20 Days Best of Rwanda Uganda Safari: (Chimps, Gorillas & Wildlife)

20 Days Best of Rwanda Uganda Safari, go Gorilla, Chimpanzee Trekking & Wildlife Safari at Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Bwindi Forest National Park, Kibale Forest National Park & Murchison Falls National Park. 20 Days Best of Rwanda Uganda Safari is your Best Safari to do in Rwanda and Uganda.

Detailed Itinerary for the 20 Days Best of Rwanda Uganda Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali

On arrival at the Airport, you will be welcomed by our company representative. Thereafter transfer to Kigali for Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Okapi

Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park

After breakfast, you will depart for Akagera National Park which is located along the Rwanda and Tanzanian border. After lunch at the Lodge, you will go for the afternoon boat trip on the Lake Ihema to see the large number of hippos, the huge Nile crocodile and so many bird species. Retire in the evening to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Akagera Game Lodge

Day 3: Game drive and transfer back to Kigali

After breakfast, you will go for the morning breakfast to search for the large herds of game animals which the park is famous for and these include: Burchell’s Zebra, lions, elephants, topi, giraffes, impalas and over 425 species of birds including the rare shoe billed stock, African jacana, sacred ibis goliath heron. Return back to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, drive back to Kigali for dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Okapi. Meal plan: F/B

Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, you will transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park. En route stopovers at Gikongoro for a tour of the Genocide Memorial of Murambi. Have lunch in Butare town which is also considered the cultural capital. The city hosts the university and the National Museum with very rewarding handicraft shops where typical products made by Rwandan artisans are sold. After this, you will proceed with your journey and visit the Royal Palace in Nyanza. The site displays original items and pieces of history of the Old Mwami who was the King. Later after lunch you will continue with your Journey to Nyungwe National Park for dinner and overnight stay at Nyungwe hill top hotel or Gisakura Guest House

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe Forest

After an early breakfast, you will leave the lodge or guest house and enter the forest to search for the Chimpanzees and also other primates like the Angolan Columbus. The park hosts 13 species of primates and these include: chimpanzees, Rwenzori Columbus, Hoest Monkey, silver monkey, owl faced monkey, red tailed monkey, vervet monkey and olive baboon and so many others. You are also advised to carry with you a packed lunch and bottled mineral water. Return in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Forest walks in Nyungwe Forest

After breakfast, you will spend another day in the forest participating in the forest walk which can take about 4-5 hours up to the water falls. You can also spot other primate species missed out in the previous primate trek. Return for dinner and overnight. Meal plan: F/B

Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Have breakfast, you will leave Nyungwe Forest National Park and transfer to northern Rwanda to the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes where Parc National Des Volcanoes is found. Upon reaching PNV you will relax as you prepare for your Gorilla trek the next day. Dinner and overnight stay at Kinigi Guest House/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge. Meal plan: F/B

Day 8: Mountain Gorilla tracking

After breakfast, you will transfer to the Park headquarters for a briefing from the park Ranger guides. After this, you will be accompanied by your ranger guide and start your trek into the forest to search for the habituated Mountain Gorilla family allocated to your group. You are reminded to bring with you packed lunch and bottled Mineral water. In terms of clothes, trekking boots, long sleeved shirts and blouses, rain coats, and Cameras are highly recommended for the trek. The time you will spend in the forest searching for the Gorillas is not predictable as it depends on where they spend the last night. Once you come across the Gorillas, all the troubles you have gone through to reach them will be easily forgotten and instead utilize the1 hour you have with them to get a great experience. You can observe them in terms of behaviors as well as taking photographs. Return to the lodge for refreshments, dinner and overnight. Meal plan: F/B

Day 9: Golden Monkey trekking/ Dian fossey visit

After breakfast, you will go for the trekking of the Golden Monkeys in the Virunga forest. Alternatively, you can trek the Dian Fosse’s grave and also visit her research center at Karisoke. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Transfer to Uganda and then to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, you will cross the Rwanda Uganda Border and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. The journey will offer you with sights of the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape. Upon arrival at Bunyonyi, have lunch and later carry out an afternoon boat ride on the lake which will reward you with sights of different birds on the many small islands on the lake. Dinner and overnight it Heritage lodge

Day 11: Transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park

After breakfast, you will transfer to Bwindi via the Kabale region commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa. Upon reaching Bwindi, have lunch and then spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at your lodge while preparing for your gorilla trek the next morning. Dinner and overnight at wagtail camp/Nkuringo camp/Buhoma camp

Day 12: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park

After breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the mountain gorilla trackers code of conduct. Later you will penetrate through the impenetrable forest for a more adventurous and exciting lifetime experience of Mountain Gorilla tracking. You are all reminded to go with your packed lunch and bottled water. Besides the Gorillas, you may also spot other forest wildlife like the Black and White Columbus Monkeys, Red Tailed Columbus, Blue Monkey, L’hoests and baboons and many more. Retire for dinner and overnight.

