9 Days Epic Rwanda Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Adventure Safari

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TAILOR-MADE ITINERARIES

As with all the tours on our website, this is just an example of the safaris ideas we are able to arrange. We take pride in creating holidays and safaris from scratch, placing particular emphasis on matching the destinations and properties to your budget. Contact us now to start the process of arranging your dream holiday and safari.

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Countries: Rwanda and Uganda

Destinations: Kigali, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, Mabamba Swamp, Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Mabamba Bay

Itinerary at Glance

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and later city tour

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 3: Gorilla Trek at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Swamp walk at Kibale National Park

Day 6: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Day 7: Game drive and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

Day 8: Transfer to Entebbe with en route visit to Ziwa

Day 9: Shoebill Bird Watching at Mabamba Swamp and departure

Trip Overview.

This 9 days Epic Rwanda Uganda combined adventure safari, takes you through Rwanda and Uganda, with arrival through Kigali airport and departure at Entebbe. You will enjoy a wonderful primate, wildlife and bird life experience, as well as both Kigali and Entebbe tour. You will explore both countries’ attractions, and be able to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the half of the world’s remaining mount gorillas and chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, the primate capital. You will do a wildlife game safari in Murchison Falls National Park, with a wonderful boat ride on the Nile, having the world’s concentration population of hippos and large Nile crocodiles, trek the Rhinoes on foot at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. You will wind up the tour in Entebbe, with a day excursion to Mabamba swamp wetland, best spot to spot the rare shoebills, as well as other bird species. This is one of its kind, with a massive adventure, starting in Kigali – Rwanda and ending in Entebbe – Uganda.

Trip Highlights

  • Gorilla trekking in Uganda
  • Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale National Park
  • Game drives
  • Boat cruise on the Nile in Murchison
  • Shoebill bird watching at Mabamba bay
  • Visit to Ellen DeGeneres campus
  • Kigali city tour
  • Visit to Kigali genocide memorial
  • Bigodi swamp walk
  • Rhino trekking
  • Visit to Kigali genocide memorial

Day 1: Arrive in Kigali.

Day Itinerary

Upon landing at Kigali International Airport at 10:05 am, you will go through the immigration protocol and on getting done, as you exit the tunnel, your driver/guide, will warmly welcome you to Rwanda, and he will pick you up from Kigali Airport and transfers you to your booked accommodation. You will be served lunch, later refresh, and 2:30 pm, we head out for Kigali city tour, with a visit to Kigali genocide memorial, where you will learn more about what transpired during the 1994 Rwanda genocide against the Tutsi. Later visit some art gallery, and local market before return to your hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay. You will have the opportunity to rest and prepare for your safari adventure the following day. Our driver will ensure that you are comfortable and ready for an exciting and unforgettable experience exploring the beautiful landscapes and wildlife of RwandaUganda.

Overnight stay at: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury) or Hotel des Mille Collines (Mid – range) or Nature Kigali (Standard)

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Travel time + 5 hrs

Day Itinerary

After breakfast at 0800, you will be greeted by your safari driver guide, who will assist you to the car, share a short briefing before departure, and there you set off, to Musanze, a town in Northern Rwanda, which is roughly 2 hours away from Kigali, you will visit Ellen DeGeneres Campus of Dian Fossey. Learn more about Gorilla conservation and as you get to know more about Dian, a great conservationist.

Later Rwanda departed on a scenic drive through thousands of hills, coffee, tea and banana plantations to the border post foothills of the Virunga massive and into the beautiful Pearl of Africa – Uganda. You will see a great country-side of bamboo forest and have great views of the landscape. Lunch shall be enjoyed on the way.

In the late afternoon, check into your lodge for relaxation and prepare for your big day the next day.

Overnight stay at: Four Gorilla Lodge (Mid -luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (Mid – range) or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Standard)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking Experience at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day Itinerary

Today is the big day… Prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the rare Mountain Gorilla. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda. You will be required to wake up early in the morning then be led to the visitor’s reception center for a briefing about the park. You are allocated guides before heading into the forest in search of Mountain Gorillas.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boasts of both Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees – the only forest in Africa which can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primate, 113 species of mammals, over 200 butterflies and 360 birds.

