Overview:
13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari features two destinations of Rwanda and Uganda. The safari tour incorporates wildlife, culture and heritage, scenery, primates, and recreation. The 13 Days Safari tour takes you to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – the only home of white Rhinos in Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park with its powerful water fall in the world – Murchison falls, the recreational Nile launch cruise with sights of shoe bill, Nile crocodile and Hippos and exciting wild game viewing such as giraffes, buffaloes, lions, elephants, Jackson’s hartebeest among others, Mpalo royal tombs where the famous King Kabalega lays in rest, the Mpanga tea estate cycling or hiking the Fort Portal crater field and Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves tour, the Chimpanzee trekking encounter along other 12 primate species in the primate capital of the world – Kibale National Park and eco-encounters in Bigodi wetland, hiking the legendary mountains of the moon – the Ruwenzori, wild game viewing and recreational Kazinga Channel launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, tree climbing lions of Ishasha, gorilla trekking encounter in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Kinyarwanda culture and heritage tour at Iby’ wachu cultural village, Nyanza Royal Palace and Butare National Museum also known as the Ethnographic museum one of the largest museums in East Africa not forgetting the genocide memorial site that will give you a reflection of the tragic catastrophe that befell Rwanda in 1994.
Safari Highlight:
Day 1: Depart Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park & visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route.
Day 2: Do game drive & boat cruise:
Day 3: Visit the top of the falls & transfer to Hoima & visit Mpalo Royal Tombs.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park & do either Mpanga Tea estate cycling or Fort Portal Crater Lake hike and Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru caves tour.
Day 5: Do Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Kasese & visit the Rwenzori Art foundation & Ruboni wax & craft center en route.
Day 6: Whole day Mount Rwenzori hiking.
Day 7: Do morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park & Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & do Ishasha game drive en route (tree climbing lions)
Day 9: Do gorilla trekking & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 10: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park & visit the Iby’ wachu cultural village
Day 11: Do gorilla trekking & transfer to Kigali city
Day 12: Visit Gisozi genocide memorial site & transfer to Butare
Day 13: Encounter the Nyanza palace & Butare National Museum & transfer to Kigali city.
Volcanoes National Park
Description:
Day 1: Depart Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park & visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route.
Transfer after breakfast to Murchison Falls National Park in the north west of Uganda 311km about 5 hours’ drive excluding stops en route. You will pass through the flat savannah landscapes of Nakasongora before branching off a little at Nakitoma 115km from Kampala for 7 km drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhinos that only thrive at this place in the whole of Uganda. You will have lunch at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and depart in the afternoon for Murchison Falls National Park for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange/standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).
Day 2: Do game drive & boat cruise:
Wake up very early for a cup of coffee and then head to Paraa ferry crossing at 7:00am (if you slept in the south) to the northern sector of the Park where game drives are carried out. The possible sights of various wildlife including; elephants, buffalo, Jackson hartebeest, Kobs, lion, leopard, giraffe among other wildlife will leave you with a taste of African savannah wilderness. The activity takes 3 – 4 hours after which you will return to the Paraa ferry crossing at 11:00am to go back to your lodge for relaxation and memory sharing. After your stimulating lunch, gather at the Paraa for an after boat cruise on the Nile at 02:00pm. This boat trip has got captains and guides who have cruised on this waters for years and will be glad to share with every piece of information that you would wish to gather on this trip including any bird species and wildlife both aquatic and land that might present its self. The shoebill stork can be luckily seen on this boat while the great sights of Nile crocodiles – the second largest reptile in the world and the Hippos would make up your trip up to the base of the falls. The boat takes 3 hours after which you will have marked the end of your day’s adventures.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange/standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).
Day 3: Visit the top of the falls & transfer to Hoima & visit Mpalo Royal Tombs.
After breakfast, embark on the exploration of the top of Murchison Falls which is the powerful waterfalls in the world to marvel at the Nile River which is the longest River in the world squeezing itself to pass through an 8m ravine before falling 43m to what has been termed as the Devils Cauldron forming a thunderous roar with a plume of spray marked by trade mark rainbow. Sir Samuel Baker was the first European to marvel at this feature on 14th March 1864 on his Nile expedition from the north and named after the then president of the Royal Geographical society - Sir Roderick Murchison. Continue on the drive to Hoima where you will visit the Mpalo Royal Tombs to encounter historical Kings of Bunyoro like King (Omukama) Kabalega who is famously known for resisting against the British rule in Bunyoro. Retire for overnight.
