21 Day – Uniquely Combined Uganda & Rwanda Midmarket Safari
A Real African Experience; Thrilled Adventure, Wildlife, Primates, People, Culture & Traditions and Discovery of “off the Beaten Path Trails”
Overview:
This 25 Days start in Entebbe and end in Kigali International Airport. Meet eye to eye with the amazing Gorillas and chimpanzees of Uganda in their natural habitat, one of Africa’s major highlights. This close encounter with these amazing apes is simply breathtaking. Also get a close encounter with other diverse African wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and amazing culture and if you are a keen Birder, this is the place to be. Experience the wonder of the World’s reknown Murchison Falls as it squeezes through the narrow gorge commonly known as the Devils Calderon!
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe international Airport – Transfer to the Guest House
Day 2: Transfer to Kampala, boda boda tour highlights of Kampala (Explore through Buganda Cultural Trail & religious trails)
Day 3: Morning transfer to Jinja – Cycle within the communities and visit Kilombero weavers as well as the key touristic sites – enjoy Coffee at a selected Java house at your expense
Day 4: Full Day White Water Rafting
Day 5: Transfer to Sipi Falls Via the Nyero Rock Paintings for Archeological History
Day 6: Hike to all falls that Characterize Sipi – Afternoon Coffee Experience
Day 7: Drive to Moroto; hike Mt Moroto to visit Tepeth tribe communities & enjoy the scenery
Day 8: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park
Day 9: Excursion visit to the Ik tribe – hike Mount Morungule
Day 10: Full Day Guided Game Drive
Day 11: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 12: Morning Guided Game Drive – Afternoon Boat Safari
Day 13: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino Tracking – Proceed to Hoima for an Overnight
Day 14: Visit the Mparo Tombs – Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 15: Chimpanzee Trekking Experience
Day 16: Transfer to Magical Bunyonyi
Day 17: Gorilla Tracking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 18: Transfer to Lake Kivu – Relax at the Hotel
Day 19: Afternoon Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 20: Morning Golden Monkey Trekking
Day 21: Hike to Diana Fossey Grave – Visit to Ibyacu Umbrella Village
Day 22: Morning Banana Beer Experience with the Red Rocks and transfer to Kigali City
Day 23:Transfer to Akagera National Park
Day 24: Morning Guided Game Drive Afternoon Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
Day 25: Wake up at leisure and transfer to Kigali international Airport for your flight transfer back home – to the next destination.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe international Airport – Transfer to the Guest House
| Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport where your Uganda self-drive private Adventure Safari starts by our representative who will warmly welcome you and facilitate seamless arrival formalities.
Depending on the time of arrival you are advised to have money Changed on this day and time allowing you may go for city tour with the help of our driver/guide, visit the shopping Malls around town and craft villages to get items which you may need while in upcountry. |
Overnight: Airport Guest House Meal Plan: B/B |
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Day 2: Transfer to Kampala, boda boda tour highlights of Kampala (Explore through Buganda Cultural Trail & religious trails)
| Have Breakfast, drive with your Guide to Kampala, meet with our representatives from a boda boda safari company who will take you through the Religious Trail (Cathedrals of Namirembe and Rubaga, Baha’i Temple, Namugongo Martyrs shrines and the famous Gadaffi Mosque.
Later you will have a Cultural trail through Bulange Mengo which is Buganda’s Parliament. This is dominated by a Representation of the Colonial era as well as the 50+ Clans which are represented by their Totems. Stretch your ride through the 1 Km stretch Milo Land that leads to the Mengo Old Palace; where you will view over 50+ tree species each representing a Clan in Buganda. On Reaching the Palace, you will listen to the political History that led to the abandonment of the Palace by the Previous King and later visit President Amini Dadas Torture Chambers that are enveloped within the Palace Premises. We crown the day with a visit to the Kasubi Tombs – here you will come across a site local guide who will take you through the Culture of the Buganda, How the Previous Kings were buried and how they treated their subjects as well as how many women each King Married and how many are said to be still alive! |
Overnight: Apricot Guest House Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 3: Morning transfer to Jinja – Cycle within the communities and visit Kilombero weavers as well as the key touristic sites – enjoy Coffee at a selected Java house at your expense
| Transfer to Jinja known as the adventure Capital of Uganda with a variety of different activities– You will meet and greet with our site representative who is an expert in cycling safaris, here you will enjoy an adventurous safari to the named sites (the source of the Nile gardens, Mahatma Gandhi Monument, Speke Monument, war cemetery and Owen Falls dam).
