Safari Overview
The 20 Days Uganda-Rwanda safari offers a variety of experiences in the two East African destinations. Explore wildlife, adventure, nature and cultural experiences. A double gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda is the major highlight of this safari. The tour starts in Uganda with wildlife viewing in expansive savannah parks before a gorilla trek in Bwindi and concludes in Rwanda.
The Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to hotel (Entebbe)
Day 2: Entebbe –Mabamba wetland birding tour
Day 3: Entebbe –Jinja, half-day whitewater rafting experience
Day 4: Jinja city to Murchison Falls, rhino trekking
Day 5: Game drive with boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Day 6: Depart early morning for Kibale National Park via Fort Portal
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi swamp walk
Day 8: Kibale Forest to Queen Elizabeth National Park (via Kasese)
Day 9: Game drive & Boat experience
Day 10: Queen Elizabeth Game Park to Ishasha- Sundowner
Day 11: Morning game drive & drive to Bwindi from Ishasha
Day 12: Gorilla trekking adventure with a ranger guide from Bwindi
Day 13: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi –canoe ride
Day 14: Lake Bunyonyi to Volcanoes National Park –Rwanda
Day 15: Gorilla trekking experience & relaxation
Day 16: Golden monkey tracking experience with a Volcanoes expert
Day 17: Hike to the Dian Fossey tomb site & visit the Gorilla Guardians
Day 18: Visit Lake Kivu –boat ride & relaxation at the scenic shores.
Day 19: Lake Kivu to Kigali, city tour
Day 20: Transfer to Kigali Airport for departure
The Detailed Itinerary – 20 Days Uganda-Rwanda safari
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to hotel (Entebbe)
A warm welcome to Uganda by Rivo Safaris expert, and later, depart for Entebbe city. Go check into your pre-booked accommodation in Entebbe for relaxation and also orientation.
Accommodation option
- Budget/Basic: Airport View Hotel
- Midrange: Protea Hotel in Entebbe & Boma Hotel
- Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe or Hotel No.5
Meal plan: Bed, Breakfast
Day 2: Entebbe –Mabamba wetland birding tour
After breakfast, you will be picked up and expected to take part in the memorable morning birding tour in Mabamba Wetland/Swamp, a haven to more than 300 species of birds. A guided birding excursion in Mabamba swamp involves searching for bird species such as white-winged warblers, blue swallows, shoebill storks, pallid harriers, papyrus gonoleks, and more. After astonishing bird sightings, you will return to enjoy a leisurely time at the hotel.
Accommodation option
- Budget/Basic: Airport View Hotel
- Midrange: Protea Hotel in Entebbe & Boma Hotel
- Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe or Hotel No.5
Day 3: Entebbe –Jinja, half-day whitewater rafting experience
After breakfast, you will depart for Jinja. Arrive early so you to catch up with the half day whitewater rafting adventure. Expect to embark on an adventure challenge on the tough rapids and grades on the Nile River. Later, you will have dinner and stay overnight in Jinja.
Accommodation option
- Jinja Nile Resort
Day 4: Jinja city to Murchison Falls, rhino trekking
Wake up early morning, and after, you will set off for Murchison Falls National Park. En route, you will have a stopover at Ziwa, where you will enjoy a trek with rhinos. Leave Ziwa Sanctuary for Murchison Falls Game Park.
Accommodation Options
- Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge & Paraa Lodge
Day 5: Game drive & Boat cruise excursion (Murchison Falls National Park)
Leave the lodge for an early morning game drive. Today’s game drive rewards you with amazing sightings of savanna wildlife, including buffalo, elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, warthogs, and more antelopes. The morning game viewing session takes 2-3 hours, and you return to settle for lunch. Continue to Paraa jetty for you to enjoy a boat or launch cruise up to the base of the Murchison Falls.
Accommodation Options
- Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge & Paraa Lodge
Day 6: Depart early morning for Kibale National Park via Fort Portal
After breakfast, expect to be picked up, and today, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park. Getting to Kibale takes about 8 hours, and you will drive via Hoima to Fort Portal. Enjoy a delicious meal in the best restaurant in Fort Portal tourism city and after, drive to the lodge/camp.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp& Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- Midrange: Kibale Guest Cottages/Chimps Nest Lodge
- Luxury: Primate Lodge/Kyaninga & Kibale Lodge
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi swamp walk
Enjoy a hefty breakfast and depart for a briefing at Kanyanchu Tourism Centre. Learn about chimpanzee guidelines and also have a ranger guide allocated to you. In Kibale, expect to visit an already habituated chimpanzee community, and you will spend at least 2-4 hours, which includes an hour for a close encounter with chimpanzees and photography. After trekking with Kibale chimps, walk back and enjoy a delicious lunch. Transfer to Bigodi and embark on a swamp/wetland walk for 2 hours.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp& Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- Midrange: Kibale Guest Cottages/Chimps Nest Lodge
- Luxury: Primate Lodge/Kyaninga & Kibale Lodge
Day 8: Kibale Forest to Queen Elizabeth National Park (via Kasese)
After a hefty breakfast, set off for Queen Elizabeth Game Park in Kasese & Rubirizi districts. En route, don’t miss to make a stopover at the Kikorongo Equator crossing (Monument). You will continue to have your leisure time at the lodge, including lunch, and later continue with an afternoon game drive via Kasenyi track.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Simba Tented Camp & Kazinga channel resort
- Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge/Buffalo Lodge
- Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Mweya & Elephant Plains Lodge
Day 9: Game drive & Boat experience
Embark on the unforgettable game drive through Kasenyi, and today, you will have incredible sights of spotted hyenas, buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, and more. Return from the game drive for you to be offered lunch and later, relax. In the afternoon, you will conclude the day in Queen Elizabeth Park with a launch/boat tour. During the boat excursion, expect to spot aquatic species like hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Simba Tented Camp & Kazinga channel resort
- Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge/Buffalo Lodge
- Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Mweya & Elephant Plains Lodge
Day 10: Queen Elizabeth Game Park to Ishasha- Sundowner
Enjoy a delicious cup of tea/coffee and then, exit the lodge from the Kasenyi sector. Drive to the south and visit the Ishasha sector, where you will have another game drive & sundowner.
