Overview
This 18 Day Explore Uganda& Rwanda Tour highlights most the activities in Uganda and Rwanda. Some of the highlights are Wildlife viewing, Cultural walks, Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee viewing, and more in different National Parks of Uganda and Rwanda.
Day 1: Arrival in Rwanda&Transfer to the Hotel
On your arrival, our driver guide will welcome you to Kigali International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kigali. Depending on your time of arrival, you will go for a city tour to visit the genocide memorial site and the Kimironko market. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Accommodation options
Luxury: SerenaHotel Kigali/Kigali Marriot Hotel
Mid-range: Mille Collines Hotel
Budget: Onomo Hotel
Meal Plan: Half Board Basis
Day 2: Transfer to Lake Kivu / Gisenyi
Have breakfast and depart Kigali to Gisenyi arriving Lake Kivu in time for lunch. Have lunch and later embark on a rewarding boat cruise on Lake Kivu with lots of birds and beautiful beaches. Relax at the beach; Lake Kivu is known to have some of the best inland beaches in Africa! Or go for a walk to the Congo border. Dinner and overnight at Hotel/Lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Serena Lake Kivu
Mid-range: Paradise Malahide
Budget: St Fatimah Hotel
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 3: Transfer to Musanze / Ruhengeri
Enjoy breakfast at leisure and later transfer to Musanze – formerly known as Ruhengeri and the base for Gorilla trekking. Have lunch and spend the evening at the leisure or on a village walk visiting local families around Volcanoes national park. Dinner and overnight at Hotel/Lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mount Gorilla View Lodge/Five Volcanoes Lodge
Mid-range: La Palme Hotel/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/Hotel Muhabura
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking &Iby’Iwachu Cultural Village
Enjoy early morning breakfast and drive to the park headquarters where you will be allocated a gorilla group to visit and receive a briefing from your ranger guide for the day. The park ranger will then go ahead of you and you follow him into the forest in search of the gentle giants. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can last between 2-6 hours depending on the movement of the Gorillas. On reaching them, you will be allowed up to a maximum of 1 hour to view and take photos of the gorillas. You will return to the starting point to receive your gorilla trekking certificate and your guide will transfer you back to the hotel.
Later in the afternoon, go for Iby’iwachu cultural village tour where you will learn virtually everything about traditional Rwanda; you will play king / Queen and take turns in using a bow and arrow. Visit a traditional herbalist and witness local beer brewing.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mount Gorilla View Lodge/Five Volcanoes Lodge
Mid-range: La Palme Hotel/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/Hotel Muhabura
Day 5: Dian Fossey Trek & Transfer to Mgahinga, Kisoro – Uganda
You will enjoy breakfast and go to the park headquarters to start your hike to the late Dian Fossey’s grave in Karisoke. This is a 3 to 4 hours trek but sometimes demanding but enjoyable with stunning views. After the hike, refresh at the hotel and transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Kisoro in Uganda, crossing via kyanika boarder with lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight at lodge/Hotel.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge/Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Moderate: Mutanda Lake Resort.
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel
Meal Plan:Full Board Basis
Day 6: Golden Monkey and Gorge Walk.
After a hot cup of tea, transfer to Ntebeko – the headquarters of Mgahinga national park for golden monkey trekking. Golden monkeys are rare species of monkeys in Africa and are only found in the Virunga mountains region. The trekking takes 3 to 4 hours and later embark on a 2 hours George walk which will expose you to remarkable views including sights of the Congo border, Lake Mutanda, and Bunagana town. Return to the lodge late afternoon and spend the evening at leisure or visit Lake Mutanda. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge/Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Moderate: Mutanda Lake Resort.
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel
Meal Plan:Full Board Basis
Day 7: Travel to Bwindi and Visit Batwa in Buhoma
Have breakfast and depart Kisoro to Buhoma in Bwindi for the Batwa experience. You will visit the Batwa pygmies and learn from a real “mutwa” guide who will take you through the day-to-day life and experiences of the Batwa people and you will get the chance to participate in the various activities including mock hunting and meal preparation among others. Transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Spring Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Bwindi Jungle Lodge/Silverback Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp/ Mutanda Lake Resort/Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Engagi Lodge
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel/Gorilla Friends Lodge/Broadbill Forest Camp/Buhoma Community Rest Camp/ Haven Lodge Buhoma Community.
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Early morningbreakfast and depart for gorilla group allocation and briefing by the ranger guides prior to gorilla trekking. You will then head into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas.Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes between 2 – 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas as they freely roam the park. After the trek, return to the assembly point for your gorilla trekking certificate and back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Spring Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Bwindi Jungle Lodge/Silverback Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp/ Mutanda Lake Resort/Rushaga Gorilla Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Engagi Lodge
Budget: Travellers Rest Hotel/Gorilla Friends Lodge/Broadbill Forest Camp/Buhoma Community Rest Camp/ Haven Lodge Buhoma Community.
Day 9: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi and Canoe
Have breakfast, and drive to Lake Bunyonyi where you will embark on a motorized canoe for a tour of the various Islands each with its story, and meet the locals. Have lunch and spend the evening at leisure admiring the verdant lake or go for a guided village tour. Dinner and overnight at hotel/lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Bird Nest Resort
Midrange: Arcadia Lodge Lake Bunyonyi
Budget: Bunyonyi Overland Resort/Crater Bay Cottages and Camp
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy early morning breakfast and leave for Queen Elizabeth national park entering through the Ishasha sector and embark on a game drive. The Ishasha sector is less explored and presents herds of the game including buffaloes and elephants. It is also famous for its tree-climbing lions although you require some luck to see them. Dinner and overnight at Lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Ihamba Safari Lodge/Parkview Safari Lodge/Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
Budget: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Mweya Hostel
Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Game drive and Launch Cruise
After a breakfast and go for a game drive where you will encounter lots of wildlifeincluding elephants, lions, and buffaloes among others. You will also visit the Katwe salt pans where you will find locals engaged in salt mining – an experience for the kids!