Accommodation: Kontik Hotel / Kolping Hotel
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park & do either Mpanga Tea estate cycling or Fort Portal Crater Lake hike and Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru caves tour.
After an early breakfast, embark on the drive to Fort Portal area. After an approximate 5 hour drive on a rough murram road always preferred and named by the European travellers as African massage, you will arrive at Mpanga tea estates. You have the option of doing a cycling tour through the tea plantations, have an opportunity to participate in tea plucking with the estate workers and then pay a visit to the tea factory to get acquainted with the process of tea growing and processing. This is ideal for active travellers that prefer cycling/ mountain biking. You will proceed for lunch in Fort Portal town. As an alternative to the Mpanga tea estate cycling, you can opt for the Fort Portal crater lake hike and Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves tour. Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves – the breast like features dates back in the pre historic era with great attachment to the Chwezi heritage. The breasts (Amabere) are believed by the locals to belong to Nnyinamwiru the daughter of Bukuku who was a self-imposed King of the Bachwezi. The maiden daughter cut her breasts in protest of being refused to breast feed her only son Ndahura who later became a prominent King of the Chwezi Empire. The encounter also involves the hiking the Fort Portal Crater field. The famous Kyeganywa hill rises in a conical shape and its summit presents great sight-seeing moments of the range crater hollows and crater lakes including Saaka, Bikere among others not forgetting the distant views of Mount Rwenzori on a clear day. Transfer to Kibale area for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Midrange/standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic)
Day 5: Do Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Kasese & visit the Rwenzori Art foundation & Ruboni wax & craft center en route.
After breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu tourism center for briefing at 08:00am from the park rangers about the Chimp trekking conduct. Set off to this forest of Kibale after the short briefing in quest of Chimpanzees. The 2 – 5 hour trek will expose you amazing tree species and wildlife including other 12 species of primates like Colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, Red tailed monkeys and olive baboons. The sights of Birds cannot be avoided while their songs will offer you natural entertainment through the jungle. You will marvel at the Chimpanzees as the roll themselves on tree branches, munch fruits and make their pant – hooting calls. After utilizing your one hour, you will have a picnic lunch and return to the starting point for short relaxation and then embark on the transfer to Kasese 110km about 3 hours’ drive excluding en route stops. You will make a stop visit at the Rwenzori Art Foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa to have a look at the process of various sculpture making and the final products. A fine cup of coffee can be arranged at the site before proceeding to visit the Ruboni craft & wax center to have a look at how the local people extract different products like candles from bees wax and also encounter the craft making process. It is an experiential and if interested you can have some time and participate in making if various crafts like baskets among others. Proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Ihamba Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Midrange) or Ruboni Community Camp (Budget/Basic).
Day 6: Whole day Mount Rwenzori hiking.
Transfer early after breakfast to Mount Rwenzori (Nyakalengija) for the whole day Rwenzori hiking encounter. The hiking encounter exposes you to raised landscapes of Mount Rwenzori offering impressive scenic views of the ridges and glaciers and the rift valley flats below. It is a perfect one day active adventure exploring the legendary mountains of the moon as described the famous Greek geographer Ptolemy in 150AD towering to 5,109m above sea level making it the tallest mountain range in Africa and the third highest in Africa. Return from the activity at 5:30 pm and transfer to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Ihamba Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Midrange) or Ruboni Community Camp (Budget/Basic).
