True vine safari brings you close to a 15-day trip best of Uganda and Rwanda primates, wildlife safari. It’s here where the savannah meets the rainforest. Expect to see the animals of the savannahs (lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, leopard) and up to 13 primate species, including gorillas and chimps!!!
This trip specifically includes the most important and well-known national parks of Uganda and Rwanda: Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Day 1: Entebbe – Kampala
Upon arrival at Entebbe International airport, you will be met by our guide, briefs about the upcoming journey, and later transfer to the hotel/lodge.
Day 2: Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park
Today you will go to Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s most spectacular safari destinations. The first national park in Uganda was established in 1952 when the Kabalega Game Reserve merged with the surrounding areas. The park is a must-visit location for unforgettable wildlife experiences because of its rich history and vast landscape.
Make a brief stop at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary along the trip to participate in a rhino-tracking activity. This will allow you to observe the last few Black and White rhinos in Uganda, which were killed off by poaching under Amin’s rule. Continue your journey after stopping for lunch in Masindi Town, and then head to the park to view the waterfalls at sunset. After that, proceed to your booked lodge of preference for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat along the Nile River
Today, get up early with a cup of coffee and prepare for a game drive through Murchison’s wilderness. You can either go to the ferry crossing towards the northern banks, depending on where you live. This area is rich in flora and fauna, and it is home to many wildlife species such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, and leopards.
Afterward, go for lunch while you wait for an afternoon Nile boat cruise. This allows you to see a variety of species such as hippos, crocodiles, and the giant African fin foot while taking memorable photos for a lifetime.
Day 4: Visit Budongo forest and transfer to Hoima town
After an early breakfast prepare for a drive to Budongo forest, this brings you an opportunity to see a variety of wildlife species especially birds and other elusive primate species.
Budongo is the largest natural forest in Uganda covering an area of about 826 square kilometers. Half of this is undisturbed forest. The forest is divided into three major tourism sites – Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro sections have a brief stop for lunch and later proceed with a drive to Hoima town where you will have dinner and overnight stay at your preferred booked lodge.
Day 5: Hoima – Kibale Forest National Park
Get up early in the morning for breakfast before driving to Kibale Forest National Park. This excursion takes you through the stunning rural landscape with a view of the Tooro tea field plantations and the traditional hut homes of Kagadi. Take a little break for lunch with a view of Mount Rwenzori in Fort Portal Town before continuing to Kibale Forest National Park at your reserved lodge for dinner and the night.
Day 6: Chimp tracking experience
Wake up early for breakfast and report to Kanyancu Park headquarters for a briefing on the chimp tracking experience by a UWA expert ranger. Just after that, you will be divided into groups of six people and led into the forest in search of the next cousin to man.
This could take anything between 1 to 5 hours, depending on the chimp’s movement. As per the tracking rules you will only be allowed to spend one hour in their front yard on an encounter with the chimps. This eventually enables you to learn and observe the behaviors of these endangered creatures while taking photos. After returning to the lodge for lunch proceed to Bigodi wetland sanctuary for a swamp walk. Later retire for the daybreak with dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today, get up early to eat breakfast before getting ready for the magnificent trip through the Kasenda crater field areas. In the end, this will lead you through picturesque settlements with breathtaking views of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
Upon arrival at the park have lunch and later go for an afternoon game drive. This will offer you an opportunity to witness a variety of wild creatures, particularly herds of lions, leopards, buffalo, and elephants, especially on the Kasenyi plains. Retire for the day break with dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon boat at Kazinga channel
Get up early for breakfast and prepare for a game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park’s vast wilderness. The drive will allow you to see some of the wild species such as lions, leopards, elephant herds, buffaloes, oribi, bushbucks, and so on, particularly along the Kasenyi plains. Return to the lodge to refresh and eat lunch while waiting for the afternoon boat ride on the Kazinga channel.
The two-hour boat ride will allow you to see other species such as hippos, elephants, buffaloes, and water birds while taking photos that will last a lifetime. After that, return to the lodge for refreshments, dinner, and overnight
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Ishasha
After breakfast, we drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park to the Ishasha sector in the South. Game drive in the afternoon in search of the tree-climbing lions. In Ishasha there are 4 feelings of pride of lions that climb the trees. Unique in the world! The other attraction of Ishasha is the Topis, not found anywhere else in this National Park.
Day 10: Ishasha – Bwindi Impenetrable
Today we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable. On our way, we pass through interesting villages and have some breathtaking views of the mountains. Bwindi Impenetrable is a unique jungle, with many primate species. Bwindi is one of the few places in the world where you can find Mountain Gorillas! (Driving time depends on the area in Bwindi we stay)
Day 11: Gorilla trekking experience (Bwindi Impenetrable)
Start your day with an adventure trek to Bwindi’s mist-covered forests in search of the critically endangered mountain gorilla species. Depending on the gorillas’ movement, this might take between 1 to 8 hours.
According to the trekking regulations, if you have a gorilla encounter, you can spend an hour in their front yard. Giving you a chance to take pictures while learning and observing the behaviors of these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Later, return to the Park Headquarters where you will receive a certificate for mountain gorillas trekking before making your way to the lodge for dinner and the night
Day 12: Bwindi Impenetrable – Lake Bunyonyi
Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi the second deepest in the world and the most beautiful lake in Uganda. We sleep on one of the beautiful islands. Possible activities: make a nature walk, go for a birding walk, go canoeing, take a swim or visit the local community (all activities optional).
Day 13: Lake Bunyonyi – Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. It is possible to visit a pygmy village on the way (optional). Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga Mountains, covering 3 countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Together with Bwindi, this is the only place in the world to see Mountain Gorillas.
Day 14: Volcanoes National Park
Optional activities for today: Do a second gorilla tracking (must be booked in advance to be sure), visit the golden monkeys, make a nature walk in the national park, climb a volcano, visit Dian Fossey’s Grave, or visit the Twin Lakes, Lake Ruhondo and Lake Burera (all activities optional).
Day 15: Volcanoes National Park – Kigali
Transfer to Kigali for a city tour or go shopping if time permits. Afterward, transfer to Kigali airport for your departure.
Price starts at $ 4500 plus
Package Inclusions
-
Safari vehicle /car hire
-
Services of an English-speaking guide
-
Park entrance fees
-
Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
-
Boat cruise on both the Nile and Kazinga channels
-
Wild game drives
-
Visit the Budongo forest
-
Chimpanzee tracking experience
-
Gorilla trekking experience
-
Visit Lake Bunyonyi
-
Kigali city tour
-
14 nights full board accommodation
-
Lunch en-routes
-
1 litter bottled drinking water per day
Optional Activities
-
Canoe ride on lake Bunyonyi
-
Gorilla trekking experience at Volcanos National Park
-
visit the golden monkeys
-
A nature walk in the Volcanos national park
-
Climb a volcano,
-
Visit Dian Fossey’s Grave or visit the Twin Lakes, Lake Ruhondo, and Lake Burera
Package Exclusions
-
Air ticket and Visa fees (this can be done based on personal arrangements
-
All times of personal nature
-
All drinks and beverages that are alcoholic
-
Any activity that is not mentioned in the itinerary above