In the afternoon, go for a launch cruise on the Kazinga channel famed for its highest concentration of hippos in Africa. You will also get to observe more games here, birds of different species and crocodiles. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Ihamba Safari Lodge/Parkview Safari Lodge/Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
Budget: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Mweya Hostel
Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After your breakfast, transfer to Kibale with a visit to the AmabereGanyinamwiru stalagmites site and the crater lakes. Have lunch en-route in the beautiful Fort portal town and proceed to Kibale arriving in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Primate Lodge/Papaya Lake Lodge/Kyaninga lodge
Moderate: Isunga Lodge/Kibale Forest Cottages/Primate Lodge
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Guest House
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Enjoy early morning breakfast and go for briefing and start chimpanzee trekking. Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Kibale’s 795km2 National Park contains one of the most beautiful and the most varying tropical forest in the whole of Uganda. This is home to a number of forest wildlife, most especially 13 species of primate coupled with chimpanzees.
Return for lunch and in the afternoon, go for an exciting guided nature walk in the Bigodi wetland area with a great number of birds and beautiful butterflies. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Primate Lodge/Papaya Lake Lodge/Kyaninga lodge
Moderate: Isunga Lodge/Kibale Forest Cottages/Primate Lodge
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Guest House
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Transfer to Jinja
After early morning breakfast, you will depart for Jinja with lunch en-route in Kampala and brief stopovers in Mabira forest and Lugazi to admire the tea and sugar plantations. Proceed to Jinja arriving late afternoon. Visit the source of the Nile River and in the evening; embark on a sunset boat cruise on the mighty River Nile. Dinner and overnight at lodge/hotel.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Crested Crane Hotel
Mid-range: Jinja Nile Resort/Nile Village Hotel/Hotel Paradise on the Nile/The haven/Kingfisher
Budget: 2 Friends Guesthouse and Restaurant/Source of the Smile Hotel/Pearl on the Nile Hotel
Meal Plan: Full board basis
Day1 5: Full Day Rafting & Transfer to Kampala
Have breakfast as you prepare for the rafting adventure! You will go for full-day White water rafting on the might River Nile going through the rapids – a real adrenaline moment! Lunch will also provide and cold beers as you get out of the water. Transfer back to Kampala arriving late evening. Dinner and overnight at lodge/hotel.
Accommodation options
Luxury Lodge: Serena Hotel/ Sheraton Hotel/Munyonyo Speke Resort/Pearl of Africa Hotel
Moderate: Cassia Lodge/ Speke Resort Hotel/Protea Hotel/Hotel Africana/Cassia Hotel/Golf Course Hotel
Budget facility: Airport View Hotel/ Namirembe Guest house/Forest Cottages/Karibu Hotel/Airport Guest House
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Day 16: Transfer to Sesse Island
Have an early morning breakfast and brief Kampala city tour visiting Baha’i temple, Gadhafi mosque and the crafts village. Later transfer to Entebbe or Bukakata for a ferry through Lake Victoria to Ssese Island. Dinner and overnight stay at Lodge.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Victoria Forest Resort/Ssese Islands Beach Hotel
Mid-range: Brovad Sands Lodge/Ssese Habitat Resort
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 17: Nature Walk and Sunset Cruise
Have breakfast at leisure and go for a guided nature walk on the beautiful Ssese Island where you will encounter lots of birds and enjoy the tranquil nature. Return to the lodge to relax and have lunch.
In the afternoon/evening, you will go for a sunset boat cruise coupled with cold drinks for a real great time! Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Victoria Forest Resort/Ssese Islands Beach Hotel
Mid-range: Brovad Sands Lodge/Ssese Habitat Resort
Meal plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 18: Ferry Crossing, Entebbe Tour and Departure
Enjoy your breakfast and depart Ssese early for a ferry to Nakiwogo in Entebbe and embark on a tour of Entebbe town including the local markets and Entebbe Botanical Gardens where they will enjoy walking through with a guide explaining all of the nature and lots of monkeys, spiders, lizards, trees, flowers, herbs and there are bars next to the Lake Victoria where one can get drinks and sit on a sun lounger overlooking Lake Victoria taking in the fresh breezes which are lovely and relaxing. One can even take a dip in the fresh waters of Lake Victoria if one wishes. Have lunch at the Botanical gardens and then transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Requirements for this Safari:
- Uganda Visa which can be got on arrival at the Airports
- Chimpanzee, Gorilla, and Golden Monkey trekking permits (paid for in advance through our company)
- Travel & Health insurance arranged for from your home country
- Proof of Yellow fever vaccination (certificate}
- Travelers must be at least 15 years old on the day of the trekking.
- Good physical, fit health, and mental condition
- Waterproof Jacket, breathable with hood.
- Insulated warm Jacket synthetic or down.
- Long Sleeve Shirt and Waterproof Pants.
- Footwear – Hiking.
Safari Cost Includes
- Airport transfers
- Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Services of an English speaking driver guide
- Fuel for the whole trip
- Accommodation and meal plan as per the itinerary
- All park entrance fees
- Drinking water while in the vehicle
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimp trekking permit
- Insurance
The Safari cost excludes,
- Pre and post-tour accommodation in Uganda or Rwanda
- International airfares
- Uganda & Rwanda East African Tourist Visa
- Items of personal nature such as tips, drinks, and laundry
Request a quote for this safari
[enquiry_about_pkgs_form]