14 days Uganda Rwanda safari is 13 nights/14-day Uganda Rwanda safari tour combined with an amalgamation of scenery, wildlife, recreation, culture, and adventure in Uganda and Rwanda. This 14 days Uganda Rwanda safari trip package takes you through the adventures at the source of the longest river in the world – Nile including white water rafting and bungee jumping, heritage tours in Kampala city, Male and female Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki, the crater lake area and Amabere caves with rich Chwezi heritage and geographical significance, 13 primate species in Kibale National Park including the chimpanzees, wild game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park including; tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, Antelopes, Jackals and leopard, recreational boat cruise on Kazinga Channel amidst aquatics like Hippos and Nile crocodiles and countless birds, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – a world heritage site, recreational boat ride on the lake of a thousand islands – Lake Bunyonyi, encounters of the world’s shortest people – the Batwa taking you through their ancient dwellings, second gorilla trekking in Volcanoes – Rwanda and Kigali city encounter with historical tours to the genocide museum.
Kampala city is a destination of its self and thus worth to encounter on Uganda safari. The city is a hub of various attractions ranging from historical to cultural and religious attractions. On this 11 days safari in Uganda, you will wake for breakfast after which you will set off with the company guide to encounter the city. You will visit religious attractions like Namirembe and Rubaga Cathedrals, Baha’i temple, Gadhafi Mosque, Cultural attractions like Kasubi tombs, Kabaka’s palace, and Kabaka’s Lake, historical monuments and museums like the Uganda National Museum, National buildings like the parliament, educational Institutions like Makerere University, Traditional hospitals like Mulago hospital, Mengo and Nsambya hospitals. However, since all these cannot be seen on a single day, you will thus select from this list the possible attractions that you can visit on this day.
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel (Upmarket/luxury), Cassia Lodge (Mid-range/standard) or the lodge (Budget/Basic)
You will wake up early for breakfast at your place of stay after which you will be transferred by your guide to Jinja 80km about 1-2 hours’ drive from Kampala. Upon reaching Jinja – the adventure town of Uganda, you will enroll yourself for the white water rafting experience that will see you contain the strength of waters of the Nile as they splash through the rapids. You will also participate in the bungee jumping that will see you fall from the cliff to touch on the waters of the Nile 140ft below – one of the active adventures you will ever have. The relaxing boat cruise to the source of the Nile will take you to the point where John Speke, the first European to see the source of the world’s longest river stood. You will see the Nile starting its 90 days journey to the Mediterranean Sea. Drive back to Kampala for overnight.
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel (Upmarket/luxury), Cassia Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Buziga Country Resort (Budget/Basic).
After breakfast, you will transfer to Semuliki National Park 352km about a 7 – 8 hours’ drive from Kampala. The journey will take you through the green landscapes of the countryside passing through Mpigi, Mityana, Mubende, and Fort Portal towns. The Mubende inselbergs will give you great scenic company while the unclear views of Lake Wamala can be enjoyed by the most interested Uganda safari undertaker. You will stop in Mubende for lunch before continuing to Semuliki through the organized and clean Fort portal town. Arrive in Semuliki in the late afternoon where you will relax till 7 pm. Then you will embark on the night game drive accompanied by the armed park ranger to enjoy the sights of nocturnal animals like white-tailed mongoose and other day grazers having their overnight rest.
Accommodation: Semuliki safari lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Kirumia guesthouse (Budget/Basic).
After breakfast, embark on the nature walk for 2 – 4 hours passing through the forest of Semuliki which shares much of the characteristics with West African forests. It is a continuation of the Congo Ituri forest. The walk will expose you to various birds like Rwenzori Turaco and primates including the rare deBrazza’s monkey before reaching the famous Sempaya hot springs. You will visit the female hot spring known as Nyasimbi and the male hot spring known as Bitente where you will boil your plantains in this natural steam and they are ready in a couple of minutes – something to wonder of while on safari in Uganda. Retire to the lodge for lunch after which you will have an evening game drive in the reserve to have chances of encountering wildlife species like; savannah and forest elephants, water-buck, buffalo, Uganda kob, and warthog.
