UGANDA AND RWANDA COMBINED SAFARI

NO OF DAYS : 14 : ENTEBE, MURCHISON FALLS, KIBALE, QUEEN ELIZABETH, BWINDI, MUSANZE, VIRUNGA, KIGALI

FROM USD 3500 Per Person

HIGHLIGHTS

• Main Destinations: Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable, and Volcanoes National Parks.
• Top Wildlife Experiences: Rhino tracking on foot, chimpanzee tracking, and dual-country gorilla trekking (Uganda & Rwanda).
• Key Activities: Classic savannah game drives, scenic boat cruises, and a visit to the Top of the Falls.
• Flexibility: Tailored optional activities available at every national park destination.
• Comfort & Transport: Premium 4×4 safari vehicle, scheduled domestic flights, and a choice of luxury or mid-range lodges.
• Inclusions: Full board meals at lodges, park entry fees, and expert driver-guides.

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe

• Welcome to Uganda: Meet your Thousand Hills Expeditions representative at Entebbe International Airport for fast-track assistance through customs and immigration, followed by a hotel transfer.
• Optional Activities (Depending on Arrival Time):
  • Sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria
  • Shoebill stork searching via canoe in Mabamba Swamp
  • Behind-the-scenes tour at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC)
  • Guided walking or biking tours around Entebbe
  • Bird-watching along the Lake Victoria shores or a fishing excursion
  • Half-day boat trip to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
  • Visits to the local Botanical Gardens, Craft Village, or fishing communities
• Meals: Lunch and dinner under own arrangements.
• Overnight: Entebbe Hotel (Bed & Breakfast).
  
  

Day 2: Entebbe to Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

• Morning (07:00 AM): Meet your driver-guide and travel northwest through the historic Luwero triangle toward Murchison Falls National Park.
• On Foot Rhino Tracking: Stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (2-hour drive). Track endangered Southern White Rhinos on foot alongside expert rangers—the only place in Uganda to experience this.
• Afternoon: Enjoy lunch at the sanctuary before continuing the 3-hour drive to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest conservation area.
• The Destination: Murchison Falls is the only park in Uganda where the historical "Big Five" reside. It features dramatic savannahs bisected by 115 kilometers of the mighty River Nile.
• Optional Activities:
  • Visit the Boomu Women’s Cultural Group
  • Hike to the Top of the Falls
• Overnight: Murchison Falls Lodge (Full Board).
  
  

Day 3: Murchison Falls – Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise

• Morning (06:30 AM): Set out with a picnic breakfast for an early morning game drive. Catch predators returning from their night hunts and view massive herds of elephants, Rothschild giraffes, lions, leopards, buffaloes, Jackson's hartebeests, and Uganda kobs.
• Afternoon: Embark on a spectacular boat cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls (Devil’s Cauldron). See the Nile compress from 1 kilometer wide into a 7-meter canyon, dropping 45 meters with a thunderous roar. Expect to spot schools of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and rare shoebill storks.
• Optional Activity: Catch-and-release sport fishing on the Nile for a chance to hook a massive Nile Perch.
• Overnight: Murchison Falls Lodge (Full Board).
  
  

Day 4: Flight to Kibale Forest (Primate Capital)

• Morning (11:00 AM): Check out and transfer to Pakuba Airstrip.
• Flight Details: Board your scheduled domestic flight departing at 01:15 PM, arriving at Kasese Airstrip at 02:15 PM.
• Afternoon: Lodge drivers will meet you at the airstrip and transfer you directly to your rainforest lodge. Your dedicated safari driver-guide will rejoin you later in the evening.
• The Destination: Kibale National Park holds the highest concentration and diversity of primates in the world (13 species), alongside 335 bird species.
• Optional Activities:
  • Explore the mystical Amabeere Ga Nyinamwiru Caves
  • Visit a local Beekeeper’s Cooperative
  • Take a guided tour of the Tooro Botanical Gardens
• Overnight: Kibale Forest Lodge (Full Board).
  
