12 days/11 nights Uganda & Rwanda safari
About Uganda
Uganda has a total area of 236,040 sq km, bordered by Kenya in the East and Tanzania in the South, Rwanda in the South west, DR Congo to the west and South Sudan to the North, making it a landlocked country. It lies at 10S to 40N Latitude and 300 to 350 East Longitude, so it is astride the Equator.1 00 N, 32 00 E. The country, however, is well watered and fertile. Although it lies at the Equator, it receives about three rainy seasons a year, with Lake Victoria, The Nile, the many forests and the Rwenzori mountains determining much of the climate. In forest ecosystems it rains regularly and weather is unpredictable.
Water covers 36,330 sq km, about 15% of Uganda’s area. The country is rich in wildlife, game, birds, and a vast culture of over 50 tribes occupying this beautiful, green country. In Uganda alone a birder will enjoy twelve percent of bird species in the world; a tracker will find half of the world’s gorillas; an explorer will have an opportunity to see more than 7% of the world’s mammals. For the discerning traveller the potential for Ecotourism here is enormous, and the discreet have tapped into it.
About Rwanda
Rwanda is a hilly beautiful country in the heart of Africa, with a total area of about 26,338 sq km. It is bordered by Uganda in the North, DR Congo in the West, Burundi in the South and Tanzania in the East. To the outside world, Rwanda is known for the genocide of 1994, but it has recovered from those years of turmoil that characterized the nation in the period 1950-1994. Today, under new and visionary leadership, Rwanda is peaceful, prosperous and inviting.
The country has four (4) national parks – Nyungwe Forest Park known for its large size and a vast army of chimps and monkeys; Akagera National park for game, including zebra, giraffe, antelope, buffalo; Gishwati Mukura National Park – made up of two separate forests – the larger Gishwati and small Mukuraand is home to chimpanzees, golden, blue and L’Hoest’s monkeys as well as a host of birds and smaller animals; and finally Parc Nationale des Volcans where Dian Fossey dedicated her life researching the celebrated gorillas.
Day 1: Welcome to Entebbe, Uganda
Upon arrival at Entebbe international airport in Entebbe and completion of immigration and customs formalities a representative of our agency will meet, greet and transfer you to your accommodation in Entebbe.
Optional Mabamba Swamp tour in search for the famous Shoebill stork (Bird), also the wetland is Uganda’s most important birding site, and it is home to over 300 bird species. OR Just visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens for an evening Nature walk (Famous for harboring various bird and tree species and located on the shores of Lake Victoria.
The Entebbe botanical gardens are a bird’s paradise where tourists can go for bird watching some of the birds you can find at the gardens include; Orange Weavers, Violets black Weavers, red chested sunbirds, marabou stork, verreauxowleagles, black headed heron, hammerkops, African open billed stork, long tailed Cormorant, pied Kingfishers, giant king fishers, yellow billed duck, swamp fly catcher, black headed gull, common squacco, black headed Gonolek and pratincoleto mention a few.
Overnight: Admas Grand Hotel, BB
Room type; Deluxe Room
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls, Track Rhinos at Ziwa Sanctuary
Have breakfast and thereafter drive to Murchison Falls national park. En-route track rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before proceeding to the park.
Overnight:
Pakuba Safari Lodge, FB – Mid level
Room type; Standard Rooms
Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park (4 out of the Big 5 animals here)
In the morning after breakfast, go for a morning game drive where you will see numerous wildlife including elephants, Giraffes, Uganda kobs and beautiful savanna grasslands. Tick off your checklist the rest of the Big five if possible including Lion, Leopard, Buffalo and Elephant Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, depart for a 2-hour boat cruise along the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the mighty Murchison Falls.
DAY PROGRAM
06:00AM: Breakfast at the Lodge
06:30AM: Morning game drive
12:00AM: Transfer to the Lodge for Lunch
02:00PM: Take a boatcruise to the bottom of the falls
05:00PM: Trek to the top of the falls
06:00PM: Transfer back to the Hotel for dinner and overnight
Overnight:
Pakuba Safari Lodge, FB – Mid level
Room type; Standard Rooms
Day 4: Murchison Falls to Kibale National Park- Approx. 6hr drive
Drive south to Fort Portal, past big tea plantations and arrive in Fort Portal town in time for lunch (not included).Upon arrival, visit the Toro King’s palace to learn about the culture of the Batooro and also visit the burial grounds of their kings to understand more on the traditional leadership in Uganda. Learn how they name petty names, and probably get one yourself. Toro Kingdom is one of the few surviving kingdoms in Uganda with the youngest king.
