This 18 day Uganda Rwanda safari road trip with Wilderness Trips starts from Uganda and takes you through Entebbe, Murchison falls national park Uganda’s, largest national park dissected by the river Nile , Kibale Forest national park, the primate capital of the world, Queen Elizabeth national park, Uganda’s second largest national park a world biosphere reserve with a ramsar wetland site and Bwindi impenetrable national park the home of the mountain Gorilla for the ultimate gorilla trekking safari, later on cross into Rwanda and go to Volcanoes national park for another gorilla tracking experience, Nyungwe forest national park for the canopy walk and chimpanzee tracking and finally Kigali the capital city of Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills.
Day 1 Arrival at Entebbe
Day 2 Optional day trip in Entebbe
Day 3 Drive to Murchison Falls national park with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and a stop over at the top of the falls
Day 4 Early morning Game drive and a boat trip to the bottom of the falls
Day 5 Drive to Kibale forest national park,Uganda
Day 6 Chimp trek and Bigodi community Swamp walk
Day 7 Leisurely drive to Queen Elizabeth national park optional activities Crater lakes tour drive OR Evening game drive in Kasenyi.
Day 8 Early morning Chimp tracking and scenic viewing in the Kyambura gorge and afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
Day 9 Leisurely drive to Ishasha with a game drive enroute and Evening Sundowner
Day 10 Drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park,Uganda
Day 11 Gorilla trekking OR Gorilla Habituation in Uganda
Day 12 Optional second Gorilla Trek or Batwa community tour
Day 13 Drive to Volcanoes national park,Rwanda
Day 14 Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes national park,Rwanda
Day 15 Drive to Nyungwe forest national park,Rwanda
Day 16 Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park,Rwanda
Day 17 Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park,Rwanda
Day 18 Drive to Kigali for city tour and fly out through Kigali International airport
DAY 1 ARRIVAL AT ENTEBBE
Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport with a representative from Wilderness Trips who will warmly welcome you to Uganda “the pearl of Africa”. You will then be transferred to your Hotel. Dinner and Overnight; Hotel no.5 OR Latitude 0 Degrees Kampala
Meal plan, Bed and breakfast
DAY 2 OPTIONAL DAY TRIP IN ENTEBBE
Today you will have optional activities that you will do in Entebbe
Mabamba Swamp day trip is very good for birding and very popular for sighting of the shoebill. The wetlands is popular for water Endemic birds and boosts of a 260 bird species record, with seven of the 12 Lake Victoria Basin biome species that occur in Uganda being available. Highly recommended day trip for a birder looking for an extra activity to do in Entebbe
OR
Half day Trip to Ngamba island OR Full day trip to Ngamba island. This chimpanzee sanctuary provides a safe haven for rescued or orphaned chimpanzees. Get on a motorized boat to the island and be part of the feeding times of the chimpanzees. Highly recommended trip for anyone with great enthusiasm for primates.
OR
A day trip to the Entebbe botanical gardens. This guided tour requires walking to do the Birding and also learning know about the Botanical plants. It takes approximately 2 to 3hours. This is also a great place for you to have a picnic for the day.
Dinner and Overnight; Hotel no.5 OR Latitude 0 Degrees Kampala
Meal plan, Bed and breakfast
DAY 3 DRIVE TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK WITH A STOPOVER AT ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY AND A STOP OVER AT THE TOP OF THE FALLS
Begin the panoramic drive north-west through the famous Luwero Triangle and Masindi town to start off with a morning drive to Murchison via Masindi. Branch off for a visit to Zziwa Rhino sanctuary for a guided Rhino walk and picnic lunch. Continue to the top of the falls of Murchison falls for an great views of the powerful falls. There is a possibility of an evening game drive if you arrive early. Enjoy the sunset as you proceed to the lodge. Dinner and overnight at: Nile safari lodge for Luxury, Murchison River lodge for midrange
Meal plan, Break fast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 4 EARLY MORNING GAME DRIVE AND A TRIP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FALLS
Begin your day with a cup of African coffee ready for a game drive, bird watching and sightseeing across the open savannah dotted woodland and riverine vegetation along the Nile and Albert delta. Return to the lodge for breakfast and lunch. After lunch, a three hour boat trip along the Nile gives you assured chance to see the falls from the bottom angle. Hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, and aquatic birds can be seen along the shores of the River. For those with a good level of Fitness you will get off the boat and take a hike to the top of the falls– This historic site can only be reached from the South Bank! From the top of the falls there are fantastic advantage points that the falls can be viewed from and photographed. .
