HomeUganda Tours from Kigali15 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari

15 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari

15 DAYS UGANDA RWANDA SAFARI

Start your journey of discovery within Kigali City, the Capital of Rwanda where views of rolling hills birthed the name “land of a thousand hills” in addition to culture, gastronomy and art are all unrelenting. Explore the lush Nyungwe Forest, one of the surviving montane rainforests in the World for chimpanzee trekking and canopy walks, visit the beautiful Volcanoes National Park for golden monkey tracking tour, then feel the warming spirit of Uganda’s jungles in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where mountain gorillas can be trekked throughout the year, visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for the tree climbing lions, tour the breathtaking jungles of Kigali Forest Park for another chance to see more chimpanzees. Our 15 days Uganda Rwanda Safari also leads to Murchison falls National Park for wildlife viewing safari spiced by breathtaking sights and sounds of the waterfalls or birds in addition to enjoying adventures of Jinja City.

Brief Itinerary of the 15 days Uganda Rwanda Safari

Day 1: Welcome to Kigali for your 15 days Uganda Rwanda Safari and drive to Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda.

Day 2: Nyungwe Forest: Chimpanzee trek and canopy walk

Day 3: Nyungwe Forest-Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

Day 4: Volcanoes National     Park: Golden monkey tracking tour and Gorilla Guardian’s village walk.

Day 5: Start the journey to Uganda-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda.

Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: Mountain gorilla trek and Village walks.

Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest-Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.

Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park: game viewing & Kazinga Boat cruise.

Day 9: Journey between Queen Elizabeth and Kibale Forest National Park.

Day 10: Kibale Forest: Chimpanzee trek & Wetland walk.

Day 11: To the incredible Murchison falls National Park.

Day 12: Murchison falls adventure: Game viewing & Nile Boat cruise

Day 13: To Kampala City via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Day 14: Jinja Adventures or tour of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Day 15: To Entebbe Airport and departures.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Kigali for your 15 days Uganda Rwanda Safari and drive to Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda

On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will receive a warm welcome from your private safari guide. Later, drive to the City Center for a brief tour and have the remainder of the day on the road to Nyungwe Forest National Park. This Park is a magnificent and verdant safari destination full of outstanding wildlife and plethora of birds.

The World’s largest montane rainforest, Nyungwe Forest National Park offers one of the most riveting chimpanzee treks and canopy walk experiences. Have the evening to relish dinner and overnight at the sumptuous Eco-lodge.

Accommodation;
  • One & Only Nyungwe House (luxury).
  • Nyungwe Top Hill View Lodge (standard).
  • Gisakura Guesthouse (basic).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2: Nyungwe Forest: Chimpanzee trek and canopy walk

In the morning, you will be picked up from your place of lodging in or around Nyungwe Forest to relish the out-of-this-world chimpanzee trekking tour. You will be swept off your feet by the highlights of the jungle but before anything else, first enjoy a hearty breakfast at your Lodge.

Briefing is at the Gisakura Visitor center and later, you will start walking through the lush tea plantations before entering into the forest. Over the course of this 1-3 hours’ tour, you will have the opportunity to see other residents of the forest especially primates and birds. Having encountered the Great Apes, spend one hour to watch and photograph them before enjoying the picnic lunch.

Next, you will move on to the starting point of the Canopy walk, with its 45-meter height and 160 meters length. Here, more primates-L’Hoests monkeys, blue monkeys and Angolan colobus monkeys as well as birds are sighted. Dinner and rest is at the Safari Lodge/Camp with full admiration and love for the Nyungwe jungles.

Accommodation;
  • One & Only Nyungwe House (luxury).
  • Nyungwe Top Hill View Lodge (standard).
  • Gisakura Guesthouse (basic).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 3: Nyungwe Forest-Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Start off with breakfast at the Lodge in or around Nyungwe Forest National Park then you will be picked up by the safari driver for a ride to magical Volcanoes National Park. It’s a long ride and therefore make sure that you have packed lunch before leaving. In the evening you will relish a mouth-watering meal for dinner then retire for dinner with great memories of the previous destination.

Accommodation;
  • Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Virunga Lodge (luxury).
  • La Palme Hotel or Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (standard).
  • Kinigi Guesthouse or Villa Gorilla (basic).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 4: Volcanoes National Park: Golden monkey tracking tour and Gorilla Guardian’s village walk

Early in the morning you will have breakfast and get picked from your Safari Lodge by the private safari who takes you to Kinigi Park Headquarters. This is where briefing happens before travellers venture into the forest for any activity. Go through the guidelines of trekking, information on the Park and what to expect, as provided by the Park Ranger. At the end of the 1-3 hours of searching for the allocated golden monkey troop, you will have one hour to observe their captivating playful antics, behavior and family dynamics.

