18 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari Holiday

18 Days Uganda Rwanda safaris will offer you a fantastic Wildlife adventure as you discover the unknown treasures in these two countries with Africa Adventure Safaris. The 18 days safari is your opportunity to discover the hidden gem in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa and Rwanda the land of a thousand hills by visiting the top travel destinations in these two countries.

Enjoy rhino tracking at Zziwa rhino sanctuary, go game viewing and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National park and a cultural visit to the king’s palace. In Kibale Forest National Park, enjoy guided chimpanzee trekking experience and a nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary to discover more of the hidden gem in this natural environment.

Kibale Forest”primates capital of Africa) shelters the highest number of chimpanzees and 12 more primates which include Red tailed monkeys, Olive monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Grey cheeked mongabeys, Oliva baboons, Red and white colobus monkeys among others.
The 18 Days will also take you to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for game viewing in kasenyi plains, boat cruise at Kazinga channel and Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge.

The Park spreads on 1,972 square kilometers and it’s the second largest park in Uganda after Murchison Falls Park.  Visiting Bwindi Forest shared by Kbale and Rubanda districts  will offer you close encounters with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habits. With over  450 mountain gorillas inhabited there, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the prime gorilla destination in the world.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest takes place in four regions (Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga) where these endangered primates are scattered. Chill at the shores of Lake Bunyonyi and do any optional activities at the lake such as boat cruising and community walk among others. Visit Volcanoes National Park in north western Rwanda for the second  gorilla trekking experience.

The bamboo forest park is home to the highest number of gorillas in the Virunga Conservation Area. The tour to Iby’iwacu cultural village offers you extended knowledge on the traditions, norms, customs and beliefs of Rwanda people. Still on the 18 Days  combined safari visit Nyungwe Forest National park  located in south western Rwanda.

The rainforest offers  exclusive  chimpanzee trekking experience  which can be done either in the main Nyungwe Forest or Cyamudongo Forest. Do not miss taking part in canopy walk for aerial views of the man forest and local communities in the neighborhood. In addition to chimpanzees, Nyungwe Forest shelters various other primates and bird species. We shall start from Entebbe/Kampala and end in Kigali Rwanda

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Arrival And Transfer To Kampala For A City Tour
  • Day 2: Transfer To Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
  • Day 3:Transfer To Murchison Falls National Park
  • Day 4: Game Drive, Boat Trips And Transfer To Hoima
  • Day 5: A Visit To The King’s Palace And Transfer To Fort Portal
  • Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking And A Visit To Bigodi
  • Day 7:Transfer To Semuliki Valley National Park
  • Day 8: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Day 9: Game Drive And Boat Trips In Queen Elizabeth National Park.
  • Day 10: Forest Walks In Kyambura Gorge Forest And Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
  • Day 11: Mountain Gorilla Trekking
  • Day 12: Transfer From Bwindi To Lake Bunyonyi
  • Day 13: Transfer To Kinigi Rwanda And A Visit To The Iby‘Iwacu Cultural Village
  • Day 14: Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda
  • Day 15: Transfer To Kigali City
  • Day 16: Transfer To Nyungwe Forest National Park
  • Day 17: Chimpanzee Tracking
  • Day 18: Transfer Back To Kigali And Departure

10 days Uganda safari map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival And Transfer To Kampala For A City Tour
18 Days Uganda SafariYou will be picked up by our company driver guide and transfer to your hotel in Kampala for freshening  and relaxing after a long trip. If you arrive early , go for a city tour around Kampala to places like the Kasubi tombs a burial ground for Buganda kings (Buganda is a very strong traditional kingdom in Uganda with a unique cultural background), a visit to the Namugongo martyrs shrine where pope Francis will be visiting on the 27th of this month, the Baha’i temple and many other tourist attractions you might be interested in.
Meals and overnight red chili hideaway (budget)/cassia lodge (midrange)/ Protea hotel (luxury)

Day 2: Transfer To Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After having breakfast, you will embark on the journey to the Zziwa rhino sanctuary located in Nakasongola district. The sanctuary is the only place in Uganda with white rhinos and definitely the only place where rhinos can be tracked. The sanctuary has 15 white rhinos however their number is expected to increase with time. The journey from Kampala will take about 3 hours and after arriving to the sanctuary, you will head for rhino tracking.
After rhino tracking, you will head for nature walks viewing typical African vegetation as well as a number of birds or for a shoebill canoe ride along the swamp.
Meals and overnight at Amuka lodge

Day 3:Transfer To Murchison Falls National Park
You will wake up in the morning, have breakfast and head to Murchison falls National Park and directly head to the top of Murchison falls one of the great points where the magnificent falls can be viewed from. Murchison falls forms a permanent rain ball that can be clearly seen. You have photographs and have some good time, proceed to your hotel for lunch, relax a little and head for after noon game drives viewing a number of wild animals in the national park.
Meals and overnight at red chili rest camp (budget)/Pakuba safari lodge (midrange)/Paraa safari lodge (luxury)

