14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari Gorilla Trekking
The 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari is a life giving package that gives you unbeatable experiences with wildlife including the Big 5 Mammal species, Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees as well as the Tree climbing lions and also Cultural experiences that will give you the real definition of an African Culture. Murchison falls National Park is located in the North Western region of Uganda. It is the largest National park in Uganda covering an area of 3840sqkm. It has a variety of wildlife of about 76 mammal species like Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Bush bucks, Chimpanzees, and also Primates like black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and various bird species of about 451 like the grey crowned crane, the rare shoe bill, giant kingfisher, Giant heron, marabou stork, black headed lapwing, black bellied bustard, Nightjars among other bird species.
Safari destinations
Kibale National Park
Located in Western Uganda in Kabarole district and it was established in 1993, the park is known for being “The primate capital of the World” having various Chimpanzees with a population of over 1500 individuals including habituated ones which are about 120 making it the park with the highest primate population. Among the primates include the black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, olive baboons, Mantled guereza, Potto, Vervet monkey, White-eyelid mangabey, Galago among others. The park is also home to about 120 mammal species including African golden cats, bush pigs, warthogs, blue and red duiker, rare sitatunga, forest hogs, African elephant, forest cape buffaloes, among others and also more than 300 species of birds including olive long tailed cuckoo, western tinker bird, grey parrot, blue breasted king fisher, blue headed sunbird, red faced woodland, yellow spotted nicator, little greenbul among other bird species.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Known for having the Tree Climbing Lions at Ishasha sector of the park, these lions are not found in any other National park in Uganda thus being “The Medley of Wonders”, the park is home to 95 mammal species including the 4 members of the Big 5 which are Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards and also Uganda kobs, bush bucks, oribis, bush pigs, forest hogs, hippos, sitatungas and over 600 Bird species like the African skimmer, rare saddle billed stork, grey headed kingfisher, African mourning dove, African crowned eagle, Nubian woodpecker, swamp flycatcher, grey capped warbler, little bee eater among other bird species.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
One of Uganda’s oldest rainforests with more than 25000 years of age. The park is home to almost half of the World’s population of Mountain Gorillas which gives a great opportunity for Gorilla Trekking and Habituation in the park’s sectors like Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga. The park harbors 120 mammal species like Elephants, duikers, yellow-backed duiker, buffaloes, golden cats, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted Duiker, clawless otter, side-striped jackal, civet, numerous bats, rodents and 350 bird species like handsome francolin, purple sunbird, red headed blue bill, African blue cuckoo, regal sunbird, breasted sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, Shelley’s crimson among other bird species.
Volcanoes National Park also known as Parc National de Volcans (PNV) is one of the Oldest parks in Africa garzetted in 1925 mainly to conserve the endangered Mountain Gorillas. The park is covers an area of about 162sqkm and it is located in the Northern Province of Rwanda in Musanze. The park lies within the Great Virunga Volcano Conservation region and it is home to various Wildlife species including mammals like Bufaloes, forest elephants, bush pigs, duikers, forest hogs, spotted hyenas and primates like the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and chimpanzees and about 178 bird species including about 29 species that are endemic to Rwenzori mountains and the Virunga.
Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe International Airport – Transfer to your Hotel
The 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari will begin with a pick up from Entebbe International Airport by our professional Driver Guide from Paradise Adventure Vacations who will meet and greet you and thereafter brief you about your Safari then he will transfer you to your Hotel where you will have relation from your long flight. Later you will have your dinner as well as an overnight.
Location: Kampala Uganda
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Latitude 0 Degrees |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park with a stopover in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
On day 2 of your Safari, you will wake up very early in the morning for your breakfast and then embark on a drive to Murchison falls National Park with a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary located along Gulu highway for rhino trekking. Ziwa rhino sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you will get an opportunity to watch these endangered, magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Here you will encounter not only the white rhinos but also some antelopes like bush bucks, Uganda kobs, oribis, waterbucks and also bird species like Grey-Crowned Crane, Shoebill, African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Marabou Stork, Red-Billed Oxpeckers, African Grey Hornbill, White Egret among other bird species and then you will return for a special lunch and later you will drive to Murchison falls National Park for dinner and an overnight.
Location: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Nile Safari Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 3: Murchison Falls National Park – Morning Game drive – Launch cruise to the Bottom of the falls – Hike to Top of the falls
Wake up for an early morning breakfast, prepare yourself for another exciting encounter. Day 3 of your 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari will start with an early morning game drive through different trails of the park like Albert trail, buligi trail and the Victoria trail. While here, you will meet eye to eye with different mammal species like Bufaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, bush barks, giraffes, warthogs, Jackson’s hartebeest, , crocodiles, hippos, Uganda kobs among others, you will then return to your lodge for relaxation and lunch.
