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13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Tour – Gorilla Trekking, Chimps, Wildlife, Scenery, Community Viewing

13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Primates – SAFARI OVERVIEW

13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Tour This 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Tour is a fabulous Uganda and Rwanda safari vacation that provides Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking, wildlife game viewing, scenery, and community village tours.

Your 13 days Uganda Rwanda safari starts in Uganda with rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Then, visit Murchison Falls – Uganda’s premier game park, where you’ll enjoy classic game drives and a calming boat cruise on the world’s longest river, watching animals like hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, buffalo, elephants, etc.

You will then do chimpanzee trekking in the beautiful Kibale Forest and tour the famous Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its tree-climbing lions.

The top highlight of this 13 days Uganda and Rwanda safari is going Gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – a lush green haven for half the world’s population of mountain gorillas and an unbelievable number of bird species. Then cross the border into Rwanda and Lake Kivu for beach relaxation, before going for another chimpanzee tracking adventure in Nyungwe Forest.

On this tour, you will also tour Kigali city and experience rich African cultures by meeting the welcoming people of Uganda and Rwanda.

You can book or tailor this 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari for unforgettable wildlife, primates, and cultural African safari through scenic Uganda and Rwanda – at an affordable price.

13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Primates – SAFARI PRIME ACTIVITIES

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest
Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest
Canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest
Community tours at Bwindi
Classic game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Track the pride of tree-climbing lions in Ishasha
Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Excellent bird-watching opportunities
Cultural of Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Relax on the beautiful sandy shores of Lake Kivu
Tour city tour & the genocide memorial

13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Tour – FEATURED PARKS/DESTINATIONS

Day 1, 2 & 3: Murchison Falls National Park & Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Day 4: Kibale National Park

Day 5 & 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 7 & 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Batwa Community

Day 9 & 10: Rwanda & Lake Kivu

Day 11 & 12: Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Day 13: Kigali City Tour

13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Primates – SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary En Route to Track White Rhinos on Foot.

Day 2: Morning Game Drive in the Savannah & Afternoon Nile River Boat Cruise to the base of Murchison Falls.

Day 3: Morning Nile Delta Boat Cruise with Bush Breakfast. Evening Game Drive.

Day 4: Visit the Top of the Falls & Drive To Kibale National Park.

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 7: Morning Game Drive in Kasenyi. Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise.

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Enroute Game Drive in Ishasha Sector in Search of Tree-Climbing Lions.

Day 9: Community Village Walks At Bwindi & Travel to Rwanda & Lake Kivu – Gisenyi Beach for Relaxation.

Day 10: Transfer to Rwanda & Lake Kivu for Relaxation.

Day 11: Optional Activities On Explore Lake Kivu & The Congo Nile Trail: Hiking, Biking, Bird Walks, Boat Cruise, Full-Day Kayaking, And Community Tour.

Day 13: Relaxed Breakfast & Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Day 12: Morning Chimpanzee Tracking & Afternoon Forest Canopy Walk.

Day 13: Drive to Kigali for a city tour & Airport Drop-Off.

13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Primates – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary En Route to Track White Rhinos on Foot

Today your 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari adventure begins!

Departure is at 6:30 am; your tour driver/guide will pick you up from your place of stay in Entebbe/Kampala. From there, you will travel to the Oldest and biggest conservation area in Uganda; Murchison Falls National Park.

Your drive to northwestern Uganda will be long but rewarding, taking you through ever-changing landscapes, busy roadside markets, and quiet rural villages. Along the way, will have a remarkable stopover in Nakasongora at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which is the only place to see wild rhinos in Uganda!

Currently, 32 Southern White Rhinos are roaming the 7000 hectares of land that comprise the sanctuary, many of which were born in the wild.

On a visit to the sanctuary, you’ll join an expert ranger on a 2-hour hike to find these magnificent creatures. This is a great opportunity to see the endangered rhinos in the wild from a close range, while at the same time learning about the breeding program and the steps taken to involve the local communities in the conservation efforts.

You then enjoy a delicious lunch at nearby Kabalega dinner, before continuing Murchison. On arrival, take a slow game drive to your lodge inside the park.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Paraa Safari Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge

Mid-range:- Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge

Budget: – Hornbill Safari Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 375 km or 7-8 hours

Activities & Services:-

Ziwa Rhino tracking
Drive to Murchison

Day 2: Morning Safari Game Drive in the Savannah & Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Nile River to the Bottom of Murchison Falls.

