Day 1: Drive to Murchison falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 

Welcome to Uganda – The Pearl of Africa! Upon your arrival at Entebbe international airport or after a morning breakfast at your hotel in Kampala, you will meet our driver guide. He or she will brief you on the safari. Embark on the 6 to 7 hours’ drive along Kampala – Bombo – Masindi road to Murchison falls national park. 

 You will stop at Ziwa rhino sanctuary for a rhinoceros tracking experience. Here you will learn about the stories of the rhinos and how they were at the verge of extinction before the establishment of the sanctuary. This is why they are still categorized under world’s endangered species. 

Continue with lunch in Masindi and reach Murchison falls national park.

Check in to your earlier booked lodge upon arrival, for relaxation, dinner and sleepover. 

Main destination: Murchison falls national park  

Driving Distance:  305 km

Driving time:  6 to 7 hours

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Paraa Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar

Budget / Basic: Parkside Safari Lodge or similar

Meals:  Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Morning game drive in northern Murchison falls, afternoon Boat cruise, and hike to the top of the falls

The day starts with an early morning breakfast at around 6:30am. You will then meet your driver / guide and go for a wonderful game drive in the northern sector of Murchison falls national park. The reason for starting this journey as early as 6:00am is to catch the early risers and the nocturnal of the park as they leave their nests and go to their dens respectively.  This is the best time for seeing at least half of the big five animals (lion, leopard, buffalo or elephant). 

During this game drive, you will see quite a number of bird species, some of which include rift valley endemics while others can never be seen elsewhere in the world. Some of these birds include but not limited to the following; Abyssinian ground hornbill, Occasional black-headed lapwing, common gray crowned crane, common Senegal thick-knee, and Shoebill. 

After the game drive, you will return to your hotel / lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Later on, you will go for an afternoon boat cruise at the Nile River for another spectacular experience. This comes with photographic moments and mesmerizing water experience down the bottom of the falls. You will encounter a number of aquatic animals such as the Nile crocodile and hypotenuses and other bird species. 

Continue and hike to the top of the falls and see how the water roars like a hungry lions as it cuts through the gorge. It if from here that you will meet your driver who will drive you back to your hotel or lodge.

Upon arrival, relax, have dinner and spend a night.  

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Paraa Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar

Budget / Basic: Parkside Safari Lodge or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park as you explore the views of the countryside

After a morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on the drive to Kibale Forest national park. You will have lunch en’ route in either Hoima or Fort Portal depending on time. The journey takes you through banana and tea plantations as well as scenic views of the rift valley. You will then visit the Amabere ga Nyinamwiru caves and Nyakasura falls a few kilometers from Fort portal town after lunch and have a short Fort Portal city tour if possible. During the tour, you will explore the Karambi royal tombs as well as Toro Kingdome palace for traditional encounters. 

Continue to Kibale forest national park. Check in to the lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight. 

Main destination: Kibale Forest national park

Driving Distance:  214 km

Driving time: 2 to 3 hours

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Papaya Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Chimpanzee Forest guesthouse or similar

Budget / Basic: Kibale Forest Lodge or similar 

Meals:  Breakfast lunch and dinner

Day 4: Undertake chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori mountain sightseeing en route

Day 4 of the 10 days Uganda – Rwanda safari belongs to chimpanzees. After a morning breakfast, you will go to the visitor’s center for briefing about chimpanzee trekking. From there, you will enter the forests of Kibale and start on the search for these human-like chimps. Upon encountering the chimps, you will have an hour in their presence whilst taking pictures. Return to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation.

After lunch, check out of the lodge and drive to Queen Elizabeth national park. The journey is a blessing for you to see lush green vegetation cover, rolling hills and scenic views of crater lakes and the mighty Rwenzori Mountains.

Check in to the lodge, upon arrival, have dinner, relax and spend the night over. 

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth national park

Travel distance: Approximately 180.8 km

Travel time: 3 to 4 hours

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge or similar 

Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Morning game drive in Kasenyi sector, afternoon Boat cruise, and evening game drive

You will wake up early and go for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. You will have a chance of seeing early risers of the park. You stand high chances of seeing night hunters such as leopards before they go back into hiding. It is also a moment of enjoying the views of sun rise as they spread on top of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains. The area is a home to multiple species of both birds and animals. You will encounter animals such as elephants, buffaloes, zebras, leopard, to mention but a few. 

Return to your lodge for a late breakfast before you go for the afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel. 

During the boat cruise experience, you will enjoy views of the surrounding areas while sailing the waters. You will see many animals converging at the channel to drink and several water animals such as hippos and crocodiles. Multiple water birds are also found here some of which are rift valley endemics.

Return to your lodge for a late Lunch and embark on an amazing evening game drive. 

During the this game drive, you will see multiple tree and bird species among which include; yellow bill, Robin chat, read-throated wryneck, African emerald cuckoo, brown illadospis, lesser flamingos, papyrus gonolek, to mention but a few.

You will return to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight. 

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge or similar 

Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with a game drive in the Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions

After a morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and go for an en’ route game drive via Ishasha sector. This is the best moment for you to have a glance on the kings of the jungle. These tree climbing lions are found only in Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda. Meeting them on a hunt or during the mating season is always a remarkable experience. Our guides are experienced enough so that they can help you see these lions without trouble. You will enjoy them as they lie in the acacia tree branches. 

