15 Days Uganda Rwanda Safaris

Embark on a journey east of Kampala city to Jinja (1 hr) ride. As you leave the busy central district to stop off at Namugongo martyrs shrine and Mabira forest, a good birders site and continue to Jinja near Lake Victoria and it’s here that we find the source of the Nile River, Rippon Falls. When you reach, prepare for a wild adventure, guess what water rafting. With the biggest rafts on the river, you will see how professional rafters are able to handle and conquer carefully the most challenging rapids
After a full demonstration, it’s your turn to get on the water and try your water rafting skills. For those looking for a white-knuckle trekking adventure, this is the perfect trip. If you love the thrill of playing adrenaline rush of abseiling, then you’re sure to enjoy water rafting. Dine and rest in Gately on the Nile/Sunset Hotel/Hotel Triangle.

After your breakfast head to Murchison Falls another delightful destination with lots to appreciate about Uganda. Stopover on Kampala for lunch. When you get there drive straight away to the Top of the fall such sight to appreciate the staggering power of the falls and the river Nile. Dine and rest in Paraa Safari Lodge/ Nile Safari Camp/ Red Chili camp.

Early morning goes for a game drive in the Northern Nile delta circuit, quite a sight for checking out a high concentration of wildlife. You will spot the leopards along the leopard track, Jackson’s hartebeest, large concentrations of Uganda Kobs because of the many breeding grounds and large families of the Defassa waterbuck, together with giraffe herds, groups of the dainty oribi and buffalo herds. The high supply of Kobs called for inevitable pride of lions to the delta too. The delta also attracts birders with specials like the Abyssinian ground hornbill, shoebill (herons, waders, and egrets around small pools of water) Senegal thick-knee and Denham’s bustard.
In the evening head out for a launch trip on the famous Nile River and appreciate God’s creation of the Murchison Falls, the largest crocs, Hippos, and elephants playing in the water. After such a lovely encounter rest and dine in Paraa Safari Lodge/ Nile Safari Camp/ Red Chili Camp.

This morning leave Murchison Falls and drive to Semuliki national park (8hrs) stopover in Hoima district for lunch. You will pass through Masindi, Hoima towns and capture the view of Lake Albert. Reach and check-in at Semuliki Safari Lodge/ Rwenzori Guest view house. Go for Night game drive; this is the only park which offers a spot-lit night game drives. It is full of surprises. Often the giant cats are seen as well as tiny genet and serval cats. Bizarre night dwellers also show up, such as white-tailed mongoose and slender mongoose depending on the time of year. Return to the lodge for rest.

After taking breakfast, head for a short guided trail near Ntandi, Sempaya hot springs, and the most exciting activity in Semuliki national park. These have an evocative sight featuring hot water oozing out from a wide opening in the ground while shooting up at 100 (Celsius degree). Afterward, we could get to a boat trip on Lake Albert quite a sight to even appreciate nature. There are clearer views of the Rwenzori Mountains. There are hippos a rich birdlife like the shoebill and get to visit the fishing villages. Return to your lodge afterward for overnight. Or you can visit Semuliki reserve on the south of Lake Albert. The oldest national reserve in Uganda since 1932. Some of its attractions involve primates like the vervet Monet, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkey, olive baboon. Other animals include over 10.000 Uganda Kobs, lions, large herds of buffalos, elephants, Defassa waterbuck, Jackson’s Hartebeest. There are birds also like Abyssinians ground hornbill and a grantee place for you to see the rare and sought aver African shoebill. Return to Semuliki Safari Lodge.

Since this, a long journey, take breakfast early and leave for Kibale national park (3hrs). So much to appreciate on your way such as Lake Albert, the peaks of mountain Rwenzori among others. Go for chimpanzee excursions in the afternoon after relaxing and see how these our relatives behave. Not only that there are the primates like the grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, L’Hoest monkey and red colobus alongside the black and white colobus. After taking lunch you can leave for Kampala reaching late afternoon. Dine and rest in Primates Lodge/ Crater Valley Resort / Mountains of the Moon Hotel.

