7-Day Best Uganda Holiday & Tour via Rwanda

7-Day Best Uganda Holiday & Tour via Rwanda

Itinerary;

Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Musanze

Welcome to Rwanda! Your 7-Day Best Uganda Holiday adventure begins as soon as you land at Kigali International Airport (or when we pick you up from your hotel in Kigali). Meet your friendly driver/guide, who will help with your luggage and brief you about the trip.

You’ll then take a scenic 2-hour drive to Musanze, a charming town nestled near Volcanoes National Park a home to golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. Along the way, enjoy views of Rwanda’s rolling green hills and farmland.

Once in Musanze, check into your comfortable lodge with stunning views of the Virunga volcanoes. Relax, unwind, and get ready for tomorrow’s golden monkey trekking adventure!

✓ Travel time: ~2 hours
✓ Includes: Airport/hotel pickup, private transfer, overnight stay
✓ Meals: Dinner (depending on arrival time)

Accommodation: Isange Paradise Resort
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner

Tip: If you arrive early, consider exploring Musanze town or visiting the local market (optional)

Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking & Transfer to Bwindi

Morning Adventure:
After an early breakfast, head to Volcanoes National Park for your golden monkey trekking experience! These playful, endangered primates with striking orange-gold fur live in bamboo forests. Your guide will lead you through the park’s trails (2–4 hours of walking, depending on the monkeys’ location). Once you find them, enjoy 1 magical hour watching them leap through trees, groom each other, and munch on bamboo—a photographer’s dream!

Border Crossing & Scenic Drive:
Return to your lodge for lunch, then begin your journey to Uganda. After crossing at the Katuna border (with help from your guide for smooth immigration), continue through rolling hills to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest—home of the mountain gorillas. The 4-hour drive offers stunning views of tea plantations, local villages, and misty mountains.

Evening:
Arrive at your Bwindi lodge by evening. Relax, enjoy dinner, and prepare for tomorrow’s big gorilla trek!

Key Notes:
✓ Trek difficulty: Moderate (walking in uneven terrain)
✓ What to pack: Hiking boots, rain jacket, camera, passport for border crossing
✓ Travel time: ~4 hours (including border formalities)

Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner

Fun Fact: Golden monkeys are only found in the Virunga region!

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking – The Adventure of a Lifetime!

Morning:
Today’s the big day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast, your guide will take you to the park headquarters for a briefing (around 7:30 AM). Here, rangers will:

• Explain gorilla trekking rules (like keeping 7m distance)
• Assign you to a gorilla family group based on fitness level
• Provide walking sticks and porters (optional extra cost)

The Trek:
Then, you’ll head into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – a mysterious jungle of thick vines, steep hills, and misty trails. The trek can take:
✔ 2-8 hours roundtrip (depending on where “your” gorillas are)
✔ Difficulty varies from moderate to challenging
✔ Altitude: 1,160–2,607 meters

The Magic Hour:
When you find the gorillas, you’ll spend 1 unforgettable hour with them. Watch babies play, silverbacks nap, and the family munch on leaves – all just meters away! Your guide will help you take photos safely.

Evening:
Return to your lodge exhausted but happy! Soak in a hot shower, share stories with fellow trekkers, and enjoy a well-earned dinner.

Key Notes:
✓ Must bring: Waterproof hiking boots, gloves, rain jacket, camera
✓ Porter hire: $20 (recommended to carry your bag)
✓ Altitude tip: Drink LOTS of water to avoid headaches

Did you know? There are about 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the wild and half live in Bwindi!

Day 4: Wildlife Road Trip to Queen Elizabeth NP

Morning Departure:
After breakfast, we hit the road for a scenic 5-hour journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. But this isn’t just any transfer – it’s a mini-safari!

The Ishasha Adventure:
We’ll drive through the park’s famous Ishasha sector, where fig trees hide an incredible secret:

• Tree-climbing lions (yes, lions that lounge in branches like house cats!)
• Your guide will scan the trees – spotting them is like finding a wildlife treasure
• About 60% chance of sightings (best in dry season)

En Route Highlights:
✓ Stop for picnic lunch with savanna views
✓ Spot elephants, buffalo, and antelope along the way
✓ Cross the Equator line (perfect photo op!)