Today, wake up before sunrise, have a good breakfast, and set out for a 4-hour game drive into Murchison Falls National Park. You’ll see a variety of wildlife and enjoy the lovely savannah wilderness as the sun rises over it.

Situated along the world’s longest river, the Nile, Murchison Falls is Uganda’s prime game viewing park, offering the biggest volume and variety of animal sightings.

You will look out for Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Hyena, Oribi, Warthog, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Hartebeest, Hippos, Uganda Kob, Patas Monkey, Baboons, and Crocodiles. There are also about 556 bird species.

After a game drive takes a break at your lodge and enjoys lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing 3-hour boat cruise on the River Nile and to the base of the falls.

You’ll pass hundreds of Nile crocodiles, hippos, and waterbirds, along with elephants, buffalos, giraffes, and Antelopes quenching their thirst on the riverside. As you draw close to the falls, you’re welcomed by a thunderous roar of the mighty Murchison falls, the world’s strongest waterfall.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Paraa Safari Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge

Mid-range:- Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge

Budget: – Hornbill Safari Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services:-

Game drives
Boat cruise along the Nile

Optional Activities:-

Bush Breakfast
Sport Fishing
Cultural encounters
Night game drive

Day 3: Morning Nile Delta Boat Cruise with Bush Breakfast. Evening Game Drive.

On day three of your 13 days Uganda Rwanda safari package, undertake a Nile Delta boat cruise on the mighty River Nile.

You begin your day early at 6:00 am to be ready for 7:00 am. Set off to the delta point, where the Nile flows into Lake Albert.

Although there are numerous waterbirds at the delta, seeing shoebill stork is the ultimate prize. Sightings of this rare prehistoric-looking bird are great in this area. You’ll also get a wonderful chance to discover the area’s beautiful scenery and animals. Many hippos can be seen snorting in water, as well as enormous Nile crocodiles, Buffalos, and elephants relaxing on the banks.

Along the river banks, Monkeys can be seen on the treetops. One of the trip’s best highlights will be a stop on the riverbank for a delightful bush breakfast. You’ll return for lunch and relaxation before heading out again on an evening game drive

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Bakers Lodge/Paraa Safari Lodge

Mid-range:- Murchison River Lodge/Pakuba Safari Lodge

Budget: – Hornbill Bush Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services:-

Morning Nile Delta Cruise
Evening game drive

Day 4: Visit the Top of the fall. Drive To Kibale National Park. Sightseeing of En Route Scenic Landscapes.

Start day four of your 13 days Uganda and Rwanda safari itinerary with a leisurely breakfast.

Next, visit the top of Murchison Falls and be prepared to be blown away by the incredible views from the top.

Here, the Nile River which is about 50m wide thunder through a 7m wide rocky gap at a rate of 300,000 liters per second and plunges 45m to what has been dubbed the “devil’s cauldron”, forming a plume of white spray marked by a deafening roar and permanent rainbow.

From the falls, embark on an incredibly scenic drive south to Kibale Forest.

You will pass lively village markets tea plantations, and rolling hills of the lush green countryside that characterize this part of Uganda. You’ll arrive in time for lunch in Fort Portal town which lies in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon”

From this beautiful town, proceed on a one-hour drive to your lodge in Kibale Forest, an extensive tract of dense tropical rainforest. The several ecosystems in this park are reputed to host the highest density of primates in Africa, including over 1500 chimpanzees, our closest living relatives who share about 98% of our DNA.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Crater Safari Lodge/Primate Lodge Kibale Kyaninga Lodge

Mid-range:- Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

Budget: – Chimpanzee Forest Guest House/Kibale Forest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 350km (6 hours)

Activities & Services:-

Visit the top of the falls
Transfer to Kibale

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Your day five of the 13 days Uganda Rwanda safari trip starts at 6.00 with a good breakfast. You then transfer to the park’s visitor center at Kanyanchu to do your thrilling Chimpanzee tracking encounter which begins promptly at 8.00 am.

You begin with a short briefing at 7.00 am from the excellent local park ranger guides. After that, explore the forest jungle on foot in search of wild Chimps. Chimpanzees are smaller than their gorilla relatives, yet they are no less charming, expressive, or intelligent and live in communities of up to 250 members.

Chimp trekking typically lasts between two to six hours and is packed with all sorts of exciting encounters. Kibale has a 95% success rate of seeing our distant relatives, which is far greater than any other location which offers chimpanzee trekking in Africa. After finding the Chimps, enjoy a full hour with these human-like creatures and you’re free to take as many photographs as you want!

Then return to your lodge for lunch, before traveling to your lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP, Uganda’s most visited game park and the most scenic.

