Affordable 13 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari

Be part of this 13 Days Uganda and Rwanda safari for the best double gorilla trekking, game viewing and other wildlife encounter with Silverback gorilla Tour. the 13 days combines safari offers you the best of Uganda  and Rwanda on the same trip.

This gorilla and wildlife safari package incorporate several iconic tourist sites particularly Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the highest population of  the world’s mountain gorillas,  Murchison Falls National Park Uganda’s oldest and largest park, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Volcanoes National park Rwanda and Nyungwe Forest park among others

Your 13 days Uganda and Rwanda safari will commence from Kampala-Uganda and end in Kigali Rwanda.

Highlights; 13 Days Uganda Rwanda safari

• A double magical encounter with the rare mountain gorillas in the wild
• Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park
• Game viewing with the opportunity to see the tree-climbing lions
• Canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
• 12 nights and meals
• 4×4 drive safari vehicle with pop up roof
• Fulltime English-speaking driver guide
• Stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Brief itinerary; 13 days Uganda Rwanda safari

• Day 1: Drive from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
• Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
• Day 3: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
• Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 5: Game drive and boat cruise
• Day 6: Game drive via Ishasha area and connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 7: Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience
• Day 8: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
• Day 9: Gorilla trekking and visiting Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
• Day 10: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park
• Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking
• Day 12: Canopy walk and nature walk
• Day 13: Transfer to Kigali

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park

In the morning, the driver guide from Silverback Gorilla Tour will pick you from either the airport of your hotel in Entebbe for a transfer to Murchison falls National park.  You will have a brief guide through the itinerary to know what to expect and when . Thereafter, embark on a drive north westwards to Murchison Falls National park.  On the way, you will make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for you to track rhinos and later, proceed to Masindi Town to have lunch. Enter Murchison Falls National Park through the Kichumbanyobo gate and drive to the top of Murchison Falls to have a breathtaking view of this scenic and iconic tourist site.

After, check in at your safari lodge of choice to relax, dine, and night stay.
Journey: 5 to 6 hours
Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Where to stay in Murchison Falls National Park
Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury); Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range) or Red Chili Rest Camp (Budget).

Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

Very early today , go for the guided game viewing experience in the open savannahs of Murchison Falls National park.  The game drive offers you chance to see animals such as buffaloes, the Rothschild giraffes, leopards, African bush elephants, lions, hyenas, warthogs, jackals, Uganda kobs, hartebeests, bushbucks as well as variety of bird species. Retreat from your exciting game viewing experience to enjoy lunch and relax a bit.

At 2:00pm, be prepared to set off for the afternoon launch or boat trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls which squeezes itself in a narrow gorge of about 7 meters prior to plunging about 43 meters. The boat cruise will reward you with exceptional sight at diverse water bird species including saddled billed stork, goliath heron, skimmers, fish eagles, kingfishers among others; Nile crocodiles as they bask on the River bank, large schools of hippos and several savanna dwellers on the river banks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Where to stay in Murchison Falls National Park
Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury); Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range) or Red Chili Rest Camp (Budget).

Day 3: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park

Have breakfast early in the morning and after, begin your 7 to 8 hours’ road trip to Kibale Forest National Park through Hoima-Fort Portal while enjoying the breathtaking views of the rift valley escarpment. Make a stopover at Fort Portal to have lunch and later, connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and a night stay.

Journey: 7 to 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Kibale Forest National Park
Papaya Lake Safari Lodge, Ndali Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury), Primate Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Mid-range) or Chimp Nest Lodge (Budget).

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Rise up early in the morning to have a cup of tea or coffee and after, connect to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for briefing on the set rules and regulations for chimpanzee tracking. The actual chimpanzee treks start at 8:00 am and you will be accompanied by a park ranger guide. This will last for about 2 to 4 hours and once you locate the chimpanzees, you have an hour to strike your imaginations with these remarkable creatures share about 98 percent of their DNA with humans. On the way, you will also come across other primates, birds, and plants of medicinal significance. Retreat from your rewarding chimpanzee tracking experience to have lunch and later, begin your 3-hour journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Journey: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Mweya Safari Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury), Ihamba Lodge, Bush Lodge (Mid-range) or Simba Safari Camp, Mweya Hostel (Budget).

Day 5: Game drive and boat cruise

After early morning breakfast, drive via Kasenyi Plains for game viewing where you will come across several mammal species including lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, leopards, antelopes, birds and many more. This is a 2 to 3 hours game viewing experience and later, return to have lunch and some rest.
At 2:00pm, you have a launch or boat cruise along Kazinga Channel which links Lake Edward and Lake George. This water sport is amazing and it lets you see water birds, crocodiles, hippos and many others. You will get back to the lodge to rest, dine and spend a night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Mweya Safari Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury), Ihamba Lodge, Bush Lodge (Mid-range) or Simba Safari Camp, Mweya Hostel (Budget).

