14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Wildlife Safari

This 14 days Uganda and Rwanda wildlife safari will offer you some of the best Eco – tourism experiences in both countries. The two countries have remarkable primate experience i.e. gorilla trekking, chimpanzees trekking, Colobus monkey trekking and golden monkey trekking.

In addition; explore the Savannah national parks of Uganda for the Big five namely, Rhinos (at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary), Elephants, Leopard, Buffalo and Lions. Enjoy sighting bird species, crocodiles, Hippos while on boat cruise on the Victoria Nile in Murchison falls national park and Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park.

Highlights for the Uganda and Rwanda Tour

Rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Game drives
Boat safaris
Chimpanzee trekking
Gorilla trekking
Canopy Walk

Itinerary for the Uganda and Rwanda Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival for Uganda & Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari

Today you will be picked by a Kagera safaris driver guide from Entebbe international airport and transferred to your hotel for overnight.

Drive time – 20 minutes

Day 2: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Rhino tracking

Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is located on the route to Murchison falls national park. It makes for an appropriate stopover to sight one of the big five. We leave early morning after breakfast, the plan is to arrive at Ziwa before the heat from the sun intensifies causing the Rhinos to take a nap in the shades of the trees.

After a short briefing from the ranger guide on how to behave while in search of the Rhinos we start the trek into the bushes. In case the Rhinos are far from the briefing point, we shall drive part of the distance.

Drive time – 5 hours or Scheduled flight – 1 hour 10 minutes

Day 3: Game drive and Boat Safari – Uganda and Rwanda Tour

Today awake with an expectation of an engaging day. After having an early breakfast, we leave for the northern banks of River Nile. The rooftops of the safari vehicle will be open to provide great game viewing. Look out for Hyenas, Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Jackson’s Hartebeests, Oribi, Kobs, giraffes, among others. This area is an expanse of Savannah grassland with scattered palms providing a great habitat for the animals.

After having lunch, we take a boat safari on the scenic Victoria Nile that brings you to view the falls from the bottom. The boat ride offers opportunities for watching game associated with water such as crocodiles, hippos and those that come for water like elephants, buffaloes plus plenty of birds species.

Day 4: To Kibale national park – Uganda and Rwanda tour

After that experience in the Savannah plains of Murchison falls national park, we leave for Kibale national park known as the primate capital of the world. It has a high concentration of primates and an ease to see them. This long journey takes you through beautiful views of the countryside and colourful local markets. With a stopover for lunch, we arrive at the lodge in the afternoon.

Drive time – 5 hours

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park

Have an early breakfast and drive straight to briefing point in the park at 7.00 am. The ranger guide will offer you a brief about what to expect while in the forest. The chimps move all over the place, you will keep following them as they search for food. The hike in the forest can take anything from a few minutes to about 4 hours depending on the activity. Your ranger guide will lead the way as you hike through the forest.

You have chances of sighting other primates like red-tailed monkeys, black-and white Columbus monkeys, various bird species and mammals like Elephants, Buffaloes or wild pigs. Once you locate the chimps, you are allowed 1 hour in their presence. Flash photography is not allowed and so is eating or smoking in the presence of the chimps.

In the afternoon we visit the Bigodi community. This village walk will take you to the swamp which is home to different bird species, primates and plants. You will also visit the home for coffee experience, banana beer brewing, basketry and listen to the tales of the medicine man.

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

After the great experience meeting the chimps who share 98.7% DNA with human beings, we travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is a 2 hours drive.

Drive time – 2 hours

Day 7: Game drive and Boat Safari – Uganda and Rwanda Tour

After an early breakfast, we leave for a morning game drive in the kasenyi section of Queen Elizabeth national park. The uniqueness of Queen Elizabeth national park comes from the back drop of mount Rwenzori and a host of several habitats for wildlife. We shall go all out searching for Lions, leopard, and more easily the Warthogs, Buffaloes, Elephants and buffaloes etc.

In the afternoon, you will go to the Kazinga Channel which connects Lakes Edward and George for a boat safari. On this boat ride, look out for Crocodiles, Hippos, Elephants, and several bird species especially the elegant Pied and Malachite Kingfishers.

Day 8: Transfer to Ishasha sector

After this experience, we leave for Ishasha sector in the southern part of the Queen Elizabeth National park which is home to several families of lions that love to climb trees.

You will start with a game drive in search of these elusive animals. After this experience, depart for check in to your lodge and for lunch.

Day 9: Game drive in Ishasha – Uganda and Rwanda tour

Spend the day in the plains of the Ishasha sector searching for the tree climbing lions. Sometimes they are elusive but all is not lost, you will enjoy beautiful sundowner and lots of other mammals incase you miss them.

Return to the lodge for a hot lunch and down time. You still have an opportunity to visit the park for an evening game drive.

Day 10: Transfer to Rwanda – Uganda and Rwanda Tour

The next morning after breakfast we leave for Rwanda through Cyanika border and continue to Musanze/Kinigi – Rwanda arriving later that afternoon.

Enjoy the beautiful landscape of south western Uganda.

Drive time – 6 hours

Day 11: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park

After an early breakfast you transfer to the park headquarters for briefing before your gorilla trek. Volcanoes National Park is a magnificent mountain range and home to the rare mountain gorillas. You should be at the park headquarters for briefing at 7.00 am to receive a briefing before your gorilla trek. Enjoy pure Rwandan coffee as you listen to the briefing with interludes of traditional dances.

After the briefing from the ranger guide you will be divided into different groups and you start your journey. The highlight of your trip will be spending an hour with the remarkably peaceful gorillas as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting, and raising their young.

Day 12: Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park

Today after breakfast, we transfer again to the briefing area but this time for golden monkey trekking. The procedure is more or less like the gorilla trekking with briefing from the ranger guides before splitting into different groups depending on how many people are present.

You will soon notice once you locate the golden monkeys that they are more active than gorillas. The experience will keep you on your feet as you watch them forage for food especially the bamboo shoots and occasionally uproot post harvest potatoes from the gardens adjacent to the park.

Visit a cultural village or community walk interacting with the Rwandan people after this experience.

Day 13: Transfer to Kigali – Kigali City tour

Today after breakfast, depart for Kigali city.

On arrival in the city, visit the Kigali genocide memorial. Receive briefing from the staff, watch a short film introducing you to some of the survivors of the genocide.

Depending on time, visit the Belgium Camp. Continue on to shop for art and crafts and later check in to your hotel.

Drive time – 2 hours 30 minutes