12 Days Highlight of Uganda and Rwanda

The 12 days safari takes you through the highlight of  Uganda and Rwanda, discovering the two countries, the Pearl of Africa – Uganda and the land of a Thousand Hills –where you will find the authentic Africa as you imagined it but only better on one of our Safaris. Expect to see the animals of the savannahs like lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, leopard among others and up to 16 primate species, including the rare mountain gorillas and chimpanzees within our tropical rain forest.
This safari specially includes the most important sites and national parks of Uganda and Rwanda on the list, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Kigali, capital city of Rwanda.

Itinerary

Day 1:  Entebbe – Airport transfer

On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred you for an overnight
Distance: 10km (15nminutes drive)
Medium range accommodation: Boma Entebbe  / Karibu Guesthouse (BB)
High accommodation: No.5 Boutique Hotel / Marriott Hotel Entebbe (BB)

Day 2: Kampala - Murchison Falls National Park

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. On our way we visit the rhinos in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. In Murchison Falls we visit the top of the falls. Dinner and overnight at your lodge 
Distance:  375 km (about 7 hours) 
Medium accommodation: Pakuba lodge / Fort Murchison/ Murchison River (FB)
High accommodation: Paraa safari/ Backer’s lodge (FB)
High End accommodation: Nile Safari lodge (FB)

Day 3:  Murchison Falls National Park

Today, experience the morning game drive in these savannah national park  and expect some of the animals like elephants, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, oribis, bushbucks, among other if lucky lions, spotted hyenas and leopards. In the afternoon, take a 3 hours boat cruise on Victoria Nile to the base of the Murchison Falls. Expect to encounter some of the animal like hippos, crocodiles, variety of water birds species.

Day 4: Murchison Falls - Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, depart the National Park heading southwest along the Lake Albert and Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtaking panoramic sceneries, visit the Old Fort Butiaba and arrive Hoima the capital town of Bunyoro kingdom, one of the oldest in Uganda. Afterward, drive through local villages to arrive Fort Portal, the capital town of Tooro kingdom which lies on the shadow of Rwenzori Mountains, the biggest mountain range in Africa.
Distance:  433 km (about 9 hours)
Medium  accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest lodge / Kibale Forest Camp (FB )
High accommodation: Kyaninga lodge/ Ndale lodge/ Primates Lodge (FB)

Day 5 - Kibale National Park

After breakfast, go for a chimpanzee tracking experience and in the afternoon, make a primate and bird watching in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

Day 6: Fort Portal - Queen Elizabeth National Park

Transfer to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. On our way we pass the equator. Drive to Katwe fishing village, visit the local mining and arrive your lodge in the afternoon.
Distance:  157 km (about 3hours) 
Medium range accommodation: Enganzi lodge / Bush lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Elephant Plains /  Mweya safari Lodge (FB)

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning game drives experience in  the national park, with aim of seeing animal like  elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Ugandan kobs, and if lucky  lion and leopard . In the afternoon, take the most exciting 2 hours boat cruise on Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife and bird.

Day 8: Queen Elizabeth -Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, drive through the National Park to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for tree climbing lions. After lunch, game drive in search of the tree climbing lions afterwards we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable. Today transfer will depend on the location of the gorilla permits and road conditions
Distance:  190 km to Buhoma sector (about 5hours)/ 250 km to (about 8hours) 
Medium accommodation: Haven Buhoma / Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (FB) 
High accommodation: Mahogany spring / Buhoma lodge/ Leisure Gorilla Rushaga  (FB)
High End accommodation Gorilla Forest Camp/ Cloud lodge

Day 9: Bwindi National Park

Today, the activity starts at 8am and you will follow the ranger guides in a group of maximum 8 people as you search for the habituated family of mountain gorillas, which was allocated according to the permits. Bwindi forest in Uganda has a population of about 370 gorillas, which is half the world population according to 2007 gorilla population surveys. It is not predictable the time you will spend to encounter the gorillas.

Day 10: Bwindi – Volcanoes National Park

After your breakfast, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. On the way visit a pygmy village and later proceed to arrive in the evening. Dinner and overnight 
Distance:  130 km (about 4hours) 
Medium accommodation: La Palme / Virunga hotel (FB)
High :  Mountain Gorilla view lodge
High End accommodation: Virunga lodge / Sanbinyo Silver back lodge (FB)

Day 11: Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, you can either make a nature walk in the National Park, climb a volcano or visit Dian Fossey’s Grave.  For those interested in gorilla tracking in Rwanda have to inform us in advance for arrangement.
Medium accommodation: La Palme / Virunga hotel (FB)
High Budget: Mountain Gorilla view lodge
High End accommodation: Virunga lodge / Sanbinyo Silver back lodge (FB)

Day12: Volcanoes National Park - Kigali

Today, after your breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, have a city tour of Kigali and afterwards transfer to the airport for your flight departure
Distance:  110 km (about 3hours)
Note: Accommodations shall be based on client selection (luxury, Medium or low budget. All lodges have self-contained rooms and are selected as per the interest of the client.

TOUR COST is per person sharing

The tariff includes:

Airport transfers
Full board accommodation with meals mentioned     
Ground transportation in modified safari car 
English speaking Driver/Guide
USD 700 for Gorilla and USD 200 for chimpanzee permits in Uganda
Entrance fees to the national park and other sites on the itinerary
Local government taxes

The tariff does not include:

Air ticket.
Tourist insurance health insurance
Entrance visas: East African Visa (Uganda and Rwanda 100 USD directly at the Airport and border crossing point) 
Optional activities, 
Personal natures and tips