Uganda And Rwanda Wildlife Holiday – 20 Days

This Uganda and Rwanda Wildlife Holiday takes you on a unique journey to explore the natural beauty, wildlife and gorillas of both Uganda and Rwanda.

Starting off in Uganda, you will kick off this Uganda and Rwanda wildlife holiday with white water rafting on the great river Nile in Jinja. Your safari will then take you to Murchison Falls National Park for some wonderful wildlife experiences in the savannah and around the Nile.

We’ll then proceed to Kibale National park where you will do your first round of tracking chimps in their natural habitat. We’ll continue and visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for wonderful wildlife viewing on game drives and the Kazinga channel boat cruise.

In Queen NP, we visit the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha before going on to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – the well-known home of mountain gorillas. In Bwindi, you will hike through the thick rainforest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. You will then spend around 1 hour with the gorillas before heading out of the forest.

After Bwindi, you will spend some time on Lake Bunyonyi relaxing and slowing down before you cross the border into Rwanda. In Rwanda, you will visit Volcanoes National Park where you can either see gorillas again or hike to the gravesite of Dian Fossey.

You will then go on to Kigali for a city tour before continuing to Akagera National Park for wildlife viewing. You will continue to Nyungwe Forest National Park where you will track chimps for the final time before heading to Kigali for your onward departure flight.

Take a look at the detailed day-by-day itinerary to get a better idea of how this trip could flow for you. This trip is ideal for both individuals and groups interested in exploring both Uganda and Rwanda’s top tourist attractions.

As with all our safari packages, we can customize this Uganda and Rwanda wildlife holiday program to fit your personal preferences. Just reach out to us and we’ll be eager to help you.

Safari Highlights

• Jinja town, Rafting & visit the source of the Nile
• Rhino trekking at Ziwa Wildlife Sanctuary
• Murchison falls national park
• Kibale forest – chimpanzee tracking
• Queen Elizabeth national park
• Ishasha Tree Climbing lions
• Bwindi forest – gorilla trekking
• Lake bunyonyi
• Musanze town
• Dian fossey grave site
• Volcanoes national park
• Akagera national park
• Nyungwe forest national park
• Kigali Genocide memorial center

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda, at Entebbe Airport

Meet and greet with your guide/driver at Entebbe International Airport. Transfer to Kampala for the first night in the capital city of Uganda.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Dinner

Day 2: White Water Rafting in Jinja, return to Kampala

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Jinja for a white water rafting experience on the Nile. This is the most exciting 31 km rafting trip on earth and includes a fantastic barbeque lunch and complimentary drinks after the trip.

In the Evening, you transfer back to Kampala.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Dinner

Day 3: Drive to Murchison Falls park, via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After breakfast, start the tour by driving northwest through the famous Luwero Triangle. Stop en route at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to see Rhinos being reintroduced back into the wild. Then on to Masindi Town for lunch.

In the afternoon proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, stopping at the spectacular ‘Top of the falls’ where you can see the Nile’s beauty perfected.

See how the water is compressed from 50 meters to squeeze through a 7-meter canyon dropping 40 meters with a thunderous roar creating a beautiful rainbow, a plume of spray, and the best thing that happened to the Nile, “the Murchison Falls”.

Later drive to your lodge to check in.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Wildlife Game viewing in Murchison Falls National Park

An early morning game drive on the northern bank of the Nile led by your guide will make you encounter wildlife like the Lions, Elephants, Rothschild’s giraffe, hartebeest, Waterbuck, Oribi, Bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, hyena, Leopard (if lucky).

You will then head back to your lodge to relax and have lunch. Later in the afternoon, your guide will take you for a 2-hour boat trip upstream of the Victoria Nile. This will give you a perfect view of one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls – Murchison falls.

We shall see a huge number of hippos, crocodiles, birds, etc. Bird species found in this riverine zone include Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, Brown pelican, Red-throated bee-eater, various kingfishers, Fish eagles, cormorant, and the rare shoebill stork.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Drive from Murchison to Kibale National Park

Today we will drive south via Hoima to Fort Portal through verdant countryside and past traditional homesteads and farms. Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon.

