12 Days Uganda Rwanda Combined Safari

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Combined Safari: Take on this 12 days combined gorilla safari giving you a chance to trek the mountain gorillas in both Uganda and Rwanda. Add a visit to the Nyungwe forest national park and Akagera national park of Rwanda in 12 days. This is an ideal package for travellers looking to spend ample time in the wild discovering the beauty of the East side of Africa. This Rwanda safari can be booked anytime of the year.

Trip highlights of the

Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe international airport and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
Day 2: Game drive and Kazinga channel boat ride.
Day 3: Connect to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park.
Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
Day 5: Drive to volcanoes national park Rwanda.
Day 6: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Day 7: Dian fossey hike
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 9: Drive to Nyungwe forest national park for afternoon canopy walk.
Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer back to Kigali
Day 11: Drive to Akagera national park for Lake Ihema boat trip
Day 12: Morning game drive and drive back to Kigali.

Trip description

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park from Entebbe/ Kampala.

By 9 am, you will be expected to be ready for your transfer to Kasese. Queen Elizabeth national park is located in the south western part of Uganda in Kasese district. You will drive 7 to 8 hours via Mbarara with an enroute lunch at the Equator. You will take part in the experiments at the Equator, take photos and after set out further to Kasese.

You will arrive at your hotel in time for check in and settle in as you wait for dinner to be served.

Hotel options in Queen Elizabeth national park

Pumba safari cottages for budget

Park view safari lodge for midrange

Mweya Safari lodge for luxury

Day 2: Game drive and Kazinga channel boat ride.

As early as 7 am, you will be driving in the savannah lands of Queen Elizabeth national park in search of the game. You will come across the rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, the bush duikers and the smaller antelopes, warthogs, lions and a number of wild animals. You will drive around for about 4 hours before you connect back to your hotel for lunch.

After lunch when the sun has cooled down abit, you will drive back to the park to the Kazinga channel for your launch cruise to see the water animals of Queen Elizabeth national park like the crocodiles, hippos and a number of birds.

Connect back to your hotel before it gets dark for dinner and a second night in the park.

Day 3: Connect to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park.

You will wake up to a tasty breakfast and head out to connect to Bwindi forest via Ishasha sector where on a lucky day, you may chance some tree climbing lions. You will drive to your hotel in Bwindi impenetrable forest. You will arrive at your hotel in time for lunch and settle in the rest of the day as you await for dinner.

Accommodation options in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

Rushaga gorilla camp for budget
Ichumbi gorilla lodge for midrange
Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge for luxury

Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

Have a very early breakfast and head out to the park reception for the briefing before the mountain gorilla trekking experience. You will hire your porters if need be and connect with your ranger guides into the misty impenetrable forest. The trekking will be for about 2 to 6 hours depending on how far into the forest the gorillas might be that day.

Once you meet your gorilla family of the day, you will spend one hour in their presence as you take non flash photography and study the gorillas and after exit the forest back to your hotel for a late lunch. If you are feeling strong enough and have time, you may take on an optional village visit of the Batwa people living around the park. Return to your hotel in time for dinner and second night in the park

Day 5: Drive to volcanoes national park Rwanda.

Wake up in the cold misty Bwindi forest and grab a hot cup of coffee and some snacks. Pack your property and check out of your hotel and drive back to Rwanda. You will connect back into Rwanda via the Cyanika border post.

This is a 4 hour road transfer. Arrive at your hotel in time for lunch and spend the rest of the day settling in or go visit the Iby’iwachu cultural center for the Rwandan cultural experience.

Hotel options in Volcanoes national park

Hotel Fatima for budget

Le Bambou gorilla lodge for midrange

5 Volcanoes gorilla boutique hotel for luxury

Day 6: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park

You will be expected to be up for breakfast by 6 am so that you make it for the briefing before the gorilla trekking experience in volcanoes national park. You will connect with your driver guide to the reception area for the brief and to hire porters. Enter the forest searching for the mountain gorillas. The trek will last about 2 to 5 hours depending on how far into the forest the mountain gorillas may be that day.

