18 Days Cross Countries - Uganda and Rwanda Tours

The 18 Days Cross Countries - Uganda and Rwanda safaris takes you through 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, Lake Bunyonyi, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Gisenyi (Lake Kivu), Nyungwe National park and Kigali city.

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 to your accommodation for overnight stay. 
Distance: 40km (1hour drive) 
Medium accommodation: Boma Entebbe / Karibu (BB) 
High accommodation: No.5 Boutique Hotel / Marriott 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 on Full Board
Distance:  350 km (about 6 hours) 
Medium range accommodation: Murchison River / Pakuba lodge FB
High accommodation: Paraa safari lodge / 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 National Park - Hoima

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.

Distance:  150 km (about 3 hours) 
Medium range accommodation: Kontiki Hotel / Hoima Hotel (FB)

Day 5:  Hoima Town – Kibale Forest National Park

After your breakfast, depart in direction of Kibale National Park, have a stopover in Fort Portal, the capital town of Tooro kingdom which lies on the shadow of Rwenzori Mountains, the biggest mountain range in Africa.

Distance:  280 km (about 5 hours) 
Medium range accommodation: Kibale Forest camp / Chimpanzee Forest lodge (FB 
High accommodation: Kyaninga lodge/ Ndale lodge/ Primates lodge (FB)

Day 6 - 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 7: 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 accommodation: Enganzi lodge / Katara/ Bush lodge (FB) 
High accommodation: Elephant Plains Mweya safari Lodge (FB)

Day 8: 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 9: 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; 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 (about 7hours) 
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 10: 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. Accommodation will depend on the group of gorillas you will be tracking

Day 11: Bwindi National Park -Lake Bunyonyi

Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi; the deepest and most beautiful lake in Uganda. On the way, visit the Grace Child home for village and agro tourism; later proceed to your hotel for relaxation

Distance:  110 km (about 3hours) 
Medium accommodation: Bunyonyi overland resort/ Rock Eco resort (FB)
High accommodation: Bird nest / Arcadia cottage (FB)

Day 12: Lake Bunyonyi – 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. 

Distance:  130 km (about 4hours)
Medium accommodation: La Palme / Virunga hotel (FB)
High Budget: Mountain Gorilla view lodge
High End accommodation: Virunga lodge / Sanbinyo Silver back lodge (FB)

Day 13: 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.  If time allows, visit the Twin Lakes, Lake Ruhondo and Lake Burera.

Day14: Volcanoes National Park -Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)

After your breakfast, we drive to Gisenyi, town located at the shore of the Lake Kivu.  It lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Evening will be at pleasure.
Distance:  62 km (about 1hour)
Medium range accommodation: Palm Garden Hotel / Paradis Malahide / Virunga hotel (FB)
High accommodation: Serena Lake Kivu (FB)

Day15: Gisenyi – Kibuye

After breakfast you will depart for Kibuye that lies at the eastern tip of Lake Kivu. Kibuye is often hailed as the most impressive scenic spot of the lake.  Lunch at the shore of the Lake Kivu and afterward   take a boat trip to the island of Amahoro Napoleon’s island.
Distance:  132 km (about 3 hour)
Medium range accommodation: Centre Bethanie  (FB)
High accommodation: Moriah Hills Resort (FB)
High End accommodation: Cormoran (FB)

Day16: Kibuye – Nyungwe National park

Depart for Nyungwe National park, the protected area offers a rare and important habitat for many species, especially primates and birds. And with over 1000 km2, Nyungwe is Africa’s largest protected mountain rainforest, home of over 300 bird species, 26 of which are endemic.
Distance:  182 km (about 4 hour) 
Low budget: Gisakura guesthouse (FB) 
Medium accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hotel 
High accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (FB)

Day17: Nyungwe Forest National Park

After your breakfast, go for Chimpanzee Trekking and other monkeys in the tropical rain forest. After lunch, go for the canopy walk, which sets 50 meters above the ground with a 150-meter walkway and known as the first of its kind in East Africa and third on the continent after South Africa and Ghana. The canopies walks allows visitors to see the forest from above the trees and be at eye level with birds and monkeys that inhabit the upper storeys of the forest. Later return to your hotel/lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 18: Nyungwe National park - Kigali

Today, after your breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, transfer via Butare visiting enroute, the famous National Museum at Butare and the ancient King´s Palace at Nyanza later  to the airport for your flight departure 

Distance:  276 km (about 7hours) 
Note: Accommodations shall be based on client selection (luxury, Medium or low budget.

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
Gorilla and chimpanzee permits
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: Uganda and Rwanda 100 USD directly at the Airport and border crossing point 
Optional activities, 
Personal natures and tips