You will finally check in to your lodge in Kibale or Fort Portal town ready for primate tracking the next day.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park

Early morning, visit Kibale Forest National Park, where you will enjoy a guided walk in search of chimpanzees and 12 other primates including l’ Hoestes, Red colobus, blue, red-tailed monkeys, brown monkeys, and the gray-cheeked mangabey.

The guide will provide detailed explanations, not only on primates but on all the forest fauna and flora, and will ensure that your walk is informative and enjoyable. This walk is excellent for viewing bird life and seeing primates at close quarters.

After lunch, visit the community and take a walk in Bigodi Swamp where you will also see a number of birds like the Great Blue Turaco. Later return to your lodge for dinner & overnight stay.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Begin your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain ranges for much of the journey. A game drive en route to your lodge may be rewarded with views of elephants, leopards, buffalo, hyenas, and a variety of antelope species along the Crater drive.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Wildlife Game drive & Launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth NP

Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse eco-system of grassy plains, tropical forests, rivers, swamps, lakes, and volcanic craters is home to an incredible abundance of wildlife.

Game drive in this park, with the massive Rwenzoris as a backdrop provides excellent opportunities to see lions, leopards, giant forest hogs, Cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Topi, and bushbuck.

After lunch, we’ll enjoy the unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This boat trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge.

This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 600 resident species.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9: Tree Climbing Lions in Ishasha – Queen Elizabeth NP

Drive south to the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for the legendary Tree-climbing Lions. Other mammalian specialties in this area include Giant Forest Hog.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Drive to Bwindi forest crossing through the hilly & most beautiful part of the country also known as the “Switzerland of Africa” – Kigezi Highlands, with its terraced hillside and winding roads to Bwindi.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Today, get up early and ready to enjoy one of the most amazing experiences in your life. The gorillas live within the deep jungle forest in families/groups. Bwindi has about 9 groups in different sections of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga & Nkuringo.

Your guide will lead you into the forest, with a group of other tourists, maximum of 8 people to find the gentle giants. This trek will take you about 2 to 7 hours depending on how far the creatures might have moved.

A number of birds, and primates, will be seen too while on your gorilla trekking adventure.

Once you get to them, it’s amazing how you can just stand meters away from these giants. Be ready with your cameras to capture this moment and tell more stories when you get back home. After the trekking head for a village walk to the nearby community before heading back to the lodge.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi. Relaxing & cultural encounter

Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi which is surrounded by terraced hills. Enjoy Bilharzia – free swimming, dug-out canoeing, sunbathing, hill climbing or mountain bike riding, and cray fishing.

Also, Visit the Batwa Community on the Islands of Lake Bunyonyi.

Accommodation:

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13: Drive to Musanze in Rwanda

Today you shall drive northeast to the town of Musanze close to the Virunga Volcano range. This beautiful area represents the gateway to gorilla tracking.

The spacious rooms give you a homely feeling. In the evening, enjoy a campfire and some entertainment from some local dance groups.

Accommodation: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (mid-range) and Virunga Lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 14: Optional Gorilla trekking / Dian Fossey grave hike

Rise early! From the lodge, you drive into the park about 30 minutes to the Office Rwandais du Tourisme et Des Parc Nationaux (ORTPN). Today you will decide what activity you will go for between Visiting the Dian Fossey Grave and Gorilla tracking.

Accommodation: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (mid-range) and Virunga Lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 15: Musanze to Kigali, Explore Kigali sites

Today after a relaxed breakfast you will be transferred by your driver/guide back to Kigali.

Depending on your arrival time you may be able to visit some of Kigali’s craft markets to browse amongst the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, sculpture, musical instruments, leather, and fabrics on offer.

Prepare to use your haggling skills. All activities and purchases today are at your own cost. You will sleep at a comfortable hotel located in a quiet sub-burb of Kigali.

Accommodation: Flame tree Village (mid-range) and Hotel des Mille Collines (Luxury)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 16: Drive from Kigali to Akagera National Park

After a relaxed breakfast, you head to Akagera National Park. Akagera National Park covers 2500 km² of savannah west of the Kagera River, in the northeast of Rwanda.

