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12 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari

Overview

Explore the Pearl of Africa and the Land of a Thousand Hills on a 12-day safari across Uganda and Rwanda, discovering its hidden treasures along the way. When planning your African safari, one of the greatest lengthy safaris to consider is the 12-day safari. Enjoy once-in-a-lifetime adventure and game-viewing opportunities with this travel package that takes you to two of Rwanda’s most famous wildlife safari areas. Parks like Kibale Forest National Park—the primate capital of the world—and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park—where you can go chimpanzee trekking—and Volcanoes National Park—where you can go gorilla trekking—are among the must-visit destinations. 

In addition to seeing primates, this 12-day wildlife safari through Uganda and Rwanda includes visits to the beautiful Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can go on thrilling game drives and boat rides. There are a lot of animals and plants that Queen Elizabeth National Park safeguards, including 620 different kinds of birds, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, and four of the five main types of mammals. Kampala/Entebbe is the starting point and Kigali, Rwanda is the ending point of a 12-day wildlife safari through Uganda and Rwanda. 

Brief itinerary for the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safari

  • Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport (EBB)in Uganda
  • Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park (KFNP)
  • Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience/CHEX
  • Day 4: Wildlife safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park/QENP
  • Day 5: Game drives, Boat/launch cruise QENP
  • Day 6: Game drive, pass via Ishasha area to see tree climbing lions & go to Bwindi
  • Day 7: Visit Batwa pygmy community
  • Day 8: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 9: Buhoma village walk in Bwindi
  • Day 10: Bwindi to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
  • Day 11: Gorilla trekking or Dian Fossey tomb hike
  • Day 12: Departure from Kigali Airport

Detailed itinerary of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport in Uganda

On the first day of your 12-day wildlife safari in Uganda and Rwanda, you will arrive at Entebbe International Airport (EBB) and be greeted with open arms by the people of the Pearl of Africa. You will be transferred to a hotel in Entebbe/Kampala after receiving a briefing regarding your extensive tour in Rwanda and Uganda. 

Day 2: Kibale Forest National Park

Your Uganda safari guide will pick you up from your Entebbe or Kampala hotel after breakfast to take you to Kibale National Park in the Kabarole District in the western part of the country. The drive from Kampala to Mityana, Mubede, Kyenjonjo, and finally Fort Portal City will take around five or six hours. After taking in the stunning rural scenery, complete with sprawling tea plantations, have lunch at Fort Portal City. Drive up to Kibale Forest National Park, home to thirteen primate species, including one thousand five hundred chimpanzees, after lunch. Before you unwind for the night, have supper, and get some sleep, check into the Kibale hotel you reserved in advance. 

Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Start your day with an early breakfast, and then head out of your accommodation for a briefing on the chimpanzee habituation experience. After a lecture at the Kanyanchu Tourist Centre, you’ll spend the day tracking chimpanzees, getting to know them, taking photographs of them, and even learning their names if you have the chance. 

 

In a CHEX expedition, you and other researchers and trackers go off on an adventure. The process of acclimating populations of semi-habituated chimpanzees to human presence is unique. Before continuing your explorations and having lunch in the forest, you will make your way back to the resort for the night. 

Day 4: Wildlife Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early breakfast at the lodge, you’ll depart Kibale for Queen Elizabeth National Park, taking in the stunning scenery of Crater Lakes on the three to four hour drive there. Before checking into your lodge, take in the sights of wildlife like as elephants, buffalo, antelopes, birds, and more as you drive through Fort Portal city, connect to Kasese, and cross the Equator. This is a great opportunity to get some images. Get there early, have lunch, and unwind before exploring the Kasenyi game track or enjoying a launch boat on Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George. In the afternoon, go on a game drive. You may see hippos, basking Nile crocodiles, aquatic birds, and more on a boat ride along this waterway. 

Day 5: Game drives, Boat/launch cruise Queen Elizabeth National Park

An early breakfast will be served on the fifth day of your twelve-day wildlife safari across Rwanda and Uganda. Then, spend three to four hours game driving around Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kasenyi wildlife trail.  There is a wide variety of wildlife that might be spotted today, including lions, birds, cape buffalo, warthogs, antelopes, birds, and a generally unique terrain. Return to the pre-arranged lodgings for lunch as you continue to sightsee.  Enjoy a Kazinga Channel launch cruise later on for the best chance to view crocodiles, hippos, and birds like fish eagles and kingfishers while they bask in the sun. After a long day, head back to your lodgings for a night of rest and relaxation. 

Day 6: Game drive, pass via Ishasha area to see tree climbing lions & go to Bwindi

Start your day off well with an early breakfast before setting out on a guided game drive in the Ishasha region, a prime location for seeing tree climbing lions. After seeing elephants and other animals, including as birds, you’ll go to the Savanna Hotel for a lunch break.  The next stop is Bwindi National Park in Kabale, southwest Uganda. This park is home to 120 different types of mammals, including 459 mountain gorillas, 160 different kinds of trees, 360 different kinds of birds, and 200 different kinds of butterflies. 

