10 days Uganda Rwanda safari
This 10 days Uganda Rwanda safari package involves visiting some of the best tourism destinations these two countries have to offer. During the trip, you visit Kibale Forest National Park, a prominent home for chimpanzees, where you will get to learn more about chimps and other endangered primates in the wild. From the chimps’ home, proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park to participate in game drives that will reward you with the best sites of several herbivores and carnivores, including four of the big five animals that attract tourists from all over the world. Seeing the big five in one habitat on a single safari is a memorable adventure. A boat cruise on the Kazinga channel that connects Lake Edward to Lake George is also an adventurous activity to manage in this park. When you get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, get closer to the gentle giant apes through the gorilla tracking excursion.
When you arrive in Rwanda, visit the popular Volcanoes National Park where you will get to enjoy the best sights of the Virunga volcanoes when you engage in hiking Mount Bisoke and golden monkey trekking. After spending the first eight days of your safari in game drives and hikes, the last days of the trip will be for relaxing and enjoying the fresh, cool waters of Lake Kivu. By the end of your safari, you will have had the best of the East African wilderness and a memorable safari.
Tour highlights of 10 days Uganda Rwanda safari
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale National Park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk.
- Day 3:Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Afternoon game drive
- Day 4:Morning game drive – boat cruise on Kazinga channel
- Day 5: Game drive in Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi National Park
- Day 6: Gorilla tracking and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 7: Golden monkey tracking and visit to the gorilla guardians’ village.
- Day 8: Bisoke hike and transfer to Lake Kivu
- Day 9: Beach /island exploration
- Day 10: Transfer to Kigali and departure.
Detailed Itinerary of 10 days Uganda Rwanda safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale National Park
On the first day of the10 days Uganda Rwanda safari, our driver guide from Active African vacations will pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Kampala, give you a simple briefing about the whole safari then start off the journey to Kibale National Park. You will continue to Fort Portal town via Mubende, where you will have lunch. Fort Portal is one of the most beautiful towns in Uganda. If time is by your side, you will have a stopover at ‘Amabere ga Nyinamwiru caves’, and the royal tombs in Karambi. As you travel, enjoy beautiful crater lakes and the Rwenzori Mountain ranges. On arrival, check into the accommodation for refreshment, dinner, and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk.
Wake up early and ensure that you take a heavy breakfast in preparation for a long day of searching for primates in Kibale Forest National Park. The key activity is chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzee tracking starts with a briefing from the park rangers at Kanyanchu, the park center. Three habituated chimpanzee groups are found in this park, and rangers can locate them by following their hoots and calls. The activity lasts for 2-4 hours. After spending one hour with the chimps, you will return to your hotel for lunch and later embark on a swamp walk in the Bigodi Wetland where you will have a glance at amazing wildlife creatures especially birds including the Papyrus Gonolek, Hornbills, Weaver birds, Waxbills, Kingfishers, Cuckoos, Flycatchers and the Great Blue Turaco. The swamp is also home to animals like the bushbucks, mongooses, otters, and bushpigs. After that wonderful adventure, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3:Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Afternoon game drive
After an early morning breakfast, check out of the accommodation and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a journey that takes 2 hours. You can have a stopover at the equator monument at Kikorongo for photography, observe the demonstrations of the water effect on the northern and southern hemispheres, and purchase some crafts from the Kikorongo craft shop. On arrival, check into the lodge for lunch. Later, go out for a late afternoon game drive to spot some wildlife and enjoy the bush sunset. An optional activity is visiting a nearby salt lake and witnessing how salt is traditionally mined, an activity that has been practiced for centuries.
Day 4:Morning game drive – boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Have an early breakfast and set off by 6.30 am to go for the game drive in the beautiful Kasenyi plains, which is the main animal watching area of the park. Expect to see some nocturnals returning to their hideouts and more herbivores arriving to start their day. some of the animals you expect to see include elephants, buffalo, lions, hyenas, antelopes, wild pigs, impalas, etc… You will return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation.