The park has a variety of wildlife and is a habitat for over 500 different species of birds. Herds of elephants and buffalo emerge from the woodland to drink at the lakes, while you might stumble across a leopard, a spotted hyena, or even a lion.

Giraffe and zebra haunt the savannah, and more than a dozen types of antelope inhabit the park. You will have lunch and in the afternoon you will go for a long game drive in the national park.

Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range) and Rusizi Tented Camp (Luxury)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 17: Boat ride in Akagera NP, drive to Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial

This morning you go for a boat safari on the Akagera River to spot the many waterbirds like Cormorants, Fish eagles, and kingfishers. It is then time to head back to Kigali.

After lunch, you will drive to the Bugesera district, south of Kigali, through a beautiful countryside not often visited by tourists. In the small town of Nyamata, you will visit a genocide memorial church.

You shall then head back to Kigali where you shall visit the Genocide Memorial in the city center to learn more about this tragedy.

Accommodation: Flame tree Village (mid-range) and Hotel des Mille Collines (Luxury)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 18: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Today, you will set off towards the famous Nyungwe Forest, one of the largest forests in East and Central Africa. The forest is abundant with flora and fauna including 13 primate species from colobus monkeys, mangabeys, blue monkeys, and, of course, our cousins the chimpanzees.

Nyungwe Forest is also a famous location for birders. With about 310 recorded bird species, 26 of which are endemic, this is one of the most important – and still little known – bird-watching destinations in Africa.

On the way, you will have lunch in Butare. You’ll be staying at a very nice lodge located on top of a small hill near Nyungwe Forest.

Accommodation: Top Hill View Lodge (mid-range) and Nyungwe forest lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 19: Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park

After a very early morning start, you shall proceed to the chimpanzee tracking trail in either the Cyamudongo or Uwinka sections.

The total population between the two groups is a healthy 80 individuals. This exciting up-close encounter with a human’s closest relative you will not soon forget.

In the afternoon, you go for East Africa’s only canopy walk. This walk takes place above a deep gorge cutting across the massive forest. Lasting about 1½ hours, the walk takes you through some beautiful foliage and animal habitats and you’ll have the chance to spot blue monkeys and unique birds that dwell in the upper levels of the forest canopy.

In the afternoon you will go for the Waterfall hike. This hike takes between 3 and 6 hours round trip, depending upon how frequently you stop to sightsee and whether you choose to drive a little further or walk from the ORTPN offices.

The first part of the trail is basically following the road to the vehicle park and before delving into the forest. You will have to cross various streams before making a steep descent to the base of the small, refreshing waterfall.

Monkeys are frequently seen along the way and the steep slopes provide excellent views into the canopy.

Accommodation: Top Hill View Lodge (mid-range) and Nyungwe forest lodge (Luxury)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 20: Drive back to Kigali. Airport, Departure

Today after a relaxed breakfast you will be transferred by your driver/guide back to Kigali in time to catch your flight back home. This will mark the end of your Uganda and Rwanda wildlife holiday with us.

Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch.

Inclusions;

• Transport in a 4WD vehicle with a pop-up roof.
• All fuel for the tour
• English-speaking Ugandan driver/guide.
• Accommodation and Meals on Full Board (Breakfast Lunch and Dinner)
• Park-entrance fees for all National parks
• All activities described in the itinerary
• 2 Gorilla tracking permits per person.
• 2 Chimpanzee tracking permits per person
• Drinking water throughout the safari.

Exclusions;

• International airfares
• Entry visa Uganda
• Meals that are not part of your accommodation.
• A porter. Helps to carry your backpack & push/pull you on the slippery slopes.
• Personal (medical/travel) insurance
• Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc.
• All expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities.)

This Uganda and Rwanda wildlife holiday can be adjusted to fit your specific preferences and schedule. Here are some related packages you might find interesting.

• 8 Days Rwanda Chimps and Gorillas Primate Safari.
• 14 Days Uganda Safari Holiday with chimps and gorillas.