Day 7: Visit Batwa pygmy community

It is common practice to visit the Batwa pygmy settlement after a hearty lodge breakfast. You will have an extraordinary cultural encounter with the Batwa pygmies, the indigenous inhabitants of Bwindi who lived in the forest for at least 50,000 years as subsistence hunters and gatherers. 

Around Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks, the Batwa are currently a marginalised community. Come back for supper and a night at the lodge or camp you booked in advance after your Batwa encounter. 

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking

The eighth day of your 12-day wildlife safari across Uganda and Rwanda focuses on trekking with mountain gorillas. At 8:00 in the morning, following a lecture on the laws and regulations, trekkers are assigned to a gorilla family in Bwindi. The park guide then guides them in their search for habituated gorilla families. 

The hike will take from two to six hours, and one of those hours will be dedicated to getting up close and personal with wild mountain gorillas. Go back to the meeting place to get your gorilla trekking certificate, which will be issued based on your region: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, or Rushaga. 

Day 9: Buhoma village walk in Bwindi

On the ninth day of your 12-day Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, you will enjoy a delicious breakfast before setting off on a stroll through Batwa hamlet. Learn more about the Buhoma region project in northern Bwindi, which is managed by locals.  

A trip to Buhoma village is a wonderful chance to lend a hand with local projects and development. Originally built for the benefit of the locals, the Buhoma community rest camp is where you’ll begin your hike. After that, make your way back to the lodges you reserved in advance to unwind, eat, and spend the night.  

Day 10: Bwindi to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park

After a hearty breakfast, we from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and drive for three to four hours to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda’s Southwest. Get to PNV in Ruhengeri early to choose your preferred room. 

Day 11: Gorilla trekking or Dian Fossey tomb hike

After an early breakfast on the eleventh day of your Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, you’ll depart from the resort for a briefing regarding the regulations for gorilla trekking, the Dian Fossey trip, or tracking golden monkeys. The safari will go for twelve days. Return to the lodge for a quick check-out before preparing to leave for Kigali, which should take about two to three hours, after your primate excursion or Dian Fossey trip.

Day 12: Departure from Kigali Airport

After an early breakfast, your 12-day Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari comes to a close as you are driven to Kigali Airport for your departure.  

Wildlife Safari in Uganda and Rwanda Comes to a Close After 12 Days.

