The 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda is a two country safari bringing out exciting points in each country. The Safari starts in Entebbe Uganda and ends in Kigali Rwanda and features destinations like Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park with a night in Ishasha Sector famous for its tree climbing lions, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Volcanoes National Park, Gisenyi Lake Kivu and Kigali genocide memorial. It is a diverse encounter with extensive wild game viewing, history, culture and heritage exploration, Primate watching and recreation.
Day 1 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Arrive at Entebbe International Airport – Uganda & drive to the hotel
Day 2 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Track the Southern White Rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route Day 3 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Undertake game drive in the morning, Nile launch cruise in the afternoon & hike to the top of the falls Day 4 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Transfer to Kibale National Park.
Day 5 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Undertake chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon & drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Undertake game drive in Kasenyi Plains, Kazinga Channel launch cruise in the afternoon & evening game drive along the channel track
Day 7 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Drive to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park – Ishasha sector for a whole day game drive in search of tree climbing lions & other wild game
Day 8 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Do an en route coffee tour
Day 9 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Undertake Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 10 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Prime Safaris Africa Home Experience in Uganda: Whole day authentic exploration of whatever takes place of Mukiga home with a home stay
Day 11 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Undertake a sun rise boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi & drive to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
Day 12 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Prime Safaris Africa Home Experience in Rwanda. Whole day experiential encounter of the family life in Rwanda
Day 13 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Undertake Mountain Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park & drive to Gisenyi – Lake Kivu
Day 14 of the 14 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda Rwanda: Drive to Kigali, tour the Gisozi genocide memorial & depart
After a flight from your country of origin, you arrive at Entebbe International Airport where you will be welcomed by our representative ushering you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. The fresh waters of Lake Victoria – the world’s second largest fresh water lake offer a cozy atmosphere commemorating your arrival for the wilderness adventure. You then transfer to the hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Cassia Lodge
Budget / Basic: Banda Inns
Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park after breakfast starting off the journey at 6:30am. The drive covers 311km in around 5 hours. A stop will be made at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route to trek the southern white Rhinos in their impressive Savannah habitat. Settle for lunch at Kabalega dinner after which you proceed to Murchison arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Murchison River Lodge – Thatched Safari Tent
Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge
Embark on a thrilling game drive in the northern landscapes of Murchison Falls National Park marked with open Savannah with patches of Borassus palms. The 3 – 4 hour encounter offers likely sights of Rothschild Giraffe, Buffalo, Elephants, Lions, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Oribis, Uganda Kobs and Defassa Water-bucks. You retreat for lunch after which you gather at Paraa jetty for an afternoon Nile launch cruise to the bottom of the falls. The 3 hour cruise offers possible sights of the rare shoe-bill stork, the Nile crocodiles, the Hippos and wild game drinking on the river banks. Upon arrival at the bottom of the falls, you embark on the hike to the top of the world’s most powerful waterfall – the Murchison Falls. You follow a narrow path exploring mighty Nile River squeezing itself to pass through a less than 7m ravine before falling 43m below to what has been termed as the Devil’s Cauldron forming a plume of spray marked by trade mark rainbow. You find the driver at the top of the falls from which you will transfer to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Murchison River Lodge – Safari Tent
Budget / Basic: Heritage Safari Lodge
Transfer to Kibale National Park after breakfast covering 441km about 9 hours drive exploring the countryside including the lush swamps of Kagadi and Kyenjojo. The extensive tea estates usher you in the Fort Portal region. Spend the evening at leisure at the lodge Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
The trekking starts at 8am from Kanyanchu Tourism Center with briefing from the park rangers after which you head to the moist forest of Kibale National Park marked with great biodiversity including 13 species of primates of which Chimpanzee is among. The Chimpanzees are members of the great ape and are close to humans in terms of DNA sharing 98.8%. The trek takes about 2 – 5 hours including one full hour with them viewing them as they feed, copulate, socialize, patrol, hunt and make the mesmerizing pant hooting calls. The moment is very fascinating and picturesque. From the activity, you settle for lunch after which you embark on Bigodi wetland walk with its lush wetland flora, birds like papyrus gonoleks and Great Blue Turaco and the animals like Sitatunga. This takes around 2 hours after which you transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 3 hours enjoying the views of Rwenzori Mountains at the sun set.
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Take up a morning game drive in the Kesenyi sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park marked with beautiful Savannah landscapes. The 3 – 4 hour activity offers possible sights of wild game including; Defassa Water-buck, Elephants, Buffaloes, Topis, Uganda Kobs, Lions, Leopards, Spotted Hyena, Side stripped jackal among others. The park is also home to 606 species of birds and sights of some of these species may not be missed. You settle for short relaxation and lunch after which you connect to Mweya Jetty for an afternoon boat cruise along the 45km long Kazinga Channel. The 2 hour cruise offers possibilities of viewing Nile crocodiles, the Hippos, wild game drinking on the channel shores and birds like Great Cormorants and African skimmers. The evening game drive along the channel track as you connect back to the lodge brings in more wild game views.