Lunch is at the Lodge and in the afternoon (around 2:00pm), you will be driven to Gorilla Guardian’s Village to fall in love with Rwanda’s cultures and traditions. A wide range of activities are organized on this day and end in the evening when you will be driven to the Lodge for dinner and slumber.

Accommodation;
  • Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Virunga Lodge (luxury).
  • La Palme Hotel or Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (standard).
  • Kinigi Guesthouse or Villa Gorilla (basic).
Meals:

Full board.

Day 5: Start trip to Uganda-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

This day marks the end of your time in Rwanda, but the beginning of your safari to Uganda. In the morning, the driver guide will pick you up from your Safari Lodge and drive towards the Cyanika or Katuna border. Complete immigration and border clearances and continue to your accommodation facility in Bwindi                Impenetrable National Park-afternoon and evening at leisure.

Accommodation;
  • Silverback Lodge or Buhoma Lodge (luxury).
  • Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge or Engagi Lodge (midrange).
  • Bwindi Guesthouse or Buhoma Community Rest Camp (budget).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: Mountain gorilla trek and Village walks

On this day your English-speaking driver guide will pick you from your place of lodging and drive to the trailhead in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. After the mandatory briefing, enjoy 1-5 hours’ walk through the rainforest with views of L’Hoests monkeys, Blue monkeys as well as black and white colobus monkeys in addition to birds along the way. Here, you will have the chance to meet the gentle beasts and mankind’s close relatives and for many travellers, it is the most life-changing experience. At the end of this breathtaking experience, you will be driven back to your Lodge.

Time permitting; the evening will be for visiting the Batwa Community to learn their survival skills when they lived in the jungles from making fire with sticks, hunting, gathering fruits, harvesting honey to building small huts. This is an add-on experience and you can’t afford to miss it.

Accommodation;
  • Silverback Lodge or Buhoma Lodge (luxury).
  • Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge or Engagi Lodge (midrange).
  • Bwindi Guesthouse or Buhoma Community Rest Camp (budget).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest-Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Following an amazing breakfast, enjoy a 4-hour journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. While Bwindi is the ultimate gorilla trekking destination, Queen Elizabeth National Park is an unmissable wildlife viewing destination with sights of African bush elephants, Uganda Kobs, Defassa waterbucks, Cape buffaloes, Duikers, leopards, spotted hyenas, Olive baboons, chimpanzees, Oribis, vervet monkeys and most significantly the tree climbing lions of Ishasha sector.  Take your time to drive through the Park’s different game tracks and feel the wilderness experience. Back from the game drive, you will have time to enjoy lunch and relax for the remainder of the evening.

Accommodation;
  • Katara Lodge or Jacana Safari Lodge (upmarket).
  • Bush Lodge or Enganzi Safari Lodge (standard).
  • Tembo Safari Lodge or Kazinga Channel View Resort (basic).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park: game viewing & Kazinga Boat cruise

Get into the open 4X4 safari vehicle to visit the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park via a guided game drive where a medley of wonders is uncovered. Check-out the wildlife viewing hot spots like Kasenyi plains with lots of Uganda Kobs, Defassa waterbucks, lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, bushbucks, African bush elephants, warthogs, Hippos, serval cats, jackals, Olive baboons, to mention but a few. This is one of the most unforgettable game viewing experiences that end by late morning when you have to drive back to the Lodge for rest, then later lunch.

The afternoon (2:00pm to be precise) finds you at Mweya jetty for the start of the Kazinga Boat Cruise where you will discover more of the Park’s animals, especially Hippos and Nile crocodiles. Spend the next 2-3 hours spotting the pelicans, Pied and malachite kingfishers, African fish eagles, shoebill storks, to mention but a few.

Accommodation;
  • Katara Lodge or Jacana Safari Lodge (upmarket).
  • Bush Lodge or Enganzi Safari Lodge (standard).
  • Tembo Safari Lodge or Kazinga Channel View Resort (basic).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 9: Unforgettable Journey between Queen Elizabeth and Kibale Forest National Park

On this day, you will travel to the breathtaking Kibale Forest National Park, haven to the highest concentration of primates in East Africa. After breakfast, you will be picked up from the Lodge in a 4X4 safari vehicle and take 3-4 hours’ drive through breathtaking landscapes and arrive in the afternoon. At the end of the journey, enjoy lunch at the Lodge and in the evening have a tour of the nearby Crater Lakes. Have one of the most unforgettable nights and dinner at your reserved place of lodging

