15 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari
Embark on our 15 Days Rwanda and Uganda safari and get the chance to explore the best of both worlds! During this 15 days Rwanda and Uganda safari, you will get a chance to trek colobus monkeys in Nyungwe Forest National Park, golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and cross to Uganda where you will be visiting Lake Bunyonyi, go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, embark on chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and view the mighty Murchison Falls as well as rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Highlights for 15 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – City tour
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
Day 3: Colobus monkeys tracking – Canopy walkway
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 5: Dian Fossey hike or Mount Bisoke Hike
Day 6: Golden Monkeys trekking – Cross to Uganda via Cyanika border
Day 7: Full day at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park – Batwa community tour
Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector and afternoon boat cruise
Day 11: Morning game drive and transfer to Kibale national park
Day 12: Chimpanzee Trekking – Bigodi Swamp
Day 13: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – top of the falls hike
Day 14: Morning Game drive and launch cruise
Day 15: Ziwa rhino tracking and Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary for 15 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – City tour
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be welcomed by our company representative who will also be your safari guide. Connect to check-in at your booked hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, you may have an optional Kigali city tour, visiting the Kigali genocide memorial, Rwanda Art Museum and the presidential palace museum where you will learn more about the history of Rwanda. Enjoy en-route lunch, dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Kigali.
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
After your early breakfast, embark on your journey to Nyungwe forest national park which is a 6-7 hours’ drive from Kigali with en-route stop the Nyanzi King’s palace and Butare national Museum with en-route lunch. Proceed to check-in your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Colobus monkeys tracking – Canopy walkway
After breakfast, follow the same procedure as of chimpanzee tracking, receive a briefing then enter the forest to search for the colobus monkey. These primates are quite different to spot as they keep jumping from tree to tree however, the park rangers will do their best to help you get the best view of the primates. This will take 2-5 hours and on finding them, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence.
After lunch, connect for the 2 pm canopy walk experience. You will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a 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 below you.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
After breakfast, embark on your journey the Volcanoes National Park. It’s about 6-7 hours’ drive with great sights of the Lake Kivu and Virunga Mountains and the forest. You can stop to take pictures keeping in mind the time. Upon arrival in Musanze, proceed to check-in your lodge, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Dian Fossey hike or Mount Bisoke Hike
Option 1: After breakfast, follow the same procedure of reporting at the briefing point. Thereafter, enter the montane forest to start the Dian Fossey hike. The hike rewards with visit of Dian Fossey graveyard and her home in Karisimbi, some primates and birds. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Option 2 – You will either hike mount Bisoke or do a second gorilla trekking experience however, the second gorilla experience is not included in the quote below. It’s an optional activity. You will follow the same procedures provided as of the first gorilla trekking experience.
You will enjoy breakfast and set out for Mount. Bisoke hike which is part of volcanoes national park. After briefing about hike with your hiking gears, set off for the hike. It’s a day hike through the steep slopes of the mountain. On reaching the summit, you will discover a beautiful crater lake and the whole experience is overwhelming! Dinner and overnight stay at Lodge as above
Day 6: Golden Monkeys trekking – Cross to Uganda via Cyanika border
After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing. Enter the forest and hike while in search of the golden monkeys. Tracking the golden monkeys’ rewards views of other primates such as the black and white Colobus monkeys, Olive baboons among others. On finding the golden monkeys, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence before you return to the starting point where you will meet your driver after descending.
Transfer to Uganda connecting to Lake Bunyonyi. It’s about 3-4 hours’ drive crossing via Cyanika border. Lake Bunyonyi is located in Kabale district close to Uganda-Rwanda border and it is the deepest lake in East Africa and Bilharzia free lake for human consumption in different activities. Upon arrival in the evening, check-in your booked lodge to relax, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Full day at Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, explore the lake on a boat trip and visit some of the interesting islands. Bunyonyi comprises of 29 islands especially the punishment island and the lake is the best place of relaxation. Later afternoon, explore optional activities like the zip-lining experience, high rope experience at Lake Bunyonyi. Relax at the lakeshore with great views of the hills. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park – Batwa community tour
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to one of the sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It’s about 3-4 hours’ drive to Buhoma sector of Bwindi forest. Upon arrival, check-in, have lunch and later afternoon, connect to Batwa community for a cultural tour. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience
Enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for briefing by the ranger guides and later head into the forest for your trek. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. These primates roam the park freely and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular day. On finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates, enjoy your lunch packs and meet your driver / guide and transfer back to your lodge.
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector and afternoon boat cruise
After breakfast early in the morning, transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park which is about 4-5 hours’ drive via Ishasha sector for an opportunity to spot the tree climbing lions and en-route lunch. Proceed further to the park and connect for the afternoon launch cruise along Kazinga channel where you will get an opportunity to see a number of bird species, elephants and buffalos, hippos and crocodiles at the lakeshores. Thereafter, connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Morning game drive and transfer to Kibale national park
You will wake up early and head out for a morning game drive to catch up with the early risers. Explore the Kasenyi sector – a known mating ground for kobs and a hunting ground for lions. While on the game drive, expect to see some of the big four game including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, also different species of antelopes, warthogs and white Colobus monkeys just to mention a few.
After the game drive, transfer to Kibale national park with en-route Crater Lake tours exploring the crater lakes. Proceed to your booked lodge for check-in, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Chimpanzee Trekking – Bigodi Swamp
Wake up early and drive to Kibale Forest to the briefing point before you head in the forest in search of the exuberant Chimpanzees groups in the Kibale forest. Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor, is a thrilling experience. Though they can be difficult to spot, you will be in no doubt of their presence as the forest is alive with their noisy calls. Spend an hour in their presence. After trekking, go for a swamp walk in Bigodi swamp – one of the richest swamps with birds and primates like Baboons, red-tailed monkey, Black and white monkey among others. Diner and overnight at lodge as above.
Day 13: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – top of the falls hike
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Murchison falls national park. It’s a 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Entebbe the park via the Kichumbanyobo gate from Masindi town, connect to the top of the Murchison falls, explore the falls before you proceed to check-in at your lodge to rest. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 14: Morning Game drive and launch cruise
Early morning breakfast and then go for a morning game drive where you may spot various animal species like lions, leopards, hyena, elephants, giraffes, Uganda kobs among others. Return and have lunch.
Later afternoon, you set off for a launch cruise at the bottom of the Murchison Falls along River Nile, enjoy streaming views of hippo and serried ranges of crocodile along the sandbanks, as well as large numbers of different species getting down to drink & bathe. Return to your lodge with en-route game viewing. Dinner and overnight at lodge as the above
Day 15: Ziwa rhino tracking and Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for your on-foot rhino tracking experience. You will receive a briefing and then track rhinos for about 1-2 hours’ drive. Embark on your journey back to Kampala /Entebbe with en-route lunch. Upon arrival at the afternoon, check in at your booked hotel or drop-off at Entebbe International Airport.
End of the 15 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari
