10 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
This 10 Days Rwanda Uganda safari holiday involves seeing the best that Uganda and Rwanda has to offer. The tour starts in Rwanda and involves visiting several national parks in the two countries. The activities to get involved in while in the parks include chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest national park, double gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest national park and the volcanoes national park. The tour also includes game drives at Queen Elizabeth National Park, golden monkey tracking, a Kigali city tour, cultural visits to the Gorilla Guardians and Batwa pygmies.
The first major national park to visit after touring the city of Kigali is Kibale National Park. Kibale is considered to be the best place to track chimpanzees in Africa. It has over 12 species of primates including night dwellers like pottos and bush babies. From Kibale, the Next destination will be Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will spot tree climbing lions, the big 4 mammals of Africa and also take part in a launch cruise at the Kazinga Channel. After Queen Elizabeth, you will transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for gorilla trekking and the Batwa cultural experience. From Bwindi you will for island hoping, relaxation and canoeing at the amazing Lake Bunyonyi. From Lake Bunyonyi, you will transfer to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
Safari Highlights,
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Gorilla tracking
- Games drives
- Lake Bunyonyi visit
- A boat cruise
- Cultural Visits
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Kibale Forest national park Uganda
Our guide will pick you up from the airport or hotel in Entebbe/Kampala very early in the morning. He/she will brief you about the tour and car before beginning drive to Kibale. The journey takes about 5 hours and you need to set off early in order to reach in time to rest before chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest the next day.
Accommodation at Isunga Lodge
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Wake up early and take a quick cup of coffee before heading to the Kibale Forest National Park headquarters for briefing. The park Rangers and Guides will let you know about the history of the park, animals what to expect from your chimpanzee tracking adventure. Chimpanzee trekking usually takes 3-5 hours after which you will return to your lodge for lunch, refreshment and relaxation. Our guide will then transfer you to Queen Elizabeth national park in the evening. The journey to Queen Elizabeth national park takes 2 hours.
Accommodation at Bush Lodge
Day 3: Morning game drive and Boat ride at the Kazinga Channel
You will set off early with packed breakfast from your hotel for an early morning game drive to spot the early risers and the nocturnal mammals going back to their dens. By early risers, we mean birds. Predators like hyenas, leopards and to some extent lions tend to be less active during the day. The best time to see them is very early in the morning when the sun is not yet very hot. You will spot buffaloes, hippos, leopard, and lions as well as resident and migratory birds. Once you are done with the game drive, you will head back to the hotel for lunch and rest.
After the rest, our guide will transfer you to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise. The Channel is collection point for most of the park animals and is one of the best spots to see wildlife in Africa. It is also one of the best places to go for birding in Uganda.
Accommodation at Bush Lodge
Day 4: Second game drive at the Ishasha sector and Transfer to Bwindi
After yesterday’s wildlife viewing experiences, you should be ready for another final game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park. This time you will go to the Ishasha sector which is famous around the world for tree climbing lions. Tree climbing lions are only found in Uganda, Tanzania and Kruger National Park in South Africa. The best place to see them is in Uganda. While looking out for the lions, expect to spot many other creatures – including those you might have missed out during the first game drive. After enough of the game drive, you will head for Bwindi impenetrable forest. Lunch will be taken along the way.
Expect to arrive in Bwindi impenetrable forest late in the evening in time for an early rest for gorilla trekking the next day.
Accommodation at Ihamba Residence
Day 5: Gorilla tracking in Uganda – Visiting the Batwa Pygmies
Wake up very early and take breakfast. After your breakfast, head to the park for briefing about gorilla tracking. The briefing takes place at 7:00am and is conducted by the head park guide or chief Ranger. It is compulsory to attend the briefing because it helps you prepare well and have all the relevant information you need during your time with the gorillas. It is also during the briefing that you will get to get the opportunity to hire a porter and be assigned a gorilla group. There are about 14 habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi impenetrable forest. After the briefing, you will go into the forest to track the primates.
The Guide will take you back to hotel for lunch and rest. In the evening you will go out for a visit to the Batwa pygmy community. The Batwa were the original inhabitants of the Bwindi impenetrable forest but were driven away from the park to allow for mountain gorilla conservation. While with them, you learn about the difficulties they face adapting to a new world. The Batwa will entertain you with songs, dance and storytelling.
Accommodation at Ihamba Residence
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi – Island hopping, Relaxation and Boat ride
You will wake up early to a beautiful breakfast and be ready for a transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Uganda. The 29 islands in the lake are amazing as are the birds and surrounding scenery. Once you arrive, you will check in and go for boat-ride along the lake. Other activities in the lake include swimming, nature walks, cultural visits and simple relaxation. Lake Bunyonyi is free of bilharzia and crocodiles but is one of the deepest lakes in Africa. Exercise caution if you don’t know how to swim.
Accommodation at Acardia Cottages Bunyonyi
Day 7: Activities in Lake Bunyonyi and Transfer to the Volcanoes national park
You will wake up and take a walk around the beautiful lake before having breakfast. The driver will take you to complete activities in Lake Bunyonyi before you hit the road to Rwanda. The journey to Rwanda take about 4 hours and lunch will be taken along the way. Enjoy the amazing countryside and landscape of the two countries during your journey. You will notice that the local people live a modest life but are always happy. Don’t forget to take photos with the locals along the way and remember request for short stops if something catches your attention. You should reach the lodge early enough so that you rest early in preparation for gorilla trekking the next day.
Accommodation at Gorilla Solution Lodge
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Gorilla Guardians village tour
Briefings for gorilla trekking at the Volcanoes National Park takes place at 7:00 am and is led by park Guides. After the briefing, the gorilla groups will be allocated depending on the overall age and fitness of participants. Porters are available for hire should you need one. Once you are done with the briefing, the Guides and Rangers will lead you to the forest to track the gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be challenging given the mountainous terrain but the experience of observing a family of mountain gorillas should be enough to motivate everyone. Once you find the group, stay calm and do not make sudden movements. Once have taken photos and utilized the one hour allocated, the Rangers will take you back to the starting point for the certificate of completion. The Guide who will drive you back to the lodge for lunch and a rest.
Later in the evening, prepare to be taken for a visit to the Iby’iwacu cultural village near the Volcanoes national park. Also known as the Gorilla Guardians Village, the center is the best place to experience the culture of the people of Rwanda.
Accommodation at Gorilla Solution Lodge
Day 9: Golden Monkey Tracking and visiting Lake Burera and Ruhondo
After early morning breakfast, you will set off to the Volcanoes national park offices for another briefing about golden monkey tracking in Rwanda. Hire a porter if you wish and go out in search of the cute golden monkeys. You will eventually spot them on tree tops and branches with some coming down to feed on the ground. Golden monkeys are subspecies of blue monkeys and are highly endangered. They can also be tracked in Uganda but it takes only 4 hours to complete the activity in Rwanda. Once done tracking the golden monkeys, you should go back to the lodge for lunch and rest. Later in the evening, our guide will take you to visit the twin Lakes Ruhondo and Burera.
Accommodation at Gorilla Solution Lodge
Day 10: Transfer to back Kigali – City Tour and Departure
This is a day of relaxation depending on your departure flight or if you will be spending the night in Kigali. Wake up at your own time, have breakfast and check out of the hotel as you wait for the Guide to start the 3-hour journey to Kigali. The Driver will take you to tour the city, the Kings palace and the genocide memorial sit. The Kigali city tour will offer you opportunities to buy some souvenir from the local art and crafts shops. Once done with the tour, the driver will take you for lunch and then to the airport for departure or to your hotel.
End of Tour