The 15 days tour that go through Rwanda and Uganda allows you discover and explore some of the African unique features. All about this trip starts from Kigali, Rwanda and ends at Entebbe, Uganda. This amazing trip lead you to explore places like Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanos National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo. Among the adventures to undertake include; gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game drive, boat cruise, horse riding, golden monkey tracking, community visits among others. All days start with a breakfast, lunch and dinner for the meal course. This trip suggestion is a mid-luxury trip and an all-inclusive, as mentioned in all the inclusive of the trip below.
Trip summary
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Kigali city tour
- Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 3: Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 4: Transfer to Volcano National Park
- Day 5: Volcanoes National Park
- Day 6: Transfer to Uganda’ Bwindi Impenetrable and visit the Batwa Community
- Day 7: Trek Mountain Gorillas
- Day 8: Stay at Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Via Ishasha
- Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 11: Visit Kyambura for Chimpanzee Tracking and Bird Watching
- Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
- Day 13: Game Drive and Boat Ride, Night Game Drive
- Day 14: Horse Riding and Transfer to Kampala
- Day 15: Kampala City Trip and Fly Back Home
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Kigali city tour
Arrival Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, then you will picked and picked up. Depending on your time of arrival will take a Kigali city tour. And supposedly will visit the famous Kigali genocide memorial museum. Then, will check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight
Accommodation Mid-range: Kigali Marriott Hotel
Day 2: Transfer Nyungwe Forest National Park
Take a drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park located southwards from Kigali on the border of Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo. Nyungwe accommodates varieties of wildlife among which include over 13 primate species of which the chimpanzee are the prime. Reaching these hyped tropical mountains will take an afternoon canopy walk on a swinging suspension. This is a world class canopy walk which leaves you wanting more of the swings and walks overhead loftier trees.
Accommodation (Mid-range): Chimpanzee Lodge
Day 3: Nyungwe Forest National Park
With your trekking pack, hurry to the starting point for the tracking briefing and soon roll into the forest to seek the apes. Chimpanzee tracking at Nyungwe forest leads into the tea leaves contours, thick forests, bamboos, according to the trip trail to take. Chimpanzees at Nyungwe are habituated and trackers have a chance for a close-up encounter. Chimpanzee tracking can last between 30 minutes to about 3 hours searching for apes into the deep of the forest. And finding them, you have a limit of one hour in their presence.
The will drive to Lake Kivu and have your overnight at lodge for dinner and overnight at Kivu Peace View Hotel
Day 4: Transfer to Volcano National Park
Today, will have to relax at the shores and have a boat ride around Lake Kivu, then in the late evening hours you shall drive to Volcanos Musanze north of Rwanda. Reaching the park will check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (Midrange): Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Day 5: Volcanoes National Park
Golden Monkey Tracking and Dain Fossey Tombs, it’s a unique encounter the beautiful golden monkeys. These are endangered species and endemic to the Virunga forests which stretches to include Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The track starts in the morning at 8am, and a track can last for not more 4 hours. When rolled into the forest to search for the gorillas, you have a limit of an hour to ensure that explore all about these gorgeous primates.
On this trail will also visit the Dian Fossey tombs. This afternoon is a more learning time with all matters concerning gorilla conservation and the role of Dian Fossey on the prevailing future of the mountain gorillas.
Accommodation (Midrange): Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Day 6: Transfer to Uganda’ Bwindi Impenetrable and visit the Batwa Community
Today take an early morning drive crossing the border through Katuna and enter Uganda. Upon reaching Uganda with a lunch en-route will take a drive to one of the Batwa communities in Kisoro. You shall take a visit to the Batwa community to enables you understand who these people are and how they survived the legal eviction from their ancestral land. Get entertained with traditional dances and stories alongside some few walks with the local guides. It’s really an amazing encounter and taking this in account means supporting their livelihood. Afterwards will continue on a drive to Rushaga sector in Bwindi Impenetrable NP.
Accommodation (Midrange): Gorilla Safari Lodge
Day 7: Trek Mountain Gorillas
This day hurry to Rushaga tracking starting point, you have to rush to Ruhija trekking starting point reaching before 7:30am for the briefing. Be grouped in 8 individuals per group, get assigned to an armed, well packed with all tracking pack enter the forest to start a hunt for the giants. Gorilla trekking may take 30 minutes to 6 hours, walking and searching for the endangered giants. Gorilla are followed considering where they had their previous night, and meeting them, trekkers have an hour before them. Watching gorillas is one of the few mesmerizing moments in the wild, looking face to face with the silverback you realized these are really human closest relatives. After seeing the gorillas you will return to the starting point, enjoy your relaxed lunch.
