15 Days Adventure Rwanda & Uganda safaris
Safari overview
This safari will take you to both Rwanda and Uganda’s best national parks, you will stand a chance to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in both countries in volcanoes national park Rwanda and Bwindi national park in Uganda. On top of that, you will have a chance to share the love of gorillas with that of chimps don’t forget wildlife viewing and boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
On your arrival at Kigali international airport, our safari guide will be readily available to pick you and drive you to Kigali for a city tour. Places expects to visit include the Genocide Memorial center in Gisozi the burial ground for over 2000 people who died during the 1994 genocide, visit also the local market, handicraft shops among many other interesting places if time allows. From here you will later transferred to your pre-booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay. Luxury:
Location: Kigali
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel/Lemigo Hotel/ Milles Collines Hotel
Mid-range: Chez Lando Hotel/
Budget: Step Town Motel/Golf Hills Residence.
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Wake up leisurely for a hearty breakfast, then after our safari guide/driver will pick you and drive you to the south western part of Uganda to Nyungwe forest national park a home to over 13 species of primates coupled with chimpanzees, the journey will take you through the wonderful hills and cultivated countryside. You will have a stopover in Nyanza to visit the famous King’s Palace we will enjoy lunch in Butare, from here you will precede to Nyungwe Forest national park a big montane forest in Africa arrive in the late afternoon for relaxation and later dinner and overnight. Luxury:
Location: Nyungwe forest
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel/Lemigo Hotel/ Milles Collines Hotel
Midrange: Chez Lando Hotel/
Budget: Step Town Motel/Golf Hills Residence.
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Nyungwe Forest Lodge/Midrange: Nyungwe Tophill View Lodge/Budget: Gisakura Guest House/Peace Guest House
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking
After a morning breakfast and briefing from the park wardens about the activity, you will depart for guided nature walk where you will be in position to meet very many species of primates that reside in the park including chimpanzees the closest relatives to human sharing almost 98% of human genes.
The time taken to meet the chimps is unpredictable since they are wild animals they move freely in their natural habitat however the search can last up to 7 hours, so reasonable degree of fitness is needed. Once the apes are met, you are only allowed one hour with them while taking photos and videos with them (flash cameras are not allowed), other primate species to see include the colobus monkey, l’hoests monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey or blue monkey. Birdwatchers will also appreciate the exceptional rich bird life. After the activity, you will retire to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. If the evening is free go for a community walk. Dinner and an overnight at Luxury:
Location: Nyungwe forest national park
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Mid-range: Nyungwe Tophill View Lodge
Budget: Gisakura Guest House/Peace Guest House
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 4: Drive to Kibuye
Our safari guide will drive you to Lake Kivu after breakfast at the lodge to explore the lake. However on your way to Kibuye, you will have a stopover and visit the Genocide Memorial site of Bisesero a burial cemetery for over 25000 people including majority Tutsi and a few Hutu’s. After, you will have lunch and some relaxation on the shores of Lake Kivu. Dinner and an overnight at
Location: lake Kivu
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Mid-range: Nyungwe Tophill View Lodge
Budget: Gisakura Guest House/Peace Guest House
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 5: Proceed to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you will go on the lake and enjoy a speed-boat trip which will take you up to Gisenyi, you will have your lunch in Gisenyi and then after our safari guide will drive you to Ruhengeri or Kinigi where you will have your dinner and an overnight stay at.
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/Hotel Muhabura
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in volcanoes national park
You will get up very early for breakfast, after our safari guide will drive you to the park headquarters in Kinigi to receive short briefings from the park wardens about the all gorilla tracking process and also get you allocated to the gorilla family and the ranger guide. After, head to the thick rain-forest to begin the search of our closest relatives the gorillas sharing almost 97% of human make-up.
The walks might be difficult so some physical fitness is needed as well as study pair of walking shoes/boots, the trek is unpredictable it can go up to full day, however once the gorillas are met, you are only allowed an hour with them while taking photography and videos with them (flash cameras are not allowed) after this wonderful activity, retire back to the lodge for relaxation. However should the evening be free take a tour to lakes Burera and Ruhondo. Dinner and an overnight at
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/Hotel Muhabura
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 7: Hike Dian Fossey grave
After an early breakfast, with packed lunch and bottled water, our safari guide will take you for a hike up to the graveyard of Dian Fossy and the remains of the Old Karisoke Research Station. Dian Fossy was a prominent an American primatologists who studied the behaviors of mountain gorillas for a period of over 18 years however, however, her work was put down when she was killed by the so called poachers who were against her works.
She was buried in the forest near her friend gorillas including famous Digit gorilla and many others gorillas killed by poachers. Although very little remained, the setting is incredible and one can imagine how Dian Fossey lived in this isolated mountains for all those years. After the hike, you will get back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and an overnight
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/Hotel Muhabura
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 8: Transfer to the Ugandan side
After a hearty breakfast, our safari guide/driver will drive you to the Rwanda-Uganda border passing through beautiful sceneries and people’s homestead, our safari guide will help you to finalize with the border crossing requirements and finally enter to the Uganda side (the clock will go back ward for one hour) drive to Lake Bunyonyi, arrive in time at the lodge for relaxation and later dinner and an overnight stay at.
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury:Lake Mutanda Chameleon Hill
Mid-range: Arcadia cottage,
Budget: Wag Tail Eco Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Southern part of the park
After an early breakfast at the lodge, our safari driver guide will drive you to the park headquarters where you will meet the park wardens or senior ranger guides who will take you through a short briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas and also get you allocated to the gorilla family to visit. After, the ranger guide will lead you to the impenetrable forest to begin the search of these incredible species of gorillas.
