Uganda- Rwanda 19 Days Grand Tour tracking the Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes and Bwindi, Chimps and other primates in Kibale and Semliki, Beautiful scenery in Lake Bunyonyi, Mt Elgon, and Rwenzori, Murchison Falls, Wildlife and Birds in Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Park
Safari Overview
We are ready to show you a case of Uganda and Rwanda‘s most spectacular place for more than 2 weeks , our 19 days Across Uganda runs down all Uganda’s rich tourism circuits. The great western circuit that combines Lake Mburo, lake Bunyonyi, in to Rwanda, back in to Uganda for a second Gorilla trekking experience before heading in to Queen Elizabeth, Semuliki, Kibale, Murchison Falls, the Eastern Tourism circuit enabling explore Soroti areas, Mt Elgon and Jinja the great adventure capital
Day 1: Kampala -Mburo
Set for an early departure from Kampala via Masaka. Have lunch in the park and thereafter an afternoon boat trip on Lake Mburo to see aquatic based animals such as Hippos, Buffaloes and bird life. Overnight and dinner at Mihingo Lodge (Luxury Lodge facility) or
Lake Mburo Safari Lodge/ Rakobo Rock (mid-range moderate facility) or
or Eagles Nest Camp (Budget facility)
Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera.
After breakfast you will drive to Akagera National Park. After lunch you will do an afternoon game drive which will enrich you with wild animals like Giraffes, Buffaloes, Spotted Hyenas, Elephants, Crocodiles, Hippos and plenty of bird life.
Dinner and overnight at Ruzizi Game Lodge (Upscale) or Akagera Game Lodge (moderate and lower budge). Meal plan Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Game drive and a boat ride Akagera
Have breakfast and then go for a game drive where you may spot various wild animals. Return to the lodge for lunch and thereafter go for a boat ride on Lake Ihema. Dinner and overnight as above
Day 4: Transfer to Parc Nationale des volcanoes.
After breakfast, you will depart for Parc Nationale des volcanoes. City tour of Kigali before continuing to the park. You will have lunch enroute.
Dinner and overnight at Le’ Bambou Gorilla Safari Lodge (Lodge facility) or Kinigi Guest House (Budget facility). The evening is spent on sightseeing and relaxing around the hotel Meal plan: breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Volcanoes National Park- Gorilla trekking.
After breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for a briefing, and then you will begin the trekking. The trek can be quite tough that it takes a lot of time approximately 2-8 hours.
Dinner and overnight at Le’ Bambou Gorilla Safari Lodge (Lodge facility) or Kinigi Guest House (Budget facility).
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking, cross to Uganda.
After breakfast you will go for Golden monkey trekking. This takes a about 5 hours, you will return to the lodge, have lunch and go to visit the twin lakes as you enjoy the cool breeze of the lakes.
Afterwards, cross the border to Uganda.
Dinner and overnight at Travellers Rest Hotel KisoroLodge (Lodge facility) or Kinigi Guest House (Budget facility). The evening is spent on sightseeing and relaxing around the hotel Meal plan: breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Batwa community visit
Today wake up to a leisurely breakfast and prepare for yetanother adventure around the park as you visit these indigenous natives the Batwa. The Batwa are Uganda’s marginalized people and are view with derision by most of the Ugandan Nationals. The Batwa have lived their lives to current generations by hunting and gathering in the forest. The visit to the Batwa invariably involves songs and a dance demonstration, and once the music begins you can’t help but notice that they project a genuine pride in themselves. You shall then return to the lodge for lunch and also relax. Enjoy your evening at leisure as you prepare yourselves for the next day’s gorilla tracking adventure.
Day 8: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Forest
Begin the day with breakfast ready for trekking, which begins at 8:00 a.m with a briefing from the UWA staff on how to behave with these endangered mountain Gorillas. Ensure to carry along with you rain jacket, drinking water, snacks, jungle boots etc The guides will lead you inside the beautiful ecosystem to see the shy Primates for a group you have been booked for. Do not forget to take your lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours but it’s well worth the effort.
Meal plan: breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Canoe trekking on Lake Bunyonyi-Uganda
After breakfast, set out for a 5-hour canoe trek as well as bird watching on the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, traversing to the gorgeous Kyabahinga peninsula. Here you will be gladly welcomed with songs plus dances by the resident school children. You will enjoy with the locals at least a cup of “Obushera” which is a local brew. You will ascend the Kyabahinga slopes having a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the birdlife and the verdant terrain. The view is very breathtaking! The guide will certainly brief you about the history of the area.
