15 Days Uganda Rwanda Group Tour – Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda

Arrive in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport after your respective flight. You will be met by our representative who will transfer you to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo (Upmarket/Luxury), Cassia Lodge (Midrange/Standard)

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route & the top of Murchison Falls on arrival

Leave Kampala after breakfast as early as 6:00 am from your place of stay and head to the north of Uganda accompanied by the company guide. The journey is 311km about 5 hours drive to Murchison Falls National Park passing through the flat Nakasongora landscapes before diverting at Nakitoma from the main road 115 Km from Kampala to drive further for an extra 7 Km to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

You will spend some time tracking the magnificent white Rhinos which only exist at this place in Uganda after which you will proceed to Masindi for Lunch.

In the afternoon, you will continue on the drive to Murchison Falls National Park and upon arrival, you will hike the top of the falls to take time to gaze at the splendid powerful waterfalls and listen to its roaring sound as it squeezes itself through the 8m ravine before falling 43m below the devil’s cauldron forming a plume of spray with a trade-mark rainbow – the greatest feature to have ever happened on the course of the Nile River which happens to be the longest river in the world. Check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange/standard)

Day 3: Do game drive & Nile launch cruise

Wake up very early for a cup of coffee and then head to the Park for the game drive. The possible sights of various wildlife including; elephants, buffalo, Jackson hartebeest, Kobs, lion, leopard, and giraffe among other wildlife will leave you with a taste of African savannah wilderness.

The activity takes 3 – 4 hours after which you will return to the Paraa ferry crossing at 11:00 am to go back to your lodge for relaxation and memory sharing. After your stimulating lunch, gather at the Paraa for an after boat cruise on the Nile at 02:00 pm.

This boat trip has got captains and guides who have cruised on these waters for years and will be glad to share with you every piece of information that you would wish to gather on this trip including any bird species and wildlife both aquatic and land that might present its self.

The shoebill stork can be luckily seen on this boat while the great sights of Nile crocodiles – the second largest reptile in the world and the Hippos would make your trip up to the base of the falls. The boat takes 3 hours after which you will have marked the end of your day’s adventures.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange/standard), or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).

Day 4: Transfer to Hoima & visit Mpalo Royal Tombs

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Hoima where you will visit the Mpalo Royal Tombs to encounter historical Kings of Bunyoro like King (Omukama) Kabalega who is famously known for resisting the British rule in Bunyoro. Have an afternoon relaxation at the lodge.
Accommodation: Kontik Hotel.

Day 5: Transfer to the Fort Portal area, visit Amabere ga’ Nnyinamwiru caves, hike the crater area & then transfer to Kibale National Park

After an early breakfast, embark on the drive to the Fort Portal area. After an approximate 5-hour drive on a rough murram road always preferred and named by the European travelers as African massage, you will arrive in Fort Portal town – the main town of the romantic Batooro in time for lunch.

After lunch, you will drive to the Fort Portal crater area for a hike and Amabere ga’ Nnyinamwiru caves tour. Amabere ga’ Nnyinamwiru caves – the breast-like features dates back to the pre-historic era with great attachment to the Chwezi heritage.

The breasts (Amabere) are believed by the locals to belong to Nnyinamwiru the daughter of Bukuku who was a self-imposed King of the Bachwezi. The maiden daughter cut her breasts in protest of being refused to breastfeed her only son Ndahura who later became a prominent King of the Chwezi Empire. The encounter also involves hiking the Fort Portal Crater field.

The famous Kyeganywa hill rises in a conical shape and its summit presents great sight-seeing moments of the range of crater hollows and crater lakes including Saaka, Biker among others not forgetting the distant views of Mount Rwenzori on a clear day. Transfer to the Kibale area for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Midrange/standard)

Day 6: Do Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland walk

After breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu tourism center for a briefing at 08:00 am from the park rangers about the Chimp trekking conduct. Set off to this forest of Kibale after the short briefing in quest of Chimpanzees.

The 2 – 5hour trek will expose you to amazing tree species and wildlife including other 12 species of primates like Colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, and olive baboons. The sights of Birds cannot be avoided while their songs will offer you natural entertainment through the jungle. You will marvel at the Chimpanzees as they roll themselves on tree branches, munch fruits, and make their pant–hooting calls.

After utilizing your one hour, you will have a picnic lunch and return to the starting point for short relaxation and preparation for another activity. In the afternoon, you will visit the Bigodi wetland to encounter the swamp animals like Sitatunga and birds like Ruwenzori Turaco and encounter local people including the traditional healer.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Midrange/Standard)

Day 7: Explore Sempaya hot springs and Pygmies at Ntandi & transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Visit Rwenzori Art foundation & Ruboni community wax & craft center

After an early breakfast, set off for Semuliki National Park 78km about 2 – 3 hours’ drive passing through Fort Portal town. The sights of mystical mountains of the moon – the Ruwenzori will welcome you at a distance before approaching Bundibugyo district and eventually Semuliki National Park.

The Sempaya nature walk will see you traverse one of the pre-historic forests in East Africa that survived the last ice age and with a great concentration of Guinea-Congo biome species. The walk which lasts between 2 – 4 hours takes you down to the female (Nyansimbi) and Male (Bitente) hot springs with the largest spring spouting up to 2m high.

Here, you have to be careful as the emerging water has a temperature of more than 100 degrees Celsius and the pools that surround are also hot. You are free to boil some plantains and eggs which get ready within a couple of minutes.

The walk also exposes to chances of encountering the red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, and black and white colobus monkey. Upon return from this encounter, you will visit the Bambuti Pygmies at Ntandi about 5km from Sempaya along the Bundibugyo road.