Accommodation: You will spend an overnight at your previous lodge
After breakfast, drive for 52 km about 1 – 2 hours to Fort Portal town after which you will continue to visit the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves and undertaking the crater lake hike. The breast-like features that stand beneath the seasonal flowing Nyakasura fall have a lot of traditional attachment that date back to the Chwezi era. You will be mesmerized by the local stories behind these geographical stalagmites and stalactites. Hiking the Kyeganywa hill is a move through multitudes of crater hollows some of which are filled with water to form a circle of crater lakes. The summit of Kyeganywa hill offers all-round sights of the area and the distant Ruwenzori Mountains. Retreat to spend an overnight in Kibale National Park.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket /luxury), Chimpanzee guest house (Mid-range/standard) or Kibale Forest Camp (Budget/basic).
Wake up early for a heavy breakfast before gathering at Kanyanchu tourism center at 08:00 am for a short briefing after which you will head to the forest in quest of Chimpanzees – man’s closest relative. The trek involves passing through the jungle of Kibale dubbed the primate capital of the world with over 13 species of primates some of which you will luckily come across during your Chimpanzee trekking including colobus monkey, vervet monkey, olive baboon, Red-tailed monkey among others. The enchanting songs of Birds will keep you entertained in this 2 – 5 hour trek. One full hour is at your disposal to explore the Chimpanzees in detail and ascertain the external considerations as to why they are dubbed man’s close relative. Watch them as they eat fruits, play, socialize, and swing in tree branches as you take as many photos as you can. Return to the center after having had your picnic lunch. Encounter Bigodi wetland sanctuary in the afternoon to take the rewarding swamp walk with amazing bird sights including the Rwenzori Turaco and swamp animals like Sitatunga. The communities around Bigodi offer a close touch of tourist – host interaction.
Accommodation: You will spend an overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 4 hours’ drive from Kibale. The journey offers the scenic views of the magical Mountains of the moon that stand high up in the clouds at an elevation of 5,109m above sea level towards the west. You will arrive in Queen Elizabeth National park early for lunch after which you will embark on the crater drive in the afternoon for amazing scenic viewing. The range of explosion craters lay in a sequence justifying the work of the earth processes that characterized the area. Crater lakes like Lake Nyamunuka, Lake Murumuli and Lake Kitagata can be seen on this drive.
Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi lodge (Mid-range/standard) or Simba safari camp (Budget/basic).
Wake up very for a cup of coffee before setting off for the game drive activity in the Savannah game park of Queen Elizabeth. The early departure at 06:00 gives you an opportunity to see night hunters like hyenas getting back to their hiding places and early risers setting off to look for what to eat. The drive through the Kasenyi tracks gives a probable opportunity to see a range of games including; Lions, buffalo, elephants, elusive leopard (if too lucky), antelopes among other wildlife. Return to the lodge after this 3 -4 hour game drive and relax till lunchtime. After lunch, you will gather at Mweya for a recreational afternoon launch cruise leaving at 03:00 pm taking 2 hours to explore the magical offerings of Kazinga Channel including the sights of water birds and wild game drinking on the channel side, the Nile crocodile and the Hippos. The 45m channel that stretches from Lake George to Lake Edward has tranquil waters that always give pleasure and psychological satisfaction to any traveler on Uganda safaris. Retire from the boat at 5 pm for overnight.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to the gorilla trekking haven of Bwindi (Rushaga) 309km about 7 – 8 hours’ drive from Mweya. You will pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you have chances of spotting tree climbing lions lying on tree branches in the mid-morning warm sunshine. You will have lunch en route and proceed to Bwindi south (Rushaga) where you will arrive in the evening for overnight.
Accommodation: Chameleon hill (Upmarket/luxury), Gorilla Valley Lodge (Mid-range/standard) or Wagtail Eco safari Camp (Budget/Basic).
