Our 14-day safari in Uganda and Rwanda is for discovering the reason why Uganda is known as the “Pearl of Africa” and why Rwanda is always referred as “Remarkable Rwanda”. Our trip kicks-off in the City of Kampala (Uganda’s Capital) and concludes in the City of Kigali (Rwanda’s Capital), but involves relishing adventures of Jinja, Murchison falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks for different thrilling activities. From here visitors cross over to Rwanda to undertake gorilla treks, golden monkey treks and cultural tour by visiting Volcanoes National Park as well as Gorilla Guardian Village with the climax being the Kigali City excursion.

Safari details

Day 1: Entebbe Airport pick-up and drop-off at your booked Kampala Hotel

On jetting into the country via Entebbe International Airport on this day, receive a warm welcome from the country’s ambiance, verdant vegetation, cool breeze from the nearby Lake Victoria and most interestingly the wide smiles of Uganda’s friendly people. Briefing will be done immediately by the safari driver on arrival before being driven to the Hotel in Kampala for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Connect from Kampala to Jinja for an adventure excursion

Breakfast is followed by pick-up from the place of residence to connect to Jinja (eastern part of the country) for the adventure excursion. There will be a number of en-route stopovers that include Mabira forest and Ssezibwa falls before continuing straight to Jinja for a hot meal.

In the afternoon try-out the World’s renowned whitewater rafting at Itanda falls along the Nile River, done on Grade 3 & 5 rapids. Visitors who don’t wish for turbulent waters can try out the Grade 1&2 (family boat) and all are done on a small air-filled paddle and in the company of an expert guide. Meet our driver guide after this adventure and drive back to the Capital.

Day 3: Continue for Murchison falls National Park, oldest National Park in Uganda

After a delicious breakfast, our professional driver will pick you up from the Hotel and embark on the road trip to Murchison falls National Park in northwestern part of the City. The journey to this Park is 6-7 hours including the stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking. Lunch will be in Kabalega Diners after which we proceed to the Park for the hike to the top of the falls. Enjoy sweeping views of the Park, breathtaking Murchison and Uhuru falls, animals and many others before continuing to check-in at the booked Safari Lodge.

Day 4: Game viewing tours and Launch Cruises

A delicious breakfast starts off our fourth day and is followed by meeting/briefing with our professional driver/guide for the early morning game drive that begins at 7:00am. During this adventure, different game tracks such as Albert, Buligi and Victoria Game Tracks will be explored with hopes of finding the early risers like lions, serval cats, spotted hyenas, leopards and others still on the hunt as well as Defassa waterbucks, Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeests, buffaloes and many others.

In the afternoon we shall be scheduled for the Boat cruises that commences at 2:00pm along the Nile River to the bottom of the falls. It lasts about 2 hours with amazing views of aquatic animals such as Hippos and Nile crocodiles backed by the elephants, buffaloes and Uganda Kobs to relax on the banks. Several bird species including the African fish eagles, Malachite Kingfishers, Papyrus gonolek, pink-backed and great white pelicans, cormorants and bee-eaters among others. The highlight of this boat cruise is the moment of photography at the bottom of the falls and later dinner, relaxation and overnight at the Lodge.

Day 5: Drive to the verdant Kibale Forest National Park, primate Capital of the World

On this day, we check-out of the Lodge and Murchison falls National Park for a drive to Kibale Forest National Park. Our next destination is popular for its 13 primate species with chimpanzees being the most sought-after and this being a long journey takes 7-8 hours. Enjoy en-route stops for Lunch, stretching legs and photography. Dinner and overnight at the booked Lodge in the jungles or outskirts of Kibale Forest National Park.

Day 6: Trekking Chimpanzees (our closest cousins) and walks through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

Breakfast is a perfect way to start off our chimpanzee trekking adventure in Kibale Forest National Park. Connect to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for registration and briefing on the guidelines of trekking chimpanzees. This is followed by grouping of visitors into 6 persons and allocated a chimpanzee troop to trek as well as expert Ranger guide to identify different inhabitants of the forest. The actual chimpanzee trekking adventure lasts 2-5 hours including the one hour with these Great Apes. Expect different birds (African pied wagtail, slender-billed weavers, sometimes green breasted pitta and many others), mammals-elephants, giant forest hogs and primates (grey-cheeked mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and many others.