Continue to Bwindi impenetrable national park – the home of mountain gorillas. It is a rough ride in the hills of Kabale and Kisoro. 

Check in to the lodge for relaxation upon arrival. You can go for a guided nature walk and visiting Batwa communities in the evening hours.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. 

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable national park

Travel distance: Approximately 180.8 km

Travel time: 3 to 4 hours

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge and Four Gorillas Lodge or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Buhoma Havens Lodge, Agandi Lodge and Icumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar 

Budget / Basic: Ride for a Woman Lodge, Broadbill forest Camp and Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Day 7: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and spend an evening relaxing at lake Bunyonyi and canoe ride

After an early morning breakfast, meet your diver and go to the park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi starts at 8:00am and can take between 1 to 8 hours. The nearer the place where the gorillas spent the previous night, the faster the process of encountering them. Each gorilla family is trekked by a maximum number of 8 people per day.  Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is one of the most adventurous tourism activities Uganda has ever had. It involves walking the trails of the forest in search of these apes. Upon encountering the gorillas, you will be given a full hour to spend in their presence. Take as many pictures as you wish but do not use flash light cameras. 

Return to your lodge for lunch and check out of the lodge. 

Embark on the road to Lake Bunyonyi via Kabale town for an afternoon canoe experience. The canoe will help you explore wider areas of Lake Bunyonyi alongside beautiful sceneries on the waters. 

You will then check in to your lodge for relaxation and dinner and overnight.

This will introduce you to beautiful sceneries as well as bird sightings. Lake Bunyonyi is a home to thousands of birds such as grey crowned cranes, herons, white tailed monad, weavers, African harrier hawk, egrets, cardinal woodpecker, grey crowned cranes, African king fisher, to mention but a few. 

Main Destination: Lake Bunyonyi

Travel distance: Approximately 80 km

Travel time: 2 to 3 hours

Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Birdnest Resort or similar

Mid-range / Moderate: Bunyonyi Rock Resort or similar 

Budget / Basic: Supreme Adventure Park or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Relaxed breakfast, boat ride at Lake Bunyonyi and transfer to Rwanda’s volcanoes National Park

This is the day to explore Uganda’s deepest Lake. After a relaxed breakfast on your lodge, you will go for a morning boat ride at Lake Bunyonyi. This will introduce you to beautiful sceneries as well as bird sightings. Lake Bunyonyi is a home to thousands of birds such as grey crowned cranes, herons, white tailed monad, weavers, African harrier hawk, egrets, cardinal woodpecker, grey crowned cranes, African king fisher, to mention but a few. The boat ride will also introduce you to some of the 27 historical islands of Lake Bunyonyi. 

You will return to the lodge for lunch, check out and embark on the journey to Rwanda – Volcanoes national park. You will drive through the rolling hills and cross via Cyanika border. 

Check in to the lodge for dinner and spend the night over. 

Main Destination: Volcanoes national park

Travel distance: Approximately 88 km

Travel time: 2 to 3 hours

Accommodation:

Amakoro Songa Lodge or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9: Optional Golden monkey trekking or adventure Bisoke hike and transfer to Gisenyi, Lake Kivu for relaxation

After a morning breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for briefing about golden monkey tracking. You will learn the dos and don’ts of the activity. The tracking begins there and then and it takes 1 to 4 hours. You will be given a full hour to spend in the presence of these monkeys upon encountering them. The activity involves spectacular views of several bird and plant species some of which are restricted to the park. 

If you choose hiking Bisoke hiking this is how your day shall be;

After an early morning breakfast, carry your lunch box and other essentials, you will be taken either to hike Mount Bisoke 3,711m above sea level or visit the Dian Fossey Centre to pay tribute to the famous American Primatologist (Dian Fosse) who pioneered the initiatives to protect and conserve the endangered Mountain Gorillas. The Bisoke Volcano has two stunning cones that were formed after the volcano eruption of 1957 and contains an amazing Crater Lake (Ngezi) which is about 11km from the summit. A walk around the volcanic cones gives you a stunning view of the Virunga ranges in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the afternoon, you will drive to Gisenyi – Lake Kivu for amazing views and sceneries of the surrounding areas that come along with best relaxation moments. Lake Kivu is one of the lakes in Africa that attract thousands of travelers particularly to enjoy the scenic views. The air and the breeze is breathtaking and the sunrays provide magical photography moments. 

Main Destination: Lake Kivu – Gisenyi

Travel distance: Approximately 56 km

Travel time: 1 to 2 hours

Accommodation: 

Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Hill View Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Drive to Kigali, visit the Kigali genocide memorial and depart

After a relaxed morning breakfast at your lodge, you will embark on the drive to Kigali city – Rwanda’s capital city. Enjoy the views of the surrounding areas.

You will visit the Rwanda genocide memorial Center and see the names and remains of thousands of lives that succumbed to the 1994 Rwanda genocide. 

Have lunch at any hotel in Kigali and the driver will drop you at either a hotel or lodge in Kigali or Kigali international airport for your outbound flight.

This marks the end of your 10 days Uganda – Rwanda group tour. 

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

SPECIAL NOTE: Love Uganda Safaris would like to inform you that, during your 10 days Uganda – Rwanda tour, you will be interacting with animals and birds in their natural habitats NOT in cages or a zoo. We therefore request that you understand us in case you miss some of these animals or birds in the areas they are expected to be. However, from our experience and up to date information from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) as well as national parks’ management, we are 85% sure that you will see these animals and birds in their respective areas.