Accommodation

Luxury: – Mweya Safari Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Mid-range:- Enganzi Game Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp/Bush lodge

Budget: – Pumba Safari Lodge/Bush Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 157km (2-3 hours)

Activities & Services:-

Chimpanzee trekking
Drive to Queen

Optional Activities:-

Night Game Drive

Day 6: Morning Game Drive in Kasenyi Savannah Plains & Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel.

Often referred to as a Medley of Wonders, Queen Elizabeth National Park features a diverse range of landscapes, ranging from rolling savannah grasslands, rainforests, lakes, rivers, and volcanic craters, to dense papyrus swamps.

The park is a perfect habitat for over 600 bird species and classical mammal species like Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalos, Forest Hogs, Antelopes, Hippos, etc.

On day 6 of your 13 days Uganda and Rwanda safari tour, enjoy a morning game drive in the beautiful Kasenyi savannah plains. Start at sunrise when animals are most active, returning to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, when the sun is high in the sky and the animals are making their way to the river to drink and bathe in the cooling waters, you will also head to Kazinga Channel for a relaxing 2-hour boat cruise. You’ll see more hippos than you have ever imagined. Here reside some of the densest populations of hippos in Africa.

You’ll see countless water birds and at the shore, you marvel at huge Crocodiles, and herds of elephants and buffalos. After the boat trip, have a quick game drive along the channel track before returning to the lodge for dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation

Luxury: – Mweya Safari Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Mid-range:- Enganzi Game Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp/Bush lodge

Budget: – Pumba Safari Lodge/Bush Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services:-

Kasenyi Plains game drive
Kazinga Channel boat cruise

Optional Activities:-

Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge/Kalinzu Forest
Lion tracking
Visit Katwe Salt Lake community
Coffee tours

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Enroute Game Drive in Ishasha Sector in Search of Tree-Climbing Lions.

After a leisurely breakfast today and travel further south as you head to your next great destination; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Your journey is a game drive in itself. En route, explore the southern section of Queen (Ishasha) in search of the famed tree-climbing lions that spend their days dozing in the branches of beautiful fig trees.

The handsome Uganda Kobs and huge herds of Buffalos, which they observe from the branches, graze the plains. After a game drive, leave the park and proceed south via the undulating hills, and traditional homesteads to your overnight lodge near the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bwindi National Park.

Covering 321km², on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, the park’s mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Africa’s most biologically diverse and oldest rainforests. More notably, this “impenetrable forest” offers refuge to half of our planet’s last surviving Mountain Gorillas – approximately 459 gorillas at last count.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Haven Lodge Buhoma/Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge

Mid-range:- Gorilla Mist Camp/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Budget: – Trekkers Tavern Ruhija

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 130-220km or 4-7 hours

Activities & Services:-

Drive to Bwindi
Search for tree-climbing Lions

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Experience.

Today, you’ll be served a good breakfast at 6:00 am.

You then depart your lodge with your packed lunch and transfer to park headquarters to meet your expert local park ranger guides for a briefing about gorilla trekking which starts at 8.00 am.

You’ll then enter the dense misty Bwindi Impenetrable rainforest, filled with exotic birds, rare monkeys, and colorful butterflies. You will trek for about 2 to 7 hours depending on the location of the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking can be relatively difficult, but the effort is all worth it when you reach a family of endangered mountain gorillas. Baby gorillas are usually very curious and Silverback gorillas are incredibly huge. One hour spent watching, listening, and breathing in their forest home are utterly unforgettable.

After your time with them, you will enjoy a picnic lunch and return to the park center to receive a Gorilla tracking certificate. Head back to the lodge for relaxation. In the evening, visit the Batwa – a hunter-gatherer tribe indigenous to the region, whose people once lived and sustained themselves within the Bwindi Forest.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Haven Lodge Buhoma/Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge

Mid-range:- Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Budget: – Trekkers Tavern Ruhija

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services:-

Gorilla trekking
Batwa Experience

Day 9: Community Village Walk around Bwindi. Travel to Rwanda & Lake Kivu – Gisenyi Beach for Relaxation.

You’ll enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then have a guided community walk to discover more about the traditional ways of life and local culture, as well as the beautiful surrounding scenery and wildlife.

You’ll visit a coffee plantation to see how coffee is grown, harvested, roasted, grounded, and packaged. Coffee tastings can be organized on request and souvenir beans can be purchased.

You’ll also visit a traditional healer who learned his trade many years ago when his family lived in Bwindi Forest. Your tour will end at Ride 4 A Woman craft cooperative where you can purchase local crafts or have a cup of tea with the talented women weavers, as you observe their weaving and sewing skills.

