UAAV 022 – 13 Days Uganda and Rwanda Wildlife & Chimps

This 13 adventure captures the best that Uganda and Rwanda has to offer in one amazingly safari package. From the natural beauty of Uganda’s wildlife to Rwanda’s Chimp tracking adventure and rolling hills that gives a spectacular view than no other, visiting the best luxurious lodges for those interested in Luxury safari in Africa.

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2: Explore Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Swamp walk
Day 5: En-route to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking and drive to Kisoro
Day 8: Cross to Rwandan side
Day 9: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking
Day 11: Return to Kigali
Day 12: Head to Akagera National Park
Day 13: Game drive and return to Kigali

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Following an early morning breakfast, leave Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park. The drive passes through the famous Luwero triangle where lots of people lost their lives as the liberation of the country against the dictatorial rule of the 1970s and early 1980s was under way. We shall have a lunch stop at Masindi town and thereafter head to the park via the Kichumbanyobo gate having a stop at the top of the falls where the water of the Nile makes its way through a narrow gorge making a thunderous sound pouring downstream in a pool 7metres down. Continue to the lodge to relax as you prepare for further exploration of the park the following day. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your prefferred accommodation.

  • Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
  • Mid range: Murchison River lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 2: Explore Murchison Falls National Park

After an early morning warm up tea/coffee, you will transfer for a game drive to the northern bank in search of animals like: lions, leopards, giraffes, oribis, elephants, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda kobs, buffaloes among other animal and bird species. You will then return to the lodge in time for lunch and relax preparing for yet an exciting activity in the afternoon. After lunch, transfer for a three hours boat ride on the Nile River to the bottom of falls where you will have the opportunity to view animals like; crocodiles, hippos, in the water and some on the river banks, while; buffaloes, waterbucks, and elephants are often seen on the river bank grazing and drinking water. You can have an option to hike to the top of the falls. Return to your lodge for a relaxed evening, dinner and overnight.

  • Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
  • Mid range: Murchison River lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Have breakfast and depart with your packed lunch to Kibale National Park. This scenic drive takes about 9 hours. You will pass close to Lake Albert. On a clear day, the view on the top of the Albert rift is spectacular. Arrive in Fort portal town in the late afternoon. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preffered accommodation.

  • Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge/Crater safari lodge
  • Mid range: Kibale Guest cottages/Mountains of the moon Hotel
  • Budget: Kibale Forest Camp

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Swamp walk

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the Chimpanzee tracking information office at 8am for a briefing by the park warden and ranger guides, and after, you will be led into the rain forest in search of chimpanzees. These primates are very mobile and viewing them is unpredictable but a forest walk is an enriching activity and takes about 4 to 6 hours. This forest is home to a large number of chimpanzees and other primates including Lhoestes, grey cheeked mangabeys, Red-colobus, Red-tailed, birds, and butterflies. You will get back at the lodge in time for lunch and if you have energy in the afternoon, go for a Bigodi swamp walk for yet more primates and bird watching with an optional opportunity to meet and interact with the local communities living here. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your prefferred accommodation.

  • Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge/Crater safari lodge
  • Mid range: Kibale Guest cottages/Mountains of the moon Hotel
  • Budget: Kibale Forest Camp

Day 5: En-route to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a park known to boast the highest bio-diversity ratings of any game park in the worlds with habitats to include; lakes, forest, savannah grassland as well as wetlands. Go through the Ishasha sector famed for its tree climbing lions, and exercise our game searching and if you get lucky and spot these tree climbing lions, proceed to the northern part of the park in time for dinner and an overnight stay. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your prefferred accommodation.

  • Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Mid range: Park view safari lodge/Kasenyi safari lodge
  • Budget: Enganzi Lodge

Day 6: Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early morning warm up tea or coffee, you will head for a game drive along Kasenyi tracks in search of animals like: lions, cape buffalos, elephants, warthogs, waterbucks, spotted hyenas, mangoose, kobs and, if you are lucky, the leopard is often spotted. Over 606 bird species have been recorded in this park and most notably along the Kazinga channel. Return for a full breakfast, relax and prepare for yet another exciting activity in the afternoon. After lunch, you will transfer to enjoy a unique two hours boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This launch cruise gives you a great opportunity for photography, animal and bird watching at close range. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your prefferred accommodation.

  • Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Mid range: Park view safari lodge/Kasenyi safari lodge
  • Budget: Enganzi Lodge

Day 7:  Chimpanzee tracking and drive to Kisoro

This morning, you will leave for the 08.00am chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge. Expect to see various primates most especially Chimpanzee of different species, Black and white Colobus monkeys and other animals like antelopes, hyenas, Lion and many others in the middle of savanna grassland. After lunch, drive through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth called Ishasha and head to Kisoro. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation.

  • Travelers’ Rest Hotel

Day 8: Cross to Rwandan side:

You will cross the Uganda-Rwanda border and drive to Kigali. If not tired, carry out a city tour in Kigali by visiting the Genocide Memorial centre in Gisozi. Later, transfer to your selected accommodation unit for dinner and overnight stay. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preffered accommodation.

  • Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel/Milles Collines Hotel
  • Mid range: Urban city blue Kigali
  • Budget: Chez Lando Hotel

Day 9: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park

The safari guide will pick you up at 10:00am at your preferred accommodation in Kigali and head to Nyungwe Forest, passing through splendid hills and cultivated countryside. Have a stopover in Nyanza to visit the famous King’s Palace and later proceed to Nyungwe Forest for relaxation and overnight. The meal plan for this day is lunch and dinner at your prefferred accommodation.

  • Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
  • Mid range: Nyungwe Tophill View Lodge

Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking

Early morning departure for a guided nature walk in Nyungwe Forest in search of primates like the chimpanzees, the colobus monkey, l’hoests monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey or blue monkey. Tracking the chimpanzees can take anytime from a few hours to a full day depending on where they are. It should be mentioned that it is not guaranteed to see the chimps as they are unpredictable and can move long distances in one day. Birdwatchers will also appreciate the exceptional rich bird life.   After the trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your prefferred accommodation.

  • Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
  • Mid range: Nyungwe Tophill View Lodge

Day 11: Return to Kigali

Have breakfast and later, head to Butare to visit the Butare National Museum which has tribal art, traditional housing, musical instruments, ethnographic objects and other artifacts. Drive back to Kigali after the Butare Visit. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your prefferred accommodation.

  • Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel/Milles Collines Hotel
  • Midrange: Urban city blue Kigali
  • Budget: Lemigo hotel

Day 12: Head to Akagera National Park

Transfer to Akagera National Park which is the only wildlife Park in Rwanda and the smallest among the National Parks in the country. You will arrive in time for lunch at the park. In the afternoon,  embark on the canoe ride which is carried out on Lake Ihema and this will give you sights of Crocodiles, Hippos and water -birds like the rare shoebill stork, Fish Eagle, Kingfisher plus many more. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preffered accommodation.

  • Luxury: Akagera Game Lodge
  • Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
  • Budget: Dereva Hotel

Day 13: Game drive and return to Kigali

After breakfast, go for the early morning game drive which will enable you to view buffalo, elephants, impala, oribi, bush buck, antelope, zebra, cape eland, giraffe and many others. Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon drive back to Kigali to end your safari.
END OF SAFARI