12 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour and Safari Vacation

12 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour and Safari Vacation

Fly into Kigali and overnight as you get ready for 12 Days Rwanda Uganda gorilla tours and safari vacation. Transfer to Volcanoes NP where you will enjoy golden monkey trekking and cross border into Bwindi (Uganda) where you will enjoy the epic gorilla trekking. After Bwindi, transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP via Ishasha – known for tree-climbing lions. From Queen NP, you drive to Kibale for the Bigodi swamp excursion. Continue to Murchison NP and visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Our next stop is Mabamba wetlands in search of shoebill stork. Fly out from Entebbe.

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali Airport, pick up and transfer to the booked hotel

On arrival at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, you will perform clearance and thereafter, proceed (out) to meet the waiting assigned Representative/Tour Driver-guide. He/she will welcome you to Rwanda and then head to board the car for the transfer to the booked hotel. You will check in and take your rest – recovering from jet lag, adjusting to the new location.

Accommodation: (Quiet Haven Hotel-Budget Level) | Meals: Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 10-15 minutes.

Day 2: Kigali city tour (Morning), transfer to accommodation close to Volcanoes NP

Morning pick up (after breakfast) by the assigned Tour Driver-guide who will take you around Kigali City for the city tour. *Depending on your interest, the excursion may take you to; the national museum, local markets, art and craft shops, genocide memorial ground. Thereafter, you will transfer to Volcanoes NP. Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla NP in Uganda. You will arrive at the booked accommodation and decide to; either take rest – awaiting tomorrow’s activity or consider some activity. #Optional (extra cost): If interested, you may consider moving out for either; twin lakes excursion – canoe trek (60$) or visit to the cultural village (20$) to gain some insight of the traditional Rwanda. Otherwise, stay relaxed – enjoying the facility.

Accommodation: (La Palme Hotel-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 3-4 hours.

Day 3: Golden monkey trekking Volcanoes NP and transfer to Bwindi, Uganda

On this day 3 of 12 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour and Safari Vacation takes you to Golden monkeys trekking taking place in Volcanoes National Park. These rare monkey species are also listed as endangered and Volcanoes NP has habituated groups that are available for trekking by visitors. The exercise starts with a short briefing from the park ranger at the RDB Office. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the golden monkeys through the rainforest of the volcanoes NP. Return to the accommodation for a short rest and lunch. After lunch, drive off to Cyanika Border Post. From Cyanika, you will be received by our Uganda-based Professional Tour Driver-guide who will take over from his Rwanda-based counterpart. You will cross border into Uganda and overnight at a property close to Bwindi National Park where you will undertake the gorilla trekking tomorrow.

Accommodation: (Broadbill Forest Camp-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 4-5 hours.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest, return and stay at leisure – recovering

Have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the forest for your adventure and encounter. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken (4-8 hours) and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The time with these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, and rest after a strenuous trek. *Optional (extra cost): In case you finished early and the body is willing to go out again, you can request your guide to arrange; a community visit, or some short nature walk.

Accommodation: (Broadbill Forest Camp-Budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: n/a.

Day 5: Drive to Buhoma, Bwindi Forest hike – waterfalls trail and afternoon Buhoma community visit

We will have breakfast and then drive off to Buhoma sector of Bwindi. Once there, we shall proceed for the Forest walk along the waterfall trail. This is the perfect way to experience the depth of this “impenetrable” forest. Starting from Buhoma – at the north gate, Munyaga river trail gets you to some beautiful pristine waterfalls – a truly rewarding experience. Along the way you will encounter some flora and fauna, black and white colobus monkeys, sometimes blue monkeys among others. Return to the accommodation for lunch and some rest before moving out to encounter the community. This encounter involves cultural dances from the local people of the community and also participating in some activities e.g. traditional cooking, weaving among others. Return for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: (Ride 4 a Woman-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 2 hours.

Day 6: Game drive (Ishasha) in search of tree-climbing lions, connect north Queen

Enjoy day 6 of 12 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour and Safari Vacation with a relaxed breakfast and then, drive off to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP – famously known for its tree-climbing lion population. Once there, undertake a game drive in search of this rare species of lions. The chance of spotting these lions stands at about 60-70% but sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get the chance to spot the lions up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and unforgettable. From Ishasha (south), exit and head to the booked accommodation in the north sector. Check in and take rest. *Optional (no cost): If interested, you may consider a late afternoon-to-evening game drive/safari in the Kasenyi plains.

