as leopards, lions, jackals, and hyenas; grazers like elephants, Buffaloes, Waterbuck, Uganda Kobs among others in the savannah landscapes of Kasenyi. You will return to the lodge for relaxation and carry your packed lunch to transfer to Kyambura Game Reserve for chimpanzee trekking. Trekking chimpanzees in this 100m deep gorge marked with lush green mature tropical forest thriving below sea level is very rewarding. It involves hiking the steep slopes of the gorge and upon encountering the chimpanzees you have one hour of unlimited experience with them where you can take pictures and share light moments with them before retreating to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Wild Camping

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Do game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree climbing lions

After a morning cup of coffee, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park driving through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth NP named Ishasha in search of the famous tree climbing lions along with other wild game, Tree climbing lions are noted to be thriving only in Ishasha sector Uganda and Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania on a world scale. Retreat from the drive and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp
Wild Camping

Day 8: Do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and relax at the lodge

After an early morning breakfast but with packed lunch, you will have a briefing by the game guides at the park headquarters then start your gorilla trek. Encountering the mountain gorillas in their natural environment takes is cumbersome and takes between 2-8 hrs but once found it is the highlight of an Africa adventure safari. You will have only 1 hr to observe, interact with and photograph these calm lovely apes. You retreat from the activity and spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp
Wild Camping

Day 9: Transfer to Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park) driving along the scenic Virunga Volcanoes

After breakfast you shall transfer to Rwanda via the magnificent Kigezi highlands usually referred to as the ‘ Switzerland of Africa‘ and cross the Uganda – Rwanda border to Ruhengeri which is also marked by magical Virunga mountain chain that comprises of eight (8) mountains. Upon arrival in Rwanda, you embark on the thrilling boat cruise on the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo where you have an opportunity to interact with the local population and do the sight-seeing. Retire for overnight.

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Mucha Hotel
Budget / Basic: Amajambere iwacu Community Camp

Day 10: Do gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park & cross to Uganda (Lake Bunyonyi)

You gather at Kinigi Park headquarters after breakfast to catch up with briefing at 8am. If you manage to arrive earlier, you get the opportunity to enjoy the sights of the traditional Kinyarwanda performance and take a cup of hot Rwandan coffee at a zero cost. After the allocation of gorilla families, you attend to briefing by your respective ranger guide before getting to your vehicle to connect to the respective trail heads. Upon reaching the trail head, you embark in the trek to the forest in search of gorillas and depending on the gorilla groups that you have tracked and its movement for that day, the walking can range from 30 minutes – 8 hours including hiking steep landscapes marked by lush flora and enchanting birds. Upon encountering gorillas, you spend one hour with them as thy foliage and socialize allowing you take as many pictures as you can and asking the ranger as many questions as you can formulate. It is real experience with the apes which are noted to be sharing the same ancestor with humans. Retreat from the activity and embark on the drive to Uganda passing along the scenic Kisoro – Kabale road in the Kigezi highlands that offers magical sightseeing encounters. Arrive at Lake Bunyonyi in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort
Midrange / Standard: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
Budget / Basic: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat
Resort Camping

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, lunch at Igongo Cultural Center en route and do an evening game drive in Lake Mburo NP

After a relaxed breakfast amidst the soothing fresh air from the lake, you can opt to do a simple boat ride to explore the second deepest lake in Africa with 29 Islands after which you embark on the transfer Lake Mburo National Park 199km about 4 hours’ drive. You make a stop at Igongo Cultural Center 12km past Mbarara town for a delicious traditional cuisine featuring organically grown and freshly served food items. After lunch, you prosed for 33km to Lake Mburo National Park entering through Sanga gate for an evening game drive where you have possibilities of encountering elands, Burchell’s Zebra, Topis, Rothschild giraffes, Impala antelope, waterbucks, and warthogs among others not forgetting a range of acacia associated birds before retiring for overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Arcadia Cottages Mburo
Budget / Basic: Eagles Nest
Wild Camping

Day 12: Undertake game walking safari in the morning and transfer to Kampala

After breakfast you will embark a guided game walk exploring the impressive savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo National Park dotted with counts of wild game. The morning game walk exposes you to moist savannah, open grassland, acacia vegetation covering undulating hills that feature protruding ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date to over 500 million years ago. On the walk; there are chances of viewing zebra, cape buffaloes, oribi and topi, eland, warthog, water buck, bushbuck and Rothschild giraffe among others. The counts of birds such as Brown-faced Lapwings, Bare-faced Go-away bird, the extraordinary White-winged Warbler plus Carruther’s Cisticolas may also be encountered. The hike to the Kazuma hill offers magical views of the range of five lakes that are in the park. Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer back to Kampala. You make a stop at Uganda Equator crossing at Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and purchase of souvenirs for the gift shops available. Arrive in Kampala in the evening for overnight.

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Midrange / Standard: Humura Resorts
Budget / Basic: Buziga Country Resort
Camping at Back Packers Hostel

DAY 13: The Source of the Nile Adventure

This is dedicated for Jinja exploration – the famous source of the Nile River. You visit the Sezibwa falls with impressive scenery and rich culture attached to it is thought that the river was born, undertake a forest walk in Mabira for magical flora and bird watching, visit the snake park in Jinja which contains the range of reptile Species and undertake a soothing boat cruise to the source of the Nile. Retreat back to Kampala in the evening to mark the end of the safari.

End of Safari