After a community tour, cross into Rwanda and travel south, tracing the shores of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes – Rwanda’s largest and Africa’s sixth-largest – and a natural border between Rwanda and Congo. Lake Kivu’s breathtaking shores feature some of Africa’s finest inland beaches.

Today, you may opt to relax at the resort, take a boat ride or have a leisurely walk along the long stretch of beach near the property.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Serena Resort Kivu

Midrange: – Hotel Paradise Malahide

Budget: – Paradise Kivu Resort

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx.

Activities & Services:-

Drive to Lake Kivu

Day 10: Relaxation & Exploration of Lake Kivu.

The ten of your 13 days Uganda and Rwanda safari tour is yours to do as you wish.

Lake Kivu provides some of the top outdoor activities in Rwanda.

You may take a boat ride on the lake spot birdlife and visit some of the tiny islands, or maybe take a tour to Napoleon Island to go hiking and see birds and its huge colony of fruit bats. You can also spend the day exploring Gisenyi and the lakeside colonial-era mansions and bars.

You hike or mountain bike along the Congo Nile Trail, a network of trails spanning more than 200 kilometers over the length of the lake. A full-day kayaking excursion is an excellent opportunity to discover Lake Kivu’s picturesque shoreline and its various beaches, bays, and islands.

Fishermen in traditional boats navigate the azure waters as the active Nyiragongo Volcano in Congo can be seen towering over the verdant surrounding hills.

Please let us know which activities you want to do at the time of booking.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Serena Resort Kivu

Midrange: – Hotel Paradise Malahide

Budget: – Paradise Kivu Resort

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 120km/3 hours

Activities & Services:-

Explore Lake Kivu

Day 11: Relaxed Breakfast & Drive to Nyungwe National Park.

After a leisurely breakfast, depart Kivu and make your way to Nyungwe Forest National Park via the scenic Congo Nile Divide (Approximately 4-5 hours). Nyungwe is one of Africa’s oldest and most beautiful rainforests.

This incredibly biodiverse forest host 13 species of primate, including the Rwenzori colobus monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Blue monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, and, of course, our closest relatives, the Chimpanzees.

Nyungwe is also known among the birding community who come to spot some of the 322 species of birds.

Tomorrow, you will have enough time to explore the interior of the forest.

Accommodation

Luxury: – One & Only Nyungwe House/Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel

Midrange: – Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel

Budget: – Gisakura Guesthouse

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 147km or 4-5 hours

Activities & Services:-

Scenic drive to Nyungwe

Day 12: Morning Chimpanzee Tracking & Afternoon Forest Canopy Walk.

On day 12 of your 13 days Uganda Rwanda safari vacation, you’ll venture deep into Nyungwe Forest National Park in search of the chimps.

On a Chimpanzee tracking adventure, you will follow expert local ranger guides into the rainforest to observe these intelligent great apes at a close range. You’ll watch them as they interact with each other and go about their daily activities of grooming, playing, and foraging – an incredible wildlife encounter.

After the encounter, head back to your lodge for lunch and leisure, before embarking on a canopy walk. From the trails below the foliage, head up high into the forest canopy on one of East Africa’s first canopy walks.

A network of suspension bridges will lead you on a 1.5-hour walk over a deep gorge, through gorgeous and lush vegetation and different animal habitats.

Accommodation

Luxury: – One & Only Nyungwe House/Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel

Midrange: – Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel

Budget: – Gisakura Guesthouse

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 147km or 4-5 hours

Activities & Services:-

Chimp tracking
Canopy walk

Day 13: Drive to Kigali for a city tour. Airport Drop-Off.

Your last day of the 13 days Uganda Rwanda safari tour package concludes what has been an unforgettable journey. Depending on the time of your flight, you will get up at 7:00 am for breakfast, and then drive to Kigali (approximately 6 hours).

On arrival, your guide will take you on a city tour of Kigali before transferring you to the airport for your departure flight. Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, is a great place to explore on foot – from its market areas to the infamous Kigali Genocide Memorial.

End of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Tour

13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Holiday – SAFARI INCLUSIONS

All park entrance fees
Gorilla Permit for Bwindi
Golden monkey tracking permit for Volcanoes
Chimpanzee Permit for Kibale
4X4 safari vehicle with English-speaking local driver/guide throughout. On request, any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged.
Full Board Accommodation on Safari
Bottled water in a safari vehicle
All included activities fees
Fuel
Airport Transfer