  

Day 5: Kibale Forest – Chimpanzee Tracking

• Morning (06:00 AM): Head to the Kanyanchu Park Headquarters with your packed lunch for an essential pre-tracking briefing.
• The Trek: Enter the rainforest to track habituated Chimpanzees. Spend an unforgettable hour watching man's closest living relatives socialise, play, and feed in the canopy. Keep an eye out for rare Red Colobus and L'Hoest's monkeys.
• Optional Activities:
  • Guided nature and cultural walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
  • Scenic walk around the dramatic volcanic Crater Lakes
  • Cycling tours through local villages or strolls through lush tea plantations
• Overnight: Kibale Forest Lodge (Full Board).
  
  

Day 6: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Morning: After breakfast, enjoy a scenic 3-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Marvel at the stunning vistas of the snow-capped, 16,000-foot Rwenzori Mountains (the "Mountains of the Moon") along the route.
• The Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular savannah destination. Spanning nearly 2,000 square kilometers, it features an incredible ecosystem of volcanic craters, floor savannahs, wetlands, and lions famous for climbing trees.
• Afternoon: Arrive, check into your lodge, and prepare for an afternoon game drive or a relaxing evening overlooking the park.
• Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park Lodge (Full Board).

• Morning Safari: Wake up early for coffee, tea, and light snacks before heading out into the plains. Game drives focus on the Kasenyi Mating Grounds, globally famous for rich biodiversity. Expect to see lions, spotted hyenas, massive herds of Cape buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, waterbucks, and giant forest hogs. Keep an eye out for occasional leopard sightings and rare birds endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley.
• Optional Morning Activities:
  • Chimpanzee Tracking in Kalinzu Forest: Track habituated chimps in a lush forest reserve just outside the park boundaries.
  • Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge: Trek deep into a 100-meter-deep underground rainforest, known as the "Valley of Apes".
  • Experiential Lion Tracking: Join research teams using radio telemetry to track collared lions for an intimate look at pride dynamics.
  • Banded Mongoose Tracking: A unique foot safari on the Mweya Peninsula alongside researchers monitoring mongoose colonies.
  • Hippo Census Experience: Note on Availability — This official research activity is conducted biannually (every 2 years) by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). It cannot be booked as a standard daily tourist activity. However, if a client is a researcher or a high-end donor, an exclusive opportunity to join the scientific team can sometimes be arranged if the safari aligns with the exact dates of the UWA survey.
• Afternoon Kazinga Channel Cruise: Embark on a scheduled boat cruise along the 32-kilometer Kazinga Channel. It features the highest concentration of hippos in Africa. Enjoy close-up photography of elephants, wallowing buffaloes, and Nile crocodiles on the shoreline. Spot an array of spectacular water birds like the African Fish Eagle and Pied Kingfisher.
• Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park Lodge (Full Board).

• Morning Transfer: Journey south to the remote Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• The Destination: Ishasha is world-renowned for its unique population of tree-climbing lions. Unlike standard prides, these lions routinely scale massive fig and acacia trees to rest, escape the midday heat, avoid biting insects, and survey the open plains for prey.
• Afternoon Game Drive & Sundowner: Head out on a dedicated safari tracking these iconic tree-dwelling cats. Conclude your evening with a classic African sundowner—enjoying refreshing drinks and snacks amidst the wilderness as the sun sets over the savannah.
• Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp / Savannah Resort (Full Board).

• Morning Departure: Enjoy breakfast at 07:30 AM, check out, and take a brief en-route game drive through Ishasha before driving south toward the mist-covered mountains of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (approx. 2-hour drive depending on the specific gorilla tracking sector).
• The Destination: Bwindi is a pristine UNESCO World Heritage Site and an exceptionally rich afro-montane ecosystem. It provides a sanctuary for over 90 mammal species (including 11 primates), 202 butterfly species, and 346 bird species—making it one of Africa's premier birding destinations.
• The Mountain Gorillas: Bwindi protects roughly half of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population. Since tracking officially launched in April 1993, it has grown into one of the most exclusive wildlife encounters on Earth. Main habituated sectors include Buhoma (home to the Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura groups) and Nkuringo.
• Evening Activities: Check into your lodge and relax, or opt for an evening cultural walk to meet the local Batwa people (the traditional forest keepers).
• Overnight: Bwindi Forest Lodge (Full Board).
  
