16 Days Best of Uganda Rwanda Safari
16 Days Best of Uganda Rwanda Safari: This combined Uganda and Rwanda safari is one of the longer East African safari that you need to trek the endangered mountain gorillas, Golden monkeys, Chimpanzees as well as viewing the wildlife, people and stunning lakes. This 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari takes you to Volcanoes national park Rwanda, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale forest national park, Semliki national park and Jinja. This 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari will start from Kigali Rwanda and end in Entebbe Uganda.
Highlights of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari
- Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park
- Day 3: Golden monkey trekking in volcanoes national park
- Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Day 6: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 8: Game drive and boat cruise
- Day 9: Game drive in Ishasha sector, visit crater lakes and salt mines
- Day 10: Transfer to Kibale forest national park and trek chimpanzees
- Day 11: Transfer to Semliki and visit Sempaya hot springs
- Day 12: Guided nature walk
- Day 13: Transfer to Kampala for city tour
- Day 14: Transfer to Jinja and visit source of the Nile
- Day 15: White water rafting and transfer to Entebbe
- Day 16: Departures
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Transfer to Volcanoes national park: On day 1 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari, your adventure will start from Kigali with a pick up from Kigali international airport upon landing where you will then be picked up by our company representative and be driven for a city tour exploring some genocide memorial sites, market center and craft shops among others. After city tour, have your lunch and be driven to Volcanoes national park for dinner and overnight sleep awaiting the next day’s fascinating activity.
Meal plan: lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Sabinyo silverback lodge (Luxury)/ Mountain gorilla next lodge (Midrange)/ Hotel Muhabura (budget)
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park
Rwanda gorilla trekking: After breakfast on day 2 of 16 days Uganda Rwanda safari, wear your tracking attire and pack all other gears that you might need during gorilla trekking and head to the park headquarters for a pre gorilla trekking briefing that will introduce you theoretic to gorillas, their behaviors, the dos and don’ts during trekking and many more. After briefing, you will be led into the forest to start the adventure of searching for the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Keep in mind that gorillas are always on motion searching for food thus you will need to endure the walk till they finally settle allowing to spend only one hour in their presence taking photographs and interacting with them closely. Exit the forest back to your lodge for a relaxed evening or have a walk to the twin lakes of Burela and Ruhondo.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Sabinyo silverback lodge (Luxury)/ Mountain gorilla next lodge (Midrange)/ Hotel Muhabura (budget)
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park
Golden monkey trekking: Have your early breakfast on day 3 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari then make yourself ready for another fascinating adventure of trekking the endangered Golden monkeys which only thrill in Bamboo forest. Golden monkey trekking as well starts with a briefing after which you will be led into the bamboo forest to search for them. Trekking golden monkeys is very fascinating as you will see them jumping and even coming closer to. Take as many photographs as possible with in one hour that you are allowed with in their habitat then exit the forest back to lodge for lunch. Later in the evening, you will visit the gorilla guardian village for cultural tour.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Sabinyo silverback lodge (Luxury)/ Mountain gorilla next lodge (Midrange)/ Hotel Muhabura (budget)
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park: After a relaxed breakfast at your lodge on day 4 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari, check out of the lodge and start the drive from Rwanda the land of a thousand hills to Uganda the pearl of Africa where you will be transferred to Bwindi impenetrable national park situated in south western part of the country. The park is a home to the world’s largest population of endangered mountain gorillas. It’s also in Bwindi that both gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience are conducted as other parks like Mgahinga gorilla national park, Volcanoes national park and virunga national park only conduct gorilla trekking. Lunch will be enroute while dinner will be at the lodge.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Buhoma lodge (Luxury)/ Buhoma haven lodge (Midrange)/ Buhoma community Bandas (budget)
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking: On day 5 of 16 days Uganda Rwanda safari, have your breakfast served at the lodge then pack your lunch box and wear the best trekking gears. Meet your safari driver for a transfer to the briefing point where rangers while taking you through a briefing about mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park, what are the dos and don’ts during the trek and many more. After briefing, hire a porter and be led by the rangers deep into the forest to search for these apes as they roam the forest in search of food. You will then spend only an hour in their presence and return to your lodge. Later in evening, if you need another activity then you will visit the batwa for an evening batwa experience.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Buhoma lodge (Luxury)/ Buhoma haven lodge (Midrange)/ Buhoma community Bandas (budget)
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi: Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your lodge on day 6 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari then check out and be driven to kabale direct to Lake Bunyonyi a lake of several little birds. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake with fresh water free from Bilharzia and crocodiles though it’s always discouraged from swimmers due to its depth. Upon arrival, you will enjoy your lunch and head out for an evening canoe ride or boat cruise along Lake Bunyonyi
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Arcadia cottages / Bunyonyi overland resort/ Crater bay cottages.
