Safari Overview
With our 12 Days Rwanda-Uganda Safari, expect to explore some of the top East African safari destinations. Enjoy captivating game drives in Akagera National Park and explore the Big 5 game (elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, & rhinos). At Akagera, you will also experience a guided boat tour, a great opportunity for you to spot the diversity of aquatic life. From Akagera, you will have chimpanzee tracking and a canopy walk in Nyungwe, where you will be spotting most of the primates and birds that survive in this park’s lush rainforest.
The Rwanda safari trail takes you to the scenic Volcanoes National Park to experience the best golden monkey tracking. After golden monkey adventures in Rwanda, cross over to Uganda via Katuna/Chanika to explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In the lush Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you will focus on the mountain gorilla trekking experience. The Uganda safari trail covers Lake Bunyonyi, a scenic volcanic lake with 29 tropical islands. You will also visit Lake Mburo National Park, the most popular destination with diverse antelope families, zebras, Rothschild giraffes, and buffaloes.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up, Experience Kigali tour & Transfer to Akagera
Day 2: Game drive & Boat safari –Akagera
Day 3: Akagera- Nyungwe National Park (by road)
Day 4: Chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe & canopy experience
Day 5: Transfer from the Southern Province to Volcanoes in Musanze
Day 6: Golden monkey tracking with Gorilla guardian
Day 7: Volcanoes –Bwindi National Park
Day 8: Experience the best Bwindi gorilla trek and Batwa cultural visit
Day 9: Tour Lake Bunyonyi full-day
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi –Lake Mburo Game Park
Day 11: Game drive with Launch cruise tour
Day 12: Lake Mburo –Entebbe with Kayabwe Equator tour
Detailed Itinerary – 12 Days Rwanda-Uganda safari
Day 1: Pick up, Experience Kigali tour & Transfer to Akagera
After breakfast, you will be picked up by a safari driver, and you will embark on the Kigali city tour. Explore the historical sites in the heart of Kigali, including the genocide site, nearby museums, craft shops, and vibrant markets. After the morning Kigali city tour, you will have lunch and then continue to Akagera National Park. At the lush Akagera, check into your safari lodge/camp, relax, dine, & have an overnight stay.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Dereva Hotel/Karenge Camp
- Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
- Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp & Luxurious Magashi Tented Camp
Meal plan: Half-board (Lunch+Dinner)
Day 2: Game drive & Boat safari –Akagera
After the delicious breakfast, join the driver guide and embark on the morning game drive in the scenic savanna plains of Akagera National Park. On a game drive, expect to explore the Big 5, antelopes (waterbucks, bushbucks, roan antelopes, and more), hyenas, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, and more. The morning game drive session will extend for 2-3 hours, and later, you will drive back.
Have a leisurely lunch and then, catch up with the afternoon boat cruise tour. Enjoy watching the aquatic species such as hippos, crocodiles, and birds. Late in the evening, you will have a leisurely dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Dereva Hotel/Karenge Camp
- Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
- Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp & Luxurious Magashi Tented Camp
Meal plan: Full-board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 3: Akagera- Nyungwe National Park (by road)
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and later, drive to Nyungwe National Park. The Nyungwe Forest National Park is situated in the Southern Province of Rwanda, about a 7-8-hour drive from Akagera. En route, you will have a stopover visit at Butare, where you will visit the Nyanza palace and museum. After the Butare tour, transfer to the lodge in or near Nyungwe.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse & Munazi Eco-Lodge
- Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel & Nyungwe Nziza Eco-Lodge
- Luxury/Platinum: Nyungwe House
Meal plan: Full-board service
Day 4: Chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe & canopy experience
Have a hefty breakfast and later, join the park officials to take you through the guidelines for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. At Nyungwe, you can start your trek from Cyamudongo or Uwinka sections, and your chimpanzee excursion will extend for 2-5 hours. You will be guaranteed an hour for observing chimpanzees’ distinct behaviors and taking pictures.
