16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari
16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari will give you the most memorable safari experience by visiting a number of national parks in Uganda and Rwanda which will lead you to a number of different attractions. The safari will start in Uganda where you will participate in rhino tracking in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary when you visit Murchison Falls National Park, you will watch the world’s most powerful waterfalls when you participate in the Top of the Falls hike, and you will also participate in the boat cruise in Murchison falls national park and the game drives which will give you access to four of the big five animals in Uganda. Lake Mburo on the other hand will give you access to a number of different herbivores in Uganda as you participate in the game drives and when you visit Queen Elizabeth National Park you will watch the tree-climbing lions in Uganda, you will enjoy the game drives and also participate in the lion experience in queen Elizabeth national park which will give you more chances to watch the lions as they go about their daily activities in the wild. Still, on your Uganda safari, you will enjoy spending time with the endangered gorillas when you participate in gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park. When you transfer to Rwanda for your ultimate Rwanda safari, you will watch the golden monkey troops as you visit Volcanoes National Park to participate in golden monkey trekking, and when you get to Nyungwe National Park you will enjoy chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, visit Akagera national park for the game drives which will give you access to the big five animals in Rwanda, you will also get the chance to participate in birding in Akagera national park where you will watch the endangered shoe bill stork and also get to participate in the night game drive which will give you the chance to watch how the park comes to life when the sun sets and many other rewarding activities. Continue with this detailed itinerary for a memorable experience in Uganda and Rwanda.
Highlights of your safari
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon Nile boat cruise
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and evening game drive
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Morning game drive and boat cruise
Day 6: Lion experience and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 7: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 8: Transfer to Musanze and cultural walk
Day 9: Golden monkeys tracking at Volcanoes National Park and transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 10: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali and city tour
Day 13: Transfer to Akagera National Park, boat cruise, and a night game drive
Day 14: Full-day game drive
Day 15: Full-day bird tour
Day 16: Transfer back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Major activities to be enjoyed
- Gorilla trekking in Uganda
- Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park
- Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda
- Canopy walk in Nyungwe national park
- Boat cruises/ boat trips
- Wildlife viewing
- Rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Lion experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Bird watching in Akagera National Park
- City tours
- Cultural tours
- Hiking safaris
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
On day 1 of the 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari, after an early morning breakfast at the hotel, the driver will pick you up for a transfer to the Murchison Falls National Park located in the southwest of the country. Murchison is the largest park in Uganda where you get to see huge numbers of wildlife including the big 4. The journey is approximately 4 hours drive with stopovers lunch and en route at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will enjoy seeing the Rhinos before proceeding to the park. Arrive in the park late afternoon and proceed to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay at Pakuba Safari Lodge
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon Nile boat cruise
On day 2 of the 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari, after an early breakfast at the lodge, you will cross the ferry for a morning game drive on the Northern bank. The activity takes about 3-5 hours and is able to view a variety of wildlife including elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda kobs, Oribis, and waterbucks. After the drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon go for a boat cruise along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison Falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfishers, cormorants, and bee-eaters. You will then hike up to find the falls through Baker trail and also be able to stand at Bakers Stone (which brings you closer to the bottom of the falls) this hike is a bit tuff but it’s fascinating as you will enjoy seeing the falls at different points and finally, when you reach the top of the falls, you will be amazed and eventually forget about the tuff hike. After having a good time at the top of the falls, you will meet your driver who will transfer you back to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at as above
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and evening game drive
On day 3 of the 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari, after early morning breakfast, then embark on a 5-hour drive to Lake Mburo National Park. You will have a stopover at the Equator where you will take pictures and visit craft shops. Proceed to the park for your evening game drive. Then connect to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
On day 4 of the 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari, wake up early transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, and drive through the scenic view of the Ankole region. Arrive in the park in the early afternoon and connect to visit the crater lakes region and get to see the dark lakes and rich grassland set deep into the volcanic craters, this provides an opportunity for great photos on this scenic drive which covers the highest points in the park and other attractions that may be advised by the guide. After the activity, proceed for lunch and then to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 5: Morning game drive and boat cruise
On day 5 of the 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari, set off after having breakfast to the Kasenyi area for a fascinating game drive where you will be able to view great numbers of animals including the savannah elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes including the Oribi, Uganda kobs, and waterbucks to mention a few. In the afternoon, you will go for a boat trip along the Kazinga channel. During the boat trip, you will enjoy watching the densely populated hippos along the lake, crocodiles, and other animals like elephants, buffaloes, and bird species on the banks. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Lion tracking experience and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
On day 6 of the 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari, wake up as early as 5:00 am to prepare for the Lion experience, here you will get an opportunity to get close to a pride of lions. This is a 2-hour activity. After there, connect to the Ishasha sector to proceed to Bwindi National Park. Arrive and connect to your lodge for relation, dinner, and overnight stay at Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Day 7: Gorilla trekking experience
Have breakfast and transfer to park offices for a briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking by the park warden then connect to the forest to search for the gorillas. The time taken is usually between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Meeting the gorillas unexpectedly is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at a very close range. You will observe adults feeding and groaning among themselves. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your ranger guide will lead you back to the starting point where your driver will readily be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge for a restful evening. Have dinner overnight and stay at the lodge as above. Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Day 8: Transfer to Musanze and cultural walk
After an early morning, you will drive to cross the Cyanika border to connect to Volcanoes National Park where you will have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will take a cultural walk to Iby’iwachu Cultural Village a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through the provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood-based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies, and a guided community walk. Retreat and return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay at Hotel Muhabura
Day 9: Golden monkeys tracking at Volcanoes National Park and transfer to Lake Kivu
On day 9 of the 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari, after early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing from the park warden about the endangered golden monkeys. After connecting to the tracking starting point enter the forest to search for the rare golden monkey. This activity can take about 1-5 hours and is done with a closer view of the other primates in the park like the red-tailed monkeys, and Vervet monkeys among others. After viewing the rare golden monkeys for an hour while taking pictures and studying their behaviors, return to the base and meet your driver.
