14 Days Best of Uganda and Rwanda

Day One: Entebbe – Kampala: Travel Time: 42 km, 1 hour

Arriving at the airport you will be warmly welcomed by a Ngeye Trekking safaris representative, and transferred to your hotel in Kampala or in Entebbe depending on your flight arrival time. If you arrive very late in the night, we recommend you overnight in Entebbe as opposed to Kampala.

Optional Activities

City Tour: Depending on your time of your arrival explore the vibrant and chaotic city of Kampala. Discover historical and political sites including the ancient tombs of the Kabakas, where the Buganda tribe laid their kings to rest or the Bahai Temple, etc.

Eat Out: Kampala is a town full of culinary wonders. Stray out from your hotel to taste some of the eclectic cuisine of the region including Kampala’s delicious Indian food!

Accommodation options

Luxury: Sheraton Kampala hotel
Medium: Malakai Eco Lodge
Good budget: Forest Cottages
Meal plan: Bed and breakfast.

Day Two: Kampala –Murchison falls

Kampala – Murchison falls
Travel time: 300km Approx 6 hours
Activities for the day: Transfer Kampala – Murchison falls, lunch and visiting the Top of the falls.

After breakfast, you will depart Kampala or Entebbe for Murchison Falls National Park, stopping en route for lunch arriving in the afternoon.
In the afternoon, you will visit the incredible Top of the falls and later proceed to your lodge in the evening for the overnight.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Medium: Pakuba Game lodge OR – Murchison River lodge
Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp

Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day Three: Murchison falls

Activities for the day: Morning game drive and afternoon boat trip to the bottom of the falls.
This morning you will depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park returning later to the lodge for breakfast. The 3,893 sq km park is home to a range of animals, and you will have a chance of viewing some of the Park’s residents including lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants. For the birders amongst you, these areas support the secretary bird and the black chested snake eagle, to name a few.
In the afternoon, go for a boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls, where the Nile thunders through a small 7 meter gap plunging 43 meters into the Nile on the way to Lake Albert. The banks of the Nile are densely populated with crocodiles, hippopotamus, and a range of other wildlife that come to the river to drink. There is also the option of getting off the boat and hiking up the side of the falls to the top.

Day Four: Murchison falls – Kibale

Travel Time: approx… 5-6 hours
Activities of the day: Visit the top of the falls, then transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

This morning you will visit the top of the falls and later proceed to Kibale forest for two nights. Kibale is home to an extraordinary thirteen species of primates, including chimpanzees, red colobus, and L’Hoest monkeys. Kibale National Forest has also recorded over 355 bird species, and a range of other mammals including the elusive forest elephant.

Accommodation options:

Luxury: Luxury: Papaya lodge OR – Ndali Lodge or Kyaninga lodge OR Primate Lodge
Medium: Chimpanzee forest Guest house.OR – Kibale forest camp OR – Kibale Guest cottages
Budget: Rwenzori Guesthouse
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day Five: Kibale

Activities of the day: Morning chimp tracking, lunch and then Bigodi Swamp Walk
This morning you will go for Chimpanzee tracking along the network of forest trails. Seeing habituated chimps squabbling and swinging from the trees is an exhilarating experience.
Later in the evening you will have the opportunity to visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is rich in bird species, vegetation, and wildlife. This is also a great opportunity to support local tourism initiatives which benefit social and economic development in the area.
Overnight: Chosen accommodation

Day Six: Kibale – Queen Elizabeth

Travel: 2 – 3 hours
Later drive to Queen Elizabeth National park for two nights in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world. Uganda’s second largest National Park, the 1,978 sq km has everything from open savannah to rain forest. Queen Elizabeth has over 100 mammal species, and an astounding 606 bird species, making it a premier safari destination. Arrive in the evening and overnight at your lodge.
Accommodation options:
Luxury: Mweya Lodge OR – Katara lodge
Medium: Marafiki safari lodge Tents OR – Bush lodge OR – Twin lakes safari lodge.
Budget: Marafiki safari lodge cabins.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day Seven: Queen Elizabeth National park

Activities of the day: Morning game drive and afternoon boat trip on Kazinga channel. In morning, you will have a game drive to the Kisenyi area to look for lion prides and other wildlife like the Uganda Kob, before returning to the Lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon take a cruise along the Kazinga Channel, home to one of the largest concentrations of hippopotamus, as well as herds of elephants, buffalo, and other wildlife that come to drink from the river. The Kazinga also attracts a tremendous variety of bird species including the African Eagle, Open-Billed Stork, and Pied Kingfishers.

Optional Activities

Katwe Salt Walk: This tour offers a unique insight into the fascinating process of salt mining, as well as providing an alternative income for Katwe. During the tour you will see community members at work, cross the mud walkways and enter one of the traditional grass huts used to shelter and store tools. The nearby bird sanctuary lake offers a chance to see flamingos from October to May.
Uganda community Carnivore Program:
Leopard Village” – Here you will get to meet the carnivores and the local community of Queen Elizabeth National park. This is a Community based program found in a village called Muhokya on the way from Kasese before entering Queen Elizabeth National park.
This community-run socio-economic development initiative supports cultural and wildlife conservation through ecotourism.  The goal is that this initiative will assist in the conservation of the area’s wildlife and support the villagers as they regain their traditional custodianship of the local wildlife and other natural resources.  Villagers will gain some economic benefit which will help offset the costs associated with living with carnivores, which prey on livestock, and herbivores such as elephants which destroy crops.  It will also educate tourists about Uganda’s conservation challenges and rich cultural traditions.
It can be done as short visit or a long visit as they have a number of activities that take place on site.
We charge $150 per person as a donation to the community and also to help cater for the costs involved.