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Gorilla Tours

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Join this 12-day Uganda Rwanda safari is and explore the hidden treasures in the Pearl of Africa and the Land of a Thousand Hills. The 12-day safari is one of the best long safaris you should consider on your African Safari.  This tour package introduces you to the popular wildlife safari parks in Uganda and Rwanda, rewarding you lifetime adventure and game experiences. The places to visit include Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of the world for chimpanzee habituation experience, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Volcanoes National Park for you to enjoy mesmerizing gorilla trekking experiences. Other than primates, the 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari also takes you to a splendid Queen Elizabeth National Park for remarkable game drives and boat cruises. Queen Elizabeth National Park protects 4 of the big five game and much other wildlife including antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, 620 bird species, etc. On a 12 day Uganda Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, your trip will begin in Kampala/Entebbe and ends in Kigali Rwanda. Brief itinerary for the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safari
  • Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport (EBB)in Uganda
  • Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park (KFNP)
  • Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience/CHEX
  • Day 4: Wildlife safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park/QENP
  • Day 5: Game drives, Boat/launch cruise QENP
  • Day 6: Game drive, pass via Ishasha area to see tree climbing lions & go to Bwindi
  • Day 7: Visit Batwa pygmy community
  • Day 8: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 9: Buhoma village walk in Bwindi
  • Day 10: Bwindi to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
  • Day 11: Gorilla trekking or Dian Fossey tomb hike
  • Day 12: Departure from Kigali Airport
Detailed itinerary of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport in Uganda Day one of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, fly to Entebbe International Airport (EBB), get a warm welcome into the Pearl of Africa. After briefing about your long trip in Uganda and Rwanda, transfer to a hotel in Entebbe/Kampala. Day 2: Kibale Forest National Park After an early morning breakfast served from your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala, meet your Uganda safari guide for transfer to Kibale National  National Park in Kabarole District, Western Uganda. This will be 5-6 hours of driving and you will take the Kampala-Mityana-Mubende-Kyenjonjo-Fort Portal City route. Enjoy the picturesque landscape of the countryside characterized by extensive tea plantations, settle for lunch at Fort Portal City. After lunch, have half an hour’s drive up to Kibale Forest National Park where 13 primate species including 1500 chimpanzees all live. Check into your pre-booked accommodation in Kibale for evening relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay. Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience Have breakfast early, after, leave your place of stay for a briefing about the chimpanzee habituation experience. The briefing is done at Kanyanchu Tourist Centre and after, set off for a long day of following chimpanzees, interacting with them, learning in-depth about their behaviors, taking pictures, where possible name them. You embark on a CHEX expedition with trackers/researchers etc. It is a distinct experience where semi-habituated chimpanzee communities are made used to human presence. You will have lunch in the jungles and proceed with your exploration then walk back for an overnight stay at the lodge. Day 4: Wildlife Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park Have an early breakfast at the lodge and after, you will leave Kibale for Queen Elizabeth National Park while enjoying the breathtaking views of Crater Lakes on your 3-4 hours’ road trip. Drive via Fort Portal city, connect to Kasese, cross via the Equator where you will have a chance to take some pictures and as you go to check into your lodge, enjoy the sight of wildlife species like elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, birds, etc. Arrive early, have lunch, and relax before undertaking an afternoon game drive on the Kasenyi game track or a launch cruise on Kazinga Channel that connects Lake Edward & Lake George. A boat cruise on this channel guarantees you a clear view of its basking Nile crocodiles, hippos, aquatic birds, etc. Day 5: Game drives, Boat/launch cruise Queen Elizabeth National Park Day 5 of your 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari shall begin with an early morning breakfast. After, go enjoy a 3-4 hours game drive on the Kasenyi wildlife track of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Today’s possible sightings are countless ranging from bush elephants, cape buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, birds, lions, and a general distinct landscape. Drive back while still sighting for more and settle for lunch at the pre-booked accommodation. Later in the after, have the best of Kazinga Channel launch cruise to see basking crocodiles, hippos, birds like fish eagles, kingfishers. Return to your accommodation for the rest of the evening relaxation, overnight stay. Day 6: Game drive, pass via Ishasha area to see tree climbing lions & go to Bwindi Have breakfast early and after, leave the lodge for an early morning guided game drive along with the Ishasha sector which is significant for tree climbing lion watching. Other wildlife species will also be sighted including elephants, birds and then you drive to Savanna Hotel for lunch stopover. After, drive to Bwindi National Park in Kabale, Southwestern Uganda a home to 120 mammal species which include 459 mountain gorillas, 160 tree species, 360 bird species, 200 butterfly species. Day 7: Visit Batwa pygmy community After a hefty breakfast served to you at the lodge, expect to pay a visit to the Batwa pygmy community. This will take you through unforgettable cultural interaction with the Batwa pygmies the original forest dwellers who spent at least 500000 years as hunters and gatherers in Bwindi. Presently, the Batwa are a marginalized group around Mgahinga and Bwindi N/Parks. After your Batwa encounter, return to have dinner and a night stay at pre-booked lodge or camp. Day 8: Gorilla Trekking Day 8 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari mainly takes you through mountain gorilla trekking. Trekking mountain gorillas start early after briefing about rules and regulations, get allocated to a gorilla family in Bwindi, and later, park guide leads you to look for habituated gorilla groups starting at 8:00 am. The trek is likely to take you 2-6 hours and it includes a special one hour which you will spend face to face with massive mountain gorillas in the wild. Return to briefing point to be awarded gorilla trekking certificate depending on the region-either Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, or Rushaga. Day 9: Buhoma village walk in Bwindi On the 9th day of 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, you will have the best of your breakfast, and after, undertake Batwa village walk. Explore more about the project which is run by local residents in the Buhoma region, in the Northern part of Bwindi. Visiting Buhoma village is a great opportunity to support community development or initiatives. You will start your walk from the Buhoma community rest camp which was purposely established to benefit the local residents of the area. Later, walk back to relax, dine and spend a night at your respective pre-booked lodges. Day 10: Bwindi to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park Enjoy a hefty breakfast and after, vacate Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for 3-4 hours’ drive to Volcanoes National Park, Northwestern Rwanda. Arrive early to check into your accommodation of choice at PNV in Ruhengeri. Day 11: Gorilla trekking or Dian Fossey tomb hike On the 11th day of the 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, wake up for an early breakfast, and after, leave the lodge for briefing about gorilla trekking regulations or Dian Fossey hike or golden monkey tracking. After your primate adventure or Dian Fossey trek, walk back and check out of the lodge ready to hit the road 2-3 hours to Kigali. Day 12: Departure from Kigali Airport Have breakfast early, check out of the lodge, and be driven to Kigali Airport for your departure marking the end of the 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari. End of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari Inclusions
  • A 4WD vehicle with a full-time English speaking guide in Uganda & Rwanda
  • Gorilla permits-Uganda, Rwanda
  • Game drive
  • 11 nights and meals
  • Chimp habituation permits
  • Park entrance fees
  • Bottled water
  • Dian Fossey tomb trek
  • Launch cruise
Exclusions
  • Insurance
  • Airfares
  • Visas
  • Tips
  • Other accommodation rates
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Laundry
  • Addition activities
  • shopping