You will have lunch then drive northwest to Rubavu town at the shores of Lake Kivu where you will spend the whole afternoon enjoying the shores while taking boat trips to the island of the lake, a town tour, and relaxing at the shores as you enjoy the breeze. Dinner and overnight stay at Paradise Malahide
Day 10: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
After early morning breakfast at the lodge, you will embark on your journey to Nyungwe National Park. This is a 5-6 hours drive to Nyungwe National Park with lunch en route. Nyungwe forest is the oldest and largest rainforest in East Africa. Arrive in the park and connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3 hours. To find them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch.
After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before nightfall, you will return to the lodge for dinner as above
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali and city tour
Have breakfast at leisure then embark on a 5-hour drive back to Kigali city with an en route visit to Nyanza king’s palace and Rwanda National Museum in Huye and Murambi genocide museum. Arrive in Kigali and also visit the craft shops and the Kigali genocide memorial. Head back to your hotel for lunch and dinner as you await tomorrow’s activity. Dinner and overnight at Hotel des Mille Collins.
Day 13: Transfer to Akagera National Park, boat cruise, and a night game drive
At an agreed location in Kigali City, you will be met by your guide who will transfer you to Akagera National Park to take part in a short game drive which will give you the chance to watch a number of animal species like the early risers grazing and enjoying the morning sun. After the morning game drive, you will head to your hotel for relaxation, lunch and you will take part in the boat cruise of Lake Ihema which will give you access to a number of rewarding views and attractions like the endangered show Bill Stork You will access to a number of carnivores like the lions, leopards and many more species or stay at your hotel to participate in a night game drive which will give you the chance to watch how the park comes to life when the sun sets. During the safari experience, you will get to watch carnivores like the lions and leopards hunting which is quite a memorable safari experience you should not miss out on. After the experience head to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay
Day 14: Full-day game drive
Rise up early in the morning have breakfast and go for a morning game drive with great anticipation of seeing the different animals that rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill, especially the big cats like the leopard, lions, and many other carnivores. You will get to watch a number of herbivores like the rhinos grazing within the plains, elephants, gazelle, oribi, and many other rewarding game animals. After the morning game drives, you will head back to your hotel for refreshments and later in the afternoon transfer to take part in the evening game drive. Get ready to watch how the park comes to life as the sunsets with a number of predators coming from their hiding spots to catch prey, the herbivores catching their last bite for the day, the crocodiles can be seen sun-basking, elephants quenching their thirst from the river banks which will make your safari quite memorable. After the experience, head back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 15: Full day bird watching tour
After enjoying your morning breakfast, you will enjoy a boat trip along Lake Ihema which will give you the opportunity to get close to the plentiful water birds including numerous African fish eagles, marabou stork, crowned cranes, open-billed stork, cormorants, kingfishers, herons and egrets. If you are lucky, you may even get to see the elusive shoebill stork! you will see games like hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and elephants quenching their thirst from the river banks. After this, you can embark on the rest of your bird-watching journey at Akagera National Park! Visitors are always impressed by what they find, including a variety of bird species ranging from water, forest, savannah, and migratory species. Many of these birds are endemic to the park, and some are exceptionally rare like the papyrus Gonolek.
Day 16: Transfer back to Kigali
After your morning breakfast, relax and pack up at your own pace. At 11 am your safari jeep driver guide will be ready to take you back to your preferred location in Kigali. On your way back to Kigali, you can stop at the “Imigongo Art Center” for lunch and later be dropped off at a location of your choice in Kigali city for dinner and an overnight stay.
End of the 16 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari.
Quotation Includes:
- Airport Pick up and drop off at Kigali airport
- All activities mentioned in the Itinerary
- 4X4 Safari vehicle and fuel
- Full-time English-speaking Guide/Driver.
- All accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals are as indicated in the itinerary.
- Bottled drinking water while on safari
Not included:
- Optional activity
- Air tickets.
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, email, laundry, beverages or meals not indicated in the itinerary, Porterage, and wait staff gratuity.
