14 Day Explore Uganda & Uganda Safari

Explore Uganda & Uganda Safari

14 Day Explore Uganda & Uganda Safari

Rwanda and Uganda are the undisputed top primate destinations in the world. The 14 Day Explore Uganda & Uganda Safari holiday takes you to the two gorilla nations exploring both the savannah and the two destinations’ tropical rainforest attractions.

The trip starts in Uganda, taking the northwestern circuit to the picturesque Murchison Falls National Park to find the BIG 5 game. From Murchison, the trip goes south to Kibale to connect with the southwestern circuit where you’ll meet the tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth NP, our primate cousins, and the mountain gorillas in Bwindi.

You’ll later cross into Rwanda’s to trek the gorillas of Volcanoes National Park and later delve into the native cultures. This trip is custom made and can be changed to your specifications.

  • 14 Days 13 Nights
  • Uganda, and Rwanda
  • Private Custom Safari
  • Can start any day
  • Suitable for all travelers
  • 15+ years
Bwindi Mghinga

Cost includes

  • Ground Transportation in a 4×4 Safari Vehicle with open roof
  • Flight transfer as indicated in the itinerary
  • Accommodation with meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Car park and entrance fees
  • Game drives and boat ride as indicated in the itinerary
  • Everything as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Government taxes

 Cost excludes

  • Any optional activities (Please take note of this)
  • Visas and insurance
  • Chimpanzee trekking permit (USD150), Gorilla Permit ($700)
  • Expenses of any personal nature
  • Anything that is not mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Any international flights and flights that are not mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Any Meals that are not mentioned in the itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: VIP Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the hotel.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by our representative who will help you through the checkout processes at the airport. You will be treated like a VIP right from the airport up to the last day of your safari.
After the meet and greet, our driver will then transfer you to the hotel in relaxation and overnight.

Accommodations:

Mid-range: The Boma Hotel, Lake Victoria Serena Resort

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls via ziwa for rhinos viewing.

On this day, you will enjoy your breakfast at your hotel in Entebbe, OR Kampala set off for Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. I really advise that you make this stop over since it will give you the complete feel of the “big five” in Uganda. With an en-route lunch, you shall make a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to view the endangered rhinos before continuing to Murchison. Ziwa rhino sanctuary is home to the endangered rhinos that are not found elsewhere in Uganda. You shall then proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. The driver/guide will then transfer you to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Journey Time: 5 Hours

Accommodations:

Mid-range: Paraa safari lodge / Kabalega wildness / Redchill rest camp

Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Morning game viewing drive and afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of falls.

Take pleasure in a morning game drive towards the Albert and Victoria Nile and experience a great deal of wildlife and birds. Along the way, look out for herds of elephants, giraffes, antelopes, the Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, water-bucks, lions, and several bird species. After lunch, later on in the day, embark on a launch cruise to the fall’s base. This 3-hour cruise from Paraa is a rewarding trip that will expose you to various wildlife species like hippos, crocodiles, elephants (though quite occasional along this side), and various birdlife that may include the African fish eagles. You will then hike to the top of the falls and enjoy the aerial view of the falls and other flora and fauna. You will then return to the lodge for a wonderful dinner and rest. Safari lodges.

Journey time: 4-5 hours

Accommodations: Paraa safari lodge / Kabalega wildness / Redchill rest camp

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale forest national park.

After a healthy breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibale Forest National Park, the capital world of primates. Primates such as chimpanzees, baboons, and monkeys. With en-route lunch meals. Upon arrival, you will check-in at your lodge for dinner and peaceful rest.

Accommodations: Primate lodge / Kibale safari lodge / Chimpanzee guest house

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and community walk.

On this day, you will rise quite early and enjoy a quick breakfast. You will head to the park headquarters for a briefing session regarding the chimpanzee tracking code of conduct. After that, you will be guided to the forest and experience tracking of the chimps and other primates in their natural habitat (this is the primate capital of the world). The park’s site guide will take you through this adventurous experience. You may be blessed with enormous encounters of various forest primates like the L’hoest, black-faced colobus monkeys, baboons, and other forest species.

The chief highlight of this day will be the chimps. You will enjoy them as they play, sing, communicate and eat. One hour is usually allowed with the Chimps. You may also be rewarded with beautiful sightings of forest bird species like the African broadbill, Ross’ and great blue turaco, butterflies, and flora. After your lunch at the park (you can either enjoy a picnic lunch in the park or return to your lodge for lunch), the driver/guide will reward you with the Bigodi evening tour. This wetland sanctuary near Kibale forest is famed for the colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and a wealth of birdlife like the African Broad-bill and the great blue turaco. Retire for dinner.

Journey time: 3-4 hours

Accommodations:

Midrange: Primate lodge / Kibale safari lodge / Chimpanzee guest house

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.

After a relaxed breakfast, you will go to queen Elizabeth. If time allows, you will drive through Kasese town, viewing the mountain Rwenzori ranges.