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park: After breakfast on day 7 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari, have a walk along the shores of Lake Bunyonyi where you will watch plenty of birds since the Lake is a home to several birds including water birds, raptor birds and forest birds. Return to the lodge for lunch then check out and be driven to Queen Elizabeth national park one of the beautiful savanna parks in western part of Uganda.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge (Luxury)/ Ihamba (Midrange)/ Mweya hostels (budget)
Day 8: Game drive and boat cruise
Game drive and boat cruise: After breakfast on day 8 of 16 days Uganda Rwanda safari, meet your safari driver and transfer to kasenyi plains where you will enjoy a thrilling game drive in this savanna part of queen amongst wildlife species. Look out for elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, Uganda kob and many other attractions in this part of the park. After game drive return to the lodge for lunch and embark on an afternoon boat cruise along kazinga channel where you will watch Hippos, elephants, crocodiles and many other wildlife that thrill along this water body. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge (Luxury)/ Ihamba (Midrange)/ Mweya hostels (budget)
Day 9: Game drive in Ishasha sector, visit crater lakes and salt mines
Game drive in Ishasha sector: After breakfast on day 9 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari, pack your lunch box and be driven to Ishasha sector where you will enjoy a last game drive in a home to the tree climbing lions. These tree climbing lions are as well found in Lake Manyara national park in Tanzania. After game drive, enjoy your picnic lunch then visit the crater lakes, and salt mines.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge (Luxury)/ Ihamba (Midrange)/ Mweya hostels (budget)
Day 10: Transfer to Kibale forest national park and trek chimpanzees
Transfer to Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee trekking: As soon as you finish your breakfast on day 10 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari, check out of the lodge and embark on a 3 hours’ drive to Kibale forest national park a home to 13 primate species. Upon arrival, you will check in your lodge for lunch then pack your trekking gears ready for an afternoon chimpanzee trekking activity. The trek starts with briefing at Kanyanchu visitor’s’ center after which you will penetrate the forest to search for these primates in their natural habitats. You will spend only one hour in their presence taking photographs and interacting with these gentle primates. Exit the forest and head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Kibale primate lodge (Luxury)/ Chimpanzee nest lodge (Midrange)/ Kanyanchu Eco lodge (budget)
Day 11: Transfer to Semliki and visit Sempaya hot springs
Transfer to Semliki and visit sempaya hot springs: After breakfast on day 11 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari, meet your driver for a drive to Sempaya hot springs where you will visit the hot springs and enjoy a life changing experience of boiling the eggs or plantains. Return to your lodge in time for dinner and overnight sleep.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Semliki safari lodge (Luxury)/ Mountain of the moon hotel (budget)
Day 12: Guided nature walk
Guided nature walk: after breakfast, on day 12 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari, meet the local guides for a guided forest walk in semuliki national park taking you via well designated trails encountering with lots of attractions including primates since the park is a home to different primate species. After the forest walk, enjoy your lunch and be driven to fortpotal to visit Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves and king palace. Return to your lodge in time for dinner and overnight sleep as above.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Semliki safari lodge (Luxury)/ Mountain of the moon hotel (budget)
Day 13: Transfer to Kampala for city tour
Drive to Kampala for city tour: On day 14 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari, enjoy a relaxed breakfast then check out of lodge and be driven to Kampala the capital city of Uganda with a stopover at Nakayima tree which is so crucial to Buganda kingdom. Lunch will be enroute and upon arrival in Kampala, you will enjoy a city tour before retiring to your hotel for dinner and overnight sleep.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Sheraton hotel (Luxury)/ Sky’s hotel Naguru/ Fair way hotel (Midrange) / Forest cottages (budget)
Day 14: Transfer to Jinja and visit source of the Nile
Transfer to Jinja: After breakfast on day 14 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari, check out of the lodge and meet your driver for a transfer to Jinja with a stopover at Sezibwa falls and Mabira forest. Upon arrival in Jinja, have your lunch and proceed for an afternoon boat ride to explore the Nile river source. After visiting source of the Nile, head to Jinja city for a city tour and close your day with an overnight sleep in Jinja.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 2 friends Jinja / King Fisher hotel
Day 15: White water rafting and transfer to Entebbe
White water rafting and return to Kampala: Enjoy your breakfast on day 15 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari then enjoy a half day white water rafting adventure along the Nile River on Itanda waterfall. White water rafting is the top tourist activity done in Jinja. After rafting the waters up to grade 5 wave, return to the lodge for lunch then check out and be driven to Entebbe where you will enjoy your dinner and spend an overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Protea hotel (Luxury)/ 2 friends Entebbe (Midrange)/ Best western hotel (budget)
Day 16: Departures
Departures: day 16 of 16 days Rwanda Uganda safari is set aside for departures thus depending on the time of your flight, you will enjoy a relaxed breakfast memorizing all that you saw throughout the previous 15 days then check out of the lodge for a drive to Entebbe international airport for a flight to the next destination as per your travel plan.
Meal plan: meals will depend on your travel plan.
END OF 16 DAYS RWANDA UGANDA SAFARI