In the afternoon undertake the guided walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary where stunning views of wetland birds, butterfly species and sometimes primates will be relished. Meet our driver after the activity for a drive to the Lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park, medley of magical wonders

After breakfast, meet the safari driver for a drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the western side of the country. The drive lasts 3-4 hours and is marked by views of lush tea estates, snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and Crater Lakes with your arrival being welcomed by herds of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs and warthogs. Start driving slowly through the Park while spotting these animals and continue to the reserved Lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Exciting game drives through the sweeping plains and afternoon Kazinga Boat Cruise

Undertake a game-filled drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park for the warthogs, lions, elephants, Uganda Kobs, Defassa waterbucks, leopards and stunning bird species. Also explore the Lake Katwe Explosion Crater where elephants and buffaloes frequently visit and then head back to the Lodge for Lunch.

Meet your guide for a drive to the Mweya jetty for a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel (connecting Lakes George and Edward) for more views of Hippos and Nile crocodiles as well as birds such as African skimmers, cormorants, papyrus gonolek, pink-backed pelicans, African spoonbills, pied kingfishers and African fish eagles. This is another fulfilling day of our safari and therefore we retire to the Lodge with memories of the animals, birds and landscapes.

Day 9: Connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the ultimate gorilla trekking destination

Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha sector where huge lions can be seen lazing on fig tree branches while looking down on grazing Uganda Kobs, warthogs and many others. Lunch break at Savannah Resort Kihihi and continue to Bwindi for refreshment, dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Trekking the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest

A hefty breakfast is followed by transfer to the Park Headquarters for briefing on the dos and don’ts as well as expectations of gorilla treks. Visitors are then grouped into 8 persons, allocated a habituated gorilla group as well as professional Ranger Guide who will take us through the Impenetrable forest to search for the gorillas. Grouping of visitors is usually done based on age, level of physical fitness and personal interests.

Treks in Bwindi forest last between half an hour and 5 hours before a habituated gorilla group is located and the trek also reward visitors with views of birds, primates and many others. Spend a maximum of one hour with the Giant Apes and get back to the Park Headquarters to receive the trekking certificate then to the Lodge for Lunch. We relax for the remainder of the afternoon/evening.

Day 11: Cross Uganda’s borders to Rwanda, then continue to Volcanoes National Park

Enjoy a proper breakfast and check-out for a journey to Volcanoes National Park in Northern Province of Rwanda. Enjoy spectacular views of Rwanda’s rolling hills, Kigezi highlands and cross the border via Katuna/Cyanika border points to the Lodge on the outskirts of Volcanoes National Park.

Day 12: Trekking the endangered mountain gorillas within Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, pack lunch box and other essential gear before meeting our safari driver for a transfer to Kinigi Park Headquarters. Be briefed on the guidelines of trekking mountain gorillas that starts with drive for 20 minutes to the borders of Volcanoes Park. Start the trek by walking through tea plantations then venture into the jungles to search for the allocated gorilla group and this lasts 30 minutes to 5 hours. On locating them, trekkers are allowed one hour to learn their behavior and daily routine while taking photos with non-flash camera.

In the evening undertake a boat ride on the Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera where the local guide explains the formation of the Lakes and identifies the birds and animal species. Relaxation, dinner and overnight at the same Lodge as day 11.

Day 13: Tracking the frisky Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and visit to Gorilla Guardian Village

We meet up our driver guide again after breakfast for the transfer to Kinigi Park Headquarters for briefing on golden monkey behavior, guidelines of trekking and expectations after which follow trails to search for the endangered primates. The adventure lasts half an hour to 3 hours depending on the location of these frisky primates and because they are not as stable as mountain gorillas, there is need to be fast while photographing and observing them.

In the afternoon, we visit the Gorilla Guardian Village to learn about Kinyarwanda culture, how to brew banana beer, prepare local dishes and watch/take part in the exciting cultural dances among others before settling for dinner at the Lodge.

Day 14: Drive back to the City of Kigali for a tour and departures

After leisurely breakfast, return back to the City of Kigali for a tour and departure back home. This marks the end of our exciting 14 days Uganda Rwanda Safari.