20 days Uganda Rwanda Safari.
Day 1: kampala City Tour
Day 2: Transfer to Jinja-sezibwa Falls, nature walk and the boat ride at the Source of the Nile
Day 3: White water Rafting
Day 4:Transfer to Sipi falls and Hike the Sipi falls for 4 hours
Day 5: Transfer to Kidep Valley National Park
Day 6: Game drive and nature walk in Kidepo Valley national Park
Wake up for an early morning game drive to catch up with the early morning game that will be returning to their habitat after a night hut. You will encounter zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions, leopard among other animals. You will return to the Lodge for breakfast, lunch. Relax for a while and later go a nature walk in the mid-afternoon.
You will then return for dinner and overnight,
Day 7: Visit the Kanangorok Hot springs in Kidepo Valley national Park
You will have breakfast and embark on your morning drive to the Uganda and Sudan Border where the Kanangorok hot springs are situated. This area is also home to a number of ostriches, which can esily be seen along the game tracks. Lunch en route and drive back at your own leisure. You will arrive at the Lode in the evening for dinner and an overnight.
Day 8: Cultural Village Tour and evening game drive
You will have an early morning breakfast, after which you will embark on a guided cultural village tour where you will learn about the nomadic lifestyle of the Karenga and Kidepo people.
You will also visit the Karamajong homesteads (manyattas) and see the locally made kraals of cattle, the traditional , grinding stones ,costumes, spears, headdress, bows and arrows, jewelry, stools knives and utensils. Return for lunch at the Lodge, and later in the evening you will be taken for a sunset game drive to explore more of Kidepo.
Dinner and overnight at the Lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Murchison National Park
After breakfast, you will transfer to Murchison falls national park for an 7- hours drive with an enroute stop over for lunch in Gulu town.
Murchison falls national park is Ugandas Largest national park, and covers an area of 3,893 square kilometers and is managed by the Uganda wildlife authority. The park is divided by the Victoria Nile. Murchison falls conservation area and the adjacent Bugondo Forest Reserve consists of 76 species of mammals as well as Uganda’s largest population of Nile crocodiles.
The par is also knoe as a birding pradise with various bird species such as the rare shoe billed stork, Budongo’ 59 restricted range species, dwarf kingfisher, Goliath Heron, the great blue turaco, white thigh hornbill.
Check in at lodge for dinner and an overnight sleep
Day 10: Game drive and afternoon Boat Cruise
Have breakfast, and later go for an a 3 hours morning game drive through various trails in the park where you may spot game like; Jacksons hartebeests, elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, waterbucks, hyenas, dik dik, giraffes, elands, zebra, kobs among other wild animals which will give you a a great taste of Africa’s Wilderness. Go back to the Lodge to relax and have lunch, after then transfer to the Boat for an afternoon boat cruise. The boat will then set off at 2:00pm cruising on the water to the bottom of the falls. You will encounter a number of game in and along the River Bank such as Hippos, buffaloes, Elephants, crocodiles, and other bird species like the shoebill stork.
At the 3 hours boat ride, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at the Lodge
Day 11:Hike to the top of the Falls and transfer to Semuliki National Park via Hoima
After your breakfast, Hike to the Top of the Falls, for an incredible scenic view of the Falls. You will watch the unique feature of the 8m ravine where the Nile water squeezes itself before falling 43m below the devils cauldron. You can opt for apicnic lunch and later proceed to Semuliki National Parr.
Arrive in the Lodge in the Evening for Dinner and overnight.
Day 12 Visit the Sempaya Hot springs and afternoon game drive
You will have breakfast and later go for a 2-4 hours nature walk, walking through Semuliki Forest(continuation of Congo’s Ituri Forest). Expect to encounter the famous Rwenzori Turaco and other primates including deBrazza’s monkey before reaching the Sempaya Hot Spring which consists of both Female and Male Hot Springs whose names are, Nyasimbi and Bitente respectively. You can take part in boiling plantain, until its ready to be eaten. Return to the Lodge for lunch, relax and later go for an evening game drive to have chances of sighting wildlife species such as the waterbuck, the Uganda Kob, Buffaloes, warthog.
Day 13: Transfer to Kibale National Park
You will head to Kibale Forest national Park after breakfast with lunch en-route.
Kibale National Park is a national park in Western Uganda, protecting moist evergreen rain forest. It covers 766 square kilometres (296 sq mi) in size and is located between 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) in elevation. Despite encompassing primarily moist evergreen forest, it contains a vast array of landscapes.
Kibale Forest national Park is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests. In eastern Africa, it sustains the last significant expanse of pre-montane forest.
Kibale national park was gazetted in 1932 and formally established in 1993 to protect a large area of forest previously managed as a logged forest reserve. It is an important eco-tourism and safari destination, popular for its population of habituated chimpanzees and twelve other species of primates.
Arrive in the Lodge for Dinner and an overnight.
Day 14: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Guided nature walk
Have an early breakfast and head to Kanyanchu for chimpanzee tracking briefing, then by 8:00 a.m, you will be driven to the starting point to start your chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest. Chimpanzees are considered to be the closest relatives of human beings since they share 98% of their DNA with that of the humans.
Chimpanzee tracking may last between 2-6 hours including 1 full hour to interact with them upon encounter. You will then return to the starting point, after then you will drive back to the Kanyancu Visitor center for the chimpanzee tracking certificate
Immediately after, return to the lodge for lunch and later visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary where you will view more primates, like blue monkeys, baboons, otters, bushbucks, mongoose , bush pigs, and many more. The place is also known for many bird species, like the great blue turaco and the green breasted pitta.