Carry bottled water, and sometimes packed lunch since the trek is unpredictable meeting them depends on where they last spent their night from so a reasonable degree of fitness is needed as well as tracking gears like study pair of walking shoes boots and water proof jackets.
Once they are seen you will forget all the troubles you have gone through and utilize the one hour you are allowed to stay with the gorillas. Retire back to the lodge for relaxation, if the evening is free, go for a community walk and learn the local people’s way of life and cultures. Dinner and an overnight at
Luxury: Lake Mutanda Chameleon Hill,
mid-range arcadia cottage, Wag Tail Eco Lodge
budget Buhoma community Bandas
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 10: Head to Kibale Forest National Park
After an early morning breakfast, our safari guide will transfer you to Kibale forest national park a home to over 13 species of primates coupled with chimpanzee the closet relative of man sharing almost 98% of human genes. On your way you will have a chance to visit the palace of the youngest king in the world (Tooro kingdom palace) for a cultural and historical brief, lunch will be taken in Fort portal town before proceeding to the pack. Dinner and an overnight at Luxury:
Location: Kibale national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury:Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
Mid-range: primate lodge/Chimpanzee Guest House
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Rwenzori View Guest House
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking and swamp walk
This morning after an early breakfast, our safari guide will take you to the ranger station before 8:00am to receive a short briefing about the all process of chimp tracking. After, you will follow the ranger guide deep into the forest to begin the search of chimp. These delightful apes more closely related to humans than to any other living creature are superb to watch as they play on tree branches or fruitful trees.
The time taken during the search of chimps is unpredictable, since meeting them depends on where they last spent their night from so, a sturdy pair of walking shoes/boots is needed as well as packed water. Only one hour is allowed with them once they are met, take as many photos and videos with them as well as learning their behaviors.
You will meet many other primate species during the search of chimps like the black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, civet monkeys, red colobus monkeys among many others. After this memorable experience with the chimps , Retire back to the lodge for lunch, and later go for a guided walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary for more chance to see species of primates and birds like the shining blue kingfisher, blue Throated Roller, see various species of trees butterflies among many others. Dinner and an overnight at
Location: Kibale national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury:Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
Mid-range: primate lodge/Chimpanzee Guest House
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Rwenzori View Guest House
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
This morning after an early breakfast, our safari guide will transfer you to Queen Elizabeth national park a protected park hosting a large variety and volume of wildlife. It’s known for boosting the premier bio diversity of animal species than to any game park in the world ranging from the open Savannah to Rain forest, dense swamps and beautiful crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward.
the park house over 120 species of wildlife including Hippos, Lions, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena among many others, over 606 species of birds are recorded in the area including the martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail,Verreaux’s eagle among many others. you will arrive in time at the park time for lunch and later dinner and an overnight at The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation at
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge/Kyambura Game Lodge
Mid-range: Enganzi Lodge/Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Budget: Mweya Hostel, Simba Safari Camp/ Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 13: Game drives and launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, will be a transferred to Kasenyi side of the park to catch up with morning risen rushing to their hide-outs. Games expect to see this morning include predators like leopard, hyena, lion, Elephants, others include buffaloes, warthogs, bush pigs, Uganda kobs, water buck, giant forest hogs, and many species of birds and plants. After this interesting activity, retire to the lodge for relaxation at the pool side as you wait for lunch.
In the afternoon after lunch, enjoy a 2 hour’s launch cruise on the Kazinga channel which offers another chance to spot various species of animals including schools of hippos and crocodiles swimming just a few meters from the boat, whereas elephants and buffaloes are expected to be seen along the shoreline plus many species of birds such as the kingfisher, herons, blue oraco and the shoebill for the lucky visitors. After, drive back to the lodge to for relaxation, Dinner, and overnight at Luxury:
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge/Kyambura Game Lodge
Mid-range: Enganzi Lodge/Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Budget: Mweya Hostel, Simba Safari Camp/ Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 14: Morning Chimpanzee tracking and depart to Kisoro
Early morning chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge by 8:00 am, you will first get briefed about the activity from the park wardens about the dos and don’ts while with the chimpanzee, after, follow the ranger guide into the forest to begin the search of our closest relatives.
Expect to see primate species most especially the Chimpanzee, other primates expect to see include the Black and white Colobus monkeys, baboons, civet monkeys, and many other animals like antelopes, hyenas, Lion and many others in the middle of savanna grassland. After this wonderful activity, retire back to the lodge for lunch, after lunch drives through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth called Ishasha, and head to Kisoro. Luxury: Travellers’ Rest Hotel/ Budget: Kisoro Tourist Hotel
Day 15: Cross to Kigali Rwanda
Wake up leisurely for a hearty breakfast after, our safari guide will drive you to Uganda Rwanda border, after finalizing with the border crossing requirement, you will continue to Kigali to end your safari.
End of the safari
The safari includes
- Transportation and fuel in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
- Full Board Accommodation on Safari as included in the itinerary
- 1 gorilla permit per person each in Uganda and Rwanda
- 3 Chimp permits
- Diane Fossy grave Hike
- Game drive
- Boat cruise on the Nile river
- Full English Speaking driver guide and all his associated expenses. We can also provide any other foreign language speaking guide on request.
- Park entrance fees
- Any other Activity fees as mentioned in the Itinerary
But it excludes,
- Accommodation in Kigali unless is on the itinerary
- Flights
- Visa fees,
- Airport taxes
- Item of personal nature, like bar bills, tipping, Laundry, Beverages
- Optional Activity fees
- Other extra expenses not included above