12 Days Uganda and Rwanda Adventure Safari

Detailed Itinerary for 12 Days Untamed Uganda and Rwanda Adventure Safari

Arrival Day

Upon your arrival at Entebbe Airport, you will be picked by our representative for an overnight in Entebbe town while an early arrival schedule offers you ample time to stroll and explore the green and pleasant town of Entebbe.
Accommodation: Airport View Guesthouse, FB

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park

This morning, your guide will pick you early for a transfer to Kibale NP, arriving intime for a hot lunch at your hotel set along the forest edge. This afternoon, choose to explore the excellent community protected riverine forest of Bigodi known for its primates and birds. The trail extends into the community offering you chances to interact with daily life and engage into demonstrative coffee and beer making experiences.
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops or Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, FB

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in the morning and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

On this chimp trekking day, your guide will pick you early to check in at the park reception for the activity. The chimp trek experience is led by season ranger guides where together will trek through the tropical forest of Kibale to a home range of a community of chimpanzee. On locating them, you will have a full one hour with the chimps, observing human-like behavior and intelligence, gestures and a repertoire of calls, cries and shouts. On this trek day, pack rain gear regardless of the season, dress in blending colors, long pants, good hiking shoes, and plenty of drinking water.
The trek duration including the viewing time lasts anywhere up to 5 hrs. Late afternoon, transfer south to Queen Elizabeth NP. Accommodation: Twins Lake Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp

Day 3: Game drives in Kasenyi of Queen Elizabeth National Park, afternoon Boat

Today set out early for a morning game drive across the game-rich savannas of Queen Elizabeth NP for chances to encounter cats including lions and leopards before they retire to secluded bushes to escape the hot rift valley sun. The euphorbia candelabra dotted savannas here hosts large herbivores including elephant herds, cape buffalo, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and a host of birdlife on the backdrop of stunning landscapes. After lunch yo will take another wildlife encounter experience on a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel known for its densest population of wildlife including hippo, Nile crocodile and other wildlife that come to drink here. Accommodation: Twins Lake Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp

Day 4: Game drive and explore the Katwe Salt lakes and transfer to Bunyonyi

After a lazy breakfast this morning take one more game drive to encounter more wildlife sparing time to extend your optional adventure to explore the ancient Katwe Salt Lake. Katwe Salt Lake is one of dozens of explosion crater lakes formed by same earth forces that created this rift valley. Here, local population have mined salt since time immemorial using old-age fascinating traditions. On site, the local guide will lead you through these memorial traditional means of salt extraction and to the top of the lake rims for an all-round view of this crater lake. After lunch transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Accommodation: Birdnest on a FB

Day 5: Explore Lake Bunyonyi

After a relaxed morning on Lake Bunyonyi, opt to any of the adventure activities here from kayaking, birdwatching, abseiling and more. Our best activity is a canoe tour around the historical islands that includes a hike around the community past humble homesteads, markets, schools, trading centers and to the highest peak that offers excellent views of the island dotted lake. Evening transfer to Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Accommodation: Icumbi Lodge or Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP

On this mountain gorilla day, you will check in early at the trailhead office of Bwindi Forest. The ranger guides will then conduct a brief session on the trek experience, safety and story on conservation of these endangered species. Gorilla treks are led by ranger guides in an 8pax visitor groups to trek to a designated gorilla family in this vast rainforest. On locating the gorilla family, you will have an Hour long with these majestic apes, watching, photographing and just being in a company of these gentle gorillas; a moment often indescribable! Important: On dress code, blending colors (AVOID military camouflages) are recommendable as is rain gear, long pants, good walking shoes. Parked lunch and plenty of water is a must pack. Walking sticks, porters for hire will be at the trail heads. The trek experience varies daily but anything between 5-7 hrs is normal. Accommodation: Icumbi Lodge or Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes, evening at Ibyi’wacu

After an early breakfast you will transfer to Volcanoes NP through the Chanika land border crossing into Rwanda.
After lunch at your hotel, join a cultural experience at Ibyi’wachu Centre for a demonstrative performance of the rich Rwandan culture. Accommodation: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Day 8: Trek the Golden Monkey and transfer to Gisenyi

Early this morning you will transfer to Volcanoes NP and after check in and brief session, the ranger guides will lead you on a trek to the home range of golden monkey that range across the bamboo belt on Volcanoes NP. These beautiful and playful golden monkeys occur in large troops numbering over 120 individuals with a dominant male at the helm. Across their range they feed largely on fresh bamboo shoot but also insect larvae and leaves. On locating the troop, you will have a full hour with them observing and photographing the.

On a trek, you will have some of the excellent panoramic views of the Virunga volcanic mountain chain and highlands beyond. The trek duration varies daily but 4-6 hrs is normal. After the trek transfer to lakeside town of Gisenyi on Lake Kivu. Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Lodge, FB

Day 9: Day at Lake Kivu

Take this day to relax and refuel while on Lake Kivu, from your lakeside hotel, take a walk along the serene beach and watch fishermen disembark from Yet, Lake Kivu abounds with a variety of soft adventures to explore at your pleasure including; kayaking, sunset local canoeing experience, scenic biking tours with coffee experiences and visits to a local artisan group. Accommodation Plan: Lake Kivu Serena Lodge, FB

Day 10: Transfer to near Nyungwe Forest

This morning, have a lazy breakfast and later depart to near Nyungwe Forest. The 3hrs drive will be interrupted with scenic stops to view tea-covered hillsides, montane covered highlands and panoramic views of Lake Kivu at the hotel late that afternoon at the hotel overlooking Nyungwe Forest.
Accommodation: Nyungwe hilltop View Lodge

Day 11: Adventure at Nyungwe Forest.

This full day at Nyungwe forest offers numerous adventure options from a series of forest walks, to chimp trekking experience, or to view Angola Colobus Monkey an Albertine Rift endemic restricted to these highlands. Excellent forest trails ranging from moderate to difficult traverse Nyungwe Forest to reveal stunning snow-white waterfalls, high-altitude swamps and various forest strata with chances to encounter various primates and excellent birdlife (these often heard than seen!). Finally, the best trail is one that leads you onto the suspended steel canopy walk offering you an all-round bird’s eye views over this extensive montane forested ranges. Kindly note, that the chimp trek experience requires pre-booking and full payment way before the trip. Accommodation and Meal Plan: Nyungwe Hilltop View Lodge

Day 12: Visit Kings Palace at Nyanza and mini–Kigali City Tour

Set off early from your hotel to drive on to the kings Palace at Nyanza, Rwanda’s last monarch’s palace for an exciting cultural tour where highlights will be a time with Inyambo Cows. Known widely as the royal Ankole/Watutsi long-horned cattle, Inyambo cows are elegant, beautiful and graceful cows that are kept purposely for their beauty. Watch as the caretakers demonstrate ancient and traditional norms around these cows and if time allows, participate in milking and ghee making. Climax the tour here with a captivating story on the ancient Rwanda kingdom, learn of its triumphs and changes as time went on.

Lunch/coffee break will be anywhere along this stretch and as you come into Kigali City proceed to Genocide Memorial Centre for a sobering tour of the recent dark times Rwanda went and ‘s resilient spirit to bounce back to rebuilt a prosperous and forward-thinking society that resolved to NEVER AGAIN. Time allowing take a troll in various craft market to shop a memorial souvenir and finally check in at your hotel or airport.

Accommodation and Meal Plan: Dinner in Kigali but accommodation can be booked at your pleasure to flight your flight pleasure.