13 Days Uganda Rwanda safari

Detailed itinerary for the 13 Days Uganda & Rwanda safari

Day 1 Transfer to Murchison Falls- Rhino tracking.

Our driver from The Big5 Adventures Uganda Safaris will pick you from your hotel. He will brief you about the safari, then drive you to Murchison Falls. Briefly stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary to track rhinos. Proceed to the top of the Murchison falls to have a clear view of how the River Nile forces itself through the narrow gorge hence forming a thunderous roar. Then later have a game drive as you head towards your lodge. Dinner and overnight at Budongo Ecolodge. (B.L.D)

Day 2 Game and Boat Cruise.

Morning game drive in search of lions, giraffes, elephants, and buffaloes. Return to the lodge for hot lunch; then later enjoy 2 hours boat cruise on the Nile, expect to see hippos and Nile crocodiles; as well as elephants, buffaloes and a variety of bird species along the shores. Then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at Budongo Ecolodge. (B.L.D)

Day 3 Chimpanzee tracking – Transfer to Kibale.

After breakfast, drive to Budongo forest reaching in time for the briefing. Join the ranger as you search for the chimpanzees in the woods. After that spend about an hour watching these primates in their natural habitat. Have lunch and then drive to Kibale National Park. Check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge Kibale. (B.L.D)

Day 4 Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Swamp.

Breakfast then drive to the park headquarters for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking.  Join armed rangers as you search for the chimpanzees. Upon finding them, you will then spend an hour observing and taking photographs. Later enjoy a swamp walk in Bigodi, in the evening where you expect to see different monkey species and wetland mammals such as sitatungas, baboons, and bushbucks. This swamp has over 200 bird species like great blue turaco, papyrus gonoleks, and flycatchers. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge. (B.L.D)

Day 5 Transfer to Queen Elizabeth.

After breakfast, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth national park via Fort portal town. As you enter the park look out for elephants, Kobs, and buffaloes. Check in your lodge have lunch and later go for an evening game drive to see elephants, warthogs, antelopes, and buffaloes. Then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at Simba safari camp. (B.L.D)

Day 6 Game and boat cruise.

Have an early breakfast and go on a morning game drive expect to see lions, antelopes, elephants, and buffaloes.  Later return to your lodge for a hot lunch.  After lunch, enjoy a 2-hour thrilling boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. This will offer you a closer view of wildlife like hippos, buffaloes, and elephants along the shores. Also, birders are likely to spot over 60 species like; malachite kingfishers, pink-backed pelicans and saddle billed stork. Dinner and overnight at Simba safari camp. (B.L.D)

Day 7 Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Bwindi.

Have breakfast and then go to track chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge. The park ranger will brief you about chimpanzee tracking and later rally behind him for the search. Look out for some birds and monkeys along the track. After finding the chimps, you will spend about an hour observing them as well as taking photos. Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest and arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight at Haven lodge Buhoma. (B.L.D)

Day 8 Gorilla trekking.

After breakfast drive to the park headquarters for a briefing. Set out into the forest at 8.00 am in groups led by park rangers. The movements of the gorillas will determine the duration of your search. However, on finding them, you will spend an hour taking photographs, videos; as well as observing their remarkable way of life.

Visit the Batwa Pygmies community in the evening and Listen to their stories as well as join them in their traditional dances. Batwa pygmies are former forest people. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at Haven lodge Buhoma. (B.L.D)

Day 9 Transfer to Rwanda.

After breakfast check out of your hotel and drive to Lake Bunyonyi. Have lunch and head to the border. After going through the immigration procedures, drive to Ruhengeri. Check into your lodge for dinner and overnight at Kinigi guesthouse. (B.B)

Day 10 Gorilla trekking.

After breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters for registration and briefing. Then join the ranger after the allocation of a gorilla family in search of the Gorillas. Spend an hour after finding them, taking photos and watching them in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge for hot lunch. Visit the Iby’lwacu cultural village in the evening and experience the life of the ex-poachers outside the Volcanoes. Dinner and overnight at Kinigi guesthouse. (B.B)

Day 11 Transfer to Nyungwe.

You will have breakfast, drive to Nyungwe forest with a stopover at Gitarama, and a visit to the Nyanza Royal Palace and the National Museum. Have lunch en route and relax at your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Guest House. (B.L.D)

Day 12 Chimpanzee tracking.

After an early breakfast, you will then go for a chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest. Nyungwe is a vast, mountain rain tropical forest over 1000 sq km in size. It is home to 13 species of primates and over 275 species of birds and also 100 varieties of orchids. You will track the chimpanzee alongside park rangers, spend an hour observing and taking photos. Lunch, dinner, and overnight at Gisakura Guest House. (B.L.D)

Day 13 Transfer to Kigali.

Finally, in the morning, have breakfast then drive to Kigali city with lunch en route. Continue to Kigali airport and arrive in time to catch your flight back home.