Accommodation option
- Enjojo Lodge
- Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Day 11: Morning game drive & drive to Bwindi from Ishasha
Depart from the lodge, and you will embark on a memorable game drive. Explore the wonders of Ishasha, with the target of encountering mainly the tree-climbing lions. Other animals and bird species will also be spotted along the game drive. After you will enjoy lunch and then continue to Bwindi by road.
Accommodation option
- Budget: Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Engagi Lodge & Mahogany Springs Lodge
- Luxury: Bwindi Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Day 12: Gorilla trekking adventure with a ranger guide from Bwindi
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, and after, expect to join the officials for a briefing. Today, you will have a detailed insight into the gorilla trekking regulations. Gorilla groups and ranger guides from Bwindi will be assigned today and you will begin the actual day trek at around 8:00 am. The standard trekking session with gorillas in Bwindi today is likely to take about 2-6 hours, which covers an hour for observing these great apes. After the memorable encounter and photography, you will walk back and expect to receive a certificate.
Accommodation option
- Budget: Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Engagi Lodge & Mahogany Springs Lodge
- Luxury: Bwindi Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Day 13: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi –canoe ride
After a delicious breakfast, you will have a chance to go for the Batwa community. From the Batwa cultural experience, continue to Lake Bunyonyi, which has 29 islands. You will enjoy a memorable sunset canoe/boat ride, which comes with spectacular views of the surrounding including terraced hills.
Accommodation options
- Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort & Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
Day 14: Lake Bunyonyi to Volcanoes National Park –Rwanda
Pick up early morning from the resort and transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda (Musanze/Ruhengeri Province). This involves crossing the border, and once you have reached, you will check into the lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Hotel Muhabura & Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge & Le Bambou Lodge
- Luxury: Bisate Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge & Five Volcanoes Lodge
Day 15: Gorilla trekking experience & relaxation
Have a hefty breakfast and after, continue to Kinigi to get briefed by the team from Volcanoes National Park. Learn more about the gorilla regulations, and by 8:00 am, your day will officially begin. Volcanoes features 13 gorilla groups that are open to the public, and each is visited by up to 8pax. One hour awaits you for photography and observing the daily behaviors of mountain gorillas, then you will be accompanied back.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Hotel Muhabura & Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge & Le Bambou Lodge
- Luxury: Bisate Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge & Five Volcanoes Lodge
Day 16: Golden monkey tracking experience with a Volcanoes expert
Golden monkey trek will be enjoyed today and expect to start the day with briefing. After the ranger guides will be assigned and the normal day of visiting golden monkey troops begins at around 8:00 am. You will spend at least 2-4 hours and your adventure with golden monkeys includes one hour for taking pictures and learning more about their daily behaviors. Have long afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight in the lodge in Volcanoes National Park.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Hotel Muhabura & Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge & Le Bambou Lodge
- Luxury: Bisate Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge & Five Volcanoes Lodge
Day 17: Hike to the Dian Fossey tombs site & visit the Gorilla Guardians
Dian Fossey tomb hike will start in the morning with a briefing and allocation of guides. A guided trek to the tomb site takes about 3-4 hours, and you will walk the journey Dian Fossey had as a primatologist in the Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. After the Dian Fossey walk, return for relaxation, lunch & in the afternoon, you will be led to explore the unique cultures and traditions of the Rwandan people.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Hotel Muhabura & Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge & Le Bambou Lodge
- Luxury: Bisate Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge & Five Volcanoes Lodge
Day 18: Visit Lake Kivu –boat ride & relaxation at the scenic shores.
After breakfast, expect to be transferred to Lake Kivu. Expect to enjoy an afternoon boat ride on the charming Lake Kivu Rwanda. After the boat ride, you will have a great time in the lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation option
- Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Day 19: Lake Kivu to Kigali, city tour
Pick up from the lodge/resort after breakfast, and today, you will bid farewell to Lake Kivu. Drive to Kigali and enjoy a 2-hour city tour, which covers exploring the Kigali genocide site and other craft centres.
Accommodation option
- Budget: Garr Hotel
- Midrange: Des Miles Collines Hotel
- Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel
Day 20: Transfer to Kigali Airport for departure
Have a heavy breakfast at leisure and use today’s morning for checking out. Drive off from Kigali to the airport and expect to depart back home.
End of 20 Days Uganda-Rwanda Safari
Inclusions
- Kigali city tour
- Gorilla & chimpanzee permits
- Golden tracking permits
- Accommodation & meals
- Fuel & car hire fees
- Park entry fees –Uganda/Rwanda
Exclusions
- Airfares
- Visas
- Alcoholic drinks
- Telephone bills
- Tips
- Insurance expenses etc.