Day 7: Do morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park & Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Wake up very for a cup of coffee before setting of for the game drive activity in the savannah game park of Queen Elizabeth. The early departure at 06:00 gives you an opportunity to see night hunters like hyenas getting back to their hiding places and early risers setting off to look for what to eat. The drive through the Kasenyi and channel tracks gives a probable opportunity to see a range of game including; Lions, buffalo, elephants, elusive leopard (if too lucky), defassa water bucks, Uganda kobs, Oribis, side stripped jackal among other wildlife. Return to the lodge after this 3 -4 hour game drive and relax till lunch time. After lunch, you will gather at Mweya for a recreational afternoon launch cruise leaving at 03:00pm taking 2 hours exploring the magical offerings of Kazinga Channel including the sights of water birds and wild game drinking on the channel side, the Nile crocodile and the Hippos. The 45m channel that stretches from Lake George to Lake Edward has tranquil waters that always give pleasure and psychological satisfaction to any traveller on Uganda safaris. Retire from the boat at 5 pm for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & do Ishasha game drive en route (tree climbing lions)
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to the gorilla trekking haven of Bwindi south (Rushaga) 309km from Mweya. You will pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and do simple game drives in search of the unique tree climbing lions that tend to rest on fig tree branches during day time – something that you can only find in Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha sector – Uganda and Lake Manyara National Park in southern Tanzania. Proceed with the journey, have lunch en route and arrive in Rushaga late in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic)
Day 9: Do gorilla trekking & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
It is this long waited date when you will come across the critically endangered mountain gorillas that only exist in Bwindi and Virunga Volcanoes. You will wake up early for a heavy breakfast before gathering at the Park headquarters Buhoma for briefing at 08:00 about the conduct of gorilla trekking. You will head to the forest after briefing in search of these apes and though the trek is a bit challenging, it is one of those activities that you will never forget to have done in Uganda. The 2 – 8 hours activity involves hiking up the hills, descending down the valleys, walking through swamps and maneuvering the way through thickets which have formed the background of this Impenetrable forest before coming in direct contact with gorillas. The one full hour is at your disposal to maximize your experience with gorillas as you them forage, play, socialize and also gaze at you in a sign of welcoming and saying good bye. The opportunity to take as many photos as you can is availed to you while asking questions to your guide about these apes is up to your discretion. The experience is rewarding and worth undertaking. Your picnic lunch will take you through the activity after which you will descend to the starting point and embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Birdnest@Lake Bunyonyi (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia Cottages (Midrange/Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget
Day 10: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park & visit the Iby’ wachu cultural village
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park 120km driving along the Virunga Volcanoes with magnificent scenic views. Arrive early for lunch after which you will visit the Iby’ iwacu cultural village to encounter the heritage of Rwanda. You undertake a community walk guided by a community member to different sites including the replica of the King’s palace where the story about the Kings of Rwanda is told and you have the opportunity of being crowned as a king for minutes, encounter about eight traditional Kinyarwanda dances by all community groups including; men, women, children and youths, visit the traditional healer who uses traditional medicine to cure diseases, encounter Batwa pottery making experience, art and craft making by local women and encountering the banana brewery making process. Retire in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), La Palme Hotel (Midrange/Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/Basic).
Day 11: Do gorilla trekking & transfer to Kigali city
Wake up for an early cup of coffee, before gathering at Kinigi Park Headquarters for briefing about the gorilla trekking activity at 08:00am always conducted by park rangers. This lasts 30min- 1 hour to detail the dos and don’ts while trekking gorillas. After briefing, you will traverse the jungle in search of the splendid mountain gorillas in the company of the park ranger guide which stretches between 2 – 8 hours. You will walk through the luxuriant vegetation, climb raised gradients, ascend down the valleys before you encounter the great mountain gorillas as they munch their food and get astonished by the young gorillas playing and demonstrating their tactics which will prompt you to use up your camera space unknowingly. Your one hour with gorillas is done and it is time for you to trek back to the starting to transfer to Kigali city 116km about 3 hours’ drive for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (Upmarket/Luxury), Hotel Chez Lando (Mid-range/Standard) / Golf Hills Residence (Budget/Basic).
Day 12: Visit Gisozi genocide memorial site & transfer to Butare
After breakfast, embark on Kigali city tour. You will visit the Gisozi genocide memorial site to pay tribute to counts of Rwandese who lost their lives on the bloody 1994 genocide. You will also visit the Presidential Palace Museum which was formerly the home of Juvenal Habyarimana who was the Rwandan President at the time of genocide. After this encounter, transfer to the Southern Province of Rwanda in Butare arriving in the evening for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Barthos Hotel (Upmarket/Luxury), Hotel Faucon (Midrange/Standard) or Shalom Guest House (Budget/Basic).
Day 13: Encounter the Nyanza palace & Butare National Museum & transfer to Kigali city.
After breakfast, embark on the tour of the Nyanza Royal Palace - the ancestral home of the royal Kings of Rwanda including King Musinga and his successor King Rudahigwa. The palace has got impressive heritage including the traditional royal hut with its components, the traditional Inyambo cows with their long horns with their famous parade and a range of other cultural attributes like traditional performances. You will also visit the Butare National Museum also known as the ethnographic museum with about 100,000artifacts which is the largest museums in East Africa with various sections including underground compartment. Retire form this cultural and heritage encounter and transfer to Kigali city.