15 Days Uganda-Rwanda Safari Experience

OVERVIEW

15 Days / 14 Nights

This 15 Day Uganda–Rwanda Safari takes you to both countries and allows to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda for a canopy walk or chimpanzee trekking. It visit popular National Parks such as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for gorillas or golden monkey trekking, to Bwindi Impenetrable National park in Uganda for gorillas or forest walk, to Queen Elizabeth National park for game drives and a boat cruise on Kazinga channel, to Kibale National park for chimpanzee trekking and wetland walk before drive to Murchison Falls National park for game drives and a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls. This tour proceeds to either Jinja town to visit the source of the Nile and/or White Water Rafting which is the longest river on planet earth Or take a tour to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary located 23 kms in lake Victoria.

ITINERARY

After your breakfast, you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park for briefing and then chimpanzee trekking in the forest. Please note that chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park are semi habituated and as such, you will be required to wake up early for you to have chances of spotting them. You can as well go for the adventurous canopy walk which involves walking from one end of the forest to another viewing bird, and other species of primates. Return to the lodge for overnight.

Lodge: Nyungwe Topview Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Drive time: 45 minutes
Early morning benefit from a tasty breakfast at the lodge before your first exciting morning drive through the Switzerland of Rwanda Park that is too clear in the indigenous forest for Gorilla trekking and draws one to the real side of natural beauty. The activity immerses you into the strange intimacy of the rainforest plus a live call of colorful birds, chattering of the rare golden monkey, and littered with fresh spoor of the mountain elusive populations of buffalo and elephant. If you don’t want to trek gorillas in Rwanda, then you can choose to visit Diane Fossey’s grave or go for golden monkeys. Have lunch at the lodge and later relax up at the lodge from the tiresome and exciting activity.

Lodge: Lebambou Gorilla Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Early morning, breakfast with your packed lunch, you will report to the Park headquarters for registration and join other trackers in a briefing about the dos and the don’ts during your Gorilla Tracking at 7:45 am. You will trek through thick creepers and undergrowth with your guides to find the Gorillas, which can take you half an hour to three quarters of the day. The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. It is an extraordinary feeling being with these beautiful yet endangered Creatures. If you did gorillas in Rwanda and not willing to do it in Uganda, you may opt for a forest walk or community walk.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lodge: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge or Bakiga Lodge
This morning you will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, be prepared for some incredible scenery along the way. You will arrive in time for Lunch at the lodge and game drive in the plains of Kasenyi in search for savannah wildlife that may include herds of buffaloes, antelopes, elephants and if lucky, some wild cats such as lions and leopard.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lodge: Elephant Hab\Enganzi Lodge

Drive time: 4-5 hours
This morning you will head to back to the plains of Kasenyi for a morning game drive to try to find what could have missed the previous day. Lunch will be served at the lodge and after you will head to the jetty along kazinga channel for the afternoon boat cruise. This cruise offers you chances of viewing animals like: hippos, water birds, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles and many other wildlife which flop the channel for drinking water.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lodge: Elephant Hab\Enganzi Lodge
After an early breakfast drive to the northern bank of Queen Elizabeth National Park (kasenyi) area in searches the wild animals which include: Elephants, Buffalos, and the wild cats, Savanna birds and deferent species of antelopes such water buck Uganda kobs among others. After lunch you will drive to Kibale Forest National Park arriving at your lodge in the evening.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

