13 Days Uganda – Rwanda Wildlife Safari
This 13 days’ safari will give you an over view of the nature and wildlife of Uganda and Rwanda. Start the safari visiting to Rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary after which you proceed to the top of the falls in Murchison falls national park and explore of Uganda’s largest national park the Murchison falls. Kibale national park which is home to 13 species of primates with the main attraction being chimpanzees will be your next destination. After the experience with chimpanzees in Kibale you will visit “the medley of wonders” – Queen Elizabeth national park for a range of wildlife and beautiful scenery of crater lakes home to over 95 species of mammals and 600 species of birds. Next will be the Bwindi impenetrable national park for the ultimate gorilla trekking experience and Lake Bunyonyi for a down time recouping the energies. End the safari in Volcanoes national park meeting the cheeky golden monkeys.
DAY 1 – ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY | ENCOUNTER THE RHINOS
Depart for Murchison falls National Park right after an early breakfast. Enjoy the views of the scenery of Uganda along the way and colorful roadside markets. Stop at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to learn about the conservation of Rhinos at this sanctuary and watch them as they graze and go about in this vast sanctuary. After this, proceed to the park and visit the top of the falls.
DAY 2 –Morning Game Drive and afternoon on the Base of falls
Murchison Falls National park is the biggest park in Uganda offering amazing game viewing. Start early with a game drive on the Northern bank of River Nile. Watch the different animals and birds in their natural habitat. During the game drive look out for bush bucks, water bucks, buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, lions, hartebeest, leopards, Uganda kobs and bird species.
In the afternoon, join in a relaxing boat ride. Look out for animals coming to water and those resident /semi residents like Hippos, crocodiles, and monitor lizards.
DAY 3: TRANSFER TO KIBALE NATIONAL PARK HOME OF CHIMPANZEES
Today we depart for the home of Chimpanzee in Kibale National Park. Kibale forest is home to 13 species of primates with the main attraction being chimpanzee tracking and bird watching. The journey to this tropical forest passes villages and colorful road markets with plenty of tea plantations
Have a visit to the Amabere Ganyina mwiru caves in Fort portal town and enjoy the stories about these fascinating caves with waterfalls.
DAY 4: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN THE MORNING AND EVENNING BIGODI COMMUNITY
Today after breakfast, embark on the chimpanzee trekking activity. Chimpanzees’ share 98.7% of man’s DNA and is referred to as man’s closest relatives. The trek starts with a briefing from your ranger guide about your chimpanzee trek. This experience offers you an opportunity to view these primates in their natural habitat. After locating the chimpanzees, you are allowed to spend one hour watching them.
In the afternoon, take a walk in the Bigodi community and interact with the locals. Get a coffee experience, banana beer making experience, basketry and listen from the medicine man about how he deals with different diseases.
DAY 5: TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
After that exhilarating experience with the chimps in their natural habitat, journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park passing through Crater lakes region (depending on road condition) and enjoying views of the Rwenzori mountain ranges. Have a stopover at the Rwenzori Sculptors gallery depending on your interest.
Visit the Katwe salt mines.
DAY 6 MORNING GAME DRIVE AFTERNOON BOAT
After an early breakfast we leave for a game drive joining the lion research team on lion tracking and supporting their work. The car is customized for game viewing; enjoy the exotic and rare species which include Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes and Uganda Kobs etc.
In the afternoon take boat safari on Kazinga Channel – towards Lake Edward with different animals on its banks and beautiful species of birds. .
DAY 7: BWINDI FOREST | EXPLORE THE WILD
Leave after breakfast for Bwindi impenetrable National Park. The park is home to several bird species, butterflies, primates and mammals. The drive takes you through beautiful scenery of terraced hills of Kigezi highlands. The locals terrace these hills as they prepare gardens for especially planting potatoes and plenty of tea plantations after crossing ishasha sector
DAY 8: GORILLA TREKKING IN BWINDI
Hike the impenetrable forest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. First, you will listen to a briefing from the ranger guide. After this, you are allocated a gorilla family to track and you join other people in this group. The trail head for some of the gorilla groups are away from the briefing point so your guide will drive you to starting point. Enjoy the day in the impenetrable forest, you have up to one hour with the gorillas once you locate them. You are advised to keep reasonable silence while watching them.
DAY 9: TRANSFER TO LAKE BUNYONYI | BATWA EXPERIENCE
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi after a relaxed breakfast. The lake derives its name from “Small Birds” that inhabit this place.
We will have a stopover for a Batwa experience. They will share a glimpse into their culture and how they are currently living versus how they lived in the forest.
DAY 10: EXPLORE LAKE BUNYONYI
Take on a canoe ride to see and learn about the different islands. Each island has a fascinating story to it as shared by the local guide.
After the canoe ride, you can spend the afternoon at the lodge relaxing, read a book or take a walk in the village.
DAY 11: TRAANSFER TO VOLCANOES AND EXPLORE THE WILD
After the ultimate gorilla trek in Bwindi impenetrable national park you will transfer to Volcanoes national park today. Enjoy the varying scenery of Uganda and Rwanda along the way. On arrival you will check in to your lodge and relax as you look forward to tomorrow’s activities.
DAY 12: VOLCANOES PARK | MEET THE GOLDEN MONKEYS
After an early morning breakfast, we travel to the briefing point where the golden monkey trekking starts. A ranger guide will lead you to hike up in search of the golden monkeys, which are only in the Virunga Volcanoes. The golden monkeys are such amazing creatures to watch as they jump from tree to tree. They are very active unlike the gorillas, so you will move a distance following them.
DAY 13: FLIGHT FROM KIGALI TO ENTEBEE OR DRIVE
we hope you had a fantastic time in Uganda. Depending on your flight time, you can visit the botanical gardens before your flight or have a cycling tour in Entebbe. You will later be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.
