This 10 days Uganda Rwanda safari is an amazing safari as it starts in Kampala and ends in Kigali it sees you literally covering the major destination in Uganda and doing incredible activities such as wildlife experience in Murchison falls national park, chimpanzee trekking in kibale forest national park, wildlife experience in queen Elizabeth park, gorilla trekking in bwindi and finally crossing to Rwanda in the volcanoes park area for the community cultural experience and bisoke and later departing to Kigali as your drop off point
Day 1: Pick up and transfer for Murchison Falls National Park
You will be picked up from you hotel after breakfast and transferred to Murchison Falls National Park-Uganda’s largest national park. The park is a habitat for big 4 game including elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopards. However you will have a stopover for about 2 to 3 hours at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino trekking. After there, embark on your journey to the home of the magnificent falls, adding you 2 more hours to arrive at the park. Upon arrival at the park late afternoon, connect to your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at Pakuba Safari lodge for mid-range/Heritage Safari lodge for budget/Paraa Safari lodge/Nile Safari lodge for luxury
Day 2: Game drive and launch cruise/Hike to the top of the falls
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will go for a morning game drive. The activity takes about 3-5 hours depending on animals available, and you will find animals including elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and waterbucks.
After the drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch. Later afternoon at 2 pm, go for a launch cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater. You will spend take viewing the falls at the bottom while taking pictures then later return to meet your drive and connect back to your lodge and a relaxed evening.
After viewing the bottom of the falls, hike to the top of the falls for a better experience of the Murchison falls before you drive back to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
You will be met by your driver-guide after breakfast and start your 7 hours’ drive to Kibale forest national with stopovers to stretch and lunch depending on your location and time. Connect to your lodge with en-route visit of the crater lakes near the park. Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Isunga lodge for budget/Kyaninga lodge for luxury
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking activity and Bigodi swamp walk
After breakfast, drive to Kibale park head offices for briefing about the chimpanzees. Enter the forest and start trek the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, its take 2-5 hours to find them and on finding them, you are allowed 1 hour to be in their process as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor.
Later afternoon, explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds. Spectacular birds like Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek will be of great interest to birders. The swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope. There is also the opportunity to visit local community projects that have been financed by tourism. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – boat cruise
After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. It’s a 3 hours’ drive from Kibale national park arriving Queen early afternoon, check-in your lodge and have lunch. After lunch, connect for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. Return to your lodge with en-route evening game drive. Dinner and overnight at Pumba Safari Cottages for budget/Parkview Safari lodge for mid-range
Day 6: Morning game drive and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Depart the Lodge very early after breakfast and connect for a morning game drive before you start your journey to Bwindi forest. Its 5-7 hours. Your accommodation will depend on which sector you will trek at. Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget/Buhoma Haven lodge/Buhoma Lodge for luxury
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking
After enjoying an early breakfast and transfer to park headquarters for the briefing before you set off gorilla trekking. Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest requires stamina and can often take most of the day and spend an hour in the presence of the gorillas before you return at your meeting point with the driver-guide to return to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 8: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Community tour
After breakfast, connect to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. It’s a journey of about 4 hours with crossing via Cyanika border with en-route lunch. After lunch, connect for Ibyacuwa community village for a community tour and learn about the Banyarwanda culture. Later evening connect to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Muhabura for budget/Le Bambou Gorilla lodge for mid-range/5 Volcanoes national park for Luxury
Day 9: Bisoke hike
After breakfast at your Lodge, you will set out for a one day hike on Mount Bisoke. This will give you views of the beautiful slopes and also get a chance to see the forest while on the mountain. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 10: Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, you will set off for Kigali city. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive. You will do a city tour and visit the Kigali genocide memorial site and Kimoronko market. You will be dropped off at a location you advise the driver or at the airport for your departure flight back home. End of your 10 day safari tour.
