14 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
This 14 Days Uganda Rwanda safari brings out the best of both worlds! Enjoy Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Volcanoes in Rwanda including Golden monkey trek and a cultural tour to Nshenyi village.
Day 1; Arrival.
On arrival, you will be met by our company representative at Entebbe airport and transfer to your hotel in Kampala. Depending on your arrival time, either go for a city tour visiting Namugongo martyrs shrine, Kasubi royal tombs, Kabaka’s lake, Bahai temple and the Uganda Museum. Visit the local markets and craft villages and later return to your lodge OR, Relax at your hotel for the day. Dinner and overnight at Cassia Lodge.
Day 2; Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. (5 Hours)
You will enjoy an early breakfast and start on the long drive to Murchison Falls National Park with a stopover at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking and Lunch in Masindi town. Proceed to Murchison falls arriving in the afternoon. This is the largest park in Uganda, covering almost 4000 km2, and is one of the most spectacular parks in all of Africa. There are the incredible falls from which the park takes its name, rugged savannah, dense woodland and spectacular wildlife. Check in to your hotel, relax, have dinner and overnight stay at Sambiya River Lodge (Cottage).
Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park
A full day of game viewing at Murchison; Begin with a morning game drive, on the lookout for elephant, buffalo, giraffe, antelope, lion, leopard and jackal. If luck is really on our side, we may encounter one of Murchison’s few cheetahs.
In the afternoon, you will take a boat trip to the base of the 43m high falls. This is also a good opportunity to spot a few of Murchison’s 460 bird species including the shoebill stork and goliath heron. You will also see one of Africa’s densest hippo and crocodile populations. Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. (9 Hours)
After breakfast, you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park arriving in the late afternoon. This is a long day drive. Enjoy the evening at leisure as you relax. Dinner and overnight at Enganzi Game Lodge
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy breakfast and go for morning game drive through Kasenyi area where you will encounter African elephants, herds of buffaloes, eland, bushbuck topis, and warthogs among others. Visit Katwe salt pans and witness salt mining in Uganda and return to your hotel for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go for a boat cruise down the Kazinga Channel for some more incredible game viewing. You will see countless hippos, buffalos and a vast array of birds, perhaps including the African Fish Eagle and shoebill stork. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 6: Ishasha Sector, Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will transfer to Queen Elizabeth’s southern Ishasha sector in the morning. This is a dry and wild savannah region, much less developed than the Mweya peninsula. The game viewing is very good and in particular the region is famed for its tree-climbing lions. Return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi National Park (4 Hours)
You will make a morning tour of the Ishasha sector, in hope of seeing more lions and the elusive leopard. Then say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth and head down to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park arriving in the afternoon. Check in, unwind, dinner and overnight at Wagtail Eco safari camp.
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
After an early morning breakfast, you will depart with your packed lunch and proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and take to the forest for gorilla trekking! Your child can spend that time at the hotel or in the company of guide as they visit around. Gorilla Trekking can take an hour or four depending on the movement of the gorillas.
The time remaining after visiting the gorillas can either be spent relaxing and remembering the trek or hiking in the foothills and visiting local communities. Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 9; Batwa Pygmies and Local Community – Bwindi
You will have breakfast and go for Batwa experience – walking the Batwa cultural trail where you will enjoy an incredible day hike in the rain forest with Batwa guides, see how the Batwa lived and hunted, learn about medicinal plants, and watch for animals and birds.
You will share a traditional meal with the Batwa, hear ancient legends and traditional songs, and join in on a mock hunting party. You can even test your skill with a Batwa bow and arrow and participate in traditional dances. Later return to your hotel for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 10; Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (3-4 Hours)
After breakfast, you will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi where you will arrive well in time for lunch. You will later enjoy an afternoon boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi visiting the different islands and experiencing the local lifestyles of the people that live on the islands and witness their way of living including blacksmiths, crafts men and the local women displaying their weaving skills. Dinner and overnight at Arcadia Cottages.
Day 11; Transfer to Ruhengeri – Rwanda (3 Hours)
Enjoy breakfast and make an early start for your journey to Rwanda with lunch en-route. You will visit Iby’iwacu (literary means, treasures of our home, our heritage) where you will learn everything thereis about the Rwandese way of life!
Activities include; a community walk, guided by a community member
– Visit the king’s house and guided by a local historical and cultural guide, a place where you can be a king for minutes, hours and days
– 8 different types of traditional dances by all community categories; men, women, youths and the children, and other local and traditional musical instruments (ie Intore dances, drumming, Ibyivugo, Umuduri, Ikembe, Iningiri, Inanga, Ingoma, Amakondera, Agakenke, etc),
– Visit traditional healers to hear about the different trees, shrubs, grass and their traditional medicine uses and how they are administered to local patients. Visit traditional clinics and pharmacies, the elderly and hear their interesting stories of pre and post colonial era
– Attend a local banana brewery process and have a taste of local banana beer
– Batwa pottery making experience, lessons and engagement
– Artisans and craft making by women, men and children
The wider part of experience is IGITARAMO, where all gather around camp fire, with drums and local dances before sunset, where stories, riddles will be recounted by storytellers of the old Rwanda with everyone seated around the fire. Dinner and overnight at Kinigi Guest House.
Day 12; Bisoke (Visoke) Hike – Volcanoes National Park.
You will enjoy breakfast and set out for Mt. Bisoke hike which is part of volcanoes national park; home to Rwanda gorillas. On reaching the summit, you will discover a beautiful crater lake and the whole experience is overwhelming!
Along the trail, you will discover a lot of birdlife and captivating scenery – the reason Rwanda is referred to as the “land of a thousand hills”. Explore the local villages around the park and return to your lodge. Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 13; Transfer back to Kampala. (10 Hours)
You will have an early breakfast and make an early start for your journey back to Kampala with a lunch stopover in Mbarara town at Igongo Cultural Centre where you again, will learn more about the Ankole culture of the people of western Uganda.
It is a beautiful journey on a good tarmac road as you drive through Lake Mburo national park where on a lucky day; you may spot a number of Zebras and antelopes grazing along the roadside! Zebras are only unique to Lake Mburo national park and they cannot be found anywhere else.
Proceed with another stopover at the Equator for the equator experience and photography and Mpambire drum makers for a drum making experience! It’s an eventful journey. Continue to Kampala arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Cassia Lodge
Day 14; Airport Transfer and Departure. (45 minutes)
You will enjoy breakfast and depending on your departure time, if the city tour wasn’t possible on day 1, you will go for a brief city tour and later transfer to Entebbe airport for your onward flight with memories of a Uganda and Rwanda Safari.