Among the bird species you will see are the Dusky Tutle Dove, the Handsome Francolin and Alpine Chat. A renown herbalist who is a tradition healer -Omugurusi Jeremiah, based on the hill top will disclose to you some of the secretes about the flora on the tropical highland.
Dinner and overnight stay at either Bushara Island Camp (lower budget)
Moderate: Bird’s Nest
Up-market: Bird’s Nest/ Archadia Cottages
Day 10: Queen Elizabeth National Park
After early breakfast head for Ishasha, which is the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, carry out a game drive where you may sight tree-climbing lions. Ishasha is dominated by acacia woodland and scrubland and features the meandering Ishasha River, banked by a riparian forest.
Overnight and dinner at Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury Lodge facility) or
Enjojo Lodge (mid-range moderate facility) or
At the River Camp (Budget facility)
Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, walk through the Maramagambo Forest
Another early start for a bush walk through the Maramagambo Forest. This is one of the largest forests in Uganda, and forms a habitat for a number of primates and forest dwellers. Due to its location, Maramagambo also has a great diversity of butterflies and birds. The walk culminates in a visit to volcanic caves that are home to thousands of bats. Pythons are often observed in the crevices of the bats cave as they prey on bats. In this walk you will see the picturesque Blue lake-Kimeranjojo which got its name after swallowing an Elephant. Other trails will lead you to the Crater Lake and habitats of the Wild chimps and forest bird.
In the afternoon you will have another game drive and during the dry season we will drive you to the Edward’s flats to see more elephants, large herds of buffalo and different waterbirds. Occasionally we might find in this area the shoebill stork and by surprise some hunting lions.
Overnight at Up-market/ Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Jacana Safari Lodge Or Katara Lodge
Mid-range or moderate facility: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge (in rooms)/ Simba Safari Camp in rooms/ Buffalo Safari Resort/ Enganzi Lodge/ Ihamba Safari Lodge (mid-range )
Budget price: Kazinga Channel View Resort/ Simba Safari Camp (Tents)/ Mweya Hostels/ Bush Lodge (Tents)
Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Early morning game drives to see more animals that habit this park, that include predators’ lion. Leopard and other game. Over 500 bird species have been identified here, making it a Mecca for bird-watchers. They include the black bee-eater, 11 different species of kingfisher and several falcons, eagles and other raptors. Queen Elizabeth National is one of the most outstanding treasures of Uganda, and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity under UNESCO auspices. It borders on Lake George and Lake Edward as well as Kazinga Channel in the western area of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. After lunch take a 2-hour launch cruise on the Kazinga channel. This waterway joins Lakes Edward and George and it is filled with schools of hippos, buffaloes with elephants at the banks. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species.
Overnight and dinner at Mweya Safari Lodge/ Katara Lodge/ Jacana Lodge (Luxury Lodge facility) or
Bush Lodge (in rooms)/ Simba Safari Camp in rooms/ Buffalo Safari Resort/ Enganzi Lodge/ Ihamba Safari Lodge (mid-range moderate facility) or
or Kazinga Channel View Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp in tents/ Bush Lodge in tents (Budget facility)
Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Queen Elizabeth National Park-Kibale national park; Bigodi Primate Walk
Begin your day with a cup of coffee. Drive to Kibale ready for next day’s trek for chimpanzees. Kibale is the best reserve in Africa to view chimps, a thick jungle with a towering canopy.
After lunch visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary from where you will take on a guided walk around the Swamp which will provide you with the opportunity to see a wide range of flora and fauna. View a variety of butterflies, birds and other insects. Have a tour of the crater region around Ndali lodge. You may also stop over at any tea plantation along the road if you wish. Have an evening tour of the crater region, visit “top of the world’’, the natural bridge. On a clear day you will be able to have a view of the snow cap on the Rwenzori.