DAY PROGRAM
08:00AM: Have breakfast at the Lodge
09:00AM: Set off on a drive to FortPortal
03:00PM: Arrival at the Lodge and check in
Overnight:
Turaco Treetops, FB – Mid level
Room type; Cottages
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing and there after head off for the chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest. After the morning searching for these beautiful animal’s head back to the lodge for lunch and some time at leisure.
In the afternoon after lunch, drive to Queen Elizabeth national Park for an overnight.
Overnight:
Buffalo Safari Lodge, FB
Room type; Deluxe Cottages
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth NP (Game drive) - Afternoon Boat Cruise (approx. 100km day)
After Breakfast Enjoy a morning game drive where you will get to see a wide array of wildlife such as Elephants, Buffaloes, Water-bucks among others.
In the afternoon, be rewarded with a River cruise on the Kazinga Channel; a 32-kilometre long natural channel connecting Lake Gorge and Lake Edward. The shores of this channel draw a large number of wild animals, birds and reptiles all through the year.
Overnight: Buffalo Safari Lodge, FB
Room type; Deluxe Cottages
Day 7: Ishasha Sector) - Game Drive – Bwindi National Park
After breakfast, transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and enjoy a game drive, where you may have a chance at seeing the famous Tree Climbing Lions this area is known for. Afterwards travel onwards to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Overnight:
Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, FB (B, L, D)
Room type; Cottages
Day 8: Gorilla trekking – Bwindi NP
Today, tick off gorilla tracking from your bucket list! With gorilla permits included in your package, along with a guide and porters who will carry your shoulder pack, set off to the thick forest in search of gorillas. The time taken to track the gorillas will vary enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 8-9 hours before one returns to camp but coming face to face with these amazing primates will reward you. For those not wishing to participate, you are welcome to relax at the lodge and enjoy the day at leisure.
DAY PROGRAM
07:00AM: Have breakfast at the Lodge
08:00AM: Arrival at the Headquarters for briefing
08:30AM: Start of Gorilla trek
Return to the Lodge for lunch and relaxation. Alternatively, visit a nearby community
Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, FB (B, L, D)
Room type; Cottages
Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
After breakfast at the lodge, transfer to Rwanda. The Best of Uganda Rwanda Safari road drive will be through a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’ because of its unique Mediterranean weather despite its location near the Equator. You will see the great countryside, and bamboo forests and have great views of the scenic Virunga Mountains. You will cross the national border at Gatuna and transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and check in at the lodge upon arrival
Overnight:
Ingagi Parkview Lodge, FB (B, L, D)
Or Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Room type; Cottages
Day 10: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park
You will have an early breakfast and move to the Park headquarters where you will receive a briefing on the rules of golden monkey tracking and be allocated the golden monkey family you will be trekking. You will after the briefing, be led by the ranger guides into the forest to search for the Golden monkeys in the Volcano Virunga Hills and the verdant Valley. Once traced, you will spend a maximum of one hour observing them in their natural setting. The tracking will be a 2-5-hour exercise after which you will return to your Best of Uganda Rwanda Safari lodge for lunch and relaxation.
You will have dinner and overnight at your lodge
Overnight:
Ingagi Parkview Lodge, FB (B, L, D) Or Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Room type; Cottages
Day 11: Transfer to Kigali and visit to Genocide memorial
You will have breakfast and transfer to Kigali City where you will have lunch and later visit the Gisozi Genocide memorial site for a historical firsthand account of the genocide that claimed more than 1,000,000 people in the 1990s.
Overnight:
Serena Kigali Hotel ; HB(Breakfast and Dinner)
Day 12: Departure - Kigali International Airport
You will have breakfast and be transferred to the Airport to catch your departure flight.
Tour Includes
- Daily breakfast,
- Meal plan as listed in the itinerary (BB in Entebbe, Kigali, FB on tour)
- Accommodation as listed in the itinerary on sharing basis
- All Park entrance fees
- 1x Gorilla permits per person
- Chimpanzee permits (Kibale NP & Kyambura Gorge)
- Golden Monkey permits
- Crater lakes/Bigodi
- Game drives
- Boat trips as shown in the itinerary
- Kigali City tour
- Ellen DeGeneres Campus visit
- Uganda-Rwanda Boarder crossing fees
- Mineral/bottled water in vehicle
- All transfers, fuel with vehicle
- English speaking driver-guide all along the tour
- Cultural visits where available
Tour Excludes
- Meals in Entebbe, Kigali
- Other optional activities
- Mabamba Swamp tour
- Extra drinks at lunches and dinners
- Air tickets
- Personal Expenditures; phone calls, laundry
- Visa fees for Uganda
- Optional Gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
