14-Day Rwanda and Uganda with Gorillas, Chimps & Big Five

Upon your arrival in Kigali, you will be swiftly met, greeted and escorted by a Nata Adventure’s representative who will transfer you to your chosen accommodation. As this is your first day, you will have time to leisurely explore Rwanda’s lively city especially after a briefing about your next 14 days in Rwanda and Uganda.

If you have an early landing, then a short local city tour taking you to the local markets and the Caplaki Craft Co-operative where you’ll find local craftsmen in wooden huts can be arranged. If you want to try the Kigali city tour on a boda boda, this is the very best time for it. In the craft shop, they may be selling handicrafts, including jewellery, paintings, batik, fabrics, wood carvings, traditional masks, baskets, bags, scarves and beading.

After an early morning breakfast, a Nata Adventure’s Safaris guide will take you for a morning Genocide Memorial where you get to learn more about the Rwanda genocide that occurred between April and July 1994. Immediately, after the encounter, you shall drive continuing to Akagera National Park which is about two hours away from Kigali.

Upon arrival at Akagera National Park, you shall proceed for a more exciting boat ride in the Lake Ihema in the afternoon for the possible sighting of Akagera aquatics including sandpipers, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, kingfishers among others. Proceed to your accommodation for dinner, relaxation and overnight.

You will start the day with an early morning game drive through the famous Akagera national park in search of the African Big 5 games including; lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, rhinos, Masai giraffes and many others.

Proceed to the lodge after the magnificent encounter and return after lunch for yet another game drive in the afternoon in search of more animals including gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Butchel’s zebras, topis, bush babies, leopards, bushbucks, and elands.

Unfortunately, you have to depart this incredible Akagera park and embark on a transfer to Uganda. Have breakfast and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.
Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green-terraced hills that reach a height of (2,200 – 2,478m) with impressive 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water. Known to be the second deepest lake in Africa, this magical lake is great for adventure lovers and provides an impressive ambience for a romantic relaxation— you could admire them all day.

After crossing into Uganda, you shall proceed for about an hour and arrive in Lake Bunyonyi. In the late afternoon, you may have chosen to go for a swim in the Bilharzia free lake, have a canoe or boat ride or choose to explore a nearby village.
Other optional activities such as zip inning, mountain cycling may be arranged at extra costs and with prior notice.

You will have a late morning breakfast and proceed for a short Island discovery boat ride before embarking on a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. If you already had a boat ride last evening, you may choose another activity today or simpley relax and unwind as you enjoy the beautiful views of lake Bunonyi.

Bwindi is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda (harboring an estimated 500+ mountain gorillas—considered a destination having more than half of the world’s mountain gorillas’ population).
With a strenuous day ahead, you may proceed for a simple Batwa cultural encounter on arrival and proceed for relaxation, dinner and overnight at your Bwindi accommodation as you await tomorrows exciting mountain gorilla trekking experience.

This is the day you have been waiting for, so wake up early morning, have breakfast and proceed to the Gorilla trekking headquarters where, you shall register and have a briefing before entering the forest for gorilla tracking.
With the help of the experienced ranger guide and your porter, venture into the jungle for the opportunity to meet the rare and endangered mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is an experience of a lifetime.

Depending on the location of the gorillas on any given day, the walk can take anywhere from 2 to 7 hours but once the allocated gorilla family has been located, you’ll settle into your surroundings and enjoy the hour you have to quietly observe these fascinating primates relate, play, feed and roam around. Take as many pictures as you need but do not use flash light.
After the encounter, return to the gorilla trekking starting point and collect your trekking certificate and have enough relaxation for the hectic adventure.

You’ll have breakfast then set off to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha Sector—famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. Watch out for the tree-climbing lions, much as they are really hard to spot (most especially when they’re down in the grassland looking for prey).