It is this long waited for a date when you will come across the critically endangered mountain gorillas that only exist in Bwindi and Virunga Volcanoes. You will wake up early for a heavy breakfast before gathering at the Park headquarters Rushaga for briefing at 08:00 about the conduct of gorilla trekking. You will head to the forest after briefing in search of these apes and though the trek is a bit challenging, it is one of those activities that you will never forget to have done in Uganda. The 2 – 8 hours activity involves hiking up the hills, descending down the valleys, walking through swamps, and maneuvering the way through thickets that have formed the background of this Impenetrable forest before coming in direct contact with gorillas. The one full hour is at your disposal to maximize your experience with gorillas as you see them forage, play, socialize, and also gaze at you in a sign of welcoming and saying goodbye. The experience is a rewarding and worthy undertaking. Your picnic lunch will take you through the activity after which you will descend to the starting point and embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi 73 km about 2 hours’ drive. You will arrive in the evening for overnight.
Accommodation: Birdnest@Lake Bunyonyi resort (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia Cottages (Midrange/standard) or Byoona Amagara (Budget/Basic).
Dubbed the lake of a thousand islands, Lake Bunyonyi has a range of islands stretching up to 29 in number and can all be explored on a 5 – 6 hours boat ride while on this safari in Uganda. The Lake Bunyonyi encounter is designed to maximize your relaxation and is entirely recreational. The tranquil waters of the lake and the surrounding views of Kigezi highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa combine to make this day a total complete experience. Options after the boat include; swimming, mountain biking, community tours, and hiking. You will transfer in the evening to spend an overnight in Mgahinga National Park.
Accommodation: Volcanoes Mount Gahinga safari lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Mucha lodge (Midrange/standard) or Amajambere iwachu Camp (Budget/Basic).
After breakfast, set off for the Batwa heritage trail a half-day activity that takes you through the forests of Mgahinga in the company of the indigenous Batwa guides as they interpret every forest landscape and what it meant in their traditional life. The hike stretches up to the Garama cave the ancient dwelling of the Batwa – one can call it their capital in the forest of Mgahinga volcanoes. The cave is a natural shelter that always provided a refugee for the Batwa in times of danger. You will listen to the sorrowful songs being sung by the Batwa women taking you through the course of their tradition; it is a rich taste of the fading typical African culture. Return to the lodge for lunch and short relaxation after which you will embark on the drive to Volcanoes National Park 68km about 3 hours’ drive through the Virunga ranges with their stunning views.
Wake up very early for breakfast such that by 8:00 am, you are already at the park headquarters –Kinigi for briefing and eventual gorilla trekking experience. During this session, you are allocated to a gorilla family to track, and if with a special case, rangers can be consulted for special arrangements. You will head off to the volcanic lush vegetation in search of gorillas. The trek is quite thrilling as you go through amazing landscapes amidst bird sights and other wildlife crossings including monkeys, wild pigs, and if lucky wild elephants. The trek takes 2 – 8 hours as gorillas are unpredictable thus packed lunch is required. The jungle sounds will accompany you up to that long waited moment of direct contact with gorillas. You will see them as they forage, play, socialize, and sometimes charge. The state of wonder that will engulf your heart could leave your camera film with no space for other encounters. The full one hour is enough to optimize this experience after which you will retreat to the starting point to embark on your 116km journey about 3 hours’ drive to Kigali city for overnight.
Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (Upmarket/luxury), Hotel Chez Lando (Mid-range/standard) or Murugo Rwanda Hostel (Budget/Basic).
Wake up in the morning for breakfast after which you will embark on the Kigali city encounter. You will visit the Gisozi genocide memorial site where thousands of Rwandese lay in cold blood as victims of the bloody genocide that characterized Rwanda in 1994. The tour will also expose you to the Presidential palace Museum which formerly was the home of the Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana who lost his life in a plane crash whose cause is not yet clear acting as a sparking factor to the outbreak of genocide. The remains of the Falcon 50 Presidential Plane are seen in the compound. The Natural History Museum honoring Dr. Richard Kandt who founded Kigali city in 1907 can also be encountered. You can pay a visit to the Hotel Des Mille Collines – the site of the famous Hotel Rwanda movie. The International specialty restaurants are in existence, craft centers, Art studios among other attractions.
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