Afterwards will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Arcadia Lodge
Day 8: Stay at Lake Bunyonyi
Enjoy a moment at the Africa’s 2nd deepest lake, feel the morning breeze with direct warm arrays of the sunrise. Spend a day enjoying and exploring some of the islands and spend the rest of your day enjoying a relaxed day at the Lake. Dinner and overnight;
Accommodation (midrange): Arcadia Lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth via Ishasha
This morning transfer to Ishasha sector Queen Elizabeth National Park, It’s about five hours of drive. Consider a lunch en-route and then take an afternoon game drive tracking the tree climbing lions. The Ishasha sector is famous for hosting the amazing prides who always finds easy to have a warm day spend under tree branches. The tracking is accompanied by the wider view of wildlife. Then, will enjoy your night at;
Accommodation (midrange): Elephant Plain Lodge
Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
With your packed breakfast, will take an early morning drive to Kasenyi section of Queen Elizabeth National Park for an incredible game drive. One of the rewarding game drive with variety of wildlife species including; elephants, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, buffalos, lions, warthogs among so many species to watch accompanied by several bird species.
Then in the afternoon hours with lunch en-route will drive to the Mweya peninsular, for a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. The wild boat cruise is an opening of watching more animals. Then, after will drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Elephant Plain Lodge
Day 11: Visit Kyambura for Chimpanzee Tracking and Bird Watching
This morning make a relaxed morning, all enjoying all what is served for the morning break, will take a drive to Kyambura gorge. This tropical depression amidst golden savannah is another famous chimpanzee destination in Uganda. Will as well track the chimpanzees here alongside bird watching with the rift lines. Afterwards, it’s advisable return to your lodge and relax, or if time allows can visit Lake Katwe and enjoy the salt crystal mining.
Accommodation (midrange): Elephant Plain Lodge
Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Today transfer to Lake Mburo along your route to Kampala, with en-route to Mbarara city for lunch and also visit the Igongo cultural center for rich history about Uganda western culture. Then will continue reaching Lake Mburo check-in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Arcadia Lodge
Day 13: Game Drive and Boat Ride, Night Game Drive
This day will take a remarkable and wild rewarding game drive through various made driving track. Lake Mburo is one of the most rewarding parks as far as antelope species are concerned. The park in the absence of elephants is decorated with various species including giraffes, zebras, impalas, elands, Kobs, leopards, lions, warthogs, wild dogs, and many other species. Then in the afternoon hours, it’s a boat ride on the largest Lake Mburo here, a lot should be expected. The boat ride is very rewarding with various animal encounters including buffalos, highest concentration of Impalas and many other considerations. Returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation (midrange): Arcadia Lodge
Day 14: Horse Riding and Transfer to Kampala
This morning is started with a delicious breakfast, then drive to Mihingo lodge and do a horse ride. The wild horse ride is one exciting thing which brings you close to nature and its treasures. The absence of elephants in Lake Mburo makes it possibly easy to do wild horse rides. The horse rides takes various trails and rates according to the desires of the guest. After the horse ride, will refresh with lunch and take an afternoon boat ride on Lake Mburo. Then embark on an afternoon drive to Kampala, a stopover at the Equator for photographs and a continue reaching the park.
Accommodation (midrange): Kabira County Club
Day 15: Kampala City Trip and Fly Back Home
This last morning spend it with a city walk through downtown and crown it with a visit to Mengo palace and Bulange building. These are two significant building in the history of Buganda, Mengo palace is the official palace of the Kingdom and Bulange is the administrative block of Buganda kingdom. Then your driver will pick you afterwards and takes you for lunch, then will drive you to Entebbe International Airport for your next flight back home.
4×4 Car Hire FAQ
When is best month for Self drive Safari in East Africa?
For the best game viewing self-drive safari, mid -June, July, August, September October are ideal months.
April to May (the ‘long rains’) and November to December (the ‘short rains’).
How much does a self drive safari cost in East Africa?
A budget 4×4 self drive safari is from USD 1000 to USD 2000.
Is it safe to drive in East Africa?
Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania are more Safer. With taking standard precautions Uganda too is safe.
What comes with my camping gear?
- Roof Top Tent
- Sleeping Pads with a Pillow
- Camping Stove
- Cookware and Utensils
- Storage box / Cooler
- Lanterns/Flashlights
- Portable Chairs and Table
- Camping Lights/Headlamps
- First Aid Kit
4×4 camper vehicle rental price
Prices Include: Rooftop Tent | Camping Gear | Spare Tire | 24/7 Road Side Assistance | Vehicle Replacement