With luck on your side, we hope that you get the chance to spot them, the sight will be spectacular! Proceed for the Isasha game drive and in the course of the drive, you will also be able to see other wildlife such as the Uganda kob, Cape buffalos, elephants and warthogs in addition to the tree-climbing lions. Thereafter, you’ll head to the accommodation for relaxation, dinner and later an overnight stay.

You will have breakfast then transfer for a visit to Lake Katwe. Today, you shall have a dive into the traditional methods of salt production and the daily life of the local people who extract the salt.
Upon arrival, you shall take a guided tour of the salt pans and learn about the salt-making process, which involves boiling brine in large pots to evaporate the water and leave behind the salt crystals. A visit to Lake Katwe also offers the chance to meet the local people and learn about their culture and way of life.

The surrounding area is also home to a variety of wildlife, including elephants, buffalos, and monkeys, and offers stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Today, as you visit Lake Katwe area, you shall experience Uganda’s rural and cultural heritage, as well as its stunning natural beauty. Return to your accommodation after the experience.

You’ll wake up early and have your breakfast. You will then proceed for a morning game drive in the park, along the Kasenyi Plains and be on the look for lions, elephants, leopards (though hard to spot), bushbucks, Cape buffaloes, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, Uganda kobs among others. This is one of the most exciting game drives in the most visited park in Uganda.

In the afternoon, you will go for your boat cruise at Kazinga channel that connects lake George and Lake Edward. In this boat ride that takes about 2 hours, there is a lot of sightings including the hippos, crocodiles, amazing birds, elephants, buffaloes and more. Return to your lodge after the encounter.

After early morning breakfast, you shall embark on a transfer to Kibale National Park making a stopover at the Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru for a waterfall hike or crater lake hike. You may choose one and proceed for the drive to Kibale after having lunch in Fort portal. We will stop on the way for beautiful scenery. In the afternoon, you will arrive at Kibale National Park, sleeping with the noises of the tropical rainforest.

You will have breakfast and head to the trekking point where you will receive some briefing on the dos and don’ts during chimp trekking. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the chimps in the Kibale Forest. An experienced ranger guide will take you chimp tracking and you will marvel at the sights of primates here.
Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have a full hour with them. You may take enough photos ans ask as much as you want. Here, you shall also learn that chimpanzees are very close to humans.

You will return to your accommodation for some rest time and lunch. Later, you will go out for the Bigodi swamp walk. The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a fascinating area, located in the Magombe swamp. This area is recognized for its extensive array of biodiversity among which are several primate species like the baboons, black and white Colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys and the L’Hoest monkey. The Bigodi is also a paradise for bird watchers. Among the major bird species within the sanctuary is the grand blue turaco.

After breakfast, you will set off for the drive to Murchison Falls National Park. This is almost a whole day drive but, you will be there in the late afternoon before proceeding for a hike to the top of the falls for best viewing of the Murchison falls waterfall as you have an impressive view of the water squeezing itself in the small gorge with vigorous force. Return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight

After an early breakfast, it is time to explore this Uganda’s biggest park for possible Big 4 game sightseeing.
On the Murchison falls national park game drive, you will spot as many animals as possible including; the elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds. They are all there! A professional ranger with extensive knowledge of the park and its inhabitants will join you in your car to ensure you have the very best sighting in Murchison falls. The park is especially known for its massive elephant population, the huge array of bird species and big herds of buffalo.

After this, prepare for an afternoon boat safari towards the bottom of the famous Murchison Falls is. It takes approximately 3 hours and goes along the Victoria Nile to the base of the Falls. Here, you shall see some of the hardest to find sightings including the Nile crocodiles, hippos, the shoebill stork among other sightings. Return to your accommodation for dinner, relaxation and overnight.

After breakfast, you will transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking> This is the only way to complete your Big 5 game sightseeing in Uganda. After rhino tracking where you shall also see other animals including the impalas, Kobs, orbits, you will have your lunch and then start your journey to Entebbe Airport for your flight.

Your driver guide may drop you at your desired place of choice. In Kampala or Entebbe according to your next plans. This is where your safari ends.