The Gorillas you will track belong to one of the habituated family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day. Your trek will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the Gorillas’ habitat. En-route, your guide will point out signs of previous Gorilla activity, including dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. The time taken to track the Gorillas can take as little as 4 hours or more.

Once the Gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a Mountain Gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’. You will enjoy an informative moment, with the ranger guide, who will share with you more information about the gorilla conservation and the entire park. Later return back to your lodge for hot lunch, retire in the afternoon at leisure at the lodge.

Overnight stay at: Four Gorilla Lodge (Mid -luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (Mid – range) or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Standard)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4:  Transfer to Kibale National Park. Travel time + 6hrs

Day Itinerary

After early morning breakfast, checkout of your lodge, meet your driver guide and drive heading to Kibale Forest National Park; you will drive through a scenic lush green countryside. On arrival at Kibale forest; you will enter a completely different world… some serious monkey business. The forest is home to at least 12 Primate Species including: The Red-Tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon, Black and White Colobus plus Blue Monkeys. The bird life in the forest is also prolific and includes the beautiful Great Blue Turaco. If you are very lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the meandering herd of Forest Elephants.

In the late afternoon, transfer to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Overnight stay at:  Primate Lodge (Mid – Luxury) or Turaco Treetop Lodge (Mid – range) or Isunga Lodge (Standard)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk at Kibale National Park

Day Itinerary

This morning at 08:00am, your Chimpanzee tracking excursion will commence. Kibale Forest boasts of the highest number of primate species in the world, including our delightful cousins- the Chimpanzees. At this moment, in Uganda, there are approximately 4,950 Chimps left in the wild, which makes this forest a perfect and best place to spot chimpanzees in Africa! During the excursion, your ranger will point out the other species living in the forest, including birds, flora and fauna.

In the afternoon you embark on a nature excursion. Your swamp walk (1- 2 hours) will take you through grassland and some beautiful scenery. It is usual to spot 3 or 4 different primate species during this walk. The highlight is catching a glimpse of the Great Blue Turaco bird!

In the late afternoon, return to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Overnight stay at: Primate Lodge (Mid – Luxury) or Turaco Treetop lodge(Mid – range) or Isunga Lodge (Standard)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: To Murchison Falls National Park. Journey Time +5 hrs.

Day Itinerary

Today, wake up and have an early morning breakfast, meet your guide, and later you continue your journey to Murchison Falls National Park, one of the oldest conservation areas in Uganda. This is a long but rewarding journey through various landscapes of Northern Uganda, as you explore the beautiful countryside setting, with a flat topography, as we drive past the rural area, enjoying the homestead settings of the Luo tribes.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s best-known and biggest nature reserve. With the impressive and powerful Murchison waterfall and its remarkable animal populations, this is a must visit in the Pearl of Africa. There are superb activities on offer such as a boat safari or Delta safari on the Nile. The river divides the park between a Northern and Southern section as it makes its way through multiple rapids and waterfalls to Lake Albert. Unfortunately, during the war years poachers and troops wiped out the majority of wildlife. Except for the park’s rhino population, fortunately all other wildlife has recovered fast since. A game drive in the park allows you to be eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom and you will be amazed by the amount of elephants. Also giraffes, lions, antelope, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles can all be spotted. Game drives take place on the tracks in the northern section which you reach by taking a ferry across the river. This park guarantees adventure!

You will enjoy an en route lunch, as you proceed to the park, register and proceed with your drive to visit top of the falls, waterfalls, and the most powerful waterfall in Africa. The views are amazing! You will later proceed to your lodge, with a slow en route evening game drive, reach the lodge, check-in for dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight stay at: Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid – range) or Tangi Safari Lodge (Standard)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Safari in Murchison Falls National Park

Day Itinerary

After an early breakfast, it is time to explore the park. On your Game Drives you of course need a fair share of luck and very good eyes to try and spot as many animals as possible. While driving through the park you can come eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom. Hopefully you see them all; elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds. They are all there! Lost in nature, stretching your neck, to spot the best out of the drive. The park is especially known for its massive elephant population, huge array of bird species and big herds of buffalo. You will discover some of the park’s ecosystems and different scenery with dense woodland, extensive savannahs and rolling grasslands. As this is a private game drive you can ask your guide to tailor your trip towards specific birdlife and/or wildlife if you like. You will later have your picnic lunch served, take some relaxation, as you have a break.

The afternoon boat safari towards the Murchison Falls is a very special activity, it takes approximately 3 hours and goes along the Victoria Nile to the base of the falls. You can imagine; this boat safari will show you breathtaking scenery. Cold drinks are for sale on board for when you get thirsty for a local beer or a soda. Carefully watched by crocodiles, hundreds of hippos, buffaloes, water birds, monkeys and all the other (also thirsty) wildlife that the Nile attracts you go to the bottom of the powerful Murchison Falls. The views are amazing! You will later return back to your lodge, with a slow en route afternoon game drive, try as much as possible to sight more wildlife as you head back to the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Overnight stay at: Nile Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid – range) or Tangi Safari Lodge (Standard)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: To Entebbe. Journey Time +6 hrs.

Day Itinerary

Have a relaxed breakfast at the lodge, as today, will mark our final day of our adventure as time has come to head back to Entebbe. You will have a wonderful ride and on the way back, we can stop by at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, for on foot Rhino tracking, this takes roughly 2 – 3 hour’s. We shall later proceed to Entebbe via Kampala, for an en route lunch. You will spend the afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Entebbe as you relive your safari highlights 

Overnight stay at: Protea by Marriott Hotel (luxury) or Best Western Premier Gardens (Mid – range) or Papyrus Guest House (Standard)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Shoebill Watching at Mabamba and departure! 

Day Itinerary

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning after breakfast, at 6:30 am and transfer to Mabamba Swamp for bird watching.  This is the best place to spot the rare shoebill. You will head for a half day, private boat excursion, with picnic lunch; the wetlands are home to a variety of different bird species.   A canoe ride through papyrus swamp will take you at the best spot of spotting the Shoebill bird among other rare Africa birds like the Malachite Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatchers, African Purple Swamphen, African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, White faced whistling duck,, Squacco heron, Blue breasted Bee eater, African Jacana, and Saddle – billed Stork, among others. You will spend the day bird watching and searching for the shoebills, on a lucky day, you will finally land on them, watch them as they hunt, for food. Later return to your hotel for late lunch.

Depending on the time of your departure flight, you can simply relax or explore the town of Entebbe before departing to the airport from where you’ll catch your departure flight home. Upon arrival at the airport, gather your luggage and proceed to your departure lounge to board your flight for your journey onward.

Thank you for choosing One More Adventure Safaris for your Rwanda and Uganda Trekking Experience. It is always sad to say goodbye, but we know that you will have made some great new friends and some very special memories in this beautiful region of East Africa. We hope to see you back again someday! End of Safari.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & lunch.

This 9 days safari package includes.

  • Transportation in a 4 x 4 safari vehicle with Pop up roof
  • Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
  • 1 Gorilla permit ($ 800), per person
  • 1 Chimpanzee permit, per person
  • En-route lunches
  • A pair of binoculars per person
  • Game drives as mentioned
  • Ziwa Rhino Trek
  • Visit to Top of falls
  • Kigali city tour
  • Bigodi swamp walk
  • Boat cruise on the Nile
  • Visit to Ellen DeGeneres campus of Dian Fossey
  • Visit to the genocide memorial
  • Park entrance fee
  • Services of English speaking driver/guide
  • Unlimited bottles of mineral water
  • Much fun on African soil
  • Shoebill bird watching at Mabamba swamp
  • Activities as mentioned
  • Office support services

The 9 days package excludes expenses of personal nature like:

  • Visa Fees & flights
  • Optional activities
  • Photography equipment
  • Tips for guides
  • Laundry
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • International vaccinations
  • Health test requirements
  • Personal travel Insurance
  • Personal shopping bills
  • Phone call bills
  • Porters during trek
  • Extras while at the hotel
  • Items of personal nature

Once you start a trip planned by One More Adventure Safaris, you fall into the One More Adventure rhythm. No request is too small, neither complicated, we curate the entire trip with you, from start until when you meet your interest and budget at hand. Our rapport with the local guides and continuous assessment of your interests and needs demonstrated the diamond standard of all safari specialists. We are also available outside working hours when a couple of things needs to get done.