Day 13: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will enter the park via Ishasha sector the commonly known area for the rare tree climbing lions. You may also spot buffaloes, leopards, Kob and topi on the plains of the area. Dinner and overnight Bush Lodge/Ihamba lodge

Day 14: Game drive and afternoon Boat cruise

After your breakfast, you will go for the morning game drive in Kasenyi area to search for different wildlife animals missed out in the previous game drive. Later visit the Katwe explosion craters. Here you will spot Kitagata Lake and the enormous Kamengo Crater and this will give you clear view of different wildlife around the Park. In the afternoon, go for the launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel where you will be rewarded with wildlife sights of species like the Hippopotamuses, Waterbucks, Crocodiles and a variety of Water Birds like the black bee- eater, several species of falcons and the raptors. Dinner and overnight at above.

Day 15: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, you will leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park which is the most popular area for Chimpanzee tracking and also a good habitat for a lot of bird species and other primates. Reach Kibale in the afternoon where you will check in to your lodge and later go for the evening nature walk around the Lodge . Kibale forest camp/Chimp’s nest/Chimpanzee Guest house.

Day 16: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp walk

Upon having breakfast in the morning at your lodge, you will go for the life time Chimpanzee tracking experience in their natural environment and habitat. You will first report to the Park Headquarters at Kanyanchu for a briefing about the chimp trackers code of conduct by a UWA official and then later go for the morning chimpanzee tracking experience. You will penetrate into the forest under the guidance of an armed ranger for the tracking. Besides the chimps, you may spot other primates and these include: Vervet Monkey, L’hoest, Blue Monkey, Red-Tailed Monkey, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Black And White Columbus Monkey and many more. Return back to the lodge for Lunch and later go for the afternoon Bigodi swamp walk to search for different bird species.

Day 17: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

After a morning breakfast, you will drive to Murchison falls with lunch en route in Hoima. The journey will reward you with spectacular views of the magnificent scenery as you drive through the traditional homesteads and farms on your way to Murchison. Reach Masindi town in the evening and then proceed to the Park for dinner and overnight at Murchison River lodge.

Day 18: Game drive & Boat Cruise

After breakfast, you will set out for game drive on the northern sector of the Park. Here you will search for the early risers where you will be able to spot animals like Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, baboons, Giraffes, Water bucks, bush bucks and so on. If you are a lucky visitor, you can also spot the Leopard. Return to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will set out for the launch cruise along the Albert Nile where you will enjoy the cruise and can be able to spot animals like hippos, crocodiles, Oribi, buffalos and the wonderful bottom of the falls. Return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Day 19: Chimpanzee Tracking then to top of the falls

After breakfast, you will go for chimpanzee tracking in Kaniyo Pabidi area within Budongo Forest. There are a number of chimpanzees as well as other primates. Have lunch at Kaniyo Pabidi and in the afternoon, visit the top of the falls where you will be rewarded with sights and sound on the Albert Nile crashing through the chasm. The water forces its self in a narrow gap in a rock only 7 meters wide pouring into a gorge 43 meters down thus making a thunderous roaring sound. Return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Day 20: Departure to Kampala

After breakfast, visit Ziwa for Rhino tracking, after transfer back to Kampala en-route Lunch. Drop off will be at the Airport for your flight back home.

Safari Includes

Airport transfers

Accommodation and meals

Park entrances

Game drives

Boat rides

Gorilla permits in Rwanda, Uganda

Chimp permits in Rwanda, Uganda

Visit Dian Fossey

Golden monkey tracking

Nature walks

Cultural tour

Ziwa rhino tracking

Visit top of the falls

Transportation services

Safari Excludes

The expenses of personal nature like: Air fare, Visa, Luxury drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, and porter fee while trekking, personal insurance, personal shopping bills.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Post comment