Dinner and overnight at: Nile safari lodge for Luxury, Murchison River lodge for midrange
Meal plan, Break fast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 3: TRANSFER TO KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK,UGANDA
After your breakfast, embark on the 8hr transfer from Murchison Falls National Park via the Albertine Escarpment of the great Western Rift Valley heading southwest. Continue through Hoima till you reach the capital of the Tooro kingdom-Fort Portal warm and beautiful town situated in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon,” (the Rwenzori). You will have Lunch en route as you transfer to Kibale National Park.
Dinner and Overnight, Kyaninga lodge for luxury, Chimpanzee Forest Guest house for midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 6 CHIMP TREK AND BIGODI COMMUNITY SWAMP WALK
After breakfast you will go for Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest. During the trekking you will spot other primates like the white colobus monkeys, animals like the forest Elephants just to mention but a few. Return to the lodge for lunch, and in the afternoon you can have an optional visit to Bigodi wetland which is well known for various bird species
Dinner and Overnight, Primate lodge for luxury, Chimpanzee Forest Guest house for midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 7 LEISURELY DRIVE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES CRATER LAKES TOUR DRIVE OR EVENING GAME DRIVE IN KASENYI.
After break fast from your hotel you will get ready for a leisurely drive to Queen Elizabeth national park. On arrival you will check into your hotel for lunch. You have an optional tour of the crater lakes region very popular for great scenic viewing and an optional evening game drive as you return to the lodge this evening.
Dinner and overnight. Elephant plains Lodge for luxury and Buffalo safari lodge for midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 8 EARLY MORNING CHIMP TRACKING AND SCENIC VIEWING IN THE KYAMBURA GORGE AND AFTERNOON BOAT TRIP ON THE KAZINGA CHANNEL
After breakfast this morning you will get ready to go for chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge. Not only will this early morning walk be rewarding for the chimpanzee s but Great scenic views too
You will return to the lodge for lunch and a chance to relax at the magnificent swimming pool before taking an afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga channel to have a close look at hippos, buffalo and crocodiles. The banks of the channel are also home to many bird species that include the saddle-billed stork, the pink-backed pelicans, the pied and malachite kingfishers among others.
Dinner and overnight. Kyambura gorge lodge OR Elephant plains Lodge for luxury
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 9 LEISURELY DRIVE TO ISHASHA WITH A GAME DRIVE ENROUTE AND EVENING SUNDOWNER
After an early morning breakfast, get ready for a leisurely transfer to the Ishasha sector, which is located in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. Watch out for the famous tree-climbing lions in the trees herds of elephants and more game during the enroute game drive. This will also be a great opportunity for birding. A sundowner in the Ishasha Sector will crown this day.