Accommodation;
  • Kyaninga Lodge or Crater Safari Lodge (upmarket).
  • Chimpanzee Forest guesthouse or Kibale Forest Camp (midrange).
  • Rwenzori View Guesthouse or Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve & Community Campsite (basic).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Kibale Forest: Chimpanzee trek & Wetland walk

Today you will not only discover why Kibale Forest is known as the “Primate Capital of the World” but also one of the top chimpanzee trekking destinations in the Continent. Pick-up is from your Safari Lodge for attend briefing on time (7:00am). Get to know the guidelines of trekking, information on the Park and what to expect. The only way to discover this jungle is on-foot and therefore, our guided walk to search for the chimpanzees starts by 8:00am. This will take 1-4 hours but at the end of the way, you will be given one hour to watch the chimpanzees while taking photos.

In the evening take a drive to Bigodi wetland Sanctuary for a guided walk where over 50 of the 200 bird species will be seen.  Refresh with a cold bath, sumptuous dinner and finally overnight at the same Lodge.

Accommodation;
  • Kyaninga Lodge or Crater Safari Lodge (upmarket).
  • Chimpanzee Forest guesthouse or Kibale Forest Camp (midrange).
  • Rwenzori View Guesthouse or Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve & Community Campsite (basic).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: To the incredible Murchison falls National Park

Have breakfast and travel to the spell-binding Murchison falls National Park, home to the famous Murchison falls (World’s most powerful waterfalls) which has through the year achieved its celebrity status and open its doors to some of the most famous people such as the Queen of England and many others. From here, game drives and boat cruises are enjoyed but the journey is about 7-8 hours with magnificent views.

Accommodation;
  • Chobe Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge (luxury).
  • Heritage Safari Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge (midrange).
  • Boomu Women’s Group or Twiga Safari Lodge (basic).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 12: Murchison falls adventure: Game viewing & Nile Boat cruise

Start the day enjoying breakfast at the Safari Lodge and later explore the breathtaking Murchison falls National Park. Spend three to four hours driving through the sweeping savannah plains and banks of Victoria Nile River where Rothschild giraffes, lions, warthogs, spotted hyenas, warthogs, Hippos, leopards, Defassa waterbucks and many others are encountered in the shortest time possible. Relax with a hot meal at the end of the adventure and relax until lunchtime.

In the afternoon, you will watch different animals and birds during the boat ride through Victoria Nile. Hippos, Crocodiles, Uganda Kobs, elephants and buffaloes are common during this boat cruise. Have dinner and sleep at the same Safari Lodge in Murchison falls National Park.

Accommodation;
  • Chobe Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge (luxury).
  • Heritage Safari Lodge or Pakuba Safari Lodge (midrange).
  • Boomu Women’s Group or Twiga Safari Lodge (basic).
Meals:

Full board.

Day 13: To Kampala City via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Following breakfast, you will be picked at your Lodge in a safari vehicles and take you on a 7 to 8-hour road trip to Kampala. Pass by Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only home to Uganda’s Rhino population in the wild and have a quick lunch at Amuka Safari Lodge. From here, you will continue straight to the City and at the end of the journey, get dropped off at a Hotel.

Accommodation:
  • Pearl of Africa Hotel (upmarket).
  • Protea Hotel Kampala (standard).
  • Hotel Ruch (basic).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 14: Jinja Adventures or tour of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Spend this day at leisure and select between touring Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary to discover the essence of this site and watch the orphaned Great Apes feeding via the raised platform. Alternatively, you can head to Jinja, the adventure Capital of East Africa with highlights being whitewater rafting and boat ride. Later continue to Kampala (for visitors who choose the latter) or Entebbe for travellers who choose the former.

Accommodation:
  • Jinja Nile Resort (for Jinja adventures) or Boma Hotel (for Ngamba Island tours).
Meals:

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 15: To Entebbe Airport and departures

Time to say Kwaheri (bye) and Asante (thanks) for all the unforgettable safari memories. You will be picked from your Hotel and be driven to the Airport, to take a flight to your next safari destination or back home.

The package includes;

  • Relevant Government taxes.
  • Border crossing between Uganda and Rwanda.
  • Bottled water.
  • Entry fees into National Parks, Sanctuary and other tourist sites.
  • Game drives.
  • Gorilla permit for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
  • Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park.
  • Fees for Village tours.
  • Chimpanzee permit.
  • Wetland walks.
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
  • Private English-speaking guide.
  • Ground transportation by 4X4 vehicle, to mention but a few.

The package excludes;

  • Visa fees.
  • Gratuities to Park Rangers, driver guides, waiters and other Hotel staff.