Overnight at your accommodation option.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day Eight Queen Elizabeth – Ishasha southern sector

Travel Time: 120 km, 2 hours
Activities of the day: Morning game drive then proceed to the southern part of the park & evening game drive.
Today you proceed to Ishasha, home to the famed tree climbing lions. The lions are located in the Southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and are best seen in early hours of the morning. Have a game drive before stopping for lunch, and another game drive in the afternoon before dinner.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Medium: Ishasha jungle lodge OR – Savannah Resort Hotel
Budget: @ The River Ishasha
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day: Nine: Ishasha – Bwindi

Travel Time: Aprrox.3-4 hours
Activities of the day: Morning game drive in search of tree climbing lions, later transfer to Bwindi.
Today you will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for two nights. Home to over half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Interacting with these gentle giants is one of the most moving experiences that Africa has to offer and should not be missed! The ancient rainforest of Bwindi spans 321 sq km and boasts 90 mammal species, including a range of primates, as well as 23 Albertine Rift endemic bird species, including the African Green Broadbill, the Bar Tailed Trogon and many others.
Relax in the evening and get ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking.
Accommodation options in the Northern sector:
Luxury: Mahogany Springs OR – Bwindi lodge OR- Gorilla Forest Camp
Medium: Silverback lodge OR – Engagi Lodge
Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Accommodation options in the Southern  Bwindi:
Luxury: Chameleon Hill lodge OR – Gorilla safari lodge
Medium: Lake Mutanda Resort
Budget: Gorilla valley View lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day Ten: Bwindi Forest

Activities of the day: Gorilla tracking for the day and possible optional activities in the evening.
This morning you will set off for gorilla trekking. Hiking through the thick, verdant, rainforest to eventually come across the gorillas in their natural habitat, is an amazing and unforgettable experience. Actual trek times can vary; these are wild animals after all. If time permits there are a diverse range of activities which are unique to Bwindi which you can participate in during the afternoon.

Optional Activities

Batwa Trail: During this moving tour, the Batwa demonstrate hunting techniques; gather honey; point out medicinal plants and demonstrate how to make bamboo cups. Guests are then invited to the sacred Ngarama Cave, once home to the Batwa King to be entertained by traditional music and dance.
Village Walk: Overlooking the imposing hillsides of Bwindi Impenetrable forest, with the mist swirling over the summits, this is one of the most dramatic settings for your cultural tour! Among others, meet a traditional healer, who not only treats the sick, but uses his knowledge to conserve and educate about the various medicinal plants.

Bwindi Community Hospital: Started by a Canadian doctor BCH revolutionized health care for the Batwa and the Bwindi community. This free hospital tour provides insight into the region and issues that the local community member’s face.
Waterfall Walk: Walk along the Congolese border and Bwindi to see the magnificent waterfalls and the incredible scenery.

Overnight at your chosen accommodation option.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day Eleven: Bwindi –Rwanda

Travel Time: Approx. 6.5 hours
Activities of the day: Breakfast, transfer Bwindi – Rwanda having lunch enroute.
Today you will continue to Rwanda passing via Kabale known as the Switzerland of Uganda with beautiful hills, lakes and valleys arriving in the afternoon. Relax in the evening and get ready for the following days second gorilla tracking.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Mountain gorilla view lodge
OR – Virunga Volcanoes lodge or Sabinyo Silverback lodge.
Medium: La palme hotel
Budget: Hotel Muhabuura
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day Twelve: Gorilla tracking in Parc de national

Activities of the day: Gorilla tracking in Rwanda and the possibility of participating in optional activities in the evening.
Today you set off for gorilla trekking in Parc des Volcans. Ascending the slopes of the Virungas, you will be immersed in the dense, lush rainforest. The vibrant birdcalls and squabbles of the golden monkeys will eventually bring you to the gorillas in their natural habitat. Starring into the eyes of these gentle giants is a truly once in a lifetime experience.
Returning in the afternoon you can go for the optional Ibyiwatu Cultural group performance, where you will be entertained, and learn more about Rwandan culture, music, dance, and drama. Or take a visit to the twin lakes before returning to the lodge in the evening.
Overnight at your chosen accommodation option.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day Thirteen: Ruhengere – Kigali

Travel time: Approx: 2.5 hours drive
Activities of the day: Breakfast, transfer from Ruhengere – Kigali, lunch and afternoon city tour.
Today your safari will continue to Kigali. The two-hour drive through the rolling hills of Rwanda takes you via the base of the magnificent volcanoes of the Virunga mountain range. Arrive in the afternoon and explore the city by visiting the Genocide Museum and the Caplaki Crafts Center.

Accommodation options

Luxury: Lemigo hotel OR – Serena Kigali at a surcharge of $100 per room
Medium – Flame tree lodge
Budget: Stipp hotel
Meal plan: Bed and breakfast.

Day Fourteen: Fly out

Have breakfast and then transfer to the airport to later catch your flight back home.