After the Nyungwe chimpanzee trek, you will return to relax, and then you will have a canopy walk in the afternoon. A canopy walk on the scenic Nyungwe canopy walkway takes about 2 hours and comes with amazing sightings of the different primates & birds.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse & Munazi Eco-Lodge
- Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel & Nyungwe Nziza Eco-Lodge
- Luxury/Platinum: Nyungwe House
Meal plan: Full-board service
Day 5: Transfer from the Southern Province to Volcanoes in Musanze
Depart from Nyungwe for Volcanoes National Park, and this will take you about 4 hours. En route, you will be enjoying the views of the scenic Lake Kivu and the charming misty Virunga Volcanoes. Arrive early at Volcanoes for you to officially check into the lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Muhabura Hotel & Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Le Bambou Lodge & Da Vinci Lodge
- Luxury: Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Five Volcanoes Lodge & Wilderness Bisate Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service
Day 6: Golden monkey tracking with Gorilla guardian
Enjoy a hefty breakfast at the lodge, and after that, you will be picked up for transfer to Kinigi. At Kinigi, meet the officials to introduce you to the guidelines for the golden monkey trekking adventure. The ranger guide will be assigned to accompany you, and once you have located the golden monkeys, you will be permitted to enjoy one hour with these strikingly stunning primates, then return to the lodge. In the afternoon, when you have enjoyed lunch, you will have a cultural tour in the surrounding gorilla guardian.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Muhabura Hotel & Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Le Bambou Lodge & Da Vinci Lodge
- Luxury: Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Five Volcanoes Lodge & Wilderness Bisate Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service
Day 7: Volcanoes –Bwindi National Park
After a hefty breakfast, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and today’s journey covers the border crossing. Arrive early to Bwindi to officially check into your accommodation for relaxation and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Bakiga Lodge/Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Engagi or Mahogany Springs (VIP)
- Luxury: Ultra VIP Mahogany Springs/Bwindi Lodge & Buhoma Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service
Day 8: Experience the best Bwindi gorilla trek and Batwa cultural visit
Gather at Buhoma or a respective gorilla trekking sector as per your gorilla permit and expect to have insight into the guidelines or rules/regulations. The gorilla groups and ranger guides will be assigned to you during the mandatory morning briefing. At around 8:00am, you will have the actual trek through the forest with a focus to see gorillas, and the day excursion will last for 2-6 hours.
Expect to enjoy an hour of observing a group of mountain gorillas and taking photos in the dense Bwindi Forest. After the trek, you will return to be given a certificate, and you will continue to your lodges. Expect to relax the entire evening, and this will be accompanied with dinner.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Bakiga Lodge/Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Engagi or Mahogany Springs (VIP)
- Luxury: Ultra VIP Mahogany Springs/Bwindi Lodge & Buhoma Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service
Day 9: Tour Lake Bunyonyi full-day
After breakfast, proceed to Lake Bunyonyi for a long day tour which includes a guided boat/canoe ride. Expect to a boat ride for you to explore some of the scenic tropical islands that total up to 29. Have a leisurely time in your respective lodges while viewing the lake.
Accommodation Options
- Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal plan: Full-board service
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi –Lake Mburo Game Park
After a delicious breakfast, you will be picked up and today, expect to drive to Lake Mburo National Park, where over 68 mammals live. This park is one of the best to enjoy game drives and boat cruise excursions.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Leopard camp& Rwonyo/Eagles Nest Lodge
- Midrange: Mburo Safari Lodge/Mpogo, & Arcadia Cottages
- Luxury: Kigambira Lodge and Mihingo Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service
Day 11: Game drive with Launch cruise tour
Enjoy the morning cup of tea/coffee and after, you will set off for a game drive through the Lake Mburo plains. Today’s game drive comes with astonishing sightings of different animals like zebras, elands, giraffes, Uganda Kobs, elusive leopards buffaloes, waterbucks, oribis, and impalas, etc. After the game drive, have lunch and later, continue with the Lake Mburo boat tour for 2-3 hours which include sighting hippos, hippos, and water birds.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Leopard camp& Rwonyo/Eagles Nest Lodge
- Midrange: Mburo Safari Lodge/Mpogo, & Arcadia Cottages
- Luxury: Kigambira Lodge and Mihingo Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service
Day 12: Lake Mburo –Entebbe with Kayabwe Equator tour
Enjoy a leisurely cup of tea/coffee and check out of the camp or lodge. The driver guide from Rivo Safaris will be ready to transfer you safely to Entebbe, but expect an en route visit at the Equator crossing.
End of the 12 Days Rwanda-Uganda Safari
Inclusions
- Gorilla & golden monkey permits
- Chimpanzee trek fees
- Canopy walks
- Cultural safari experiences
- Relevant government taxes
- Boat cruise tours
- Bottled drinking water on a tour
- Accommodation plus meals on the Rwanda-Uganda safari
- Park entrance fees & site visits
Exclusions
- Tips on the Rwanda-Uganda safari
- All optional safari experiences on this itinerary
- Personal expenses like visas, insurance fees, passports, laundry, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, telephone & more.