11 Days Uganda Rwanda Combined Safari
This 11 Days Uganda Rwanda Combined Safari is a combined safari package that allows you to explore top primate and wildlife destinations in both Uganda and Rwanda. During this 11 days Uganda Rwanda Combined Safari, you will go chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Highlights for 11 Days Uganda Rwanda Combined Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe
Day 2: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest and Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Day 5: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha Sector
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park via Cyanika Border
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking/ Dian Fossey Hike
Day 10: Transfer to Kigali- City Tour
Day 11: Departure
Detailed Itinerary for 11 Days Uganda Rwanda Combined Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe
You will be picked up from Entebbe International Airport upon your arrival. After a short briefing session with your driver guide, you will be transferred to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. In case your flight arrives in the morning hours, you will have an opportunity to explore Entebbe/Kampala city.
Day 2: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park.
You will leave early in the morning for Kibale Forest National Park, which is well-known for its habituated chimp families. If time permits, you will be able to visit the Nakayima tree throughout your voyage. It is an ancestral shrine for Baganda traditionalists, thought to be over 400 years old. You may eat lunch in Mubende or Fort Portal while seeing the Rwenzori mountains in the background. If you have time, you may visit the Tooro King’s Palace and the Amabere Caves. Then you’ll head to Kibale Forest National Park for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest and Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, you will join us at the park headquarters for a chimp tracking briefing led by a senior park ranger. The trip through the jungle, dubbed the ‘Monkey Capital of the World,’ will reward you with sightings of chimps and other monkey species. Other primates to observe include blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, bush babies, and more. The forest’s diverse bird population will create an enchanting aural backdrop. After the walk, you will eat lunch and then drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Upon your arrival in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will check into your lodge and later have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, you will proceed on a game drive across the wide savannah covered with acacia trees along the Kasenyi plains, on the border of the Albertine Rift Valley. Expect to witness lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, elephants, buffaloes, kobs, hippos, waterbucks, and bushbucks.
Following the wildlife drive, you will enjoy lunch at the lodge before embarking on a boat ride through the Kazinga Channel. The canal is a thin strip of water that connects Lakes Edward and George.
This trip provides an opportunity to witness Africa’s greatest hippo and crocodile populations, as well as various creatures and birds along the water’s edge. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha Sector
After breakfast, you’ll travel across the Ishasha Plains in search of tree-climbing lions, which are peculiar to this area. It’s fascinating to see these lions reclining on top of fig trees. You will eat lunch en the way and then proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national park, arriving in the evening.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a World Heritage Site, is home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. After an early breakfast, you will arrive at the park headquarters with your packed lunch. You’ll next be briefed by a senior park guide before beginning your hike through one of Africa’s oldest forests. The walk might last anywhere from one to six hours or more, across rugged terrain at high heights. Although the trek might be physically difficult, the prospect of seeing gorillas is exciting.
The forest supports 120 species of animals, 346 species of birds, 202 species of butterflies, and 163 kinds of plants. Once you’ve located the gorillas, you’ll spend an hour observing their behavior, photographing them, and making videos.
After that, you’ll return to the park headquarters and receive your gorilla trekking certificate. Depending on the time available, you will have the opportunity to participate in a Batwa traditional event. You’ll learn about these people’s great relationship with the forest. Their cultural acts and diverse skill sets will captivate you. You will have your dinner and spend the night at your lodge.
Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park via Cyanika Border
On this day, you will travel approximately three hours by road from Kisoro to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The route provides views of lovely terraced slopes and high, wooded highlands. Driving through deep-farmed valleys will remind you of Central Europe. The famed primatologist Dian Fossey characterized this location as “great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest.”
Arrive in time to have lunch at your lodge and then spend the evening doing some optional activities like Musanze caves, a birding tour, or a guided nature walk in Buhanga eco-park. Dinner will be served at your lodge.
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
You will drive to the park headquarters early in the morning for a briefing by Parc des Volcans guides before beginning your gorilla trekking. This national park preserves the Rwanda part of the Virunga Mountains, which is home to endangered mountain gorillas and a diverse range of habitats. Tracking gorillas through the forest on the Virungas’ slopes is an unforgettable experience.
You could get to see the gorillas and spend an hour with them before returning to the base for a late lunch. Tracking can take all day, especially when rainy and muddy. Mountain gorillas are part of a global population of only 480 individuals. Experienced guides will accompany you and use their experience to find the gorillas. When you find the gorillas, you will have no more than an hour with them.
After your gorilla trekking experience, you have lunch and later visit Ibyi’wacu Village for a cultural experience. You will visit the former King’s palace and watch interesting dance and singing performances from the local dance troupe. Return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at your lodge/hotel.
Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking/ Dian Fossey Hike
Today, you have alternatives. You can opt to hike the golden monkeys. Alternatively, you can visit Dian Fossey’s tomb and the remnants of the Old Karisoke Research Station. It is suggested that you schedule these alternatives ahead of time to ensure availability.
The Dian Fossey journey is for fans of the book or film “Gorillas in the Mist.” You will follow in her footsteps to her burial and the graves of other poached gorillas, including Digit, her favorite. For a more relaxing experience, visit the Golden Monkeys. It’s fascinating to see these one-of-a-kind primates playing in the wild.
Day 10: Transfer to Kigali- City Tour
Following breakfast at the resort, you will travel back to Kigali. In Kigali, you will take a quick city tour and visit the Genocide Museum. It opened in 2004 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. The museum provides an emotional and crucial knowledge of Rwanda’s past and the resilience of its people. You will also go to the Kimironko market to get a sense of Rwandese culture. Depending on your schedule, you might also visit Inema Arts Center for a local arts experience. Dinner and overnight stay in Kigali city.
Day 11: Departure
Wake up in time for breakfast at your hotel. You will check out of your hotel meet up with your guide and drive to the airport. Alternatively, we shall have the hotel drop you off at the airport in time for you to check in and board your flight.
End of 11 Days Uganda Rwanda combined safari!
