13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorillas, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari Tour

After breakfast at 6:30am, drive to Murchison Falls National Park 311km from Kampala about 5 hours’ drive excluding stops en route enjoying good views of the flat stretches of Nakasongora district. A stop will be made at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 7km off the main road at Nakitooma to track the southern white Rhinos which only thrive here in the whole of Uganda following their re-introduction in 2005. The Rhino trek lasts about 2 hours exploring the members of the Big five family, settle for lunch at Kabalega dinner before proceeding on the drive to Murchison Falls National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation       

Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge

Midrange / Standard:  Murchison River Lodge – Thatched Safari Tent

Luxury / Up market:  Paraa Safari Lodge – Deluxe rooms

Depending on where you spent the previous night, you start the game drive between 6am – 7am in the northern sector of the park for 3 – 4 hours. The exciting game drive offers possibilities of exploring a range of wild game including Jackson’s Hartebeest, Rothschild Giraffes, Elephants, Buffalos, Lions, Leopard, Uganda Kob, Oribis among others. Settle for lunch and at 2pm, you gather for an afternoon Nile launch cruise departing at Paraa Jetty.  The recreational launch cruise offers incredible possible sights of Nile crocodiles, Hippos, a range of birds such as the vulnerable shoebill stork and the wild game drinking on the shores.   You are welcomed by the world’s most powerful water fall which you will follow the course on foot. You dis embark from the boat and take up this adventure hike viewing the mighty Nile River – world’s longest squeezing itself to pass through a less than 7m ravine before falling 43m below the Devil’s Cauldron forming a plume of spray marked with a trade mark rainbow.  You connect with your guide at the top of the falls and then drive to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation

Budget: Heritage Safari Lodge

Midrange / Standard:  Murchison River Lodge – Thatched Safari Tents

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge – Deluxe rooms / Bakers Lodge

Transfer after breakfast to Kibale National Park 366km about 8 hours’ drive exploring the scenic rural landscapes of Hoima and Kagadi.  A hot lunch stop will be made in Hoima and you will arrive in Kibale in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation

Budget: Isunga Lodge Kibale

Midrange / Standard:  Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent

Luxury: Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages / Ndali Lodge

Chimpanzee trekking is one of the incredible safari activities in Uganda and Kibale National Park dubbed the Primate capital of the world has the best Chimp sightings in the whole of Africa. Briefing commences at 8am at Kanyanchu Tourism centre after which you follow the established forest trails in search of Chimpanzees – Man’s closest relative in the Ape family. Kibale is a rich forest with beautiful flora, amazing bird species up to 375 species and 13 species of primates. The one hour with Chimps as they forage and socialize will make your trek memorable. The entire depending on how far the Chimps have moved takes 2 – 5 hours. Return from the activity, settle for lunch after which you embark on an exciting Bigodi wetland and community walk gaining incredible experience with the local people and their traditions but also the lush flora and great bird species such as the Great Blue Turaco in the wetland. From the activity, you drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation

Budget: Isunga Lodge Kibale

Midrange / Standard: Kibale Forest Camp – Safari tent

Luxury: Primate Lodge Kibale – Luxury Cottages

After breakfast, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 2 – 3 hours’ drive excluding stops en route.  You branch off as you draw close to Kasese & drive to the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains to visit the Ruboni Community that has lived on thrived in this mountainous ecosystem for over 300 years past. You explore their traditions and way of life. You retreat to Kasese for hot lunch after which you proceed to Queen Elizabeth Np – Kasenyi sector for an afternoon game drive. The views of savannah in the evening dotted with counts of wild game are rewarding to explore.

Accommodation

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Midrange / Standard:  Enganzi Lodge

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge – Deluxe Room

Settle for breakfast at 6:30am and transfer to the park to start at the game drive at 7am. The savannah plains of Kasenyi sector offers incredible chances of viewing a range of wild game including four of the Big five namely; Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions & Buffaloes, other wild game such as Defassa waterbucks, spotted hyena, Topis among others. The game drive lasts 3 – 4 hours.  Drive to Mweya peninsular for hot lunch at Tembo restaurant before gathering at Mweya jetty for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat ride departing at 2pm. The majestic Kazinga Channel boat cruise lasts for 2 hours offering good recreational moments, likely views of Nile crocodiles, Hippos, bird species on the shores and wild game drinking on the shores. From the boat, you do an evening game drive along the channel track for more wild game viewing possibilities.

