This expedition brings you the best of Uganda and Rwanda where the savannah meets the tropical rain forest. Expect to see the animals of the savannahs e.g. lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, leopard and up to 19 primate species, including gorillas and chimpanzees.
Our 22 days absolutely comprises the most significant and well known national parks of Uganda and Rwanda: Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park. Safari Highlights Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park
Day 4: Murchison Falls National Park –Hoima
Day 5: Hoima – Kibale Forest National Park
Day 6: Kibale Forest National Park
Day 7: Kibale Forest National Park – Semuliki National Park
Day 8: Semuliki National Park – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 10: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 11: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Isahasa Sector
Day 12: Isahasa Sector – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 13: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 14: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 15: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Lake Bunyonyi
Day 16: Lake Bunyonyi
Day 17: Lake Bunyonyi – Volcanoes National Park
Day 18: Volcanoes National Park–Kigali
Day 19: Kigali – Nyungwe
Day 20: Nyungwe
Day 21:Nyungwe
Day 22: Nyungwe to Kigali Airport
Day One: Airport Transfer Your guide will be there waiting for you.
Pick up and proceed to your accommodation at Fairway Hotel in the heart of Kampala City (FB).
Day Two: Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park Murchison Falls is one of the most beautiful national parks of Uganda. One of the main attractions is the Nile, with the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the whole Nile is forced through a narrow gorge and falls 60 meters. Expect to see elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and maybe leopards.
Stopover for Lunch in Masindi Town the proceed to Murchison Falls and visit the top of the falls if time allows. Dinner and overnight at Murchison River Lodge.
Day Three: Murchison Falls National Park Early morning game drives in this beautiful national park.
Afternoon boat rides on the Victoria Nile up to the bottom of the falls. The boat is the perfect platform to see and photograph many different bird species. Dinner and overnight at Murchison River Lodge.
Day Four: Murchison Falls National Park – Hoima Early morning to visit Budongo Forest for a jungle walk.
In the afternoon we drive to Hoima town. Dinner and overnight at Hotel KonTiki.
Day Five: Hoima – Kibale Forest National Park.
After breakfast we drive to Kibale Forest and relax for the next day’s chimps walks. Dinner and overnight at Rwenzori View Guesthouse.
Day Six: Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale Forest is a spectacular jungle, with 15 primate species! Including chimps, baboons, black and white colobus, red colobus, grey cheeked mangabey and L’Hoest monkey. Chimpanzee tracking in the morning would be favorites for people interested in primates and birds and willing to make another walk. We can make a community walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary as well after lunch. It is also possible to visit the local people or the crater. Dinner and overnight at Rwenzori View Guesthouse.
Day Seven: Kibale Forest – Semuliki National Park Visit one of the crater lakes.
Afterwards transfer to Semuliki National Park and visit the Sempaya Hot Springs in the afternoon. Semuliki is a unique place and the only lowland jungle in East Africa, part of the Congo eco system. Dinner and overnight at Rwenzori View Guesthouse.
Day Eight: Semuliki National Park – Queen Elizabeth National Park .
Transfer to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Park is one of the best places in Uganda to see lions. Expect to see elephants, lions, many hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and maybe leopards. On our way we pass the equator where we will make a stopover for photography. Check in at Hippo Hill camp for Lunch then proceed for the Game drive in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Hippo Hill camp.
Day Nine: Queen Elizabeth National Park Game drive in the morning.
Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon after lunch. The Kazinga Channel is one of the highlights of Uganda and has the highest concentration of hippos in the world. Dinner and overnight at Hippo Hill camp.
Day Ten: Queen Elizabeth National Park Early morning nature walks in Maramagambo Forest and have lunch in Jacana Lodge. Relax and settle off for the game drive in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Hippo Hill camp.
Day Eleven: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Isahasa.
After breakfast we drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park to the Ishasha sector in the South. In Ishasha there are 3 prides of lions that climb the trees daily. Unique in the world! The other attraction of Ishasha are the Topis, not found anywhere else in Uganda. Game drive in the afternoon in search of the tree climbing lions. Dinner and overnight at Savannah Resort.
Day Twelve: Ishasha – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable. On our way we pass through interesting villages and have some breath taking views of the mountains. Bwindi Impenetrable is a unique jungle, with many monkey species. Bwindi is one of the two places in the world where you can find Mountain Gorillas! Lunch, dinner and overnight at Lake Kitandara Camp.
Day Thirteen:Bwindi Impenetrable Gorilla tracking!!!
Early morning departure with your ranger to search for one of the world’s most interesting and endangered animal, the Mountain Gorilla! You will spend one hour with one of our closest relatives. An experience you will never forget. Dinner and overnight at Lake Kitandara Camp.
Day Fourteen: Bwindi Impenetrable Day for relaxation.
Optional activities: make a nature walk through the national park, go for a primate or bird watching walk, or visit the local people. It is also possible to do a second gorilla tracking on this day. Dinner and overnight at Lake Kitandara Camp.
Day Fifteen: Bwindi Impenetrable – Lake Bunyonyi Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi; the second deepest lake in Africa and most beautiful lake in Uganda. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Safari Resort.
Day Sixteen:Lake Bunyonyi Today you can relax on this beautiful island.
It is also possible to make a nature walk, go for a birding walk, go for canoeing, take a swim or visit the local community. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Safari Resort.
Day Seventeen: Lake Bunyonyi – Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. It is possible to visit a pygmy village on the way. Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga Mountains, covering 3 countries: Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Together with Bwindi this is the only place in the world to see the Mountain Gorilla’s. Dinner and overnight at Mt. Gorilla View Lodge.
Day Eighteen:Volcanoes National Park – Kigali Optional activities for today: Do a second gorilla tracking (must be booked in advance to be sure), visit the golden monkeys, make a nature walk in the national park, climb a volcano, visit Dian Fossey’s Grave, or visit the Twin Lakes, Lake Ruhondo and Lake Burera (all activities optional). Transfer to Kigali afterwards.
Day Nineteen: Kigali – Nyungwe Forest After breakfast we drive to Nyungwe Forest for an overnight. Nyungwe is one of East Africa’s largest forests. It is home to 13 primate species including chimpanzees. Other attractive monkeys to see are the Angolan Black Colobus, Mona Monkey, Blue Monkey, L’Hoest Monkey and Owl Faced Monkey. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel.
Day Twenty: Nyungwe Forest Go for Chimpanzee tracking in the morning!
See them feeding, walking around and swinging the trees. The chimpanzees are our closest relatives! During this walk you are also able to see other monkey species and birds. Optional visit of a tea factory in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel.
Day Twenty One: Nyungwe Forest Today you make the beautiful waterfall walk, search for monkeys especially Angolan Black Colobus and Mona Monkey or do the canopy walk. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel.
Day Twenty Two: Nyungwe Forest – Kigali Airport After breakfast transfer to Kigali airport for your departure. City tour through Kigali if time allows.