18 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari

18 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari will give you the utmost tourism experience in the pearl of Africa and the land of a 1000 hills where you will get to visit a number of rewarding attractions and sites for a memorable Uganda tour. The safari will open up a new opportunity for you to have amazing experiences as you get to engage with the wildlife as you visit a number of wildlife sites like the national parks, sanctuaries where you will participate in a number of activities like the game drives where you will see a number of wildlife in the different parks like Murchison falls national park, kidepo valley national park, you will participate in chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park which will give you the opportunity to more about the primates understanding their behaviour in the wild, their feeding patterns, how they co-exist with one another which will offer amazing experience as you get to explore life in the wild. In the land of 1000 hills, you will get to participate in gorilla trekking in Rwanda in the home to half of the world’s remaining mountains gorillas volcanoes national park. The safari will involve participating in activities like the virunga mountains hike where you will hike mount Bisoke, golden monkey trekking, hiking dian Fossey’s grave among other activities. you will also head to the home of the big five animals in Rwanda Akagera national park, you will also get to participate in chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda in Nyungwe national park the home to 13 primate species in the country you will also visit for your memorable 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari as you visit interesting sites the different destinations in the countries.

Highlights of your 18 days Uganda safari

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe
Day2: Ngamba Island
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
Day 4: Morning game drive- Afternoon boat safari-Top of falls
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 6: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (Full Day)
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8: Game drive & Kazinga channel boat safari
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking Bwindi
Day 10: Batwa Trail & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking – Volcanoes National Park
Day 12: Dian Fossey Trekking & Musanze Caves Tour
Day 13: Golden monkey tracking and nature walk
Day 14: Bisoke (Visoke) Hike – Volcanoes National Park
Day 15: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park
Day 16: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk
Day 17: Transfer to Akagera National Park & Boat Cruise
Day 18: Early Morning Game drive and departure

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Airport transfer

Airport transfer: On day one of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari upon arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by a representative of our tour company who will welcome you to the pearl of Africa Uganda. He will give you a briefing session of your safari, he will give you the rules and regulations to follow for an amazing time in the different countries as you take part in the different activities. After the briefing session, you will be transferred to your hotel for refreshments, relaxing and overnight stay. Alternatively, depending on your time of arrival in the country if you have time to participate in a number of activities, you will be transferred to the Botanical gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre where you will get to see a number of wildlife animals like the lions, elephants among other attractions in the centre.

Day 2: Ngamba Island

Ngamba Island: On days two of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari, after an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked by your tour guide for the safari who will transfer you Ngamba Island where you will visit the Ngamba Chimpanzee sanctuary the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Uganda that was established by Dr. Jane Goodall a good friend to Dian Fossey who ensured the conservation of the mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park. at the sanctuary you will get to see a number of attractions including the primates which will give you the opportunity to understand how they co- exist, their feeding patterns among other interesting features of the primates. Other attractions that will be seen during your visit at the island, you will get to see numerous bird species, amphibian and reptile species among other attractions at the sanctuary. Later on, you will transfer to Kampala city where you will have lunch and after you will participate in the Kampala city tour where you will visit a number of sites like the Kasubi royal tombs, Idi Amin torture chambers, Fort Lugard, Nakasero market where you will have the opportunity to understand how the Ugandans carry out their activities, you will also get to purchase a number of fruits, fabrics making the safari memorable. At the end of your safari, you will transfer to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.

Transfer to Murchison Falls: On day one of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda Safari after early morning breakfast at your hotel, your guide will pick you up and transfer you tour Murchison falls national park the largest National Park in Uganda. During your way to the Park, you will make a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary the only rhino sanctuary in Uganda where you will have amazing experiences watching the endangered rhino species, different monkey species like the black and white colobus monkey, the Mona monkey and many more, crocodiles, hippos, antelopes and many more. Later on from the sanctuary, you will have lunch in Masindi town and you will proceed to the park. On reaching the park, you will participate in the top of the falls hike which is quite a memorable experience where you will get to see the water thunders and rapids on a high speed falling over a gorge which is a beautiful experience where you will get exceptional views of the park from an aerial view. Later on transfer to your hotel for relaxation, leisure and overnight stay.