 Accommodation

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Midrange / Standard:  Enganzi Lodge

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge – Deluxe Room

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You undertake a 1.5 – 2-hour game drive in Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of tree climbing lions and other wild game. The Ishasha is one of the only two places in the world where tree climbing lions can be encountered. They tend to lie in fig tree branches in the day time. Continue on the drive to arrive in Bwindi in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation

Midrange / Budget: Gorilla Mist Camp

Luxury: Haven Lodge Buhoma

Briefing for Gorilla trekking starts at 8am and thus, you need to enjoy breakfast before at the lodge.   In the company of armed ranger guides, you head to the Impenetrable forest in search of the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas.  You enjoy exciting sights and sounds of the jungle including magical bird songs & lush flora. The lasting moment awaits you as you approach the mighty Mountain Gorillas as they forage, socialise among others. They are beautiful gentle giants with frightening eyes and hairy body while the silverback features a silver patch on its back.      The trek lasts 2 – 8 hours depending on the gorilla movement but the actual viewing is limited to one hour for purposes of conservation. Retreat from the activity and spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge.  In the evening, you will enjoy the traditional performance from the local tribes either the Bakiga or Batwa.

 Accommodation

Midrange / Budget: Gorilla Mist Camp

Luxury: Haven Lodge Buhoma

Following breakfast, embark on the drive to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park amidst impressive views of Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa and Virunga Volcanoes – a chain of eight volcanoes that comprise the Virunga massif straddling from Uganda through Rwanda to Congo.  An optional boat ride on twin lakes of Lake Bulera and Ruhondo for recreational sightseeing experience.  Settle at the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Budget: Muhabura Hotel

Midrange / Standard: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

The Gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts at Kinigi park station in Volcanoes National Park. You enjoy the traditional Intore performance before the briefing and a hot cup of coffee. Briefing starts at 8am after which you connect to the trail heads to embark on the gorilla trekking encounter.  Depending on the gorilla group allocated and how far it has moved that day, the trek lasts 2 – 8 hours and involves one full hour of Gorilla viewing and impressive photoshoots. Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi 120km about 2 hours drive.  You enjoy the tranquil lake environment for the rest of the evening.

Accommodation: 

Midrange / Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Luxury: Birdnest @Bunyonyi resort

After breakfast early in the morning, embark on the boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi exploring its range of 29 islands. You will do island hopping gaining a glimpse of the main islands and their communities, visit schools and homesteads and exploring their livelihood activities. Retire from this activity and embark on the transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and enter the park through Sanga Gate. Do an evening game drive as you head to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation

Budget: Eagles Nest Mburo

Midrange: Rwakobo Rock

Luxury: Mihingo Lodge

The rewarding game walking safari commences at 7am traversing the moist savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo National Park with beautiful Acacia woods. Lake Mburo National Park is home to 350 bird species including the endemic Red-faced Barbet on Ugandan standards among others, a range of other wild game such as Impala, Rothschild giraffes, Burchell’s Zebra, Topis, Elands, Cape Buffaloes among others. The walking safari lasts for two hours, spend good time at the lodge and later transfer to Kampala 240km about 3 – 4 hours. A stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe provides good opportunity for good photoshoots & water experiments.

Accommodation

Budget: Nexus Resorts Nansana

Midrange: Cassia Lodge

Luxury:  Speke Resort Munyonyo

Transfer to Jinja after breakfast, visit Ssezibwa Falls for sightseeing and cultural experience, and undertake a forest walk in Mabira Forest Reserve – the largest forest Reserve in Uganda for lush flora, birds, and primates en route. Settle for lunch in Jinja, after which you embark on a boat ride to the Source of the Nile exploring the site where the famous Nile River – the world’s longest begins its 90 days journey from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea.