15 Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari Holiday – All Rwanda Safaris
This epic 15 Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari is for traveler on a Long Africa Vacation to explore the wildlife, culture and landscapes of 2 neighbouring countries, i.e. Rwanda and Uganda.
15 Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari is one of our combo safaris with the most entertaining activities in the “Pearl of Africa”. Uganda and the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, Rwanda, both nestled in the heart of Africa.
Your 15-Day Rwanda Uganda Safari adventure begins in Uganda, taking you through Murchison Falls National Park for a launch cruise and wildlife safari, and leads you into the dense foliage of Kibale Forest for a close encounter with chimpanzees.
Journey through the sprawling Savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Parks to the enigmatic Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, before crossing into Rwanda via the Katuna border.
Once in Rwanda, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Volcanoes National Park, explore the diverse ecosystems of Nyungwe National Park, and conclude your unforgettable journey with a comprehensive tour of Kigali city, Rwanda’s vibrant capital.
Highlight of the 15 Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari:
- City Tours and Cultural Encounters.
- Gorilla Trekking Adventures.
- Game Drives.
- Boat Cruises.
- Birdwatching.
- Chimpanzee Tracking.
- Border Crossing.
- Nature Walks.
- Primates Watching.
Details of the 15 Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari Itinerary:
Day 1: Arriving at Entebbe Airport, Pickup and Briefing;
On arrival at the Entebbe International Airport you will be met by our safari ambassadors who will transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe/ Kampala. You will be briefed about the whole trip – 15 day Uganda and Rwanda safari, what you should expect and how it will be. Dinner and an overnight stay at;
Ideal Hotels in Entebbe or Kampala:
- Luxury: Serena Hotel.
- Mid range: Protea Hotel Entebbe or Mestil Hotel.
- Budget: Via Via Lodge.
Meal Plan: half board.
Day 2: Travel to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and then to Murchison Falls National Park;
Our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel at 8.00am and drive North-East through the famous Luweero Triangle. Reaching Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary at around mid day. You will embark on Rhino tracking for about one hour.
After tracking you will continue to Masindi Town, lunch break at Kabalega Resort /New Court View Hotel. After proceed to the park stopping at the top of the falls which is an incredible sight.
Animals are everywhere in Murchison falls, look out for some mammals, primates and birds among other. From the top of the falls, you will continue to your booked Lodge. Check in and relax into your room. Dinner and overnight at;
Ideal Lodges in Murchison falls:
- Luxury: Paraa Lodge.
- Mid range: Pakuba Safari Lodge/ Sambiya River Lodge.
- Budget: Red Chili Camp.
Meal Plan: Full board.
Day 3: Game Drive and Launch Cruise;
After a cup of tea or coffee in the morning, your guide will lead you on a game drive to watch a variety of animals that hide out with in these savannah grasslands. Murchison falls national park is known to be a home for over 70 mammal species such as jackals, hyenas, giraffe, lion, antelopes, elephants, the Uganda Kob, warthogs, leopards, and buffaloes, among others.
After a wonderful moment drive slowly back to the lodge for a full breakfast and lunch. After lunch and relaxation, you will go for a boat trip up to the bottom of the great Murchison Falls.
Expect to spot a variety of animals over 4000 amazing hippos, in addition to some huge Nile crocodiles, Antelopes, elephants, lots of birds including the fish eagle, storks, if lucky you may see the rare shoebills and so many more. Come back for dinner and an overnight stay at;
Accommodation: in the previous lodge.
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 4: Murchison Falls – Kibale Forest National Park;
After a gorgeous breakfast you will be driven through Masind, Hoima towns to arrive in time for lunch in Fortportal at mountains of the Moon Hotel or its equivalent.
The journey from Murchison to Kibale takes about 7-8 hours drive. After lunch proceed to Kibale Forest National Park which is about 35 kms from Fort portal arrive in the evening at the park for dinner and an overnight stay at.
Ideal Lodges in Kibale National Park:
- Luxury: Ndali Lodge/ Kyaninga Lodge.
- Mid range: Kibale Forest Camp/ Turacco Treetops.
- Budget: Rwenzori View Guest House.
Meal plan: Full Board.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Nature Walk in Bigodi Swamps;
Have an early morning breakfast, report to a ranger station at 8.00am for a short briefing about chimpanzee tracking. Tracking can take half a day searching for chimpanzee and other primates.
These amusing apes, more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are amazing to watch as they play in fruiting trees. The guide will provide information to all forest’s fauna and flora to ensure that the walk is enjoyable and useful.
Other primates such as black and white Colobuses, the rare L’hoest monkey, bush baby, bush back, baboons and mammals like elephant, butterflies can be seen. And bird lovers also have a chance to see various species of birds like the yellow spotted nicator, rumped tinker birds among other. Come back at the hotel for lunch and relaxation.
After lunch and relax, take a visit to Bigodi swamp sanctuary for a nature walk which may gift you with an opportunity to see over 229 tree species found within the wet tropical forests of the park. Plus also different primate species such as, blue monkeys, baboons and a variety of birds butterflies to mention but a few. Come back for dinner and an overnight stay at;
Accommodation: in the previous lodge.
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 6: Transfer to Semuliki National Park;
After breakfast you will be transferred to Semuliki National Park which is a 2-3 hours drive up to the Park. This drive will take you down the Eastern side of Lake Albert situated in the Basin of Western Rift Valley up to the Park arriving in the afternoon.
This is the only Park in Uganda where you can do a spot lit night drive. You may came a cross several species of animals such as leopard, big cats, the white tailed mongoose and slender mongoose, standard night pennant and winged night jars, plus several species of birds depending on the time of year. Dinner and an overnight stay at;
Ideal Lodges in Semuliki:
- Luxury: Semuliki Safari Lodge.
- Mid range: Kanyankyu Ecological Site.
- Budget: Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve.
Meal plan: Full Board.
Day 7: Bird Watching and Game Drive;
After a morning breakfast you will be lead by the guide to Sempaya and Ntandi which provide excellent viewing of the birds among which including the White-crested Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue and Ross’s Turacos to mention but a few.
A slow drive to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. After relaxation go for a game drive in the evening which may offer you an opportunity to come up with a variety of animals such as elephants, lions, buffaloes, the white tailed mongoose and slender mongoose, standard night pennant and winged night jars and many more.
Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: at the previous lodge.
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 8: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park;
Early in the morning after a cup of tea/coffee you will be leaving Semuliki National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will drive through the attractive green countryside eventually ascending the Western Rift Valley to Fort Portal. From here you will continue to the Park.
En route game drive to see herds of elephants, antelopes, Uganda kob, buffaloes among other. Arrive at the park in the afternoon for lunch. In the evening go for an evening game drive to catch up with a variety of animals that rush to their hideouts.
You may have a chance to see leopards, buffaloes, Kobs, elephants, lions, warthogs, bush pigs and many more. Retire to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at;
Ideal Lodges in Queen Elizabeth National Park:
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/ Katara Lodge.
- Mid range: Kyambura Game Lodge.
- Budget: Warujojo or Enganzi Lodge.
Meal plan: Full Board.
Day 9: Chimpanzee Tracking and Launch Cruise;
Have an early cup of tea/coffee, leave for the 7.00am chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge.
This may give you chance to see various primates most especially Chimpanzee our closest relatives and many more other primate species such as, Black and white Colobus monkeys, baboons vervet monkeys and many other wild animals that live in the forest such as buffalo, hyenas, antelopes, warthogs to mention but a few.
A slow drive to the lodge is made for lunch and relaxation by the side of the pool. After lunch, you will embark on a two hours launch cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward.
The launch cruise will gift you with a chance to watch a thousand of hippos and crocodile that concentrate around the Lake.
You may also came across a variety of games drinking at the water’s edge such as Buffalo, warthogs, elephants and a great variety of birds on the shores including the open-billed stork, African Jacana, Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans among others. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay at.
Accommodation: at the previous lodge.
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest;
After a beautiful breakfast, we will embark on a drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We will drive through the Southern sector of Queen Elizabeth known as Ishasha, this place is famously known for its tree climbing lions; enjoy lunch by the Ishasha River.
And try to spot tree-climbing lions before proceeding to Bwindi National Park home of the few surviving mountain gorillas in the world.
The Park is also a home to over 345 species of birds and also supports 24 of 26 Albertine Rift Endemics that occur in Uganda so bird lovers are in position to spot out a number of them and there incredible variety of flora at the Park. Dinner and an Overnight stay at;
Ideal Lodge Options in Bwindi:
- Luxury: Mahogany Springs/ Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge.
- Mid range: Silver Back lodge/ Ichumbi safari Lodge.
- Budget: Buhoma Community Bandas.
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park;
After an early breakfast, proceed to the Park Headquarters for a briefing before go Gorilla trekking. The time you take to get to the Mountain Gorillas is very unpredictable because they keep on moving as they search for food. It may take between 2 to 9hours.
A reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a strong pair of walking shoes, together with packed lunch and water. After, a guide will lead you to the forest to begin the searching of these endangered mountain gorillas, one of the most exciting and memorable activity done at the Park.
You will spend just an hour with the apes’ ounce found. After a full satisfaction, come back to the lodge for leisure. If you have energy this afternoon go for a guided village walk, see the local communities living around the park, (Batwa) visit their homestead as they perform their cultural dance, among other activities. Dinner and an overnight at;
Accommodation: at the previous lodge.