Day4: Morning game drive and Afternoon launch cruise

Morning game drive: On day four of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari after early morning breakfast, your guide will pick you from your hotel and transfer you to the northern bank of river Nile where you will participate n the morning game drive. During the morning game drives you will witness the park coming to life with a number of early risers flooding the plains to catch an early morning bite for the day and among the different animal species that can be seen include; elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda kobs, Oribi, bush bucks, topis and waterbucks among other animal species for memorable safaris after the morning game drives, you will head back to your hotel for refreshments lunch and in the evening, you will participate in the evening launch cruise on Lake Albert.
Afternoon launch cruise: After lunch, your guide will transfer you to the park to participate in the launch cruise which will offer amazing experiences during your safaris in the park, you will get to see the amazing views of the bottom of the falls where you will see a number of water birds like the African kingfisher, the cormorants, spoonbills, the bee-eaters along the river banks, you will also see a number of wild animals like crocodiles, hippos, elephants quenching their thirst from the river banks among other species for a memorable tour. You will head back to your hotel for relaxation dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Transfer to Kibale: On day 5 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari after early morning breakfast at your hotel, your guide will pick you and transfer you to Kibale national park and along the way you will have memorable rewarding experiences watching how Ugandans carry out their activities along the roadsides, you will have amazing views of the tea and coffee plantations you will continue with your long but rewarding journey to Kibale national park in fort portal where you will have lunch and continue to the primate destination in Uganda, Kibale national park. on reaching the park you will transfer to your hotel for refreshments, dinner and overnight stay as you wait for next day’s activities.

Day 6: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Chimpanzee Habituation: On day 6 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari after early morning breakfast at your hotel with your packed lunch, you will be picked by your safari guide who will transfer you to Kibale national park where you will carry out chimpanzee habituation which takes a full day . You will have amazing experiences during chimpanzee habituation where you will participate in taming and training the chimpanzees to be accustomed to human presence as you get to understand more about the primates for rewarding experiences in the park like their feeding patterns, their co-existence with one another. During the activity, you will get to see a number of rewarding attractions for instance primate species like L’hoest’s monkey, baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, grey checked mangabey, red colobus, blue monkeys and pottos among other attractions. After the amazing encounters with the primates, you will head to your hotel for refreshments relaxation dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth: After an early morning breakfast at your lodge, your guide will pick you and transfer you to transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. On reaching the park, you will head to your hotel for check in, relaxation, entertainment, lunch and in the evening, you will have a chance to participate in the evening game drive where you will see a number of animals catching their last bites for the day in the plains as they get ready to go to their resting place animals like zebras, elephants, elands, antelopes, crocodiles can be seen sun basking, leopards, lions, hyenas are easily seen during the evening games drives because they come out of hiding in order to hunt for their prey which is a thrilling adventure to see. After the game drive, you will head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Game Drive & Evening Boat safari

Game Drive: On day 8 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari after early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked by your guide and transfer you to the park to participate in the morning game drive where you will have the opportunity to see a number of early risers grazing in the plains, for instance, the antelopes, buffaloes, elands, impalas among other animal species. You will then transfer to the Ishasha sector for the ultimate lion tracking experience where the tree climbing lions will be seen which is quite a mesmerising trait that the lions in the park posses which is quite unique from the lions around the world. It is believed the lions climb trees t keep an eye on their potential prey like the kobs.
Evening Boat safari: After the exciting adventure, you will then head back to your hotel for lunch and relax as you await the evening boat cruise. After your lunch, you will then head to the park and participate in the boat cruise along the Kazinga channel which will offer a vast look at the landscape including a number of water birds like shoe bill stork, flamingos, king fisher’s great cormorant, little grebe, northern lapwing, red necked grebe, wandering albatross pied. Animals like the hippos elephants, waterbucks buffalos, crocodiles can also be seen sun basking among other animals. After the adventure activity, you will transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national Park where you ill check in your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 9: Gorilla Trekking Bwindi