Accommodations:

Mweya safari lodge / Enganzi lodge / Mweya hostel

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Morning game drive – afternoon boat cruise.

Early in the morning, set off for the morning game drive in the Northern crater area, where there are many dark holes called the black craters with no water. You may see many animal species such as the Elephants, lions, buffaloes, Leopards, monkeys such as the black and white colobus, vervet, patus, red-tailed, and the blue monkeys. Other animals that can be seen are the bush pigs and warthogs, antelopes. This side of the park provides a good view of numerous craters. The activity takes 3-4 hours. Return for lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon go. Later after lunch, you will embark on a boat cruise on the Kaziga channel. This is very rewarding with the aquatic animals like crocodiles, hippos, and many bird species like black bee carmine bee eaters and black bee eaters, Lesser Swamp-Warbler, Striated Heron, among others. This takes 2-3 hours.

Accommodations:

Mweya safari lodge / Enganzi lodge / Mweya hostel

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Forest National park via Ishasha

On this day, you will rise early and after breakfast, set off for the impenetrable park. Along the way to Bwindi, you will enjoy sightseeing of community home steeds. Check in at the lodge, and prepare for the next day activity.

Travel Time: 2-3 hours

Accommodations: Gorilla resort / Silverback lodge / Buhoma rest camp

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi – Life-time memorable experience

You are now in Bwindi, and this is the moment you have been waiting for! After a very early breakfast, you will be guided to the park headquarters for the briefing session about the gorilla trackers code of conduct from the park’s guides. After that, you will get ready, along with your packed lunches, to embark on the lifetime memorable experience in this magnificent forest for gorilla tracking. The trail you use may reward you with exciting moments of the giant mountain gorillas ‘this will be a reward of the ultimate gorilla experience’ and other primates that inhabit the forest. The trek may be challenging and slippery at some points, but it all supersedes the excitement of viewing the gorillas at the end of the forest tour (This may probably be the highlight of the whole safari for you!). If you are a Keen birder, you will look out for various species of forest birds.

Accommodations: Gorilla resort / Silverback lodge / Buhoma rest camp

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Going on to Lake Bunyonyi – the second deepest lake in Africa

After breakfast, we will make our scenic journey through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape to Lake Bunyonyi. Given the inevitable rigorous day at Bwindi, most clients will cherish some relaxing moments on the shores of this peaceful lake. You will enjoy an evening canoe ride on the lake. Dinner and relaxed overnight stay at the lodge besides lake Bunyonyi.

Journey time: 4-5 hours

Accommodations:

Mid-range: Murchison River Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Heritage Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Border crossing to Rwanda from Uganda

Transfer to Rwanda for the following day’s tracking. Rwanda’s gorillas are more comfortable to track and will reward you with a more exciting experience without much trouble. The driver will drive with you to your lodge for your dinner and excellent overnight.

Accommodations:

Mid-range: Gorilla view lodge / Lebabou lodge / Kiningi guest house

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Extraordinary gorilla tracking in Rwanda OR Visit Diana Fossey grave

On this day, after enjoying a very early breakfast, the driver/ guide will be ready to drive you to the headquarters of Parc Nationale des Volcans for the memorable gorilla tracking experience. Tracking in Rwanda is a much rewarding experience, especially when combined with a visit to the Dian Fossey cave. A brief update on Dian Fossey: she was an American zoologist who had committed all her life to Gorilla conservation and habituation in Rwanda. She is famously known for her work in habituating gorillas (you might want to see “Gorillas in the Mist movie”). She was murdered in Rwanda in the Volcano Mountains believably by Gorilla poachers and was buried in a cave beside “Digit,” her Gorilla friend who passed on in 1977. A visit to this cave will probably be a major highlight while in Rwanda. After the briefing from the ranger guides at the park, you will start the gorilla trekking (with your packed lunch) through the light mountain forest on the Virunga slopes. Hiking and tracking gorillas may take 1-8 hours or less, and this mainly depends on your physical ability and stamina (it can be shorter). The driver will return with you to your lodge for your tasty dinner and excellent overnight.

Accommodation: Gorilla view lodge / Lebabou lodge / Kiningi guest house

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Going on to Lake Kivu for relaxing

Lake Kivu is the largest, is like a giant inland sea with some interesting lakeside towns. Kibuye, two hours from Kigali, is a relaxing retreat for swimming, canoeing, and water-skiing. Gisenyi, a famous resort in the past, now has a sleepy forgotten air with some fine but neglected buildings from the Belgian era. Dinner and fantastic overnight at the booked lodge/hotel. Safari lodges: (Lake Kivu Serena hotel / Paradise hotel deluxe rooms / Paradise hotel standard rooms).

Accommodation: Luxury / Mid-range / Budget

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Drive to Kigali city heading to Kigali Airport

After a healthy breakfast, you will drive towards Kigali city, if time allows, you will take a city tour. Later proceed for departure at Kigali airport.

No Accommodation

Meal plan: Breakfast

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