Later in the afternoon, you will embark on an afternoon boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls and it will take about 3 hours, while on the cruise, you will see the Nile crocodiles resting under the shade, herds of hippos while in water, elephants swimming and drinking water at the water banks and also for the bird lovers, be on the lookout for the different bird species like the shoebill, the black bee eater, grey crowned crane, marabou stork, Malachite kingfisher, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Long-tailed nightjar, Senegal thick-knee, Black-headed lapwing, Long-toed lapwing , Black-billed barbet, and many others, you will have a view of the magnificent Murchison falls as it roars and pours its waters through an 8m narrow gorge .
After the cruise, you will hike to the top of the falls for another breathtaking moment, take as many pictures as possible to keep you connected and give you beautiful memories of the Pearl of Africa. Then you will return back to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight.
Location: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Nile Safari Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 4: Morning Game Drive – Drive to Kibale Forest National Park – Bigodi Wetland and Community Visit
On waking up on your day 4 of your African Safari, you will have a delicious heavy breakfast and thereafter proceed for an early morning game drive as you exit the park. You will then drive to Kibale National park located in the western region of Uganda. This drive will take about 5 hours and it will offer you magnificent scenic views of Uganda’s landscape as you drive to the park. Enroute to your destination, you will have a lunch stopover in Fort Portal Tourism City.
Then you will proceed to the park’s Bigodi wetland for a swamp walk and during this walk you will spot some butterfly species and birds like the Black-crowned Waxbill, White-spotted Fluff tail, White-breasted Negrofinch, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Black Bishop, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Black & white Shrike-flycatcher, Western Nicator, Superb Sunbird, among others. You will then proceed for a community walk where you will see and taste the Gins brewed from bananas, craft making, coffee processing, and then you will return back to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight.
Location: Kibale Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Kyaninga Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 5: Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Trekking
After your morning breakfast on day 5 of your 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari, you will then prepare for the famous Chimpanzee Trekking experience. Wear appropriate clothing for the activity like a long sleeved shirt, a pair of karky or jean trousers, water proof boots, a round cap and a heavy sweater to protect you from the tree branches and also in case of bad weather. Carry in your back packs some snacks and drinking water to help in keeping you hydrated during the trek since it may take about 1 to 5 hours to find these Chimpanzees depending on their location.
Proceed to Kanyachu visitor center where you will be briefed about the Do’s and the Don’t’s of the park, you will be assigned a chimpanzee group to look out for and also a park ranger to help you during the trek. During the trek, you will encounter various primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, Olive baboons, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Red colobuses, Mantled guereza and also various bird species like flycatchers, hornbills, black billed turaco, kingfisher, cuckoos, purple breasted sunbird, crowned eagle, black capped waxbill, and black collard apalis among others. On finding the chimpanzees, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour with them to learn about their behaviors, social life, how they communicate among others. You will then return back to your accommodation for lunch and relaxation.
Location: Kibale Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Kyaninga Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Launch Cruise along the Kazinga channel
Day 6 of your 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari will start with a heavy delicious breakfast and thereafter you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is about 2 hour’s drive from Kibale National Park. Upon reaching, you will check into your accommodation for a hearty lunch and then later in the afternoon you will proceed for a rejuvenating boat cruise along the Kazinga channel which will give you stunning views of the park and an opportunity to view the herds of hippos in water, elephants swimming and drinking water, Nile crocodiles resting at the banks of the Kazinga channel, and for the bird lovers, also be on the lookout for various bird species like the African fish eagle, the yellow billed stork, rare saddle billed stork, grey headed kingfisher, the African skimmer ,Nubian woodpecker, swamp flycatcher, grey capped warbler, little bee eater, Swamp Nightjar among others.
Later you will return back to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Kyambura Gorge Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Experiential Lion and Leopard tracking – Evening to Night Game Drive
Your Day 7 of the 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari will start with an early morning heavy breakfast and then you will embark on an amazing experiential lion and leopard tracking through Kasenyi sector, here you will have an opportunity to drive off track while tracing the lions and the leopards of the park. You will also learn about their population, behavior, life style and also any other information concerning them and then you will return back to your accommodation for your heavy delicious lunch and then spend your afternoon at leisure.
Later you will embark on an evening game drive at Mweya Peninsula then continue with nightfall game drive at Kasenyi sector with an armed park ranger and spotlight torches to help you spot nocturnals as they hunt for their prey, for example the spotted hyenas, jackals, lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and hippos as they feed on short grass. Later you will return back to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Kyambura Gorge Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 8: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park through Ishasha sector
Day 8 of your 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari will start with an early morning breakfast and then you will check out of your accommodation to proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which is located south of Queen Elizabeth National Park and it will take about 5 hours to reach the Northern sector of Buhoma. During your journey out of Queen Elizabeth, you will drive through Ishasha sector to search for the tree climbing lions and other wildlife like Topis, Aardvark, lions, elephants, monkeys, Uganda kobs, Hippos, leopards, water buck among others which are found in this sector of the park and then have a lunch stopover in Kihihi and proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for dinner and an overnight.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Buhoma Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Gorilla Trekking
Upon waking up by the beautiful sounds of the birds singing in the sky, you will start your day 9 of the 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari with an early morning breakfast. Wear appropriate clothing for the day like a long sleeved shirt, a pair of karky or jean trousers, a round cap, water proof boots to protect you against the falling tree branches of the Impenetrable forest and also in case of bad weather, Pack some snacks and water to help in keeping you hydrated during the trek.
Gorilla Trekking
Proceed to the park’s headquarters for a briefing on the Do’s and the Don’ts while you are with the mountain gorillas, you will also be assigned a park ranger who will guide you during the trek and also a gorilla family to look out for and then start the search for the mountain gorillas which will take about 1 to 7 hours depending on their location.
On finding the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend a maximum one hour with them as you learn about their ways of life, how they feed and take care of their young ones, how they communicate among others. Also try to relate with them so they become used to human presence, your guide will be available to answer any questions you need to know, take memorable pictures so that you may have a story to tell.
You will also stand a chance to see many forest dwellers you meet on your way during the search of gorillas including different species of birds, primates, elephants, and antelopes. If lucky you can as well see chimpanzees. Bwindi is one of the parks where gorillas and chimpanzees coexist in the same environment. Later return back to the park Headquarters and receive your Certificate of Participation and head to your accommodation for late lunch.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Buhoma Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After your delicious breakfast on your day 10 of the 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari, you will then drive to Lake Bunyonyi which is a 3 hours’ drive from Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park. Lake Bunyonyi is located in the extreme border between Uganda and Rwanda and it is known for offering a great rest and relaxation to travelers due to its beautiful and breathtaking views.
Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda having 29 different Islands, a fresh climate to relax from and also a clear view of the Virunga Mountains. Upon reaching you will check into your accommodation for a hearty lunch and then proceed for your fun-filled activities which will rejuvenate your body after a long safari. Among the activities you will engage in include swimming, Canoeing, Cycling, Birding and Community visits depending on your preferences. Later you will have your dinner and an overnight.
Location: Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 11: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Upon waking up on day 11 of your Safari, you will have your lovely breakfast and then drive to Volcanoes National Park which is located in the Northern Province of Rwanda in Musanze. This drive will take about 3 hours and upon reaching, you will check into your accommodation for a lovely lunch. You will spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the lodge as you await your dinner and overnight.
Location: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | One&Only Gorilla’s Nest |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 12: Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking
Day 12 of your 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari will start with a lovely breakfast and then get ready to explore the Volcanoes with an Ultimate experience with the Mountain Gorillas. Wear appropriate clothing for the day like a long sleeved shirt, a pair of karky or jean trousers, a round cap, water proof boots to protect you against the falling tree branches of the Volcanoes National park and also in case of bad weather, Pack some snacks and water to help in keeping you hydrated during the trek.
Gorilla Trekking
Proceed to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi for a briefing on the Do’s and the Don’ts while you are with the mountain gorillas, you will also be assigned a park ranger who will guide you during the trek and also a gorilla family to look out for and then start the search for the mountain gorillas which will take about 2 to 8 hours depending on their movement and feeding range.
During your trek, you will encounter various bird species like Long crested eagle, stonechat, cinnamon-breasted bee eater, grey throated throat, African marsh harrier, common moorhen, paradise flycatcher among other bird species. As your gaze meets the gentle eyes of Africa’s dark-furred Great Apes, you will be allowed to spend a maximum of 1 hour with these majestic creatures as you watch and capture every moment while they go about their day to day activities and the young ones playing around the old ones, feeding each other and also eating foliage. Feel free to ask as many questions as possible about these gorillas and take memorable pictures, you will then return back to your accommodation for a delicious lunch and spend the rest of the day resting from the long day.