Listen to the history and make your lens very sharp and active. You will mix with the communities along – note that Ugandan People have been ranked the most Hospitable in the whole of (East) Africa thus you may enjoy a bit of interactive moment with them – listen to the interesting stories they share about the social lifestyle. |
Overnight: Source of the Smile Hotel Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 4: Full Day White Water Rafting
| After Breakfast, have your adventure on the series of world class grade 5 rapids on the mighty white River Nile. After Your hot lunch, continue with the adventure on the Nile. Your guide driver will pick you up from the end point to the Hotel for Dinner or move to a selected restaurant before going back to your Hotel | Overnight: Source of the Smile Hotel Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 5: Transfer to Sipi Falls Via the Nyero Rock Paintings for Archeological History
| Have breakfast and immediately transfer further to the eastern part of Uganda Kumi District, proceed just by the little village of Nyero you will discover 3 Rock Cave Shelters where you will view some of the oldest rock paintings in Uganda dating back to the Iron Age.
If you have an interest in archeology! Nyero Ancient Rock Paintings Caves are a best site to be visited for the History. Meet the Natives of the Place who are the Present day Iteso though they are not believed to have been the people who drew the pictures that make up the Nyero Rock Paintings as well there are no written records as to who did. However, some tales reveal that Batwa like people lived in the area before the Iteso People and therefore they are the one’s responsible for the paintings though there are no record of them hence remains a Mystery! Later Transfer to Sipi Falls where you will relax at the Lodge. |
Overnight: Source of the Smile Hotel Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 6: Hike to all falls that Characterize Sipi – Afternoon Coffee Experience
| Arise early morning for your breakfast, then a guided hike and nature walk, we shall tackle three falls that make up Sipi. The visit of the three falls involves hiking a trail network that is characterized by a steep and Slippery path, mud on rainy days, climbing ladders and going through farms as well as Checking on caves. In the Afternoon, have a guided coffee tour with a site guide where you will be taken through plantations to learn about how coffee is planted and later you will be taken where it is processes and you will be showed the process before planting to consumption. | Overnight: Sipi River Lodge Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 7: Drive to Moroto; hike Mt Moroto to visit Tepeth tribe communities & enjoy the scenery
| Have breakfast and transfer to Moroto where you will have a guided hike to Mount Moroto – here you will have the best view of Karamojong Plains, you will later proceed with a guided visit to the Tepeth tribe who are said to be the original settlers of the Karamoja planes. They were socially hunters and food/fruit gatherers but later, due to famine caused by decline in Wildlife Population in 1970 and early 80s as well as increase in human population, they later adapted Agro-pastoralism to boost on the way of living in their livelihoods. | Overnight: Kara –Tunga Guest House Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 8: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park
| Have morning breakfast and transfer to Kidepo valley National Park, depending on time you left Moroto, you will reach in time for either lunch or dinner thus you may have your lunch in a selected restaurant. | Overnight: Savannah Kidepo Lodge Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 9: Excursion visit to the Ik tribe - hike Mount Morungule
| Spend the Day with the Ik people in Morungule Mountain. They are the ethnic group numbering about 10,000 people living in the Morungule Mountain of northeastern Uganda near the border with Kenya. The Ik were displaced from their land to create the Kidepo Valley National Park and consequently suffered extreme famine due to the raids they suffered from their tribe’s mates. The Ik are subsistence farmers who grind their own grain and are very remote and very interesting socially, they live in small villages arranged in clusters, which comprise the total community with each village surrounded by an outer wall. | Overnight: Kidepo Savannah Lodge Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 10: Full Day Guided Game Drive
| Morning wilderness survey, take a guided game drive in the morning to the Narus Valley via the Palm tree lined Kidepo river in search for Leopard tortoise, lions, cheetah, Zebra, Waterbuck, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Warthogs, Patas monkeys and big herds of Buffalo leading to the Kanangorok Hot springs, You will crown the day with a safari walk to Rionomde Rock. | Overnight: Kidepo Savannah Lodge. Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 11: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
| Have breakfast and another Early Morning Game drive enroute Murchison Falls National park. You will stopover for lunch in a selected restaurant at your own expense reaching early afternoon for dinner at the Lodge . | Overnight: Kidepo Savannah Lodge. Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 12: Morning Guided Game Drive – Afternoon Boat Safari
| Arise very early in the morning for your game drive on the northern bank of the River Nile in your open-roof vehicle which will give you an excellent opportunity to view and photograph the diverse wildlife. Your guide will help you spot elephant, lion, cape buffalo, Roth child’s giraffe, hartebeest, waterbuck, oribi, bushbuck, bohor reed buck, hyena and if you are lucky, the leopard.
