11 Day safari to Uganda-Rwanda

Overview

While on an 11-day safari to Uganda-Rwanda with Kyooma Gorilla Safaris, it’s not just an adventure but beyond your expectations to encounter face-to-face the immersive nature and wildlife, the vibrant cultures, as well as recreational breath-taking activities as you dive into the magical attractions.

Detailed Itinerary;

Day 1: Arrival and city tour on an 11-day safari

After breakfast at your hotel in the morning, go on a city tour of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Visit many places, including the genocide memorial Centre, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site last week.

Day 2: Visit Ibyiwacu cultural village and continue to Mgahinga

After a morning Breakfast, transfer from Rwanda to Mgahinga through the Katuna border en route. Visit this place that offers you the chance to explore and experience the authentic traditional rural culture of Rwandans, and provides the opportunity to meet local people while in the comfort of their homes, and so you have the taste of their cultures and different cultures and transfer to Mgahinga Forest National Park for golden monkey trekking.

Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Lake Mutanda and continue to Bwindi

Head for briefing at the park offices after morning tea or coffee, and after head to start the search for these rare, beautiful primates. The experience will last for about 4 hours or less. You will be allocated in the presence of the primates. Watch them play as they feed on bamboo shoots, and you will notice golden monkeys as they tend to come closer to you. And an afternoon visit, a noon visit to Lake Mutanda. You will enjoy an afternoon boat cruise or ride on a traditional canoe to explore this great lake. It has a unique history that a local guide is always happy to share with you.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking and cultural tour while on the 11 Day safari

Wake up at 6:00 am for a warm cup of African coffee, and prepare for your long-awaited trek. At 7:00 am, hike to the visitor’s briefing area, which is a few minutes’ drive from

your place of accommodation. Meet with the head ranger and other visitors for a general briefing on the do’s and don’ts while conducting this memorable trek. It is during this briefing that you’ll be allocated a specific group of gorillas to track together with a ranger. Guide, and a porter in case you need one to carry your luggage. The trek starts at 8.30 am with simple forest hikes through designated trails, and depending on the gorilla family, the trekking experience can last for about 2-8 hours. The trek may become strenuous depending on the weather and how far the gorillas have moved, but the epic one-hour encounter with a habituated family is truly refreshing. Later, return to the starting point with fellow trekkers, meet your guide, or have a quick picnic lunch, in the evening, you may take a short tour of the Batwa community to enjoy their stories, ancient culture, and dances.

Day 5:Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park

In the morning, after a delicious breakfast. Have a road trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is the second largest national park in the country. Spanning over 1978sq.km and the most visited national park. It has the largest number of antelopes, including the Uganda kobs, while other attractions are the crater lakes, big cats, and big mammals like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles. Others are spotted hyenas, oribis, warthogs, and chimps in Kyambura gorge, and also bird species like African morning dove, swamp nightjar, and grey-headed kingfisher. Reach in the afternoon and do the evening game drive where you will spot wildlife as mentioned above.

Day 6: Game drive and boat cruise while on an 11 Day safari

Take an early game drive where you will be able to spot lions, spotted hyenas, jackals, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and different antelopes like the Topis, Oribis, bushbucks, waterbucks, and Uganda kobs, among others. The game drive is rewarding as you drive around the beautiful savannah plains for about 2-3 hours. Head to the Ishasha sector where you will spot tree-climbing lions. After your buffet lunch, head for the boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. The boat cruise rewards you with sightings of rich schools of hippos, crocodiles, and different bird species like African fish eagles, grey-headed kingfisher, among others. As the buffalos, elephants, and warthogs on the banks of the river.

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Central Tropical Forest and transfer to Kibale National Park and Amabere G’anyinamwiru caves exploration

Have breakfast, and proceed for an adventurous chimpanzee trekking experience in Kalinzu Central Forest. Chimpanzees are very vocal and their location can be identified by following their hoots and distant cries. The chimpanzees in Kalinzu Central Tropical Forest have a remarkable habit of getting down the trees each time they see visitors. This allows great photos from a close distance. Apart from the chimpanzees, the forest exposes visitors to unique and amazing biodiversity. The forest is also home to other primates like baboons, monkeys, forest elephants (Occasionally), and numerous birds. The whole activity takes between 2 to 3 hours. Check out and immediately proceed with the transfer to Bwindi National Park in south-western Uganda. This park is also a hub of unique bird species like the Ruwenzori nightjar. Speckled mouse bird, black kite, and white-napped among others. Other mammals in this park are elephants, red-tailed monkeys, white and black colobus monkeys, and Vervet monkeys, among others.  Afternoon, visit the Amabere G’anyinamwiru caves on the same route in Nyakasura, about 10km from Fort Portal town. The area is full of history about the Bachwezi, which is related to the stalactites and stalagmites. After the visit, go back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 8: Morning community/swamp walks in Bigodi wetland. Tour the crater lakes of Fort Portal.

Early morning after breakfast, you will head for a swamp walk in the Bigodi wetland. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary harbors numerous species of butterflies and iconic birds such as the great blue Turacos, small animals like squirrels, primates like olive baboons and Vervet monkeys, colobus monkeys, and mammals like the swamp dweller – Sitatunga antelope, Etc. Depending on how long this will take, you will return to your lodge for lunch. After lunch, you may decide to relax at the lodge or take a leisurely walk within the nearby crater lakes.

Day 9: Kibale National Park to Murchison Falls National Park

Transfer from Kibale National Park in western Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park– a journey taking 5-6 hours. Murchison Falls National Park; Covers an area of 3,893

Km², this particular park sits on the shore of Lake Albert, in northwest Uganda. It’s known for Murchison Falls, where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow gap over a massive drop. In the evening, you will head for a sunset game drive. Expect to encounter numerous games, including elephants, Rothschild giraffes, wild cats, birds, etc. Depending on how long this takes, you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

 Day 10: Game drive and boat cruise on the Nile while on an 11 Day safari

An early game drive in the northern sector is a savannah covered with beautiful trees such as whistling acacia, Kigelia Africana, and Borassus palm, among others. Expect to spot animals like lions, leopards, herds of buffalos, hippos, giraffes, and antelopes like waterbucks, bushbucks, among others. After 2-3 hours of game drive, you will transfer to the lodge for mid-breakfast.

After lunch, head to the Nile for a boat cruise where you will be able to spot crocodiles and hippos, among others. As well as birds like the African darter, goliath heron, white-faced whistling duck, and African fish eagle, among others.

The boat will take you to the bottom of Murchison Falls, and later you will drive to the top of the falls. Rewarded with an amazing scenery of both Uhuru and Murchison Falls. Listen to thunderous sounds produced when water with a lot of pressure ejects through a small tunnel, hence forming a rainbow. The driver-guide will pick you up later and transfer you to the lodge.

Day 11: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport and stop over at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Have your breakfast from the hotel and embark on a journey back to Entebbe, with a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino Tracking on foot. This is one of Uganda’s big five wildlife mammals. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a private, non-profit, animal sanctuary in Uganda. It proudly harbors Uganda`s endangered Rhinos.

On arrival. You will be briefed and thereafter begin a rewarding on-foot Rhino tracking experience as you continue to conclude your 11 Day safari Uganda-Rwanda safari.