Dinner and Overnight; Ishasha Wilderness camp for Luxury
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 10 DRIVE TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK,UGANDA
Leisurely transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Dinner and Overnight; Buhoma lodge OR Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge for luxury, Mahogany Springs OR Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge for Midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 11 GORILLA TREKKING OR GORILLA HABITUATION IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK,UGANDA
Gorilla tracking
After a heavy early breakfast but with packed lunch, you will transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing before embarking on your gorilla trek at 8:30 am. Park guides will take you through the thick buttress root tree forest plus undergrowth- tracking the gorillas. This 2-9 hour Gorilla trek requires a reasonable degree of fitness and pair of jungle shoes. Once found, interactions with the gorillas as you listen to them grumble as well as taking photographs with them takes only 1hour. It’s important to note that there are only about 680 of these beautiful apes left in the world most of them fortunately found in Bwindi After Gorilla tracking you will transfer to your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight
Gorilla habituation
Rise up early for an early morning breakfast before heading to the park headquarters for briefing. With your parked lunch you will start your adventure trek into the thick forest of Bwindi impenetrable national park in search of the mountain gorillas. The gorilla habituation experience lasts at least four hours with the gorilla family. However the gorilla family you go with isn’t fully used to human presence.You will have also an opportunity to listen and observe researchers doing their work of habituating the gorillas. Some times you may participate in some of their activities like naming the gorillas, collecting samples and much more. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight; Buhoma lodge OR Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge for luxury, Mahogany Springs OR Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge for Midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 12 OPTIONAL SECOND GORILLA TREK OR BATWA COMMUNITY TOUR
Incase your looking at spending more time with the gentle giants in the forest of Bwindi you can opt to go for an secong gorilla trek or take on either gorilla activity you didn’t do yesterday. Alternatively you can also take park in community activities to enable you understand more about the Batwa who once lived in Bwindi impenetrable rain forest before it was gazzetted.
Dinner and Overnight; Buhoma lodge OR Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge for luxury, Mahogany Springs OR Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge for Midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 13 DRIVE TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK,RWANDA
After a hearty breakfast drive to the boarder of Uganda and Rwanda and continue with your leisurely drive to Volcanoes national park. Tonight you will sleep in the land of a thousand hills.
Dinner and overnight, Virunga Lodge or One and Only gorilla nest for luxury and Mountain gorilla View lodge for midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 14 GORILLA TRACKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK,RWANDA
After an early breakfast with your packed lunch, proceed to the park headquarters in Kinigi. for a briefing at 8:00am. After the briefing get back to your car and drive to the edge of the park while enjoying stunning landscapes and scenery around Volcanoes National Park. You will start your trek and head into the forest in search of the gorillas. At the top of mountain, you will also enjoy the best view of the Crater Lake found on Bisoke Mountain. On your way back you have your lunch, drinks and other necessities at the foot of the mountain.
Dinner and overnight, Virunga Lodge or One and Only gorilla nest for luxury and Mountain gorilla View lodge for midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 15 DRIVE TO NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK,RWANDA
After breakfast you will continue with your trip with a leisurely drive to Nyungwe forest national park. Dinner and overnight, Nyungwe forest Lodge or One and Only Nyungwe house for luxury and Nyungwe top view hill hotel for midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 16 CANOPY WALK IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK,RWANDA
Today morning after breakfast you will be being transferred to Nyungwe head office for the canopy walk way. The Canopy walkway consists of three bridges and three towers and is a total length of the walkway is 160m.
The walkway is embedded in a guided tour along Igishigishigi trail.
Dinner and overnight, Nyungwe forest Lodge or One and Only Nyungwe house for luxury and Nyungwe top view hill hotel for midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 17 CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK,RWANDA
After a hearty Breakfast, Drive to the park headquarters for briefing about how to behave while with the chimps before entering the forest. Trekking chimpanzees is about 1-6 hours (dependant on the guest’s walking Speed and weather in the forest ) The forest is rich in different types of trees, plants and is home to 13 primates that include chimpanzees, long-tailed monkeys and Columbus monkeys. After lunch, you will visit Gisakura Tea Factory.
Dinner and overnight, Nyungwe forest Lodge or One and Only Nyungwe house for luxury and Nyungwe top view hill hotel for midrange
Meal plan, Full board
DAY 18 DRIVE TO KIGALI FOR CITY TOUR AND FLY OUT THROUGH KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Peacefully nestled along picturesque hilltops, Kigali is a thriving African city immediately notable for its cleanliness, orderliness, and hospitality. This tour will take you to the following sites; Nyamata Genocide Church, Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Kimironko Market, Inema Arts Center, Presidential Museum, Camp Kigali Memorial, Natural History Museum-Kigali, and Campaign Against Genocide Museum (CAG), where you will be able to immerse yourself in Rwandan history.After the city tour you will proceed to the airport to catch your flight.
End of safari
The above rate includes:
Above Rates Exclude:
