12 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
This 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari is an adventure like no other, taking you deep into the rainforests of Uganda and Rwanda. Trek through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest in Uganda and Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda.
Encounter lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards and buffaloes during game drives and boat safari in Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Also, trek through the misty forests of Volcanoes National Park to see the endangered golden monkeys.
Highlights of 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Shoebill Tracking
Day 2: Journey to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 3: Journey to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
Day 5: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Afternoon Game Drive
Day 6: Morning game drive – Kazinga Boat Cruise and Drive to Bwindi Forest
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Forest
Day 8: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda
Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking and Visit the Gorillas Guardian Village
Day 10: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 11: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk
Day 12: Departure
Detailed Itinerary of 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Shoebill Tracking
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be picked up from Entebbe International Airport and head to your hotel in Entebbe for check-in and refreshing. Later in the day, head to Mabamba Swamp to track the pre-historic shoebill. From a canoe boat you will see these prehistoric bills standing in the swamp waiting to feast on the fish and take beautiful pictures. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight at Best Western Hotel
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Journey to Lake Mburo National Park
After an early breakfast, embark on a journey to Lake Mburo National Park, passing through vast cultivated plains, banana plantations, and cattle farms. Stop by the Mpambire, where artisans craft traditional wooden drums, before making another stop at the Equator for some great photo opportunities.
Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch, then take a game drive to encounter resident wildlife such as buffalo, impalas, zebras, eland, warthogs and bushbucks. . Optionally, enjoy a one hour boat safari on Lake Mburo to observe crocodiles, hippos, and diverse water birds, or take a horseback safari (optional activities not includes in the package).
Overnight at Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Journey to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, drive to Kibale Forest National Park driving through Fort Portal where you will enjoy scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains. When you arrive at your lodge, check-in and enjoy your lodge waiting for lunch. In the afternoon you will head to the beautiful crater lakes to enjoy amazing views of the beautiful lakes and take amazing pictures. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk
Today you will have an encounter with the chimpanzees. Enjoy an early breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing about chimpanzees and the forest, then head into the forest looking for these playful primates. Watch the dominant male asserts his presence, while juveniles chase and tumble through the undergrowth in playful displays. Some females groom each other, reinforcing the complex social bonds that define chimpanzee behaviour.
For one precious hour, you will observe their raw intelligence, emotions, expressions and intricate group dynamics – a truly humbling experience. Whether they are feeding, communication through gestures, or engaging in displays of dominance, every moment spent in their world offers a deeper understanding of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. Return to the lodge for lunch and some rest, later head to Bigodi Swamp for a guided walk on which you will enjoy sightings of olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park arriving in time for lunch at your lodge, in the afternoon you will head out for an afternoon game drive. Keep your eyes out for the park’s abundant wildlife, including herds of buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kob, topi, and bushbucks. With a bit of luck, you may be able to spot lions, leopards, and the elusive giant forest hog among others.
Overnight at Buffalo Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Morning game drive – Kazinga Boat Cruise and Drive to Bwindi Forest
Start the day with an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kasenyi Plains where you will encounter large herds of elephants and buffaloes, as well as an array of antelope species, including Uganda Kob, topi, and bushbuck, the elusive leopard, the giant forest hog among others.
In the afternoon, embark on a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, a wildlife hotspot famous for hosting one of the largest concentrations of hippos in Africa. As the boat glides through the tranquil waters, you will see elephants and buffaloes cooling off along the shores, while waterbuck and Uganda kobs, Nile crocodiles among others.
After the experience you will journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha Sector where you may be luck to spot the rare tree climbing lions. On arrival, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight at Buhoma Haven Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Forest
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking, a senior ranger guide will take you through rules and regulations to follow while in the presence of the gorillas.
Enter into the forest searching for mountain gorillas led by a senior ranger and armed guides, the trek takes approximately 2-4 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. While in their presence, watch the dominant silverback protecting the family, babies gorillas playing and mothers caring for their babies. Trek back to the park headquarters, return to your lodge for an evening of rest reminiscing about the day’s adventure.
Overnight at Buhoma Haven Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on a journey to Volcanoes National Park with border crossing at Cyanika Border. Enjoy en-route luncg, arrive in the park in the evening, check in and spend the night.
Overnight at Da Vinci Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking and Visit the Gorillas Guardian Village
Enjoy an early breakfast and head to the park headquarters in Kinigi for briefing about golden monkey trekking. Afterwards, head into the forest search for the cute olive baboons found in the bamboo forests of the park. The trek takes approximately 2 to 4 hours or more with one hour in the presence as you watch them play, feed and go on with their life in the vines.
Return to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will visit the Gorilla’s Guardian Village for a cultural experience. Here you will be entertained by local dances and drama, meet and interact with the local people and taste some of their meals. Later return to their lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight at Da Vinci Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and embark on a journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park – home to primates in Rwanda including chimpanzees. Along the journey you will have a stop at the local museums and local markets.
Arrive at the lodge in the evening, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight at Nyungwe Top Hill View Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk
Enjoy an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for briefing about chimpanzee trekking and head into the forest searching for chimpanzees, the trek takes approximately 2-5 hours or more depending on the movement of the chimpanzees and where they spent their previous. Spend one hour in their presence, observing their life in the forest. Later return to your lodge for lunch, in the afternoon you will return to the park for a canopy walk on the tallest canopy in Africa. Here you will enjoy aerial views of Nyungwe Forest Canopy and several primates include black and white colobus monkeys among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight at Nyungwe Top Hill View Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Departure
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and embark on a journey to Kigali City with en-route lunch. You will be dropped off at the airport to catch your flight back home or to your next destination.
End of 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
Price includes
- Accommodation in mid-range-priced eco-lodges and meals as indicated in itinerary
- Permits: 1 gorilla permit ($800), 1 chimpanzee permit ($250)
- 1 domestic flight from Kasese Airport (Kibale) to Kisoro Airport (Bwindi)
- All excursions and activities as indicated in the itinerary under the supervision of a professional English-speaking guide.
- Ground transport and transfers in a 4×4 Custom Safari Land cruiser
- Government taxes
Price Exclusions
- Travel insurance
- International flights
- Visa fees and processing
- Extra activities and meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Extra luggage on domestic flights
- Service tips, gratuities, souvenirs, and snacks
- Accommodation after the end of the trip