Detailed Itinerary of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari

Day 1 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Visit the Gisozi genocide memorial & transfer to Akagera National Park

After your  breakfast at your place of stay in Kigali city embark on the drive to Gisozi genocide memorial to pay a visit to the counts of Rwandese who lost their dear lives during the bloody genocide that befell Rwanda in the year 1994. The number of skulls line in the building and the respective writings gives you a fresh picture of what exactly transpired during that period.  After this encounter, you will embark on the transfer to Akagera National Park in the East of Rwanda  driving through impressive rural landscapes that have got amazing scenic views from 135km about 2 ½ hours’ drive.   The traditional long horned cattle in Rwamagana district will welcome you as change the terrain from the hilly landscapes of the central to the plain landscapes of the east where the Akagera is situated.  Arrive in the in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Camp (Upmarket/Luxury), Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Dereva Hotel (Budget/Basic).

Day 2 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Do morning game drive & afternoon boat cruise

After an early cup of coffee, embark on the morning game drive exploring the rolling savannah landscapes of the park with the impressive plains that stretch to the boarder of Tanzania dotted with counts of wild game. The game drive in the morning exposes you to counts of elephants, buffaloes, masaai giraffes, antelopes like Impala, bushbucks, water bucks among others, the predators including leopards among other wild game that thrive in this natural habitat. The stretch to the upper hills of Mutumba presents a rewarding encounter on your safari in Rwanda. You retreat from this activity that lasts 3 – 4 hours and return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, you will connect to Lake Ihema for a thrilling boat cruise that offers you an opportunity to encounter the Rwanda’s second largest lake which has counts of Hippos and Nile Crocodiles not forgetting a range of water birds that dwell on the lake shores. Retire from dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Camp (Upmarket/Luxury), Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Dereva Hotel (Budget/Basic).

Day 3 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Visit the National Institute of Rwandan Museums & the Nyanza Palace en route in Butare

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park in the south west of Rwanda 320km about 5 hours’ drive excluding stops en route. You will make a stop in Butare province to visit the National Institute of Rwanda Museums with one of the largest ethnographic museums in East Africa and the Nyanza palace which is the home to the Rwandan Monarchs including the two Kings; Musinga and his predecessor King Rudahigwa. The traditional hut at the site which is the house of King Rudahigwa is crafted in an impressive architectural design very well preserved. The Inyambo cows with their long horns also make the site worthy visiting.  You will have lunch in Butare before proceeding to Nyungwe arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Nyungwe forest View Lodge (Luxury/upmarket), Hill Top View Hotel (Midrange/standard) or Gisakura Guest House (Budget/basic).

Day 4 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Do Morning Chimpanzee Trekking & afternoon Nyungwe Canopy Walk

After breakfast, embark on the chimpanzee trekking encounter in the prehistoric forests of Nyungwe. The trek starts at 8am commencing with briefing at the park headquarters before proceeding to the forest in search of our closest cousins the Chimpanzees. Walking through the forest and eventually having direct encounter with these chimpanzees for one (1) hour makes the chimp trek memorable. The species thrive in their natural habitats and they are impressive to look at as they munch fruits, roll themselves on the trees, mate and socialize. The activity tends to last between 2 – 5 hours after which you return to the lodge for lunch and short relaxation. In the afternoon, you gather at Uwinka Visitor center to embark on the famous Nyungwe Canopy walk which is the first of its kind in East Africa and the third in the whole of Africa. The canopy walk way us raised to 40m from the ground and it is 90m long hanging above a steep deep valley with impressive scenic views of the landscapes and the flora and faunal species that are found in the area. Retire in the evening to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel (Midrange/Standard) or Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).

Day 5 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Transfer to Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Gisenyi Lake Kivu driving along the Congo Nile Divide trail with the impressive views of Kivu Lake and the resort towns of Kibuye. The journey is 294km about 7 hours’ drive. You will arrive in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (Upmarket / Luxury),    Hotel Gorillas Lake Kivu (Midrange / Standard) or Paladise Malahide (Budget / Basic).

Day 6 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Explore Lake Kivu and transfer to Volcanoes National Park.

After a relaxed breakfast, embark on a thrilling boat cruise on Lake Kivu which is the largest lake in Rwanda that stretches to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The cruise presents a memorable recreational adventure on the lake allowing exploring some of its Islands. Retreat from the activity and relax on the shores. In the evening, you will embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park 110km about 2 hours’ drive arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Hotel (Upmarket / Luxury), Hotel La Palme (Midrange / Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget / Basic).