  

• Morning Briefing (07:30 AM): Enjoy an early breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters for a safety briefing and assignment to a habituated gorilla family.
• The Gorilla Trek (08:00 AM): Venture into the ancient, misty rainforest alongside expert trackers and armed rangers. Tracking can take anywhere from 1 to 5+ hours depending on the gorillas' movement. The terrain is steep, rugged, and can be muddy, but the challenge vanishes the moment you encounter these gentle giants.
• The Encounter: Spend exactly 1 hour observing man’s close cousins as they feed, play, rest, and bond deep within their natural habitat.
• Essential Packing Reminder: Bring waterproof gear, sturdy hiking boots, a ziplock bag for camera equipment, and plenty of drinking water.
• Afternoon Return: Trek back to the lodge for a hot lunch, a refreshing shower, and well-earned relaxation.
• Optional Afternoon Activities:
  • Community guided walks or village biking tours
  • Support local women artisans at the Ride 4 Woman hub
  • Guided forest nature walks or specialized bird-watching sessions
  • Visit a local community school
• Overnight: Bwindi Forest Lodge (Full Board).
  
  

• Morning Departure: Following breakfast, check out and drive south through the incredibly scenic, terraced hillsides of Kabale (often called the "Switzerland of Africa").
• Border Crossing: Stop for lunch in Kisoro town before continuing to the Cyanika border post (approx. 6 hours total transit time). Clear immigration from Uganda into Rwanda.
• The Destination: Drive onward to Musanze at the base of Volcanoes National Park. This iconic park spans five dramatic dormant volcanoes (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura) and protects exceptional afro-alpine ecosystems.
• Overnight: Luxury/Mid-range Lodge in Kinigi, Musanze (Full Board).

• Morning Trek: Head to the park headquarters for a briefing before entering the lower bamboo forests of the Virunga Volcanoes range.
• The Encounter: Track endangered Golden Monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti), a striking, playful subspecies of the blue monkey distinguished by its rich orange-gold coat. Observe their fast-paced interactions within large troops of up to 60 members.
• Afternoon at Leisure: Return to the lodge for lunch and refreshments. Spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge or take a guided walk through the nearby cultural communities.
• Overnight: Luxury/Mid-range Lodge in Kinigi, Musanze (Full Board).

• Second Trek Briefing (07:00 AM): Prepare for your second life-changing primate encounter—this time on the Rwandan slopes of the Virunga Mountains. Transfer to the Kinigi park headquarters for a morning orientation.
• The Rwanda Trek (08:00 AM): Set off through the dense bamboo canopy in the footsteps of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. While the Bwindi trek offers a raw jungle environment, the Volcanoes National Park trek typically features more open bamboo paths, providing a distinct tracking and photography experience.
• The Encounter: Enjoy an exclusive 1 hour standing meters away from a completely different gorilla family, allowing you to compare the behaviors and dynamics of Uganda's and Rwanda's mountain giants.
• Overnight: Luxury/Mid-range Lodge in Kinigi, Musanze (Full Board).

• Morning Transit: Enjoy breakfast at the lodge, pack your bags, and embark on a highly scenic 3-hour drive winding through Rwanda's famous rolling hills toward the capital city of Kigali.
• Kigali City Tour (Optional / Time Permitting): Depending on your flight schedule, explore the pristine city of Kigali with stops at the local craft markets or the historic Kigali Genocide Memorial.
• Airport Drop-off: Transfer directly to Kigali International Airport (KGL) for your onward international flight home, marking the conclusion of your luxury East African safari.

• Airport transfers
• Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Services of an English-speaking driver guide
• Fuel for the whole trip
• Accommodation and meal plan as per the itinerary
• Drinking water while in the vehicle
• Park entry fees
• Boat Cruises
• Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary visit
• Emergency evacuation cover

• International airfares
• Uganda Visa-USD50 or Eat African tourist visa – USD 100 which has to be applied online
• All tracking permits
• Optional activities
• Scheduled flight were applied
• Personal items for example drinks and laundry
• Tips and Gratuity