14 Days Safari in Uganda and Rwanda

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcomed by your safari guide. After a short briefing, depart for Kibale Forest in western Uganda, home to the highest density of primates in Africa. The scenic journey offers views of tea plantations and traditional villages. Arrive at your forest lodge by late afternoon and settle in. Enjoy the cool air of the forest as you prepare for chimp trekking the next day. Dinner will be served at the lodge with overnight stay.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Turacco Treetops
Budget: /Mountains of the Moon Hotel
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest and Bigodi Swamp Walk

After an early breakfast, head to the Kibale visitor center for a pre-trek briefing. Venture into the rainforest with rangers to track a troop of wild chimpanzees. Watch them feed, groom, and swing through the canopy in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Swamp, a community-run wetland sanctuary rich in birds and monkeys. Enjoy a guided nature walk through papyrus marshes and forest edges. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Turacco Treetops
Budget: /Mountains of the Moon Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Katwe Salt Mine Visit

Depart Kibale after breakfast and drive south toward Queen Elizabeth
National Park. The route offers beautiful views of crater lakes and Rwenzori foothills. Before entering the park, visit Katwe Salt Lake to see traditional salt mining methods still practiced today. Continue to your safari lodge, located inside or near the park. Check in and relax with the stunning view of the savannah. If time permits, take a short evening game drive. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Tembo Safari Lodge
Budget: Enganzi Game Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Safari on Kazinga Channel

Start the day with a sunrise game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, a prime area for lion sightings. Look out for elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, antelopes, and an array of bird species. Return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation before your afternoon boat cruise. Embark on a scenic boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, known for its dense concentration of hippos and crocodiles. Water birds like pelicans and fish eagles are abundant here. Return for dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Tembo Safari Lodge
Budget: Enganzi Game Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Drive to Lake Mburo via Igongo Cultural Centre 

Enjoy a hearty breakfast and check out for your journey to Lake Mburo
National Park. Stop en route at Igongo Cultural Centre, a fascinating museum celebrating Ankole traditions and history. After lunch, proceed
to the park, one of Uganda’s smallest but most scenic reserves. On arrival, check in to your lodge and enjoy a leisurely evening or optional walking safari. The landscape here is dotted with acacia woodland and lakes. Dinner and overnight in Lake Mburo.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Mihingo Lodge
Budget: Mburo Eagles Nest
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Morning Game Drive – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Start your day with a morning game drive in Lake Mburo to spot zebras,
impalas, elands, and other savannah dwellers. After the drive, continue your journey to Bwindi in Uganda’s mountainous southwest. The drive is
scenic and gradually becomes more forested as you approach the national
park. Arrive in the afternoon and check in to your forest lodge nestled near the gorilla trekking trailhead. Enjoy a warm dinner and rest in preparation for tomorrow’s trek.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Four Gorillas Lodge
Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Haven
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
.

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience

Today is the highlight of the safari: gorilla trekking in Bwindi. After a briefing, set out with trackers into the thick jungle in search of a habituated gorilla family. Once located, spend an awe-inspiring hour observing their behavior. After returning to the lodge for lunch, take an afternoon visit to the Batwa community.

Learn about their forest-dwelling culture, traditional music, and hunting techniques. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Four Gorillas Lodge
Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Haven
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi – Relaxation

After breakfast, take a short scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi, a stunning
highland lake dotted with islands. Known for its serenity and lack of hippos or crocodiles, it’s safe for swimming. Check in at a lakeside resort and spend the afternoon at leisure—canoeing, birdwatching, or simply relaxing with a book. This is a perfect day to reflect and recharge. Dinner and overnight by the lake.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Bunyonyi Birdnest Resort
Budget: Byona Amagara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Transfer to Kigali – City Exploration

Today you’ll cross into Rwanda, heading east to Kigali, the clean and
bustling capital. Arrive by early afternoon and begin a city exploration tour, starting with the moving Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Visit local markets, galleries, and historical landmarks. This tour offers insight into Rwanda’s recovery, resilience, and culture. Check in at your Kigali hotel for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Hotel des Mille Collines
Budget: Kigali Heaven Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Transfer to Akagera National Park – Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, leave Kigali for Akagera National Park in the eastern part
of Rwanda. This scenic drive takes you from the highlands to the low-lying savannah. Check in at your lodge near the park entrance and enjoy lunch. In the late afternoon, embark on an evening game drive in the southern sector, with chances to see elephants, zebras, and leopards. Return to the lodge for dinner and rest.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
Budget: Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
.

Day 11: Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema

Rise early for a full game drive into Akagera’s northern savannah, home to
the Big Five. Traverse open plains and wooded hills in search of lions, rhinos, giraffes, and antelopes. Return to the lodge for lunch and head out again in the afternoon for a boat safari on Lake Ihema. Spot hippos, crocodiles, and a wide variety of aquatic birds. Return for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge

Budget: Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest – Relaxation

Depart Akagera and drive southwest toward Nyungwe Forest National Park. The drive offers spectacular views of tea plantations, misty hills, and
rural life. Arrive by mid-afternoon and check in at your lodge set within the forest region. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the cool air and natural surroundings. Dinner and overnight in Nyungwe.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Chimpanzee Lodge Nyungwe
Budget: Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13: Chimpanzee Trekking – Transfer to Musanze

Start the day early with chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe, where you’ll track noisy, fast-moving troops of chimps through ancient rainforest. After
the trek, return to the lodge for refreshments, then begin the journey north to Musanze. The drive passes beautiful volcanic landscapes and local villages. Arrive in Musanze by evening and check in to your lodge near Volcanoes National Park. Dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation Options
Midrange: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Budget: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 14: Transfer to Kigali – Departure

Enjoy a final relaxed breakfast before leaving Musanze for Kigali. Depending on your flight schedule, you may stop at local markets or craft centers for souvenirs. Optionally revisit sites of interest in Kigali or enjoy
a farewell lunch in the city. You will be dropped off at Kigali International Airport, marking the end of your unforgettable 14-day East African safari adventure.

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner