9 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari, is an 8nights/9 days Rwanda Uganda safari tour that will enable you to explore Jinja – the source of the River Nile, game viewing drives and boat cruises in Lake Mburo National Park & Queen Elizabeth National Park, chimp trekking in Kyambura & crater area drive, viewing tree climbing lions in Ishsaha, en route to Lake Bunyonyi, a community and scenery tour in Lake Bunyonyi, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, hike Bisoke Volcano/ Hike Dian Fossey/Track golden Monkeys & a Kigali city tour.
Day 1: Explore Jinja – the source of the River Nile
Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park & do a boat cruise
Day 3: Do game drive & transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: Do game drive & boat cruise
Day 5: Do Kyambura chimp trekking & crater area drive
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi & view tree climbing lions en route.
Day 7: Encounter Lake Bunyonyi & transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 8: Do gorilla trekking
Day 9: Hike Bisoke Volcano/ Hike Dian Fossey/ Track golden Monkeys & transfer to Kigali.
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 it 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).
Depart from Kampala at your place of abode after breakfast in the company of our guide and set off for L. Mburo National Park 240km about 3 – 4 hours’ drive. Stop at the Equator crossing- Kayabwe 77km from Kampala for photography and amazing water experiments that bring out the divide between the northern and southern hemispheres. Proceed on your journey through the farmed hillsides of Central Uganda and pass by towns of Masaka, Mbirizi, Kyazanga, and Lyantonde before arriving at Lake Mburo National Park for check-in and lunch. Relax for a while and prepare to do the boat cruise on Lake Mburo where you will have chances to see the wild game drinking on the Lakeside including the Impala and Buffaloes, birds like African fish eagles perching on overlapping trees, and Hippos as they thrive in their ancient waters.
Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia cottages (Mid-range/ standard), or Eagles Nest (Budget/Basic).
After an early morning cup of coffee, embark on the game drive through the park tracks of Zebra, Ruroko, and Lake Side among others to gain sights of a range of wildlife including enormous numbers of Impala and zebra. Others that may be seen include; buffalo, eland, bush-buck, warthog, Topi alongside birds and amazing Savannah landscapes. Return to the lodge for short relaxation after which you will embark on the journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park 180km about 4 hours’ drive from Lake Mburo. You will enjoy the scenic views en route to Queen Elizabeth including the overlooking views of mountains of the moon – the Rwenzori Mountains. Arrive in the evening overnight.
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 game 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 exploring the magical offerings of Kazinga Channel including the sights of water birds and wild game drinking on the channel side, 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 overnight.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, connect to Kyambura to do Chimpanzee trekking which starts at 08:00 am. You will enjoy the challenging but rewarding treks down the gorge of Kyambura with the river flowing on the gorge floor. The trek to the top of the gorge through the jungle that amazingly flourishes below sea level is also rewarding during this chimp trek. The activity takes 2 – 5 hours though sightings of Chimps in Kyambura are not guaranteed like those of Kibale. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation after which you will embark on the crater drive in the evening. The crater drive offers great scenic views of the explosion hollows some of which are filled with water forming crater lakes. The area is also a favorite ground for wildlife, especially elephants. Retreat for overnight.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, embark on the drive to Lake Bunyonyi 289km about 5 -6 hours. You will pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you have chances of spotting tree climbing lions as they enjoy the mid-morning sun on their tree branches. Continue on the drive to Lake Bunyonyi through the forested landscapes of Bwindi and the scenic views of Kigezi highlands. Arrive in the afternoon for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi resort (Upmarket/luxury), Arcadia Cottages (Mid-range/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. After the boat cruise, transfer to Volcanoes National Park 120 km overnight.
Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), La Palme Hotel (Mid-range/standard), or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/Basic).
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 crossing 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 drive to your lodge for relaxation. If time permits, you can go for a caves walk in the evening to wonder about the structure of these natural houses or you can opt to visit the Iby’iwachu cultural village to encounter the culture of the Banyarwanda.
After breakfast, you can choose to do golden monkey tracking to encounter the rare and endangered golden monkeys that only dwell in the Virunga volcanoes. The activity takes about 4 hours and starts at 08:00 from the park headquarters – Kinigi. The trek involves passing the lush vegetation of Volcanoes up to the Bamboo zone where the golden monkeys prefer to dwell. Upon, reaching them, you will marvel at their golden skins and their distinctiveness from other monkey subspecies.
Alternatively, hike the Dian Fossey site. The hike to Dian Fossey center to pay tribute to one of the gorilla conservationists the world is proud to have had is an interesting activity. This American Primatologist championed the conservation of these critically endangered mountain gorillas. The Karisoke center is located at a raised landscape thus involves a relative hike but less strenuous. The grave of the Silver-back digit is also seen at this center. The activity takes 3 – 4 hours.
Another option is hiking Bisoke Volcano which takes 7 hours round trip. It involves a relative hike and like any other mountain, it involves steps ascend at certain levels. Hiking this volcano exposes you to various vegetation covers, wildlife including monkeys, bird species while its summit offers views of the entire Virunga volcanoes and the Democratic Republic of Congo. You will return from any of these activities to the lodge for lunch after which you will embark on the transfer to Kigali 116km about 3 hours’ drive.
Cate
Samuel
Robert
Get top notch safari advice: Call us or schedule a video meeting with our experts.