Location: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | One&Only Gorilla’s Nest |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 13: Transfer to Lake Kivu
On day 13 of your Safari, you will wake up for a leisurely breakfast and thereafter embark on a 2 hours’ drive to Lake Kivu which is located in the Western region of Rwanda at the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. Lake Kivu is one of the most beautiful lakes in Central Africa with lush rolling hills and it is dotted with various green islands. Lake Kivu offers various outdoor activities including canoeing, paddle boarding, swimming among others. If you are seeking a blend of Natural beauty, cultural experiences and also exciting adventures, Lake Kivu has something special to offer.
Location: Lake Kivu
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Lake Kivu Serena Hotel |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner, a selection of drinks, laundry, activities at the lodge
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 14: Transfer to Kigali International Airport or your Hotel with Kigali City Tour and a Visit to Genocide Memorial Site
On the final day of your Safari, you will have a lovely delicious breakfast and then drive to Kigali International Airport or your Hotel. Enroute, you will have stopovers for a City Tour of Rwanda’s Capital, Kigali which is one of the cleanest Capital cities in Africa. You will also visit the Genocide Memorial Site where you will learn about the history of The Rwandan Genocide which occurred between 7 April and 15 July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. During this period of around 100 days, over 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa were brutally slaughtered by armed Hutu militias. You will have your lunch in Kigali Rwanda “The Land of a thousand hills” and then proceed to your destination.
This 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari offers a unique blend of adventure, wildlife encounters, and breathtaking natural beauty. Whether you are a seasoned safari-goer or a first-time visitor, this itinerary is sure to leave you with lasting memories of your time in Uganda and Rwanda. Thank you so much for specifically choosing Paradise Adventure Vacations for the 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari Gorilla Trekking and we hope to see you again!!!
Location: Rwanda (Kigali)
Accommodation Option: No
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & lunch
The Safari Package Includes on 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari Gorilla Trekking
Meet and greet on arrival
Airport and inter-hotel transfers from day 1 to the last day
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Experiential Lion and Leopard tracking
Evening to Night Game Drive
1 Chimpanzee Trekking per person
1 Rhino Trekking per person
Accommodation rate includes: meals, alcoholic and soft drinks, laundry services, any activities at the lodges, and one complimentary massage per guest and applicable VAT
Exclusive use of a private safari land cruiser 4×4 with WI-FI in receptive areas
Services of a professional, experienced English speaking driver guide
A complimentary flower bouquet and a bottle of wine
Bottled mineral water in the vehicle during the tour
1 Gorilla permit per person (this includes briefing at RDB offices, guide, trek – US$ 1,500.-)
All activities, visits and extra meals mentioned in the itinerary
Emergency Medical Evacuation Services
All government taxes.
The Safari Package Includes on 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari Gorilla Trekking
International and domestic airline tickets unless where indicated,
Entry visa fees, Optional extras whilst in Kigali
Drinks throughout the trip, Tips and gratuities,
Personal expenses such as telephone calls, mini bar, porter-age, travel insurance, etc.
Passenger Information on 14 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari Gorilla Trekking
In case of non-availability, we may have to reroute and provide alternative accommodation at lodges of similar category.
Passengers should bring only soft sided bags on safaris as our vehicles have limited luggage space
All the passengers must have Identification Card/Passport with them throughout their travel
Our Safari Vehicles Seating Plan - 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser Extended
All our Safari vehicles are Toyota Land-cruiser 4×4 with pop-up roofs. The vehicles are serviced and maintained to a very high standard before, during and after every safari. Paradise Adventure Vacations Ltd offering all-wheel drive safari vehicles suitable for off-road driving, which enable travelers to discover the magical areas of East Africa in a pleasant and reliable manner.
Our fleet consists of 4×4 Toyota Land cruisers with a hinged roof and skylights above the front seats. The hinged roof offers two main advantages: it provides shade without restricting the view, so that you can enjoy your safari even in the very sunny hours of the day. It also allows a 360-degree all-round view.
Our Vehicles Are Equipped With:
- Adjustable comfortable seats
- Electric refrigerator for drinks
- High-performance shock absorbers
- Tool & first aid kit
- Adapters and battery chargers
Due to the difficult ground and road conditions inside and outside the national parks and wildlife reserves, a four-wheel drive vehicle is not only recommended, but also crucial for an eventful safari.