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Following breakfast, you set out on 74km transfer to the Queen Elizabeth’s southern sector of Ishasha sector for an extensive game drive and overnight. The area is globally known for its populations of tree climbing lions that tend to climb the fig trees in the Midday sun. The whole day encounter offers possibilities of exploring these lions hence good picturesque opportunities. Other wildlife sights might include; Elephants, Water-bucks, Uganda Kobs among others. Settle for overnight in Ishasha.
Accommodation
Mid-range / Standard: Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Budget / Basic: Savannah Resort Hotel
Following breakfast, set out on the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Ruhija) in the east of the park. A stop will be made en route to tour the local coffee farm learning about the traditional coffee growing practices and its cultural attachment to the local people. You proceed on the drive to Bwindi for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp
You gather at the starting point for gorilla trekking for briefing at 8am by the Uganda Wildlife Authority Park rangers. You embark on the trek in the forest in search of Gorillas in the mist. It is such a magical adventure experience to traverse the hilly forested landscapes of Bwindi dubbed Impenetrable marked by slippery surfaces, dense forest tracts that would even require machete to forge the way through before coming across these gentle giants as they forage or socialize. The actual Mountain Gorilla viewing is limited to one full hour for conservation purposes but the entire trek can last 2 – 8 hours. From the activity, you drive to Lake Bunyonyi passing through the fascinating Kigezi Highlands and spend the evening at leisure.
Accommodation
Midrange / Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
You connect to the Mukiga homestead early in the morning to enable you start the day with them. The option of joining men or women in their daily tasks is up to your choice. The activities include; engaging in land tilling and cultivation on the steep slopes of Kigezi Highlands using traditional hoes and pangas, local beer brewing, live stock rearing, art and craft making, traditional food preparation along with local music, dance and drama. You spend an overnight with the family.
Accommodation: Home stay
Embark on a thrilling boat cruise to explore the scenic landscapes of Lake Bunyonyi popularly referred to as the lake of a thousand Islands due to its count of 29 Islands. The surrounding Kigezi Highlands are also fascinating. From the activity, you embark on the drive to Volcanoes National Park 120km about 3 hours drive enjoying the views of Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa and the Virunga Volcanoes which is a chain of eight Volcanoes straddling across Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Accommodation
Midrange / Standard: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel
Connect early at 6am to the home of the traditional Rwandan to catch up with them as they set out on their daily routine. This presents an opportunity to explore the in-depth authentic experiences of what actually transpires in the society of Rwanda. You can choose either to team up with females or team up with males since their roles at home differ. The activities for men would include; Milking, live stock rearing, cultivating and construction to mention but a few while female roles include food preparation, cleaning of the homestead including houses, craft making and cultivation among others. You enjoy the local cuisine, the traditional Kinyarwanda performances and an overnight with the family.
Accommodation: Home stay
Wake up for an early breakfast after which you gather at Kinigi Park Headquarters to catch up with briefing at 8am. However, there are always traditional Kinyarwanda performances before 8am at Kinigi thus an earlier arrival offers you an exciting morning cultural experience. You attend to briefing in the respective groups as per the gorilla family allocated after which you drive to the trail head to commence the trekking experience. It is an adventure walk through the forested slopes of gorilla highlands marked by lush flora and great scenery of the Volcanic Mountains in the area. You eventually come across the Mountain Gorillas busy consuming their preferred diet and they can choose to welcome you or ignore you altogether. The silver-back is the dominant member and will be identified by the silver patch on his back. The actual viewing is limited to one hour for conservation purposes but the entire trek can last from 2 – 8 hours. From the activity, you transfer to Gisenyi Lake Kivu 110km about 2 hours drive for evening relaxation at the sandy beaches. An optional boat ride to explore the lake can be arranged as well.
Accommodation:
Mid-range / Budget: Paladise Malahide
After breakfast, drive to Kigali 358km about 3 hours enjoying the views of Rwandan hillsides that have formed the background for its naming as the land of a thousand hills. Upon arrival, you take a tour to Kigali genocide museum at Gisozi exploring the tragic ethnic conflict that befell Rwanda in the year 1994 leaving more than 800,000 people. From the museum tour, you settle for lunch after which you can do last minute shopping before checking in for your flight back home.
| Month | Date |
| Jan | 21st |
| May | 18th |
| July | 2nd |
| Aug | 27th |
| Nov | 15th |
| Dec | 19th |
Cate
Samuel
Robert
Get top notch safari advice: Call us or schedule a video meeting with our experts.