After lunch, have a boat cruise upstream the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the falls stopping just few of meters from the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’, marvel at the schools of hippos, crocodiles and over the 17km stretch you may see elephant, waterbuck and Uganda Kob. This is also the zone of many birds, species like goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork. After taking shorts of the photogenic Murchison Falls, continue to the top of the falls where you will have the amazing view of the falls! See where the Nile -world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. Later, return to your lodge and relax in the evening. |
Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 13: Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino Tracking – Proceed to Hoima for an Overnight
| After your early morning breakfast drive to the Rhino Sanctuary for an opportunity to trek Rhinos. There are 15 Rhinos which were reintroduced after their extinction in the 1970s through poaching. A local ranger guide will lead you on foot to an up-close encounter with the rhinos and it may take about 1 and half hours. Proceed to Hoima for an overnight. | Overnight: Hoima Cultural Lodge Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 14: Visit the Mparo Tombs – Transfer to Kibale National Park
| Have Breakfast and a guided visit to Mparo Tombs to have a share of Bunyoro’s Culture and History! The site is located about three kilometers from Hoima town on Masindi road where Bunyoro’s great King Omukama Kabalega and his son Omukama Sir Tito Winyi are buried.
The site also has graves for the Queen Mothers and other royals. The tombs sit on a six-acre piece of land enclosed in a perimeter wall, erected by the UPDF during renovation in 2008. In front of the site is a monument erected to mark the day King Kabalega met explorer Dr. Emin Pasha September 1877. You will be met by a Local guide who will share the History and Culture of Bunyoro – All these and artifacts on Kabalega grave, make Mparo a place of cultural importance and a major tourist potential in the Country. Transfer to Kibale National Park. |
Overnight: Kibale Forest Camp Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 15: Chimpanzee Trekking Experience
| After breakfast at your lodge, transfer to the starting point of your Chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale Forest National Park which is reputed to have the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. The most famous of its 13 species is the Chimpanzee, man’s closest relative. Kibale’s 1450 Chimpanzee represent Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate. Kibale is also a home to the rare I’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates include the black and white Colobus, Blue monkey, Grey cheeked mangabey, Red tailed monkey, Olive baboon to mention but a few. So you will enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many others.
In the afternoon, you will meet and greet with our site representative from Uganda crater lakes Tours. You will drive to the starting point at kabata around Ndali Lodge which is about 25km from Fort portal town. Here you will start your crater exploration excursion of beautiful Kasenda crater lakes region which covers over nine crater lakes including the dried 80meter lava pipe, community experience and different viewpoints where you will be able to stand and view the beautiful surrounding. You will be able to encounter caves, beautiful waterfall and communities. |
Overnight: Kibale Forest Camp Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 16: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
| After breakfast, we leisurely drive to Kisoro on the foothills of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Among the three Virunga Volcanoes (Muhavura, Sabinyo, and Gahinga) Mgahinga Gorilla National Park slopes in Uganda and though being small in size with about 33.7km2, it is a home to over 76 Mammal species which include the 780 endangered Mountain Gorilla (with the largest number living in the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park) and the Golden Monkey thus making the small National Park to be dubbed a place where Gold and silver Meets! Whilst, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a home to elephants, Buffalos, Leopard and Giant Forest Hog though these are rarely encountered in the diverse forest as well the Park’s bird count now stands at 115 species which includes the local forest Birds, Albertine Rift Endemic which includes the striking Rwenzori Turaco. |
Overnight: Travelers Rest Hotel Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 17: Gorilla Tracking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
| After an early breakfast depart to the starting point for briefing about your gorilla trekking adventure after which you will be led by experienced gorilla trackers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You will start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the gorilla tracking begins. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is amazing, and the beauty of the gorilla forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. One of Africa’s major highlights is when you encounter these gentle apes. It is a humbling experience to stand just meters from man’s distant cousins as they eat rest, play and bond with their young ones. Follow the mountain gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest, and discover their gorgeous natural habitual and the many species they share it with. You are allowed an hour with the gorillas before finally sloping down back to your lodge. | Overnight: Travelers Rest Hotel Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 18: Transfer to Lake Kivu – Relax at the Hotel
| After morning breakfast, we will cross the Boarder to Rwanda and lead towards Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s fresh water body. We will spend time at the beach or the Lodge relaxing. It your holiday trip, you may choose how you would like to crown the day – We can have a boat safari to the neighboring island and have a trek to the orphanage school or hospitals or have a walk encountering unique birdlife and the community or we can try out Kayaking! All at an extra fee. | Overnight: Paradise Malahide Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 19: Afternoon Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
| Have your morning breakfast at the restaurant and depending on your check out time and the briefing from your guide the previous evening, you will be transferred to Volcanoes National Park. Reach in time for your meals and afternoon relaxation. | Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 20: Morning Golden Monkey Trekking
| After an early breakfast we lead to the starting point for briefing about your Golden monkey Experience – after which you will be led to the forest on the slopes of the volcanoes for the search of Golden Monkeys in the Canopies. | Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 21: Hike to Diana Fossey Grave – Visit to Ibyacu Umbrella Village
| After breakfast, Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Proceed with the trail head to access the karisoke research Camp which is about 10 minutes from the park boundary Trekking to the Dian Fossey’s grave takes about one and half to 2 hour hike which too rewards you with good views of forest hogs, forest elephants, a variety of primates and bird species. This hike is an incredible experience physically, emotionally and intellectually. It is so inspiring to learn about someone who was so dedicated and left a legacy that exists even today. The hike involves moving through the forests and hiking up the slopes and therefore requires some relative degree of fitness and patience. At the site you will find the house from where Dian Fossey was mysteriously murdered in 1985 but the more peaceful is the place where she was buried just next to her favorite gorilla friend, Digit and about 20 other mountain gorillas either killed by poachers or suffered death for other reasons unknown.