Gorilla Trekking Bwindi : On day nine of your Uganda and Rwanda safari after early morning breakfast at your hotel with your packed lunch, your guide for you your safari will pick you from your hotel and transfer you to Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will carry out gorilla trekking in Uganda. When you get t the park headquarters, you will participate in a briefing session where you will get to know the different rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking in Uganda, you will participate in gorilla trekking where you will get the chance to track one of the different habituated Uganda families, during the activity, you will come across the different bird and primate species that will make safari memorable. When you get in contact with the gorillas, you will observe their behaviour in the park, you will get to see their feeding patterns, their co-existence with one another, and their grooming patterns among other interesting features of the primates as you take pictures for rewarding experiences. At the end of your safari you will meet your driver / guide who will transfer you to back to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 10: Batwa Trail experience

Batwa Trail experience: On day 10 of our 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari after early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to the Batwa community and embark on the Batwa trail experience which will give you the opportunity to know more about the forest people who depended on the forest products as they lived harmoniously with the wildlife especially the mountain gorillas, you will also visit their communities and witness how they carry out their daily lives after being banned from the forest, you will be entertained by their traditional dances, traditional folk songs among other rewarding activities. After the experience, you will embark on your journey to volcanoes national park where you will have lunch in Kisoro district. Through cyanika border, you will connect to volcanoes national park and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking – Volcanoes National Park

Gorilla Trekking: On day11 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda Safari after an early morning breakfast and with your packed lunch, you will be picked by your guide and transferred to volcanoes national park where you will get part of the amazing gorilla trekking activity in the park. When you get to volcanoes national park, you will head to the headquarters of park where you will undergo a briefing session about gorilla trekking in volcanoes national Park where you will get to know the guidelines to follow during gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park. During the activity, you will get to hike the different Virunga Mountains in the park to access the different gorilla families where you will get to see a number of attractions like the different bird species like; the long-crested eagle handsome Francolin archer’s ground robin, African Rwenzori, double collared sunbird, marsh harrier, you will also get to see a number primate species before you get to the Rwanda gorilla family which will offer amazing experiences during the activity and when you get to the gorilla family, you will get to understand more about the primates by observing their feeding patterns, their grooming patterns among the different activities carried out for a memorable Rwanda gorilla tours which will make the safari quite memorable. At the end of your activity, you will get to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Dian Fossey Trekking

Dian Fossey Trekking: On day 12 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari, after an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will transfer to the park headquarters where you will take part in the briefing session of the activity. The hike can take 1-3 hours and during the hike to Karisoke gorilla cemetery where you will access the Dian Fossey grave tourists can see different plant species, bird species like example the handsome francolin, Ruwenzori turaco, Ruwenzori Batis, Shelley’s crimson, Dwarf honeyguide, Dusky crimson and also other primates like the vervet monkeys, golden monkeys and also the mountain gorillas. On reaching the gorilla cemetery, Dian Fossey tombstone can be seen and next to her is the tombstone of her favourite gorilla Digit who was killed by poachers and at the cemetery, the guide tells the tourists about her research centre Karisoke which is now one of the biggest gorilla research centres in the world. After the activity you will head back to your hotel for lunch and refreshments and later on head to the Musanze caves for a tour, head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 13: Golden monkey trekking

Golden monkey trekking: On day 13 of your 18 days Rwanda and Uganda Safari after an early morning breakfast at your hotel you will be picked by your guide who will transfer you to volcanoes national park in order to participate in golden monkey trekking. When you get to the park headquarters, you will go through a briefing session where you will get to know the rules and regulations to follow during golden monkey trekking in Rwanda. After the session you will participate in the activity which involves hiking the different virunga mountains in the park to get to the habituated golden monkey troops in the park. during the activity as you hike the mountains, you will see a number of bird species like, different attractions like the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, lake kivu, Dian Fossey’s grave among other attractions and when you get to the primates you will observe their behaviour in the park as you take pictures for rewarding experiences during your Rwanda safari, you will head back to your hotel for lunch and in the evening you will participate in community walks to see how locals carry out their daily activities that will be educative and entertaining at the same time and among these include; banana beer making, subsistence farming, and preparation of local dishes among other activities. After your rewarding experience with the primates in volcanoes national park and cultural encounters in Volcanoes national park you will head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight

Day 14: Mount Bisoke Hike

Mount Bisoke Hike: On day 14 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari after early morning breakfast at your hotel, You will be picked by your guide for the safari who will transfer you to the park as you embark on the Mount Bisoke hike for a rewarding experience during your safari. During your safari, you will have the opportunity to watch a number of attractions like the different bird species, primate species for rewarding experiences. On reaching the summit, you will discover a beautiful crater lake for photography, see a number of herbivores like the elands, bushbucks, forest elephants among other attractions after the hike, you will have lunch and transfer to your hotel for relaxation dinner and overnight stay.