Spend the magical one hour with the mountain gorilla family of the day at a 7 meter distance and after exit the forest to connect back to your hotel for a late lunch. Spend the rest of the day at leisure as you wait for dinner and spend the second night at your hotel in volcanoes national park Rwanda.

Day 7: Dian fossey hike

Wake up excited for one of the most demanding hikes of Volcanoes national park. You will breakfast at your hotel, grab your packed lunch boxes and after connect with your driver guide to the park reception for a briefing before the hike. This is a 6 hour hike in the park to the tomb of “Dian fossey the mother of gorillas”.

After the trek, you will drive back to your hotel to refresh and have dinner. You will spend another night in volcanoes national park.

Day 8: Transfer to Lake Kivu

Wake up at a more relaxed note and get ready for breakfast at your hotel. You will after check out of your hotel and drive 2 hours to Rubavu for your visit to Lake Kivu. You will arrive in Gisenyi in time for lunch.

Have lunch at the lake shores and spend time at the beach shore where you will spend rest of the day taking on boat trips, swimming, paddle boarding and kayaking or opt to relax reading a book. Connect to the hotel before it gets dark.

Hotels in Gisenyi

Paradise malahide for budget

Le Palme beach hotel for midrange

Kivu serena lodge for luxury

Day 9: Drive to Nyungwe forest national park for afternoon canopy walk.

You will have a tasty breakfast and set out to leave Gisenyi for Nyungwe. This is a 4 hour road transfer on the country side of Rwanda. Pass through the rolling hills and arrive in Gisakura in time for lunch.

After lunch, you will drive to the park reception to check in for your canopy walk experience. The canopy walk in Nyungwe is a 2 meters long and 9 meters high suspended walkway bridge that gives you a view of the forest from the bird’s view. This is a great birding point and a chance to see the other primates of the park like the monkeys. Connect to your hotel before nightfall for dinner and night stay.

Hotel options in Nyungwe forest national park

Gisakura Visitor center for budget
Nyungwe top hill view for midrange
One and only Nyungwe house for luxury

Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Kigali.

Wake up as early as 5am to get ready for your chimpanzee trekking experience. Drive to the Uwinka gate to get the pre trek brief and connect with your ranger guides. You will set out to search for these playful creatures that you will see swing from tree branch to tree branch. Get back to the hotel for a late breakfast and after check out headed for Kigali.

This is a 5 to 6 hour transfer so you will have an enroute lunch in Butare and continue on your drive to Kigali. You will arrive in the evening hours in time to check in at your hotel in Kigali. Dinner will be served and you will spend a night in Kigali.

Hotel options in Kigali

Step town motel for budget

Nyungwe top hill view for midrange

One and only Nyungwe house for luxury

Day 11: Drive to Akagera national park for Lake Ihema boat trip

Leave Kigali headed for Akagera national park. This is a 2 hour road transfer passing through the homesteads of the people and arriving at the park gate in the afternoon hours. You will connect to check into your accommodation and have lunch.

Enjoy your lunch you will connect to the Lake Ihema for the boat trip. Get to see the water animals of Akagera national park like the crocodiles, the hippos basking and later return to your hotel for dinner and overnight at the hotel as the night before.

Hotel options in Akagera national park

Akagera Game lodge for budget
Karenge bush camp for midrange
Rusizi tented camp for luxury

Day 12: Day game drive and drive back to Kigali

Have an early breakfast and connect with your driver guide to start your 5 hour game drive. You may opt to carry packed lunch boxes or return to the hotel for lunch. You will drive around the Akagera national park searching for the game like the lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos and the smaller animals like the kobs, bush backs.

You will exit the Akagera national park headed back to Kigali after lunch. Drive to Kigali for drop off. You may also go for a second Kigali city tour on this day as it is complimentary.

End of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Combined Safari

Trip quote to include:

Safari vehicle with fuel

English speaking driver guide

Accommodation for all nights

Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Activities described in the itinerary

Bottled water enroute

Trip quote exclusive of

Extra activities

Flights

Personal needs like phone service, laundry, porters

PCR Covid-19 tests