Day 7 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Do golden monkey tacking and cross to Uganda

Gather at the park headquarters Kinigi for briefing at 8am before heading to the forest in search of the critically endangered golden monkeys. The golden monkeys tend to thrive in the Bamboo zone of the Volcanoes and have got a golden patch on their back which makes them impressive to look at. The golden monkey tracking tend to last about 4 hours inclusive of one (1) hour of direct encounter with them. After this activity, embark on the transfer to Uganda crossing through Cyanika boarder enjoying the impressive views of the Virunga massif arriving in Kisoro in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mount Gahinga Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Mucha Hotel (Midrange / Standard) or Amajambere iwacu Community Camp (Budget / Basic)

Day 8 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Undertake the Batwa heritage trail and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, embark on the Batwa heritage exploration. The Batwa are known to have inhabited the forest before they were evicted to pave way for conservation of mountain gorillas. The slopes of the Volcanoes were their ancient home and the forest cover present not only shelter but food and medicine. You walk in the many of the Batwa guide interpreting a range of aspects including how they used to thrive in forests, methods of food gathering and extraction, crafting of vacuous utensils from the material available among other aspects before approaching the famous Ngarama cave which was their center and the home to their chief. Retreat from 6 – 7 hour activity and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket / Luxury), Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort (Mid-range / Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget / Basic).

Day 9 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Do Island Hopping

After breakfast, embark on the Island hopping experience on Lake Bunyonyi with its 29 Islands. You explore the main Islands including Akampene also known as Punishment Island where pregnant girls would be left to die of either hunger or in the waters as they tried swimming back to the main land. Men with no bride price could go to the Island and pick the girl and it is a surprising moment to encounter of those girls that were picked up from the Island.  The other Islands include Bushara with its impressive eucalyptus plantation, Kyahugye Island with its wild animals namely Zebras, water buck, Impala, monkeys and Kobs; the Bwama and Njuyera also known as Sharp’s Island named after Dr. Leonard Sharp who came to Island in 1921 and established a leprosy treatment center in 1931. Not forgetting the Bucuranuka Island which means Upside down noted to have killed many people after being cursed by an old woman. This takes you a whole day encounter while using wooden engine canoes to connect from One Island to the other. Retreat from the activity in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket / Luxury), Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort (Mid-range / Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget / Basic).

Day 10 of  the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Do a game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree climbing lions

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You have a game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree climbing lions along with other wild game. The tree climbing lions tend to lie on fig tree branches in the mid-morning sun.  After this encounter, continue on the drive to Queen Elizabeth (northern section) arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget / Basic).

Day 11 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Do morning game drive and afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise and transfer to Kasese

After an early morning cup of coffee, embark on the game drive in the rolling savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park extending to the Kasenyi tracks exploring the park’s unique landscape dotted with counts of wildlife including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, jackals among others. The activity lasts 3 – 4 hours after which you return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you transfer to Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise along the Paradise of Hippos. The Kazinga Channel which stretches to 45km in length at one time had great concentrations of Hippopotamus in the region which prompted the management to carry out the great Hippo culling of 1960s. You enjoy the view of the Nile crocodiles not forgetting other wild game drinking on the channel shores, Retreat from the 2 hour activity and transfer to Kasese for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Equator Snow Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Ihamba Safari Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Ruboni Community Camp (Budget / Basic)

 Day 12 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Do whole day Mount Rwenzori hiking and transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast, embark on the whole day exploration of the legendary mountains of the moon – the Rwenzori Mountains towering to 5,109m above sea level with snowcapped peaks.  The day’s adventure is a thrilling encounter of the mountain foothills exploring its lush flora that have earned it a status as a world heritage site. Mount Rwenzori stands as the tallest mountain range in Africa since the Kilimanjaro and Kenya are free standing. Retreat from the activity and transfer to Kibale National Park via Rwimi for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Midrange / Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget / Basic).

Day 13 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Do morning chimpanzee trekking and afternoon Bigodi wetland walk

After breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu Tourism Center at 8am to catch up with the briefing session about chimpanzee trekking experience.  After briefing, you head to the forest of Kibale in search of common Chimpanzees. Hiking through amazing forest landscapes marked with lush flora which is inhabited by a range of bird species, and wildlife including other 12 primate species such as Black and white colobus monkeys. The chimp trek takes 2 – 5 hours and involves one full hour of direct encounter with chimps as they forage, play, make pant hooting calls and socialize. Retreat from the activity and return to the starting point.     You enjoy your packed lunch and then embark on the transfer to Bigodi Wetland for an afternoon walk. The 2 hour guided walk exposes to a range of bird species as the wetland has 138 bird species including the Great Blue Turaco. The wetland also has impressive swamp animals like Sitatunga Antelope. Retreat from the activity and transfer back to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge (Luxury / Upmarket), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Midrange / Standard) or Rwenzori View Guest house (Budget / Basic).

