11 Days Rwanda and Uganda Tour

11 Days Rwanda and Uganda Tour Overview

This 11 Days Rwanda and Uganda Tour starts with a fly into Kigali Airport and overnight. Proceed to Volcanoes NP for the golden monkey trek before connecting to Uganda via Cyanika Border. In Bwindi, enjoy the gorilla trek and thereafter, we head for safari in Queen Elizabeth NP. Our next stop is Hoima City (en route Murchison Falls NP). In Murchison, enjoy the roaring rapids and wildlife encounter in Uganda largest conservation area.

To finish the Big 5 list, we head to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking. Finally, drop off in Entebbe.

11 Days Rwanda and Uganda Tour Overview

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali Airport, pick up and transfer to the booked hotel
Day 2: Kigali city tour (Morning) and transfer to accommodation in/close to Volcanoes NP
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking Volcanoes NP and transfer (via Cyanika) to Bwindi, Uganda
Day 4: Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest and take the afternoon/evening relaxing
Day 5: Drive to Buhoma, Bwindi Forest hike – waterfalls trail and afternoon Buhoma community visit
Day 6: Game viewing Ishasha for tree-climbing lions and connect North Queen
Day 7: Morning game drive/safari and afternoon boat trip – Kazinga Channel
Day 8: Chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge and transfer to Hoima – en route Murchison NP
Day 9: Transfer to Murchison Falls NP and late afternoon/evening game drive/safari
Day 10 Morning game drive/safari and afternoon boat trip upstream to the falls
Day 11: Drive to the top of the falls, head to Zziwa rhino sanctuary and continue to Entebbe Airport

You’ll be collected from the airport.

Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

On arrival at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, you will perform clearance and thereafter, proceed (out) to meet the waiting assigned Representative/Tour Driver-guide. He/she will welcome you to Rwanda and then head to board the car for the transfer to the booked hotel. You will check in and take your rest – recovering from jet lag, adjusting to time difference.

Accommodation: (Chez Lando-Budget Level) | Meals: Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 5-10 minutes.

Main Destination: Kigali International Airport (Kigali, Rwanda)
Accommodation: Chez Lando Hotel

Mid-range hotel located in or near Kigali

Meals & Drinks: Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Morning pick up (after breakfast) by the assigned Tour Driver-guide who will take you around Kigali City for the city tour. Expect excursion to places like; the national museum, local markets, art and craft shops, genocide memorial ground. Thereafter, you will transfer to Volcanoes NP.

Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla NP in Uganda. You will arrive at the booked accommodation and decide to; either take rest – awaiting next day’s activity or consider some activity. #Optional (extra cost): If interested, you may consider moving out for either; twin excursion – canoe trek (60$) or visit to the cultural village (20$) to gain some insight of the traditional Rwanda. Otherwise, relax – enjoying the facility.

Accommodation: (La Palme Hotel-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 3-4 hours.

Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel

Mid-range hotel located outside Volcanoes NP

Meals & Drinks: All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

The activity starts at (7:00 am) just like gorilla trekking. It starts with a short briefing from the park ranger at the RDB Office and thereafter, you will proceed to trek the golden monkeys through the rainforest of the volcanoes NP. After an actual encounter (that lasts an hour), return to the accommodation for some rest and lunch.

After lunch, drive off to Cyanika Border Post. From Cyanika, you will be received by our Uganda-based Professional Tour Driver-guide who will take over from his Rwanda-based colleague. You will cross border into Uganda and overnight at a property located at the edge of the Bwindi National Park where you will undertake the gorilla trekking tomorrow.

Accommodation: (Broadbill Forest Camp-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: 4-5 hours.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp

Budget tented camp located just outside Bwindi NP

Meals & Drinks: All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates.

Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation and have a good rest after a strenuous trek. #Optional (extra cost 20$): If interested, you can move out to encounter the local Batwa community. Otherwise, continue with your relaxation.