Accommodation: (Irungu Forest Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 5-6 hours.

Day 7: Morning game drive and afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga Channel

Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. *Note: After the boat trip, you can decide either to return to the lodge to rest or first proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and thereafter, return to the lodge.

Accommodation: (Irungu Forest Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: n/a.

Day 8: One more game drive, head to Kibale and do the Bigodi wetland excursion

On this day 8 of 12 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour and Safari Vacation be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for one more morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains and after the sighting on this game drive, we shall embark on a transfer that will see us check in at an accommodation at the edge of the Kibale Forest NP. We hope to have lunch at this property and also rest a bit before going out in the Bigodi.

The Bigodi wetland boasts of an extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primates’ species like the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, and baboons. The Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. *Optional (extra cost 230$ pp): If interested, you can consider chimpanzee tracking (Kibale Forest) in place of the Bigodi wetlands excursion. After the beautiful time in the Bigodi (or Kibale Forest), we shall return to the lodge where we will enjoy dinner and then overnight.

Accommodation: (Chimpanzee Forest Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer time: Approx. 2 hours.

Day 9: Transfer – Kibale Forest (via Hoima) to Murchison Falls National Park

On this day 10 0f 12 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour and Safari Vacation you will have breakfast, check out and embark on the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, leopard, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants among others.

For birders, Murchison Falls boasts about 450 bird species including the grey parrot, dwarf king fisher and the Goliath heron among others. Expect lunch en route. The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way (with very little/no room to be bored). *Detour to visit the top of the falls and thereafter, we head to the accommodation.

Accommodation: (Ikorom Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 7 hours.

Day 10: Exploring Murchison NP – Morning and Afternoon game drives/safari

Today as day 10 of 12 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour and Safari Vacation you will have a full packed game viewing opportunity in the park. Murchison Falls NP is a home to different wildlife species such as; Buffalos, Jackson hartebeests, elephants, Lions, Giraffes, leopards, Hyenas, among others. They are widely spread all over the Savannah grasslands, grazing or hunting for prey. These make the park’s landscape so amazing for game viewing/game driving.

To avoid the long drive back to the lodge, we can proceed to Red Chilli and enjoy hot lunch there. After the lunch, we can move back for the second leg of our game viewing. After a satisfying day’s encounter, we shall head back to the lodge to freshen up – awaiting dinner and the overnight stay. #Optional (extra cost 30$ pp): If interested, you may consider the 11am boat trip upstream towards the falls that also offers the opportunity to hike (extra 15$ pp) to the top of the falls.

Accommodation: (Ikorom Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: n/a.

Day 11: Drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, rhino tracking and continue close to Mabamba wetlands

You will have your breakfast and then drive off to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary – a successful conservation effort that was set to save the near-extinct rhino population in Uganda. Today, visitors to Uganda have a chance to encounter rhinos thanks to this effort. Once in Zziwa, we will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking. From the rhino tracking, we will embark on a transfer that will see us overnight at the edge of the Mabamba wetlands. This area is well-known for shoebill stork sighting.

Accommodation: (Nkima Forest Lodge-Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 6-7hrs.

Day 12: Mabamba wetlands excursion, lunch in Entebbe, connect to the airport

This last morning of our 12 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour and Safari Vacation we shall have breakfast and at around 7 or 7:30am. We shall move out and head for the Mabamba wetlands. The area is considered one of only a few places in Uganda with a higher chance of spotting the prehistoric shoebill stork. It’s fascinating to watch this bird in its natural setting. It may stand absolutely still for a long period awaiting the movements of their prey and then suddenly strike with a marvelous speed. From Mabamba, we shall check out and drive to head to Entebbe for lunch and then finally connect to the airport. *Optional (extra cost 10$): If having a night flight, you can consider excursion in the Entebbe Botanical Gardens as well. Thank you for choosing and travelling with us at lifetime holidays

Included

Park fees

Gorilla permits

All activities

All accommodation

A professional driver/guide

All transportation

All Taxes/VAT

Roundtrip airport transfer

Meals

(As specified in the day-by-day section)

Drinking water

Excluded

International flights

Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour

Tips

Personal items

Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

Some meals