18 Days Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya safari
A Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya safari offers diverse experiences, combining Kenya’s classic Big Five wildlife viewing and the in Masai Mara, Uganda’s primate tracking and river boat safaris on the Nile and Kazinga Channel, and Rwanda’s chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking and cultural sites like the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This will typically a road trip where you will drive to each of the countries with no domestic or international flights involved.
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport
The company tour guide will welcome and brief you and then had over your car, car paperwork for border crossing and the primate tracking permits.
If you arrive early, you can visit some of its amazing attractions such as the genocide museum the resting site of more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Alternatively, you can visit Kimironko market for souvenir shopping or visit the Nyamirambo women’s center for a community walk.
Accommodation at Five-to-Five Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
The day begins with a relaxed breakfast and afterwards embark on the 4-hour drive to Nyungwe National Park. On the way you will have a stopover at King’s palace in Nyanza. This is a traditional site for the Rwandan kings. Get an opportunity to delve into the history of the Rwandan royals, authority of the precolonial kings and their style. There are also royal cows and their herders who sing for them.
Nyungwe National Park is a home to 13 primates and these include chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest, mona, colobus, blue, owl-faced monkeys, bush babies and olive baboons. On arrival, you will check in and relax at your hotel.
Accommodation at Chimpanzee Lodge
Day 3: chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
After breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing at 8:00 am. Afterwards venture into the forest with the lead of the ranger in search of chimpanzees. The trek usually takes 2 to 3 hours and once these creatures are found, you will have an opportunity to observe them for 1 hour.
Throughout the journey the ranger guide shares information about these apes. Later, you will return to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will transfer to the Uwinka Visitor Center for a forest canopy walk adventure in Nyungwe Forest. The activity offers an opportunity to see all monkeys and birds which are hardly seen from the ground. After the adventure, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation at Chimpanzee Lodge
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
The journey from Nyungwe to Volcanoes takes 3-4 hours using the Gisenyi route. You will drive through plantations offering views of the local communities. For your accommodation, you will have the option of staying.
Accommodation at Kinigi Guest House
Day 5: Golden Monkey Tracking
After breakfast at 7:30 am, you will return to park headquarters of Volcanoes National Park for golden monkey tracking. These primates are even more endangered than mountain gorillas and are endemic to the bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountains. With their beautiful golden fur coats and spirited character. The trek to find them is relatively easy, as they are usually found at the bottom of the mountains. Golden monkey tracking will take 1-2 hours to locate them, and then you will have one hour with the habituated group, which consists of 80 members. Retreat from the activity and head back to your lodge for lunch.
Accommodation at Kinigi Guest House
Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Wake up for breakfast, and then embark on your 3-hour journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The time spent on a journey depends on the sector that is indicated on the gorilla tracking permit.
Accommodation at Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Day 7: Gorilla Tracking and community visit
After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing. On arrival to the park headquarters, you’ll be treated to local traditions, usually Batwa. Following that, a briefing will be given by the senior warden, covering the history of gorilla trekking in Bwindi, gorilla conservation, gorilla behavior, trekking rules and regulations, and the importance of gorilla trekking to the local community.
Gorilla tracking typically takes 2-3 hours, depending on the gorillas’ movements. You will be allowed at least an hour to interact and take photographs, maintaining a 3-meter distance. If it’s habituation, more time is spent observing the mountain gorillas, including watching the young ones play. You will return to your lodge for lunch and prepare for the Batwa community visit.
Accommodation at Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the drive, make a stop in the local communities of Kanungu to explore traditional coffee growing practices. Through the Ishasha sector, south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you’ll enjoy a stunning game drive. Keep an eye out for the tree-climbing lions that have made this park a must-visit for many Uganda safari adventurers. These unique lions are often spotted resting in the branches of trees during mid-morning.
Accommodation at Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge
Day 9: Game drive and afternoon boat cruise
After an early morning breakfast, embark on a game drive across the Kasenyi plains and Queen’s Mile in the open savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park, nestled flat on the Albertine Rift Valley. The most captivating game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park typically commence as early as 6:30 am or around 2:00 pm.
After the game drive, take some time for relaxation and lunch. Then, gather at Mweya Jetty for a Kazinga Channel boat cruise departing at 2:00 pm. This afternoon excursion entails a two-hour cruise along the Kazinga Channel, spanning from Lake George to Lake Edward, covering a 45 km distance.
You can conclude the day’s activities with an evening game drive along the channel track, exploring more wildlife during their active evening hours. Finally, return to your lodge for an overnight stay.
Accommodation at Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge
Day 10: Transfer to Kampala
On this day, you will have an early breakfast then start your journey to Kampala. Depending on your arrival time, you can visit some places and do some shopping at the malls.
Accommodation at Bushpig back packer’s hostel
Day 11: Transfer to Jinja
You will have breakfast at your preferred time and then start your journey to Jinja for the adventurous activities. Jinja is the adventure capital of East Africa.
Accommodation at Source of the Nile Hotel
Day 12: Adventure in Jinja
After a morning breakfast, feel free to take part in any of the many optional activities Jinja has for you, for example zip lining, kayaking, swimming, quad biking, fishing, white water rafting among others. In the afternoon, you will have a boat trip from Lake Victoria to the Nile River. You will be able to see the real source of the River Nile. This is where the Nile River starts its journey to the Mediterranean Sea.
Accommodation at Source of the Nile Hotel
Day 13: Travel to Kisumu
After having breakfast, continue East of the country to cross to Kenya via the Busia border. You will cross into Kenya and travel to Kisumu town, one of the big ports on Lake Victoria.
Accommodation at Grand Royal Swiss Hotel
Day 14: Transfer to Lake Nakuru
You are to have breakfast and then travel to Lake Nakuru National Park to spend the night. Arrival will be in the afternoon.
Accommodation at The Legacy Hotel
Day 15: Game Drive in Lake Nakuru National Park
After having early breakfast, you will have a game drive which focus on Lake Nakuru. Lake Nakuru occupies over 70% of the park making a great spot for bird lovers. Birds to see include the African fish eagles, greater flamingos and lesser flamingos, Egyptian gees, pelicans and more. This park also has a reputation of being the best place to see rhinos. It is home to both white and black rhinos. Other game to see includes giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, lions, leopard, warthogs.
Accommodation at The Legacy Hotel
Day 16: Transfer to Masai Mara national reserve
After having breakfast at leisure, you will travel to Masai Mara. You arrive in the afternoon and visit a Masai community. On this tour you will be introduced to some Masai traditions such as starting fire without a lighter, visit a typical Masai homestead, visit a Masai market and enjoy a presentation from their community. Be ready to participate in the presentation as it is healthy for your muscles.
Accommodation at AA Lodge Masai Mara national reserve
Day 17: Full day Masai Mara
Having had breakfast, have a full day game viewing on the vast plains of the Masai Mara giving you chance to see lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, zebras, warthogs. Masai Mara is famous for having a huge population of game. Part of your game drives will focus along the Mara River. This is where the wildebeest tend to cross from Tanzania to Kenya. This is known as the migration of the wildest. Even without the migration, this great river is full of hippos and crocodiles, something you should not miss out. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Accommodation at AA Lodges Masai Mara
Day 18: Transfer to Nairobi
Wake up for a fine breakfast and then checkout of the park. Your will drive to your hotel in Nairobi where you can relax for the day.
Accommodation at Lotus Inn Suites
End of Safari.