Overnight and dinner at Ndali Lodge/ Kyaninga Lodge/ Kibale Forest Lodge/ Primate Lodge (Luxury Lodge facility) or
Kibale Forest Camp (in rooms)/ Mountains of the Moon Hotel (mid-range moderate facility) or
or Chimpanzee Forest Guest house/ Kibale Forest Camp in tents/ Rwenzori Travellers Hotel (Budget facility)
Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Kibale Chimpanzee trekking
After early breakfast, report at Kanyanchu Tourist Centre where tourist activities begin and set out to track chimpanzee in the forest. Chances of viewing the chimps are over 90% but not a guarantee. Kibale National Park is one of the beautiful and stunning forests in the Uganda. It is home to our closest living relatives the endangered Chimpanzee, the threatened Red colobus monkey and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey. The forest also boasts of having one of the highest diversity and density of primates in Africa totaling 13 species including the Black and white Columbus, Blue monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Red tailed monkey and Bush babies and Pottos.
Meals and overnight at Kyaninga Lodge (Lodge facility). A stunning location overlooking a dramatic Crater Lake and the fabled “Mountains of the Moon”.
Overnight and dinner at Ndali Lodge/ Kyaninga Lodge/ Kibale Forest Lodge/ Primate Lodge (Luxury Lodge facility) or
Kibale Forest Camp (in rooms)/ Mountains of the Moon Hotel (mid-range moderate facility) or
or Chimpanzee Forest Guest house/ Kibale Forest Camp in tents/ Rwenzori Travellers Hotel (Budget facility)
Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Kibale-Semuliki
Morning drive to Semliki national park for a nature walks up to the hot springs. In the afternoon, visit the pygmies. In the night ready for a night t game drive which is very incredible searching the wild from scrubs and thickets. Overnight at Semuliki safari Lodge or Ntoroko Safari Lodge (B.L.D)
Day 16: Semuliki-Murchison Falls
Begin the day with breakfast. After breakfast drive to Murchison via Hoima, Masindi road through a landscape of Albertine rift escarpment engulfed with tea plantations, forests, rift valley escarpment and valleys. Visit astonishing beauty of the top of Murchison falls where the water escapes from a narrow gorge bouncing downwards 45 meters and making a constant roar and plume of rainbow. Overnight and dinner at Paraa Safari Lodge/ Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury Lodge facility) or
Fort Murchison (in rooms)/ Murchison River Lodge (mid-range moderate facility) or
or Fort Murchison in tents/ Murchison River Lodge in tents / Red Chili (Budget facility)
Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17: Murchison Falls
Begin your day with a cup of African coffee ready for a game drive, bird watching and sightseeing across the open savannah dotted woodland and riverine vegetation along the Nile and Albert delta. Here expect to meet elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, waterbuck and a countless population of birds, return to the camp for breakfast and lunch. After lunch, a three hour boat trip along the Nile gives you assured chance to see the falls from the bottom angle. Hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, and aquatic birds can be seen along the shores of the River. Overnight and dinner at Paraa Safari Lodge/ Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury Lodge facility) or
Fort Murchison (in rooms)/ Murchison River Lodge (mid-range moderate facility) or
or Fort Murchison in tents/ Murchison River Lodge in tents / Red Chili (Budget facility)
Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18: Murchison- Ziwa Rhinos Sanctuary
After your breakfast, we drive to the Ziwa Rhinos Sanctuary. You will track White Rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This sanctuary has now been established to breed black and white rhino, and restore Rhino populations in Uganda’s protected areas in a later stage.)
After lunch at the Sanctury, you can choose to have more guided walks here or just simply relax at the lodge.
Day 19: Jinja-Kampala –Entebbe
Our drive to Entebbe is about 3 hours. Your guide will ensure you will be at the airport in good time for your departure flight.
The safari package includes:
-Airport transfer.
-Transportation by a 4wd safari vehicle
-Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
-One Chimp permit per person
-Boat trip in Mburo, Bunyonyi, Queen, Nile and Lake Bisina
-Two Gorilla permits per person to be secured and paid for in advance
-Park fees
-Bigodi nature Walk in Kibale
-Community visits in Mburo, Bunyonyi, Bwindi, Queen and Kibale
-Game drives
-Rafting fees
– Elgon Sipi Hike
-Boat cruise along the Nile
-Visit the Source of the Nile
-Services on an English speaking Driver/guide.
Price Excludes:- Airfares, Visas or Insurance, Tips to local guides, Porterage or Laundry, Home stay activities and meals at Mfuga forest (Bushure Village), Soft or alcoholic drinks or mineral water (excl. water in the vehicles), Items of a personal nature, Any meals not indicated above and any tours not mentioned from the itinerary above