Dinner and overnight at the Lodge
Day 15: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early for breakfast, and then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park , which is just five-hour drive away and it is famous for a variety of wildlife , tree climbing lions at the Isasha sector and primate species. Queen Elizabeth National Park is bordered by Lake Edward in the south west, and George in the north east.
The park is a home to various wildlife species including impalas, kobs, forest hogs, elephants, buffaloes, tree climbing lions, and cape buffaloes. It is also filled with a number of volcanic calderas which harbor many flamingos on several seasons.
Arrive in time for lunch, and, in the afternoon, you will head for hour launch cruise on Kazinga Channel that connects lakes Edward and George, with a chance to see a high concentration of hippos and crocodiles in the water, while elephants, waterbucks, and buffaloes graze on the banks of the channel, not forgetting the array of bird life, such as the king fishers, Egyptian fish eagle among others.
Later, return to the lodge for an overnight stay and dinner.
Day 16: Morning Game drive and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable National Park
Have breakfast early and set off for a game drive through the park where you will encounter amazing sights including wildlife such as kob elephants, giant forest hogs, warthogs, and hippos grazing.
You will drive via the saline volcanic crater lake Nyamunuka the salt mining lake. Lunch will be at the lodge. Afterwards, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is known for its tree climbing lions, and you might spot them if lucky.
The safari will continue westwards, leaving the Ankole Kingdom, heading towards Bwindi and the Kigezi Kingdom. Reach the park in the evening and check into your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 17: Gorilla Trekking and the cultural experience
After breakfast, you will head to the Park headquarters for briefing and, later, enjoy the fullness of Gorilla trekking, which starts at 8:00am. Gorilla trekking time is unpredictable, that it may take between 2-8 hours depending on how far they have moved and the group strength, with only 1hour permitted to stay with the gorillas. After the trek, return for lunch and later in the evening, you could go for a guided nature walk or a community visit to the Batwa Community.
Day 18: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
After breakfast, you will depart for Mgahiinga gorilla National Park after breakfast. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is famously known famously known for its 3 distinct volcanoes that are usually hiked as well as the mountain gorillas. Arrive in time in time for lunch and check-in in any hotel of your choice in Kisoro town. You can either choose to relax in the afternoon, or rather explore Kisoro town.
Day 19: Sabyinyo Hike
Wake up for breakfast, after which you will drive to Mgahinga national park headquarters where you will be briefed by the park guide about the park and the hike which will take you about 5 hours to reach the top.
The hike is so tiresome but rewarding. The top of the mountain will meet you with breathtaking views of the Virunga massif, you will spot some of the mountains of the Virunga. After
You will then descend back to the base where the guide will be waiting for you and then transfer back to the hotel, refresh and spend the whole afternoon relaxing at the Lodge.
Day 20: Transfer to Volcanoes National
Rise up for breakfast and transfer to Volcanoes National park through the Katuna/Gatuna border as you enjoy the breath taking scenery of the Rwanda landscapes. You will reach in the afternoon in your lodge.
Note that: you should have all the required documents for crossing the border including the border crossing documents, COMESA for the car, valid passport and visa, covid-19 negative certificate and the Rwanda gorilla permits.
Day 21: 2nd Mountain Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Iby’Iwachu Cultural Visit
Wake up early for breakfast, and drive to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for briefing about the rules and regulations for gorilla trekking. You will then be assigned a gorilla family to trek, after which you will leave for the search of the gorillas in the wild. Gorilla trekking might take between 1-7 hours, with an inclusive 1 hour of staying up close with the gorillas. Return to the park headquarters, where you will head back to the Lodge for lunch, and take enough rest. Enjoy an evening cultural retreat from the Iby’lwachu cultural village in Musanze, where you can also freely participate in their activities including Music, Dance and Drama. You also stand an opportunity of buying Souvenirs from the cultural center.
Return to the Lodge for dinner and an overnight
Day 22:Golden Monkey Tracking
Early Morning breakfast, followed by a cool drive to Volcanoes national Park headquarters for briefing. Transfer to the forest with an experienced guide to search for the Golden monkey, and upon ecounter, you will spend 1 hour in their presence, after then you will return to the base. Return to the Lodge for lunch and enjoy the rest of the afternoon, relaxing by the pool or indulging in a spa treatment, otherwise take a visit to the twin lake Ruhondo and Burera.
Head Back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 23 Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
You will transfer to Lake Kivu after an early morning breakfast. Enjoy the cool morning breeze at the shores of the lake. Your spend an hour driving a to Rubavu, after which you will return on the road to continue with your 4-6 hours drive to Nyungwe Forest National park with Lunch en-route. Nyungwe forest is the largest and oldest rainforest in Africa. You will arrive at the park in the evening, and then connect to your lodge for dinner and an overnight
Day 24 Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy walks at Nyungwe national Park
Wake up early for breakfast, and head for briefing about the Rules and the regulations of Chimpanzee tracking, after which you will roll into the forest to search for the intelligent chimpanzees. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes between 2-6 hours. You will be allowed to spend at most 1 hour, interacting with them, enjoying great moments upon your encounter. Chimpanzees ar much easier to spot because they jump from one tree branch to another.
You will then return to the Lodge for Lunch, after which head for a 50 km canopy walk, along a swing bridge that is suspended from the large trees. Expect to enjoy the breathtaking vista, as you spot wildlife moving below you.
Return to the Lodge for Dinner and overnight.
Day 25: Kigali City Tour to Genocide memorial centers and departure
Early breakfast and drive for 4 hours to Kigali City for a city tour, to visit the Nyanza King’s Palace, the Presidential Palace, various Genocide Memorial centers of Murambi, Kigali Genocide Memorial, the crafts shop, the National Museum of Rwanda, with an enroute lunch. Transfer to Kigali International airport Board your connecting flight back to your home town.
End of Trip