After lunch in the Jungle lunch, hike to Ibyiwacu Community or Village which is a Profit Umbrella that that aims at improving the lives of Poachers or the Community through Community initiatives, supporting community development and livelihood-based projects. Share their stories and Knowledge. |
Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 22: Morning Banana Beer Experience with the Red Rocks and transfer to Kigali City
| After our morning breakfast, we drive to Musanze across to a small village where we learn how to grow bananas, their species, ripening process, demonstration of making beer. The banana beer is manufactured from fermentation of mashed bananas and roasted Sorghum flour is added as a source of wild yeast. You will visit different families for historical background of homemade beer and further demonstration. You will end the tour by visiting a local pub where banana beer and other local homemade beer are being served and enjoy interacting with local people – Transfer to Kigali City. | Overnight: Amata nu Buki Boutigue Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 23: Transfer to Akagera National Park
| Have an early morning breakfast and drive to Akagera National Park which is found in the Eastern part of Rwanda – the land of a thousand hills. Akagera is one of the extensive savannah parks in East Africa and the only one in Rwanda, occupying up to 1122sq.kms of land. The park protects diversity of species but essentially, all the big five game-leopards, lions, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos; the distinct roan antelopes, zebras, bush bucks, birds, Masai giraffes, water bucks etc. | Overnight: Akagera Game Lodge Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 24: Morning Guided Game Drive Afternoon Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
| After morning Breakfast, we will have a guided game drive through the Park and later enjoy an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Relax in the evening, enjoy the refreshing drinks, and retire for the night at your accommodation or camp. | Overnight: Akagera Game Lodge. Meal Plan: F/B |
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Day 25: Wake up at leisure and transfer to Kigali international Airport for your flight transfer back home – to the next destination
Have morning breakfast and transfer to Kigali where you will visit the Genocide memorial center in Kigali – The center was officially opened in 2004 to Mark the 10th commemoration of 1994 genocide that was against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The center serves as the final place where masses can flock to grieve for their lost ones, and as for today; it acts as a museum where both locals and international visitors can learn about the history, implementation and consequences of genocide.
Depending on time of the flight, proceed to visit the oldest Nyamirambo town in Kigali which has a stretched neighborhood found in southwestern corner of Kigali that envelopes diverse behavior with dominancy of Arab – like Culture. It is a huge stretched corner which is sometimes referred to as a gangsters’ Paradise! Characterized with Many Muslim residents, Mosques and unlike other places that close by 8pm with everyone inside their homes, Nyamirambo hustles and rocks late into the nights – Transfer to the Airport for Outbound Flight Back Home.
✔ Inclusions
- All ground transportation in A 4×4 pop up roof safari Land Cruiser vehicle with Fuel
- Accommodation in Midmarket ensuit facilities
- Services of a Full-time driver/guide with all his associated expenses
- Park entrance Fees for visitors
- Boda Boda City Safaris
- Guided Cycling
- White water Rafting
- Visit to Nyero Rocks for archeology
- Guided Hikes
- Guided Coffee Experience
- Guided Cultural encounters
- Golden Monkey Tracking
- Gorilla Tracking
- Chimpanzee Trekking
- Banana Beer experience
- Guided Game Drives
- Guided Boat Cruise
- Diana Fossey Grave Hike
- Visit to The Guardian Village
- Rhino Tracking
- Visit to Mparo Tombs
- Well Bottled mineral water
❌ Exclusions
- International Air tickets
- Visas
- Personal insurance
- Meals enroute
- Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, telephone calls, etc
- Any other items which are not included in the above itinerary