The Bambuti Pygmies have got close correlation to the Batwa forest people of south-western Uganda and Rwanda not forgetting the Basua pygmies of the Congo Basin. The Bambuti of Ntandi are not forest dwellers but are short in height than an average person. You will return to Fort Portal for lunch after which you will transfer to the Kasese region.

You will visit the Rwenzori Art Foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa to have a look at the process of various sculpture making and the final products. A fine cup of coffee can be arranged at the site before proceeding to visit the Ruboni craft & wax center to have a look at how the local people extract different products like candles from bee wax and also encounter the craft-making process.

It is experiential and if interested you can have some time and participate in making various crafts like baskets among others.  Proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ihamba Safari Lodge(Upmarket/Midrange)

Day 8: Whole day of Rwenzori Mountains hiking

Transfer early after breakfast to Mount Rwenzori (Nyakalengija) for the whole day Rwenzori hiking encounter. The hiking encounter exposes you to raised landscapes of Mount Rwenzori offering impressive scenic views of the ridges and glaciers and the rift valley flats below.

It is a perfect day of active adventure exploring the legendary mountains of the moon as described by the famous Greek geographer Ptolemy in 150AD towering 5,109m above sea level making it the tallest mountain range in Africa and the third highest in Africa. Return from the activity at 5:30 pm and transfer to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation:   Ihamba Safari Lodge(Upmarket/Midrange) or Ruboni Community Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 9: Do game drive & afternoon launch cruise along the Hippos Paradise – the 45km long Kazinga Channel

Wake up very for a cup of coffee before setting for the game drive activity in the savannah game park of Queen Elizabeth. The early departure at 06:00 gives you an opportunity to see night hunters like hyenas getting back to their hiding places and early risers setting off to look for what to eat.

The drive through the Kasenyi and channel tracks give a probable opportunity to see a range of game including; Lions, buffalo, elephants, elusive leopard (if too lucky), defassa water-bucks, and Uganda kobs, Oribis, side stripped jackal among other wildlife. Return to the lodge after this 3 -4 hour game drive and relax till lunchtime.

After lunch, you will gather at Mweya for a recreational afternoon launch cruise leaving at 03:00 pm and taking 2 hours exploring the magical offerings of Kazinga Channel including the sights of water birds and wild game drinking on the channel side, Nile crocodile and the Hippos. The 45m channel that stretches from Lake George to Lake Edward has tranquil waters that always give pleasure and psychological satisfaction to any traveler on Uganda safaris.

Retire from the boat at 5 pm for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Kyambura Game Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard)

Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & do Ishasha game drive en route in search of tree climbing lions

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to the gorilla trekking haven of Bwindi south (Rushaga) 309km from Mweya. You will pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and do simple game drives in search of the unique tree-climbing lions that tend to rest on fig tree branches during daytime – something that you can only find in Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha sector – Uganda and Lake Manyara National Park in southern Tanzania.

Proceed with the journey, have lunch en route and arrive in Rushaga late in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Valley Lodge (Midrange/standard)

Day 11: Do gorilla trekking & relax at the lodge

After an early morning breakfast but with packed lunch, you will have a briefing by the game guides at the park headquarters then start your gorilla trek. Encountering the mountain gorillas in their natural environment takes is cumbersome and takes between 2 – 8 hours but once found it is the highlight of an Africa adventure safari.

You will have only 1 hour to observe, interact with and photograph these calm lovely apes. Return from the activity to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/ Standard)

Day 12: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park & have a relaxing boat cruise on the twin lakes of Ruhondo & Bulera

After breakfast, you shall transfer to Rwanda via the magnificent Kigezi highlands usually referred to as the ‘Switzerland of Africa’, and cross the Uganda – Rwanda border to Ruhengeri. Your evening shall be spent visiting the Burera and Ruhondo twin lakes for a boat drive and interacting with the local community.

Retire for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), La Palme Hotel (Midrange/ Standard)

Day 13: Do gorilla trekking & cross back to Uganda – to Lake Bunyonyi

You will spend part of your day tracking mountain gorillas in Volcano national park and in the afternoon cross back to Uganda and spend your night at Lake Bunyonyi.

Accommodation: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi (Midrange/Standard)

Day 14: Do Island hopping on Lake Bunyonyi & transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, do a game drive while entering the park

After breakfast early in the morning, embark on the boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi exploring its range of 29 islands. You will do island hopping gain a glimpse of the main islands and their communities, visit schools and homesteads and explore their livelihood activities. Retire from this activity and embark on the transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and enter the park through Sanga Gate.

Do an evening game drive as you head to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia Cottages Mburo (Midrange/Standard)

Day 15: Do a walking safari & transfer to Kampala for the night flight departure. Make a stop at the Uganda Equator crossing – Kayabwe

After breakfast, you will embark on a game walk. The morning game walk will take you along various park trails to have chances of exploring various wild games including; herds of zebra, cape buffaloes, oribi and topi, and eland. With over 250 species such as the Papyrus Gonoleks, Brown-faced Lapwings, Bare-faced Go-away bird, the extraordinary White-winged Warbler plus Carruther’s Cisticolas, Bird watchers might have a memorable adventure.

After lunch, you shall drive back to Kampala with a stop at the Uganda Equator crossing at Kayabwe before proceeding to Kampala and Entebbe for check-in and flight departure.

End of 15 Days Uganda Rwanda Group Tour

15 Days Uganda Rwanda Group Tour – Cost/Price Per Person

MIDRANGE
3 PAX	USD 4451
4 PAX	USD 4150
5 PAX	USD 4161
6 PAX	USD 4015

 

LUXURY
3 PAX	USD 4973
4 PAX	USD 4588
5 PAX	USD 4,651
6 PAX	USD 4453