Day 6: Game drive via Ishasha area and connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Wake up early in the morning to have breakfast and later, check out and drive via the Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park. A game drive via the Ishasha sector lets you catch a glimpse at the tree climbing lions and many other wildlife species. After, proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and you will have lunch at Savanna resort.

Journey: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge (Luxury), Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid-range), Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Nshongi (Budget).

Day 7: Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience

Have breakfast early in the morning and after, gather at Bwindi park headquarters for the 7:00am briefing on guidelines for gorilla trekking. The park ranger or official will assign you one gorilla family to trek and Bwindi is comprised of about 20 habituated families and they include Bitukura, Nshongi, Bweza, Kutu, Rwingi, Bushaho, Bikingi, Mucunguzi, Oruzongo, Habinyanja, Katwe, Christmas, Rushegura, Kahungye, Mishaya, Mubare, Nkuringo, Kyaguriro, Busingye, and Mukiza. With your packed lunch and bottled drinking water, start your 2 to 6 hours search for mountain gorillas and once you locate them, you have an hour of magical encounter.

After, get back to the lodge to relax and in the evening, pay a visit to Batwa community for a cultural experience, learn unique traditions of the Batwa pygmies. Return to the lodge to rest, dine and a night stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge (Luxury), Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid-range), Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Nshongi (Budget).

Day 8: Drive to Volcanoes National Park

Enjoy your cup of tea or coffee and after, drive to Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda. Along the way, get the best of the breathtaking views of the rolling hills of the Kigezi area and cross Rwanda border to Ruhengeri. On arrival, you will set off for a boat ride via the Twin Lake-Lake Ruhondo and Lake Burera.

Travel time: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Five Volcanoes Lodge (Luxury), Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) or Kiningi Guesthouse, Hotel Muhabura (Budget).

Day 9: Gorilla trekking and visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village

Wake up early in the morning to have breakfast and after, gather at Kinigi Visitor Center for a briefing on the guidelines for gorilla trekking. With your packed lunch plus bottled drinking water and after you have allocated to a gorilla group to trek, the park ranger guide will take you through the trek to see mountain gorillas. Gorilla treks in this park normally take about 2 to 6 hours which also involves an hour of face-to-face encounters but this normally depends on your hiking speed, nature of the habitat and where the gorillas are.

The habituated gorilla families to trek in Volcanoes National Park include Susa A, Hirwa, Bwenge, Amahoro, Umubano, Ugenda, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Kwitonda, and Agashya. After, return to relax in the lodge and in the evening, pay a visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for a cultural experience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Five Volcanoes Lodge (Luxury), Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) or Kiningi Guesthouse, Hotel Muhabura (Budget).

Day 10: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, check out of the lodge ready to begin your 5-7-hour journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Southern Rwanda. You will be served lunch on the way and arrive at the lodge to relax, dine and spend a night.

Travel time: 5-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Where to stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-range), Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget).

Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, gather at Uwinka Visitor Centre for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking guidelines. Later, embark on the actual trek to see chimpanzees with the park ranger guide and this may take you about 2 to 5 hours. On the way, you will come across other primate species, birds and many others. The afternoon or evening will be spent on a community walk.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-range), Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget).

Day 12: Canopy walk and nature walk

Wake up early in the morning to enjoy your cup of tea or coffee and after, embark on a canopy walk which takes about 2 hours. On a canopy walk, you will come across primates, birds and have an exceptional view of the Nyungwe Forest canopy. Return to have and in the afternoon or evening, set off on a nature walk in and around the park. This gets you a chance to see a variety of birds, primates and many floral species.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation choices
Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-range), Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget).

Day 13: Transfer to Kigali

Following breakfast, check out of the lodge ready to embark on 5-6 hours’ drive journey to Kigali to catch up with your flight back home.

End of your 13 days Uganda and Rwanda safari

Includes

• Game drives
• Boat cruise
• Park entry fees
• Gorilla trekking permits for Uganda and Rwanda
• Bottled water
• Relevant government taxes
• Transportation by 4×4 drive safari vehicle
• Fulltime English-speaking driver-guide
• All activities in the travel plan except the optional ones

Excludes

• Tips
• Insurance
• Uganda visa fees
• Laundry services
• Beverages
• cigarettes
• International flight fares
• Telephone calls.

Packing list for gorilla trekking

• First aid kit
• Long trousers
• Gardening gloves
• Long sleeved shirt
• Waterproof daypack
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Waterproof hiking boots.
• Non flashlight camera with extra batteries
• Bottled drinking water and Energy giving snacks

Dos and don’ts for gorilla trekking

• Gorilla trekking is limited to only 8 visitors.
• You have only one hour of face-to-face encounters.
• To trek mountain gorillas, you should be above 15 years.
• Do not trek mountain gorillas if you are sick.
• When trekking mountain gorillas, a distance of 7 meters should be kept at all times.