After early breakfast, you will be off to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will drive via the Albertine Escarpment of the western Rift valley via Kasese-Katwe route. This will be a short drive (4 hrs), seeing the views of Lake George and Lake Edward. The park lies at the foothills of the legendary “Mountains of the Moon.” Check in at Mweya Safari Lodge/Mweya Hostel/Simba Safari Lodge. After relaxing, head for the evening game drive in the Mweya Peninsular where you will see buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, and elephants along the way as you drive slowly. Visit the Lake Katwe town with its gorgeous exhibit of crater lakes. Check out salt mining. Return back to lodge and rest.

and white colobus, bushbuck, Uganda Kob, topi, Defassa waterbuck, and Cape buffaloes. A collection of birds like Cassin’s grey flycatcher, broad billed roller, black bee-eater along the banks of Lake Edward. This can take you 2-3 hrs. Head back to lodge for lunch then in the evening go for a launch cruise on Kazinga channel (2hrs) along lake George-lake Edward, come eye-eye with yawning hippos, crocodiles, leopards though sporadic. Watch birds for birders with over 550 resident species like flamingos, red chest, Papyrus Gonolek, pink-backed pelicans, malachite kingfishers, yellow crown, pink-backed pelicans, water thick-knee, yellow-billed stork, shoebill stock. Don’t forget your camera. Return to Mweya Safari Lodge/ Institute of Ecology/bluechip aviation and safaris ltd

Wake up on a tasty cup of coffee and go for a nature walk-in Imaramambo forest. Enjoy the sweet morning melodies of birds up in the trees, feel the quiet and cold natural environment and return to the lodge. Next, we connect to Bwindi national park a worldwide recognized habitat for the mountain gorillas. Sleep in gorilla nest/ Buhoma community bands/ Gorilla Forest Camp/Lake Kitandara lodge.

At dawn wake up and take breakfast, get ready for gorilla trekking by 0800hrs. You trek through the huge Bwindi forest as you search for the mountain gorillas to observe their behavior, this can be half-day or longer. After tracking, go for briefs visits to Munyanja trail or the local community. Then retire back to lodge.

After morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and leave Bwindi for Volcanoes National park. Enjoy the scenic drives through the rolling hills of Rwanda connecting to Volcanoes National park in Northwestern Rwanda. Dinner and overnight stay at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/ Gorilla’s Nest Hotel/Kinigi Guest House.

Wake up early and enjoy a hearty breakfast followed by tracking of gorillas in the thick forest of PNV. Tracking may take 8hrs of a full day. You may visit the famous Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s’ main and biggest freshwater body. Retire back to the lodge for dinner and rest.

Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, After breakfast, transfer to the headquarters to get ready for golden monkey trekking. Volcanoes National park is home to the highest population of golden monkeys in Africa. Alternatively, hike to the graveyard of Dian Fossey, an American primatologist who lost her life to save the endangered mountain gorillas that were at the verge of extinction. You will later transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Eco Resort.

Today, embark on a boat cruise to explore the different islands of Lake Bunyonyi. Cruise to punishment island where Bakiga unmarried pregnant girls would be taken and left to die in isolation. other islands of lake Bunyonyi include Akampene, Bushara, and Bucuraniko among others. In the afternoon, transfer to Lake Mburo national park. Overnight at Mihingo lodge.

After breakfast go for morning game drive; check out the ‘impalas’ which are not easily observed anywhere else in Uganda. Kampala was named after these beautiful antelopes. Check out the big herds of Burchell’s zebra, sitatunga, waterbucks, elands, lions, and topi around Sanga and Nshara gates especially in the wet season. Along the Kigambira loop are lakes Mburo, Kigambira and Kibikwa and klipspringers are frequent on the Kazuma track. Near Bisheshe gate there’s a rewarding site for birders. Later go for a boat trip which is cool for good sightings of hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, bushbuck, and the resident otters which are not spotted anywhere else in Uganda. Also, the striking birds which may be seen are Abyssinian ground hornbills, egrets, Ross’ Turaco, Narina trogon and herons plus the elusive African finfoot associated with still water below floating branches. Drive this evening back to Kampala.