Lodge: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

Drive time: 3-4hours
This morning after breakfast you will drive to the park headquarters to join other trackers for a briefing and after you will be taken for chimpanzee tracking, through Kibale Forest National Park. During this walk you will have chances of seeing many of the 13 primate species native to Kibale Forest National Park. After lunch you will drive to Bigodi for a swamp walk. This wetland belongs to community neighboring the park.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
After an early morning cup of tea, transfer to the northern section popular known as paraa for your morning game drive that will provide you an opportunity of spotting wild game that may include, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, hippos and if lucky cats such as lions and leopards. Return to the lodge for a lunch break before proceeding to the pier for your two hour boat cruise to the bottom of the falls to witness how river Nile squeezes itself in a narrow gorge before exploding out producing an experience of a lifetime.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Drive from Entebbe town and straight to the pier to embark on your afternoon boat cruise to Ngamba Island located 23 kilometers on an island in Lake Victoria. This one hour boat cruise will expose you to several birds, you cross the equator arriving at Ngamba for an educational and informative talk about chimpanzees. After the talk, you will then proceed to view orphaned chimpanzees feeding and then return to Entebbe Main Land for your overnight. Ngamba Island is a place where resqued chimpanzees are orphaned, rehabilitated and the fact that they cannot return back to their original forests, Ngamba becomes their new home. Be part of the few to learn more about chimpanzees and how to protect them or drive to Jinja where the journey will take you through Mabira Forest, small road side markets, sugar and tea plantations and enroute stop at Ssezibwa Falls. You will then take a boat ride to the source of the Nile to witness the actual point where the Nile starts its long journey to the Mediterranean Sea.

Accommodation: Karibu Guest House/Boma Guest House

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Drive time: 3 hours

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Gorilla permits: We encourage you to book gorilla permits in advance so that we secure your trekking spot. Gorilla permits are served on first come first serve at Uganda wildlife Authority. Please contact us so that we book them for you.

Cost of the gorilla permit: The gorilla permits in Uganda cost USD800 for Non-Foreign residents, USD700 for East African Foreign Residents, USD500 for Rest of Africa Residents and UGX300,000 for East African Citizens, cost applies for trekking in Both Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking Regions: Bwindi has 4 gorilla trekking sectors namely Buhoma, Ruhaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija. We shall book for you accommodation in respect to the permits location.

Physical Fitness: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be physically demanding, a certain level of fitness will be required, please ensure you are in good health and have a certain level of fitness before you leave your country.

Packing List: Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain in Bwindi, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,

Age Limit: The Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above, please ensure all travelers are aged 15years and above.

Accommodation Options: Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Bwindi has all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.

Means of Transport: You can opt to fly or drive to Bwindi, Flights take 1-2 hours, and driving takes 8-9 hours drive to Bwindi. For budget clients, we recommend use of safari vans, then others can opt for Safari Land Cruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.

Best time to visit: Bwindi can be visited all year round for gorilla trekking, The most prefered time is June to September, December to February because they are the drier months of the year.

Gorilla trekking Regulations: Uganda Wildlife Authority has rules and regulations to adhere while on your gorilla trek.

Chances of Seeing the Gorillas: The chances of seeing gorillas are 98% because there are trackers who follow the movement of gorillas on a daily basis, they communicate to the Park guides and you walk in the direction they are.

Choose a gorilla family: You can choose your preferred gorilla family of the day of the trek, if you prefer a close/ easy trek due to your fitness level, please request it and communicate to your guide.

Gorilla Habituation experience: Bwindi has an option of spending 4 hours with the gorillas called gorillas habituation, the is only possible when you book a gorilla permit that costs USD1500 for Non- foreign residents, USD1000 for East African Residents, and UGX750,000 for East African Citizens

Other activities: There are several activities you can do in Bwindi namely Birding, Batwa cultural experience, Nature walks, Community visits. All these can supplement your gorilla trek in Bwindi.

Trip cost estimate: The cost of the 3day gorilla tour ranges from USD1300 to USD2860 per person, based on your travel style which is Budget to Luxury. The cost Includes gorilla permit, accommodation, Meals, transport, and all services.

About Bwindi: Bwindi impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site, with half of the worlds gorilla population, it has more than 20 Habituated gorilla families in regions of Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.

PRICING PER PERSON

1 Person	USD 6,150
2 Persons	USD 4,370
3 Persons	USD 3,910
4 Persons	USD 3,680
5 Persons	USD 3,550
6 Persons	USD 3,460

Cost Includes: Airport transfers, transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle, fuel for the round trip, services of an English-speaking driver guide, all park entry fees, and drinking water in the vehicle.

Cost excludes visa fees, gorilla permits, chimpanzee permits, and all expenses of personal nature such as drinks, tips, or simply anything else not included in the itinerary.