Evening Arrival:
Reach your Queen Elizabeth NP lodge by late afternoon. Unwind with a sundowner drink as hippos grunt from nearby lakes.

Key Notes:
✓ Road conditions: Mix of paved and bumpy dirt roads
✓ Best lion-viewing time: Midday when they’re sleepy in trees
✓ Keep handy: Binoculars, camera, and your patience for wildlife spotting

Fun Fact: No one knows exactly why Ishasha’s lions climb trees – maybe to escape bugs or catch a breeze!

Day 5: Ultimate Wildlife Day in Queen Elizabeth NP

Sunrise Game Drive
Your day starts at dawn when animals are most active! Climb into your 4×4 safari vehicle to explore:
✔ Kasenyi Plains – The park’s prime hunting ground for lions (often seen with full bellies after night hunts)
✔ Elephant Highway – Watch herds of 100+ elephants crossing the savanna
✔ Buffalo Wallows – See massive “cape buffalo gangs” rolling in mud

Midday Break
Return to your lodge for relaxation

Afternoon Boat Safari
The Kazinga Channel boat cruise is like floating through a wildlife documentary:
✓ Hippo Superhighway – 100+ hippos grunting & splashing
✓ Crocodile Beach – Spot 16-foot Nile crocs sunbathing
✓ Bird Paradise – Watch kingfishers dive and fish eagles snatch prey
✓ Elephant Swim Time – Young bulls often play in the water

Evening Relaxation
Sip sundowners while watching the sunset over nature – the perfect end to your wildlife-packed day!

Day 6: Scenic Transfer to Lake Mburo NP

Morning Journey
After breakfast, enjoy a 4-hour scenic drive south through:
✓ Ankole Cattle Country – Spot the famous long-horned Ankole cows
✓ Local Villages – See banana plantations and roadside markets
✓ Rolling Hills – Watch the landscape change from savanna to acacia woodlands

Arrival at Lake Mburo

Check into your lodge overlooking the lake, where you might:
• Spot zebras grazing near your cabin
• Hear hippos “laughing” from the water
• Enjoy lunch with a view of antelopes at the lakeshore

Evening Game Drive

Mburo’s compact size means incredible wildlife density:
✔ Zebra Crossings – See hundreds of striped Burchell’s zebras
✔ Giant Elands – The world’s largest antelope (weighing 900kg!)
✔ Shy Leopards – If lucky, spot one in fig trees (best at dusk)
✔ Lake Views – Perfect golden-hour photos of animals at waterholes

Night Surprise

After dinner, listen for:
• Hyenas whooping in the distance
• Hippos leaving the lake to graze (your lodge staff will escort you for safety)

Key Notes:
✓ Road Conditions: 80% paved, 20% graded dirt
✓ Unique Sight: Only Ugandan park with impalas AND zebras
✓ Pack Light: Day bag with binoculars, safari hat, and insect repellent

Day 7: Walking Safari & Return to Entebbe

Your final morning of the 7-Day Best Uganda Holiday begins with an unforgettable guided bush walk through Lake Mburo National Park  the perfect chance to experience Africa’s wildlife up close. With an armed ranger, you’ll walk quietly among grazing zebras, spot massive elands, and learn to identify animal tracks and medicinal plants. After breakfast overlooking the lake, begin your scenic 5-hour journey back to Entebbe, stopping for photos at the Equator and a delicious local lunch along the way. You’ll arrive at the airport by mid-afternoon (perfect for evening flights) or your hotel by 4 PM, filled with incredible memories of gorilla encounters, tree-climbing lions, and golden savanna sunsets. This last day blends adventure with comfortable travel, ensuring you end your Ugandan journey on a high note.

Pro Tip: While on your 7-Day Best Uganda Holiday Wear comfortable walking shoes for the morning safari and keep your camera handy during the drive, you might spot baboons or Ankole cattle along the roadside!