Day 14 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Whole day drive

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls National Park 441km about 9 hours’ drive passing through verdant country side landscapes with rural home steads and plantations, You will arrive in Murchison Falls National Park in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget / Basic).

Day 15 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Do morning game drive, afternoon Nile launch cruise and hike to the top of the falls

After an early morning cup of tea at the lodge, head to the park for a morning game drive which tend to last 3 – 4 hours exploring the park’s wilderness in detail. The activity is conducted in the northern section of the park which is a common dwelling ground for counts of wildlife including lions, Rothschild giraffes, leopards, elephants, Buffaloes, Jackson Hartebeest, Oribis, Kobs among others. Retreat from the activity back to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you gather at Paraa Jetty for an afternoon Nile launch cruise departing at 2pm to the bottom of the falls. The boat offers you opportunities of encountering Nile Crocodiles, Hippos and the vulnerable shoebill stork not forgetting other wild game drinking water on the river banks. The stretch to the bottom of the falls and the eventual hike to the top of the falls exposes to the thunderous roar of the Nile River which is the longest in the world as it squeezes its self to pass through a less than 8m ravine forming a plume of spray marked by a trade mark rain bow as it falls 43m below to what has been termed as the Devil’s Cauldron. Retire from the 3 hour activity for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange / Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget / Basic).

Day 16 of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari: Transfer to Kampala. Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route to track white Rhinos

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Kampala 311km about 5 hours’ drive excluding stops en route. You will branch off from the main road at Nakitooma to drive 7km to the Ziwa Headquarters to embark on the trek in search of white Rhinos. You will be accompanied by the sanctuary rangers walking through the savannah thicket before coming across the Rhinos one of the big five. You take pictures and gaze at tem direct after which you retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to Kampala. You will have lunch en route and arriving in the afternoon to mark the end of the tour.

End of the 16 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari

Please note that Upon your request, we can change(customize) the tour destinations, hotels and number of days to suit your desire .just contact us call us 24/7 on phone

Your Safari Route

Transport Means to Your Safari Destinations

General Safari Inclusions

• Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
• Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari
• Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)

General Safari Exclusions

• • General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
  • Laundry Services
  • Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
  • International Flights (Arranged on request)
  • Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
  • Visas
  • Optional Activity fees
  • Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
  • Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
  • Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)

Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safaris

Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safaris

The Rwanda Wildlife seeing Safaris allows you to explore the destination Rwanda without gorilla trekking. You might have tracked gorillas before or you can not include it at the moment because of budgetary issues and this makes the Rwanda Wildlife Tour ideal for such travelers.

The wildlife safaris in Rwanda mostly feature Akagera National Park for classic wild game viewing which includes elephants, lions, leopards, Giraffes, antelopes and the aquatics of Lake Ihema like Nile Crocodiles and Hippos not forgetting adventure sport fishing on Lake Shakani.

The Wildlife safaris in Rwanda extend to incorporate the culture and heritage tours in Butare in the southern province of Rwanda where the National Institute of Rwandan Museums and Nyanza palace are located. The stretch to Forest park of Nyungwe with 13 Primate Species including common chimpanzees and black and white colobus monkeys with the largest grouping in the whole of Africa is rewarding. Nyungwe also has the famous Nyungwe canopy walk which is the first of its kind in East Africa and the third in Africa stretching to 90m in length and 40m in height.

Rwanda Wildlife Safaris also features beach relaxation on Lake Kivu, tracking the golden monkeys, hiking Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi climbing or the Dian Fossey while not forgetting the tour to the genocide memorial sites of Rwanda.

Combined Safaris – Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safaris | Gorilla trekking in Rwanda & Uganda

Uganda Gorilla Safaris

Enjoy the world`s surprising Gorilla trekking Uganda African safari destination offering Uganda Gorilla tours / Uganda gorilla safaris – Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla Park Uganda.Read More about Uganda Gorilla Safari Tours

Uganda Wildlife Safari Tours

Uganda has a count of ten (10) national Parks of which four of these are typical savannah with great counts of wild game. Kidepo, Murchison, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks present memorable wildlife safaris in Uganda.Read More about Uganda Wildlife Safari Tours