Detailed 12 Days African Safari Vacation and Tour in Rwanda & Uganda

Day 1: Arrive Kigali Airport, pick up and transfer to the booked hotel

On arrival at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, you will be received by one of our representative/guide who will welcome you to Rwanda and brief you about your safari. Thereafter, you will be transferred to your accommodation for relaxation and the overnight stay.

• Main Destination: Kigali International Airport (Kigali, Rwanda)
• Accommodation: Quiet Haven Hotel, Mid-range hotel located in or near Kigali
• Meals & Drinks: Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included), Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2:  Kigali city tour (Morning) and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Morning pick up (after breakfast) by the assigned tour driver-guide who will take you around Kigali City for the city tour. Expect excursion to places like the national museum, local markets, and art and craft shops, genocide memorial ground. Thereafter, you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Filled with stunning beauty, Nyungwe in southwestern part of Rwanda is not a place to miss on a Rwanda safari offering memorable wildlife experiences. A visit to Nyungwe takes you through the great natural forest comprising of ancient trees which have all favored the inhabitation of a number of primates including chimpanzees, black & white colobus monkeys among others. #Optional: En route, you may make a stop to visit Kings Palace museum.

• Accommodation: (Emeraude Kivu Resort-Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 5-6 hours.
• Main Destination: Nyungwe Forest National Park (Chimps)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3:  Undertake chimp trekking and the afternoon canopy walk experience

Sheltering the highest population of chimpanzees in Rwanda (roughly 400), Chimpanzee trekking is a major activity done in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Have your breakfast and transfer to the trekking point where you will first receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during chimp trekking. Thereafter, enter the forest to encounter these fascinating and human-like primates firsthand in their natural habitat. Return to the accommodation for lunch and some rest before going out again for the canopy walk experience. The two hours walk starts and ends at the park’s headquarters – Uwinka information center. Travelers walk on the built trail which hangs 60 meters above the forest rewarding them with an aerial view of the national park, wildlife, adjacent communities, Virunga volcanoes and attractions in the neighboring countries.

• Main Destination: Nyungwe Forest National Park (Chimps)
• Accommodation: Emeraude Kivu Resort, Mid-range resort located in or near Ruzizi
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4:  Transfer – Nyungwe to accommodation near/close Volcanoes NP

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation and then hit the road to Volcanoes NP. Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The drive is a bit long but incredibly scenic, passing through villages, lush green countryside. You won’t get bored at all. With a strenuous day ahead, you will reach and just check into your accommodation and relax. Later, enjoy your dinner plus the overnight stay.

• Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
• Accommodation: La Palme Hotel, Mid-range hotel located outside Volcanoes NP
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 5: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Bwindi (Uganda) via Cyanika

Golden monkeys trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park and at the same time (7:00 am) just like gorilla trekking. These rare monkey species are also listed as endangered and Volcanoes NP has habituated groups that are available for trekking by visitors. The exercise starts with a short briefing from the park ranger at the RDB Office. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the golden monkeys through the rainforest of the volcanoes NP. Return to the accommodation for some rest and lunch. After lunch, drive off to Cyanika Border Post. From Cyanika, you will be received by our Uganda-based Professional Tour Driver-guide who will take over from his Rwanda-based colleague. You will cross border into Uganda and overnight at a property close Bwindi National Park where you will undertake the gorilla trekking the next day.

• Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
• Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge, Mid-range lodge bordering Bwindi NP without fences
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 6: Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest-Rushaga sector Return and take rest

Have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger-guide) on the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure and encounter. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, and take some rest after a strenuous day.

Accommodation: (Gorilla Valley Lodge) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: n/a.

• Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
• Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge, Mid-range lodge bordering Bwindi NP without fences
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 7: Drive to Ishasha in search of tree-climbing lions, then head north Queen Elizabeth NP

Be up early, have breakfast and embark on a transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP – famously known for its tree-climbing lion population. Once there, undertake a game drive in search of this rare species of lions. Should you get the chance to spot the lions up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and unforgettable from Ishasha (south), exit and head to the booked accommodation in the north sector. Check in and take rest. #Optional: If interested, you may consider a late afternoon-to-evening game drive/safari in the Kasenyi plains.

Accommodation: (Irungu Safari Lodge- | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 6 hours.

• Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
• Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge, Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 8: Morning game drive/safari, Afternoon Boat trip – Kazinga Channel

Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive/safari in the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. #Optional: If interested, you may go for a brief late afternoon-to-evening game viewing and then, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: (Irungu Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: n/a.

• Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
• Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge, Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 9:  Morning safari in Queen, Transfer to Kibale Forest, Excursion in the Bigodi wetlands

Be up early and have your breakfast then proceed for another morning game drive/safari. Thereafter, continue to Kibale Forest NP. You will reach Kibale in time for lunch and some rest before proceeding out for the Bigodi wetlands excursion. The Bigodi is a fascinating area that boasts of an extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primates’ species like the baboon, black & white colobus monkey. The Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. Among the major bird species within the wetland is the Great Blue Turaco. Later, relax and overnight at the booked accommodation.

Accommodation: (Kibale Forest lodge) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: 2-3 hours.

• Main Destination: Kibale National Park (Chimps)
• Accommodation: Kibale Forest Lodge, Just outside Kibale NP
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 10:  Transfer – Kibale Forest (via Hoima) to Murchison Falls National Park

Have breakfast, check out and embark on the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, leopard, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. Then surely, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. For birders, Murchison Falls boasts about 450 bird species including the grey parrot, dwarf king fisher and the Goliath heron among others. Expect lunch en route. The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way (with very little/no room to be bored). Upon arrival at the accommodation, check in and just relax.

Accommodation: (Fort Murchison-Room-Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: 8 hours.

• Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda)
• Accommodation: Fort Murchison (Room), Mid-range lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 11:  Murchison game drive and afternoon boat trip to the base of the falls

Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the look for wildlife including: lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. #Optional (extra cost): If interested, continue with a hike to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and relax.

• Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda)
• Accommodation: Fort Murchison (Room), Mid-range lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 12: Travel to Ziwa for an hour of rhino tracking, Continue to Entebbe

You will have your breakfast and then drive off to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Once in Zziwa, you will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking in the company of a ranger-guide. From the rhino tracking you will embark on a transfer to Entebbe Airport to catch flight (recommended for 18:00 or later). #Optional (extra cost): In case you have a late night flight and interested, you may consider an excursion to some touristic sites in/around Kampala City before heading to the Entebbe Airport.

Accommodation: Recommended on Request | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Drive Time: Approx. 7 hours.

• Main Destination: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of 12 Days African Safari Vacation and Tour in Rwanda & Uganda