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 11: Cross to Rwanda;
After a morning breakfast, you will cross the border to Rwanda (N.B clock will go one hour back ward) enjoy lunch en route.
After continue to the park while enjoying a scenic view and the fantastic foothills of the volcano that make up Volcanoes National Park. Arriving at the park in the evening for leisure. Dinner and an overnight stay at;
Ideal Lodges in Volcanoes National Park:
- Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.
- Mid range: Le Bombou Lodge.
- Budget: Kinigi Guest House.
Meal plan: Full Board.
Day 12: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park;
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for a short briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the giant apes. After, get accompanied by a ranger guide who will lead you to the forest to search for the mountain gorillas for the group booked for.
Some level of physical fitness is needed because it involves passing through muddy areas and thick forest.
The time spent searching for these giants is unpredictable as it depends on their movements, but once it happens to come across these apes, you will forget all the troubles you have passed through and begin enjoying watching them, you may find them doing their daily activities like feeding, playing, mother feeding their young ones among others.
The 1 hour spent with these gorillas is so rewarding, return back to the lodge for leisure. Or if you happen to have the evening free you will go for Ibyiwacu community walk in the Banyarwanda community meet the local people that live around the park. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight at;
Accommodation: at the previous lodge.
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 13: Golden Monkey Tracking;
Have breakfast and then after head to the park headquarters to get briefed about golden monkey trekking, after you will be accompanied by a ranger guide who will lead you to the forest to begin the tracking.
You may either follow Kabatwa at the base of Sabyinyo or Musanga at the base of Karisimbi. Golden monkeys are some of the most endangered primates found in the Volcanoes.
Tracking these elusive golden monkeys is unpredictable since it can take between 1-6 hours depending on their movements. After a full day of satisfaction you will return back to the lodge. The evening will be reserved for resting and relaxation. Dinner and an overnight stay at.
Accommodation: at the previous lodge.
Meal plan: Full board.
Day 14: Visit Dian Fossey Tombs then Travel to Kigali;
In the morning after a gorgeous breakfast, you will take a visit to the Dian Fossey Grave a prominent researcher who carried out research on the behaviors of gorillas for the period of over 18 years .Visit also her research centre at Karisoke.
Then after transfer to Kigali with lunch en route and visiting to places like the Butare Museum and Murambi Genocide sites, the King’s Palace at Nyanza. You will reach Kigali city late evening for dinner and an overnight stay at
Ideal Hotels in Kigali City:
- Luxury: Manor Hotel
- Budget: Chez lando Hotel.
Meal Plan: Full board.
Day 15: Departure
After breakfast, take a short city tour to visit cultural centre and other interesting places if time allows and then after you will be transferred to the Airport to take your flight back home.
End of the 15 Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari tour.
What is Included on the 15 Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari Package?
15 Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari Includes:
- All Park Entrance Fees: This includes government taxes for all the national parks visited during the safari.
- Ground Transportation: Provision of a 4×4 tourist Land Cruiser, which is essential for navigating the terrain of Rwanda and Uganda.
- Airport Transfers: Both arrival and departure transfers are included, providing convenience and ease for travelers.
- Accommodation: As per the itinerary, accommodations are provided on a full board basis (FB), which means breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
- Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla/Chimp Permits: The cost of permits for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, which are significant expenses, are included in the safari package.
- All Tour Activities: Every activity detailed in the itinerary, including game drives, boat trips, nature walks, and cultural visits, is included.
- En-Route Lunches: Lunches provided during transit between different locations on the safari days.
- Driver/Guide Allowances: The services of a driver/guide are included, enhancing the experience with expert navigation and local insights.
- Bottled Water: Provision of bottled water while on safari to ensure hydration.
15 Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari Excludes:
While the specific exclusions are not listed in the provided itinerary, typically, safari packages like this might exclude the following:
- International Airfare: Flights to Entebbe, Uganda, and from Kigali, Rwanda, are usually not included.
- Travel Insurance: Essential for covering medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and other unforeseen circumstances.
- Visa Fees: Entry visas for Uganda and Rwanda are not typically included and must be arranged by travelers.
- Personal Expenses: Items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, tips, laundry, alcoholic beverages, and additional meals outside of those specified.
- Optional Activities: Any activities not detailed in the itinerary may incur additional costs.
- Health Precautions: Vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis, and any other health-related expenses are usually the responsibility of the traveler.
- Extra Nights: Additional accommodation before the start or after the end of the scheduled itinerary.
- Emergency Evacuation: Costs associated with medical or emergency evacuations are typically not included.