15 Days Explore Uganda & Rwanda gorillas + wildlife safari
Day 1: Kampala -Kidepo Valley National Park
After breakfast, our safari guide will meet you and set off for the journey to Kidepo National park. According to your budget and schedule, you will decide to use any of the mean of transport of your choice as arranged below.
By Road: Over this mean tourist can use Kampala-Jinja-Mbale-Soroti-Moroto-Kidepo-792 km, Kampala-Masindi-Lira-Kotido-Kidepo-705 km, Kampala-Jinja-Mbale-Sironko-Kotido-Kidepo-740 km and Kampala-Soroti -Kotido via Amuria 656 km. Driving is more rewarding as vast parts of Karamoja are attractive and entirely wilderness. The trip usually takes 12 hours in which 4Wheel Drive vehicles are most appropriate. Dinner and overnight all at Apoka rest camp or Apoka Lodge.
By Air: On the other hand from Kampala/Kajjansi, take a chartered light aircraft to Kidepo Valley’s Apoka Lodge. After lunch, enjoy panoramic views of the Narus River Valley and photographable opportunities of the wildlife from the verandah of the lodge. An evening game drive along the Narus River Valley where you will view Elephants, herds of Buffaloes, Jackals, and Jackson’s Hartebeest, Klipspringer and Lions plus many other mammals.
Day 2: Kidepo – Morning game drive through the park
After breakfast, meet our safari guide dawn drive to Kanangorok hot spring. Here a number of animals like the east African big five can be seen wandering around as well as birds like the Ostriches. After return to the lodge for refreshment, late breakfast and lunch and use the afternoon for a cultural experience that will get you in touch with the Karimajong people at Karenna and Kapedo. Mix together and have a chat with the local elders and they will show you their animal kraals, the grinding stones and many more good items. Go back to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Meal plan: Full board.
Day 3: Full day Game Drive
After breakfast, with our packed lunch, shall take another full day game drive where more animals and birds can be spotted Also enjoy the African landscape in Kidepo Valley National Park. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight. Meal plan: Full-board.
Day 4: Kidepo National Park - Masindi town
New court View Hotel Ltd
After breakfast, we shall transfer to Masindi town. The journey will take us through the traditional African home stead; we shall be having stopovers at your request for clear viewing and photography, continue via Kitgum-Gulu, cross Karuma Bridge near Murchison falls National Park to Masindi town. Have lunch, relax at Masindi Hotel or New court view Hotel Ltd as we wait for dinner and overnight here.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National park
After breakfast, we shall transfer to Kibale national park. The journey will take us through the albertine region with a clear view of mountain of the moon to Fort portal town. Check in Ndali Lodge, Mountains of the moon Hotel or Chimpanzee Guest House, have lunch and enjoy afternoon community walk to interact with Local people in the nearby areas.
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest national park – Afternoon nature walk to Bigodi swamp
This morning of your safari to Kibale will be spent exploring the great kibale forest for its primates. The forest is famous for a variety of primates than other forests in East African forests. Take a guided nature’s walk in search for man’s closest relatives the chimpanzees and primates residing in the tropical forest of Kibale such as red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey and many others may be seen. This walk is restricted to three groups of six persons each, in the morning and the same number in the afternoon. Retire to your accommodation for lunch which will be followed with a guided nature in Bigodi swamp. The Bigodi is a paradise for bird watchers. Actually skilled birders can spot up to fifty new species on a bird list. Today, 138 species of bird have been recognized within the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Oamong the major bird species within the sanctuary is the grand Blue Turaco.This swamp supports more than 200 species of birds, among which is the most well-known bird – Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola Cristata). Return for dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 7: Kibale National Park – Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari park- afternoon game drive
Get a cup of coffee/ tea before traveling to Queen Elizabeth Park. Then a tour to crater lakes region as you head to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The grater lakes region offers a clear view of mountains of the moon and scenery of Kasese town. You arrive at Queen Elizabeth in the Afternoon and lunch at your accommodation. If you are sleeping in the luxury Mweya Hotel you will relax at the swimming pool. Then a late evening game drive in search for the resident of the park like waterbucks, warthogs, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and other wildlife will be seen. Dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge, Enganzi lodge or Bush lodge.
Day 8: Early morning game drive and Afternoon boat cruise
This day will start with a game drive heading to the meeting ground of the Uganda Kobs. You may see other residents of the park’s grassland like lions, elephants, buffaloes. Waterbucks, giant forest hog and other wild animals in their natural habitat before returning to your lodge for your breakfast. After lunch, you will have a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel which connects Lake Edward and George, while the boat trip you will have an opportunity to see wildlife like hippo’s huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the Kazinga channel are also home to an array of bird species like pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many more. After the boat trip, we will drive back to Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth national park – Tree climbing lion – Bwindi Gorilla tracking safari
Breakfast Set for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest located in south Western Uganda. Your journey will take you through Ishasha, home of the tree climbing lions; we shall have en route game drive to see the tree climbing lion. Connect to Bwindi impenetrable National Park (home of mountain Gorillas). Dinner and overnight at Mahogany springs lodge, Gift of nature Lodge or Wagtail Eco safari camp.
Day 10: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park
Report for briefing after early morning breakfast, Thereafter; walk through the dense forest in search for gorilla trekking through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. Expect to see the gentle giants between 2-6 hours walk. You will have time to get closer and Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. Take photos and return to your lodge for relaxation as we wait for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Transfer to Rwanda – En route visit the beautiful twin lakes; Burera and Buhondo –Volcanoes N.P
Wake up very early in the morning and after breakfast, you will cross the Uganda-Rwanda border via Kyanika or Katuna and transfer to the Parc Volcanoes National park in Rwanda. On arrival in Rwanda, you will tour Ruhengeri town then transfer to the Lodge for relaxation at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla lodge or Kinigi Guest house.
Day 12: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park
Wake up early in the morning for breakfast and prepare for the awaited events of the day. Drive to Parc Volcano headquarters in Kinigi for briefing about the endangered mountain Gorillas. Begin the walk in the forest in search of the gorillas with the help of the ranger and on seeing the primates, you will be given 1 hour to spend with them studying their way of life and the way they interact with each other. You are allowed to take pictures and record videos and ask a number of questions concerning the gorillas then get back to your HOTEL FOR lunch. Return to your lodge for relaxation as you wait for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Golden monkey tracking – transfer back to Uganda
After breakfast, you will go to track the golden monkeys in the bamboo forest. Return to your lodge for relaxation as you wait for lunch and thereafter, we shall drive back to Uganda for dinner and overnight in Kabale town known as “the switzerland of Africa”. You will dine at Green Hills Hotel or Queens Hotel.
Day 14: Drive to Lake Mburo National park- Game drive and boat ride
After breakfast, we shall leave Kabele “the switzerland of Africa” and set off for Lake Mburo National park. This Park is an extension of the Tanzanian plains with big herds of zebra, impala, eland and other ungulates. Bird viewing opportunities are excellent – for birders, this is one of the best places to find African fin foot, papyrus bush shrike. On arrival, we shall have a game drive through the park to see a variety of wildlife. Return to your Lodge for Lunch and thereafter, enjoy a boat ride to the colonies of a variety of birds and water loving animals like crocodiles, Buffaloes, hippos among others. Dinner and overnight at Mihingo safari lodge, Arcadia Cottages or Mburo safari Lodge.
Day 15: Transfer to Entebbe international Airport – Departure
After breakfast, we shall embark on the journey to Entebbe International Airport. En route stopover for lunch and at the Uganda Equator for photos and informative talk. Proceed to the Airport for your scheduled flight back home.
End of the trip
