15 Days Uganda Rwanda Adventure Wildlife, Gorilla Trekking Safari

Arrive in Uganda – Entebbe International Airport amidst the soothing fresh breeze from the mighty Victoria Lake; the largest lake in Africa and the world’s second largest fresh water lake. You are welcomed by our representative who will then transfer you to the respective hotel for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation

Budget: Airport Guesthouse Entebbe

Midrange: Boma Hotel Entebbe

Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe

Connect to Jinja for a white-water rafting adventure setting off from the lodge at 7am. The drive to Jinja is 80km and takes 2 hours. The views Kampala City, Mabira forest, en route towns before approaching the mighty Nile River where the adventure white water rafting is carried out.  The mighty rapids and cascades make your water experience beyond the ordinary. You are in the company of expert guides while rafting on this world’s longest River.

Accommodation

Budget: Nexus Resorts Nansana

Midrange / Standard: Cassia Lodge

Luxury: Speke Resort Munyonyo

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

Embark on exciting Chimpanzee Habituation experience which starts at 6 am from the Kanyanchu Tourism center.  It’s a whole day activity spending a great time with Chimpanzees from the time they depart their nests to the time they form new nests in the evening at 7 pm. Enjoy them as they forage, socialize, mate, make pant hooting calls, hunt, patrol among other activities.  Being a whole day in the forest, you also have great sights of lush flora and a range of impressive bird species. Retreat from the activity and spend the evening relaxing at the lodge.

Accommodation

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Midrange / Standard:  Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent

Luxury: Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages / Ndali Lodge

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 daytime. Continue on the drive to arrive in Bwindi in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight

Accommodation

Midrange / Budget:   Gorilla Mist Camp

Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge / Buhoma Lodge

Gorillas in the mist moment awaits you this morning as you approach the mist covered Impenetrable forest of Bwindi for briefing at 8am.  Depending on the region and the respective gorilla family allocated, you follow the respective trail (some trails involve some bit of driving while others start from the briefing point) with company of the armed park ranger and other guests if they are there. The trek through the forest is a magical one as you hike steep slopes, descend down narrow valleys and traverse the dense vegetation of Bwindi amidst lush flora and enchanting bird songs. You eventually come across these gentle giants in their natural habitat as they feed on their preferred plant material, socialize and the young ones playing in the tree branches and with fellow members. The Silverback can choose to offer you a courteous welcome or ignore you and proceed with its feeding. You spend great time with these critically endangered Apes and take million-dollar photoshoots. The duration of the trek is 2 – 8 hours depending their movement though the actual gorilla viewing time is limited to one (1) for purposes of conservation. After your one hour with the gorillas, return to the starting point and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, enjoying the incredible views of Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa and spend the evening relaxing at the lake with a boat ride. Settle for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation

Midrange / Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort

Luxury: Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort

Undertake a recreational boat cruise after a relaxed breakfast to explore the lake of a thousand Islands. You cruise amidst the scenic Kigezi Highlands and the views of a range of Islands that are within the lake. Lake Bunyonyi has 29 Islands. You retreat from 2-hour activity and retreat to the lodge for lunch after which you embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda 120km about 3 – 4 hours driving along magical views of the Virunga Volcanoes before arriving at the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation

Budget: Muhabura Hotel

Midrange / Standard: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Virunga 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 transfer to Gisenyi Lake Kivu 110km about 2 hours drive.

Accommodation

Midrange / Budget:  Paladise Malahide

Luxury: Serena Resort Lake Kivu