Accommodation: (Broadbill Forest Camp-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: n/a.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp

Budget tented camp located just outside Bwindi NP

Meals & Drinks: All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

We will have breakfast and then drive off to Buhoma sector of Bwindi. Once there, we shall proceed for the Forest walk along the waterfall trail. This is the perfect way to experience the depth of this “impenetrable” forest. Starting from Buhoma – at the north gate, Munyaga river trail gets you to some beautiful pristine waterfalls – a truly rewarding experience.

Along the way you will encounter some flora and fauna, black and white colobus monkeys, sometimes blue monkeys among others. Return to the accommodation for lunch and some rest before moving out to encounter the community. This encounter involves cultural dances from the local people of the community and also participating in some activities e.g. traditional cooking, weaving among others. Return for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: (Ride 4 a Woman-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 2 hours.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation: Ride 4 a Woman

Budget guest house located just outside Bwindi NP

Meals & Drinks: All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Be up early, have breakfast and embark on a transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP – famously known for its tree-climbing lion population. Once there, undertake a game drive in search of this rare species of lions. Should you get the chance to spot the lions up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and unforgettable. From Ishasha (South), we shall head to the booked accommodation in the North Queen. Check in and take rest. #Optional (no cost): If interested, you may consider a late afternoon-evening game drive in the Kasenyi plains.

Accommodation: (Tembo Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 6-7 hours. Exclude time in Ishasha.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)

Accommodation: Tembo Safari Lodge

Budget lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP

Meals & Drinks: All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive/safari in the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch.

After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. #Optional (no cost): If interested, you may go for a brief late afternoon-to-evening game viewing and then, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: (Tembo Safari Lodge-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Accommodation: Tembo Safari Lodge

Budget lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP

Meals & Drinks: All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 8: Chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge and transfer to Hoima – en route Murchison NP

We shall have breakfast and proceed for the Chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge. The gorge is home to habituated Chimpanzees plus other primates including baboons, monkeys and also bird species. Today, you will spend the early part of the day tracking chimpanzees here. Thereafter, return to the accommodation and check out.

To help shorten the transfer time from Queen to Murchison Falls NP, we shall embark on a transfer that will see us overnight in Hoima City (that is en route Murchison).

Accommodation: (Kontiki Hotel Hoima-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 5-6 hours.

Main Destination: Hoima (Town, Uganda)
Accommodation: Kontiki Hotel

Mid-range hotel located in or near Hoima

Meals & Drinks: All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

We will enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the Hotel and thereafter, embark on a transfer to the Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include the roaring rapids of the Murchison Falls, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park where you will have the chance of viewing lions, leopards, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, and elephants.

Then surely, the concentration of hippos and the Nile crocodiles here will fascinate you. At about 2 or 3pm, we can move out for wildlife sightings till about 6:30/7pm. #Optional (extra cost 40$): You may consider a breathtaking night game drive to have a rare encounter of the night life in the wild.

Accommodation: (Fort Murchison-TENT-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 4 hours.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda)

Accommodation: Fort Murchison (Tent)

Budget tented camp located just outside Murchison Falls NP

Meals & Drinks: All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the look for wildlife including: lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch.

After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to catch sight of more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. #Optional (extra cost 15$): If interested, continue with a hike to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Return to your accommodation and relax.

Accommodation: (Fort Murchison-TENT-Budget Level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Transfer Time: n/a.

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda)
Accommodation: Fort Murchison (Tent)

Budget tented camp located just outside Murchison Falls NP

Meals & Drinks: All meals included

Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

We will have breakfast and then drive to the top of the falls to truly appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the Murchison Falls. From the top, we shall embark on a transfer (not so long) to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Once in Zziwa, you will proceed for an hour of on-foot rhino tracking. From the rhino tracking, we shall enjoy lunch and then continue with the drive to Entebbe Airport where you will catch flight (recommended for 18:00hr).

Accommodation: Recommended on request | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Transfer Time: Approx. 6-7 hours.