Day 15: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park

Transfer to Nyungwe: On day 15 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari, after an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Nyungwe National Park. On reaching the park, you will participate in the nature walks where you will see a number of primate species like Rwenzori colobus, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, owl-faced monkeys, Angola colobus, L’hoest’s monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, vervet monkeys, silver monkeys among other attraction. After the amazing activity, you will transfer to your hotel for relaxation dinner and overnight stay.

Day 16: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

Chimpanzee trekking: On day 2 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari, after an early morning breakfast you will head to the park to participate in Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park where you will get to track the different habituated chimpanzee troops and you will get the chance to know more about the chimpanzees like their feeding patterns where you will get to see them eating edible leaves, fruits, small insects lie caterpillars termites among others, you will also get chance to see how a habituated troop conducts their daily activities, how they co-exist with one another and son which will make the activity memorable. During the activity, you will also have the opportunity to see a number of bird species like long-tailed bluebird, paradise flycatcher, the Great blue turaco, forest hornbills, the orange and white bird and so on after your long activity in the park, you will head back to your hotel for relaxation and lunch and in the afternoon you will head back to the park to participate in the canopy walk.
Canopy Walk Experience: After lunch and relaxation, you will head back to the park and take part in the canopy walk for rewarding experiences in the park from an aerial view. Nyungwe National Park is the only park in Rwanda and East Africa where you can find the canopy walkway. During the activity you will get to see a number of primates swinging from one tree branch to another, a number of bird and butterfly species and exceptional aerial views for photography and at the end of your tour, head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 17: Transfer to Akagera national park and Ihema Boat Cruise

Transfer to Akagera: On day 17 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari after early morning breakfast at your hotel you will be met by your guide for your safari who will transfer you to akagera national park the home to the big five animals in Rwanda. During your transfer, you will get to see a number of attractions on the way to the park like a number of coffee plantations and tea plantations you will have a stopover for lunch and after transfer to Akagera National Park which will offer an amazing experience during your safari. On reaching Akagera National Park, you will participate in the afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will get to see a number of animal species like hippopotamuses, Crocodiles and you will also get to see rewarding experiences while you watch the sunset and a number of bird species catching prey like the African king fisher, cormorants, spoonbills, you will also get to see a the endangered shoebills stork along the swamps later on you will transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 18: Early morning game drive and departure

Early morning game drive: On day 18 of your 18 days Uganda and Rwanda safari after an early morning breakfast at your hotel, your guide will transfer you to the park where you will participate in the morning game drive which will give you the chance to see a number of early risers in the park like all the big five animals the lion and leopards trying to catch prey in the buffalos along the water sources, rhinos grazing in the plains. Other early risers in the park include the zebras, impalas, topis among other attractions in the park. After the activity you will transfer to Kigali city for lunch and later on your guide will transfer you a location of your choice in Kigali city or Kigali international airport. Alternatively, depending on your departure time, you will take part in the Kigali city tour where you will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum where you will get to know more about the dark period Rwandans went through during the massacre of the Tutsis by the Hutu, Kimironko market the largest market in Rwanda where you will get to buy a number of items, a number of African fabrics as you get to interact with the different with the locals for an amazing experience.

End of the 18 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari

Trip inclusions

All activities on the itinerary
all accommodation as per itinerary
4X4 safari vehicle & Fuel
Pick up and Drop off at Entebbe
Full-time English speaking driver/ guide
Bottled mineral water while on safari

Trip Exclusions

Tips
Visa fees
Air tickets
Personal expenses
Other expenses
All items of personal nature like laundry, phone calls, beer.