Later, go for the afternoon boat safari on Kazinga Channel, which is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm. The cruise will bring you close to a range of wildlife along the banks of the channel, such as hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, elephants, and monitor lizards. The channel offers incredible bird-watching opportunities, as several waterbirds flock to its banks, including pelicans, herons, lapwings, plovers, African skimmers, fish eagles, and kingfishers. The boat cruise is about 2 hours. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Game drive in Ishasha sector and transfer to Bwindi National Park
After breakfast at the lodge, transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with a game drive in the Ishasha sector, which is famous for climbing lions. Enjoy the drive at your pace as you see different wildlife creatures and the beautiful countryside. Enjoy lunch at a selected restaurant and enjoy more game viewing as you transfer to the lodge. Check in, relax, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 6: Gorilla tracking and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After an early morning breakfast, head out for the briefing at the park headquarters for a briefing on the rules and regulations about gorilla tracking, and particularly how to behave around the gorilla family. After the briefing, you will be led by a ranger guide to meet a habituated gorilla family with which you will spend an hour. The trekking experience in Bwindi takes 2-6 hours. After the encounter, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, drive to Volcanoes National Park, crossing via the Chanika border. The journey takes 2-3 hours, depending on the t delay at the border. On arrival, check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Golden monkey tracking and visit to the gorilla guardians’ village.
After tracking gorillas in Uganda, on this 7th day of your Uganda Rwanda safari, visit the Virungas in Volcanoes National Park for another primate tracking experience, that is tracking the golden monkeys. The golden monkeys are unique primates in the Virunga mountains and are easily spotted in the bamboo forests in the lower zones of the mountains. This will be a light trek, and you may find the monkeys after less than an hour of trekking. They are incredibly attractive monkeys and offer great photography. A maximum of 1 hour is allowed to see them. After this adventure, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, you will visit the gorilla guardians’ village for more knowledge about Rwandan tradition and culture. Meet the reformed poachers who exhibit the best of Rwanda’s history and culture through storytelling, craft work, songs, and dances. You may take part in the activities and at the end of the visit, buy some of their products as souvenirs and later return to the lodge.
Day 8: Bisoke hike and transfer to Lake Kivu
The one-day Bisoke hike up and down requires you to be physically and mentally determined to finish. Our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel after an early breakfast and transfer you to the Kinigi headquarters by 7.00 am for registration and briefing from the ranger guides. By 8.00 am, you set off in your cars and transfer to the head trail of the hike. From here, you get hiking sticks, and it’s necessary to hire a porter to carry your pack. Summiting Bisoke takes 3-4 hours, depending on the resting points you make. At the summit, enjoy extraordinary views of the Virunga ranges and pristine crater lakes. Descend to meet your driver guide, who will transfer you to the lodge for lunch. Later, check out and drive to Lake Kivu, a journey that takes 2-3 hours. Connect to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Beach /island exploration
This will be a leisure day for you to enjoy the fresh waters of Lake Kivu and the surrounding area. After breakfast at the accommodation, you may visit the hot springs or be part of the local projects in the area, visit nearby tea or coffee plantations, and take part in processing.
You may also decide to spend the day visiting different islands, particularly Napoleon Island or Peace Island, as you experience nature. Before it gets dark, return to the lake shores to enjoy the beautiful sunset as you relax on a sandy beach.
Day 10: Transfer to Kigali and departure.
On the last day of your trip, wake up at your leisure, have breakfast, and check out of the hotel for Kigali. You can spend the morning exploring the remaining activities that you missed the previous day, like visiting a tea plantation or visiting the locals, or engaging in a short hike.
In the afternoon, travel to Kigali as you enjoy Rwanda’s beautiful countryside. Drop off will be at your hotel or airport or continue with your other travel plans
End of safari
Safari Inclusions
- A Full-Time English-speaking guide/driver
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- Fuel for the safari
- Gorilla Permits
- Chimpanzee Permits
- Golden Monkey Permits
- En route lunches
- Park entrance fees
- Boat cruises
- Bisoke hiking permit
- Pick up at Entebbe and drop off in Kigali
- Meals and accommodation
- Bottled drinking water
The safari excludes flight tickets and visas, personal insurance, other expenses outside the itinerary, optional activities, tips to porters and guides, and souvenirs.