Day 4: Game Drive, Boat Trips And Transfer To Hoima
murchison falls tourAfter breakfast, you will head for morning game drives viewing a number of animals like hartebeests, elephants, giraffes, Oribi, and many others. After the game drive, you head for boat trips along the great river Nile first to the Nile delta where you will view a number of animals including the Nile crocodiles and then drive to bottom of Murchison falls where you have a clear view of the falls. You will head to your lodge for lunch and then exit the national park for Hoima via Butiaba where you will view the escarpment and lake Albert, as you will be coming out of the Great Rift Valley.
Meals and overnight at hotel Kontiki (budget)/Hoima cultural lodge (mid range)

Day 5: A Visit To The King’s Palace And Transfer To Fort Portal
After an early breakfast, you will be taken to the king’s palace where you learn about the Bunyoro kingdom another powerful kingdom in Uganda plus the major traditional cultural practices of the local people. After the touring around, you will then start your journey to fort portal in western Uganda taking about 3 to hours on the way.

This journey is not boring at all as it will introduce you to the typical Ugandan lifestyle and you will also be able to view a number of plantations especially tea plantations when you get to Kyenjojo district. You will arrive in fort portal in the evening and directly head to your lodge
Meals and overnight at chimpanzee guest house (budget)/crater safari lodge (mid range)/Kyaninga lodge (luxury)

chimps tracking in Nyungwe
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking And A Visit To Bigodi
You will wake very early in the morning have breakfast and get your packed lunch and then head to Kanyanchu park head quarters in Kibale forest national park where you will be allocated a guide who will brief you and you then head for chimpanzee tracking in the forest. Kibale forest national park is called the primate capital of east Africa because of the high primate population it has. It’s the only national park in east Africa where one can have the best primate tracking viewing the chimpanzee man’s closest primate and many other primates like monkeys plus a number of bird species.

You will get chance to have your lunch in the wild as you listen to the sights and sounds of the forest. After tracking, you will return to the park headquarters, relax a bit and head to the Bigodi wetlands if you are interested in birding or visit the Bigodi community for community tourism and later return to your lodge
Meals and overnight at chimpanzee guest house (budget)/crater safari lodge (mid range)/Kyaninga lodge (luxury)

Day 7:Transfer To Semuliki Valley National Park
After breakfast you will proceed to Semuliki valley national park, situated in the extreme west of Uganda, in Bundibugyo District. The Park is the only lowland tropical Forest in East Africa classified as moist and semi- deciduous. There are 336 tree species recorded of which24 are restricted to Semuliki National Park. 63 species of mammals, 9 species of which are diurnal forest primates including Chimpanzees, blue monkey, vervet monkeys, and olive baboons. You will arrive early because its just about 30 kilometers from fort portal to semuliki valley national park.
You will therefore get to visit the hot springs, go for game drives.
Meals and overnight at Kirimia guesthouse (midrange)/semuliki safari lodge (luxury)

uganda wildlife
Day 8: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast this morning, you will transfer to Queen Elizabeth national Park taking about 3 to 4 hours. You will arrive during lunchtime, have your meals and head for afternoon game drives to view the major wildlife species in this part of Uganda. This national park has a number of wild animals like elephants, warthogs, waterbucks plus a number of antelopes. After the game drives, you will then head to your lodge for relaxation
Meals and overnight at Enganzi lodge (budget)/Kyambura game lodge (midrange)

Day 9: Game Drive And Boat Trips In Queen Elizabeth National Park.
game drive
You will wake up early in the morning, have breakfast and head to the Ishasha sector to track the tree-climbing lions. While on the search for lions, you will also view a number of wild animals like the elephants, baboons, Topi as well as a number of bird species.
From the game drives you will head for afternoon boat tips along the Kazinga channel where you will see a number of hippopotamus. The Kazinga channel has the highest number of hippopotamus in east Africa therefore while here, viewing them is a guarantee. Other animals that can be viewed along the Kazinga channel include crocodiles, elephants among others.
Meals and overnight at Enganzi lodge (budget)/Kyambura game lodge (midrange)

Day 10: Forest Walks In Kyambura Gorge Forest And Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
game drive
After breakfast, you will head straight for forest walks in Kyambura Gorge at exactly 8:00am. While here, you may get chance to view other primate species like monkeys. The gorge also has many bird species. After the hike, you will then transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park located in south western Uganda a home to the mountain gorillas some of the most endangered species on the planet.
Meals and over night at Buhoma community camp (budget)/Mahogany Springs (mid range)/Gorilla Forest Camp (luxury)

gorilla forest camp
Day 11: Mountain Gorilla Trekking
On this day, you will be expected to wake up early in the morning, take breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing about the gorillas and immediately head for the thick jungles of Bwindi as you trek searching for the gorillas. This can take you half a day or more. After getting to the mountain gorillas, you will spend an hour with them observing and taking photographs after which you will be directed back to the park headquarters and given certificates of participation.
In the evening you can take a village walk around Buhoma and find out about the Batwa pygmy natives.
Meals and over night at Buhoma community camp (budget)/Mahogany Springs (mid range)/Gorilla Forest Camp (luxury)

Day 12: Transfer From Bwindi To Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, you will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi with beautiful sceneries en-route. Enjoy one of the most extraordinary wildlife and birding experience by boat as you cross the Lake Bunyonyi. The forested green islands on the lake are home to different species of endemic birds, which the guide will help you to spot.

Bunyonyi Overland camp (budget)/Bunyonyi safari resort (mid range)/ Bunyonyi overland resort (luxury)

Day 13: Transfer To Kinigi Rwanda And A Visit To The Iby‘Iwacu Cultural Village
rwanda culture
You will wake up in the morning, have breakfast and drive through the Kisoro highlands while having great scenic views and directly head to Kyanika border and then cross over to Rwanda where you will directly head to Kinigi. You will arrive at your lodge, have lunch, relax a little and later visit the Iby‘Iwacu cultural village where you will be entertained by local Rwandese and get to learn about the Rwandese people after which you will had back to your lodge for dinner and rest.
Meals and overnight at Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (mid range)/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (luxury)

Day 14: Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda
After an early morning breakfast, you will head to the Kinigi park headquarters where you will be divided into groups of eight allocated to a particular gorilla family and head to the jungle for the highly anticipated trek.
rwanda culture
The guides are well informed and will therefore provide the necessary information needed. Trekking mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park offers a very unique experience giving you a chance to get up close to one of human’s closest primate specie. The trek takes several hours depending on how quickly you get to your allocated mountain gorilla family. You will strictly be given an hour to interact with the mountain gorillas and after it elapses, you will be directed back for to the headquarters and given certificates of participation
Meals and overnight at Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (mid range)/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (luxury)

Day 15: Transfer To Kigali City
rwanda culture You will wake up in the morning, have breakfast and head Kigali city Rwanda’s capital city. You will arrive in Kigali in the afternoon and head to the Gisozi/ Kigali genocide memorial located in the city premises in Gisozi district. This genocide features mass graves where a number of people were buried during the genocide. The mass graves are out side and have names of the people who were buried there. Inside the genocide memorial are some of the remains of the people who were killed during the genocide as well as some of their photographs. The whole experience at this genocide memorial site is very emotional and touching and clearly gives an insight of what happened during the genocide.
Meals and overnight at Select Boutique Hotel/ Flame Tree Village Hotel

Day 16: Transfer To Nyungwe Forest National Park
This is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda and it’s a home to the primates of Rwanda. Nyungwe forest is among the oldest forests in east and central Africa with a variety of tree species as well as birds. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to get to Nyungwe forest national park from Kigali meaning you will arrive in the late afternoon. You will relax a little and head for the canopy walks getting a chance to view the real jungle of Nyungwe while standing on the canopy walkway.
Meals and overnight at Gisakura guest house (budget)/Nyungwe top view lodge (mid range)/ Nyungwe forest lodge (luxury)

Day 17: Chimpanzee Tracking
chimps tracking in Nyungwe
After an early breakfast, you will head to the Uwinka center where you will be briefed, allocated to a guide and then head to the jungle to track chimpanzees. This will introduce you to yet another wild experience walking below tree canopies viewing other wildlife species in the forest especially the birds. While here you might feel some jungle fever but you do not need to worry as the guide and rangers are always very mindful of your safety. After hiking the forest, you will be taken back to your accommodation facility for relaxing.
Meals and overnight at Gisakura guest house (budget)/Nyungwe top view lodge (mid range)/ Nyungwe forest lodge (luxury)

Day 18: Transfer Back To Kigali And Departure
On this day you will wake up early, have breakfast and drive back to Kigali where you will head to the airport and depart.
End of Tour

Plan Your Trip

Related Tours


Short gorilla treks

3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour

Book a 3 Days Uganda gorilla trekking tour to Bwindi Impenetrable forest park home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. The forest is the first center for Uganda gorilla safaris having over 15 gorilla families habituated for trekking. Bwindi is also home to 120 species of mammals, 348 species of birds, 220 species of butterflies, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos, and many endangered species.Read More


what to see in Murchison falls Np

3 Days Murchison Falls Np Tour

3 Days Murchison falls wildlife tour to for fantastic game viewing in search for African lion, herds of Elephant, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Antelopes, etc, and boat cruise to the bottom of the falls to see Hippos & huge crocodiles.Read More

 


Semulik hotsprings

3 Days Tour to Semuliki National park

Join a 3 Days Uganda tour to Semuliki valley national park fo game viewing, bird watching and visiting the hot springs. The park is one of Uganda’s least visited parks which give travelers with an off beaten kind of experience. Expect to see many birds and wildlife less exploited. Read More


Primate tours in Uganda

7 Days Uganda Safari

Join a 7 Days Uganda Safari for game viewing and boat cruising at Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest and Mountain gorilla watching in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park. You will also trek golden monkeys in Mgahinga gorilla national park as well as visiting various conservation projects in Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla national parks. Read More


Rwanda gorilla tours

3 Days Rwanda Double Gorilla Trek

The 3 Days double gorilla trek in Rwanda offers travelers exceptional gorilla encounters in Volcanoes national park. The two involve trekking gorilla two times rewarding travelers with extended time with the gentle giants in the jungle. The tour starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda. Read More


Plan Your Trip