3 Week Best of Uganda and Rwanda Road Trip
A 21-day ultimate loop starting in Entebbe Uganda and ending in Kigali Rwanda delivers the most efficient, non-backtracking route to experience the best wildlife, primates, and landscapes of East Africa. This epic road trip seamlessly blends Uganda’s wild, remote adventure with Rwanda’s pristine, smooth mountain scenery.
The major highlights of the trip are the gentle giants ( gorillas) and the chimpanzees our closest cousins. Expect to see other wild life like the big five and bird species.
Day 1:Transfer to Jinja Town.
After breakfast, you will drive to Jinja to start your 3 week best of Uganda and Rwanda. You will also see lush tea and sugarcane plantations plus several roadside markets, you will stop at Ssezibwa falls and later for Lunch, and you will then have a boat ride to the source of the Nile. Dinner and overnight at white water rafting camp
Day 2: White water Rafting and visit to crafts and down.
After an early breakfast you will transfer to the start point and taken through the does and don’t, the rafting experience has grades from which you can choose either to do a 3 grade raft or 5 grade raft. The experience is adrenaline driven and not for the fait hearted. You will be able to visit the craft shops as well, the community staying on the river side and then Jinja Town tour. You do have time to do also other optional activities in the area like Quad Bikes, Horseback riding, biking and nature trails. Dinner and overnight at White water Rafting camp
Day 3:Transfer to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary for overnight
Today you will drive to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola arriving in time for lunch and after lunch you go for Rhino tracking. You can stay at like Ziwa Rhino camp close to the briefing center.
Day 4: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park and top of the falls.
Drive to Murchison Falls National Park and hike to the top of the falls which will give you beautiful views of these waterfalls. You will gaze at the Nile River which is the longest river in the world, it’s forced through a small gap which is just 7m wide and it flows 43 meters down making it look very beautiful to the viewers. overnight stay at Red chill rest camp.
Day 5: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the bottom of the falls.
After early morning breakfast, you will go for your early morning game drive that gives you chance for wild game that include lions, buffaloes, elephants, several antelopes, leopards and so much more. The delta region is also very rich with water animals such as hippos, crocodiles and the rare shoebill stock. At Murchison Falls National Park, it is nature that gives so the fact that wild animals graze and move naturally, seeing any animal will depend on your luck of the day. Afterword’s, you will drive back to your lodge for lunch and then head for the afternoon boat cruise to the base of the falls.
This boat cruise to the base of the falls is seen as the highlight of all activities at Murchison Falls National Park since many water and land animals can be sighted. Expect to see lots of Buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles, many water birds as you cruise up stream to the base of the falls where water squeezes itself into a narrow gorge to later explode as it flows down words. Return to the lodge for overnight. Red chill rest camp
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale National park
Today you will drive to Kibale Forest National Park via a visit and hiking of Nyakasura Caves to learn about the history and traditional values of the local community towards the stalactites and stalagmites then you will hike up the hills for sightseeing of the beautiful carter lakes. You will have a stop in Fort portal town for Lunch before proceeding to check-in at Chimpanzee Forest Guest House.
Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi walk
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park headquarters located at Kanyanchu. Here, you will join other trekkers for briefing before you proceed into the forest for chimpanzee trekking. You will be led by a well-trained and experienced ranger/guide who will take you for a guided primate walk inside Kibale Forest National Park. This forest provides an opportunity to visit one of the habituated communities of chimpanzees. You are allowed to spend an hour with these Great Apes while observing their behavior. You are allowed to take photographs. So make sure your cameras are nearby. Kibale National Park is also home to other 13 primate species which can also be spotted while trekking the Chimpanzees. Of course there are also numerous species of forest birds. In fact, this is another haven for bird lovers.
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and game drive
After breakfast, your will drive for 3-4 hours from Kibale National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will have an opportunity of passing through small towns while seeing several foothills of the magnificent Rwenzori Mountain. You will as well as cross the Equator at Kikorongo. Of course you will also see several small rivers that originate from the Rwenzori mountain ranges. You will head to the lodge for lunch or drive to Mweya for Lunch and then go for afternoon game drive to search for late grazers. Dinner and overnight at song bird camp
Day 9: Game drives and boat cruise on Kazinga channel
After an early morning cup of coffee, you will drive back to Kasenyi plains for a game viewing. It’s this time of the morning that the big cats are usually out to hunt for their prey. There will be high chances of spotting lions and or leopards on a hunt or feasting on their kill. Obviously, there is a guarantee that you will see buffaloes, hippos, and several species of antelopes, and many more. You may return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation and return later in the day drive to Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This two hour boat cruise is one of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It provides you with an opportunity to view over 300 out of the 600 water bird species recorded here. There are also antelopes, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and hippos which can be sighted while on the boat.
Day 11: Transfer to Bwindi
Drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park through ishasha sector where by chance you will see tree climbing lions and other wild life, proceed to Bwindi impenetrable forest reaching there in the evening for dinner and overnight Ride for a woman camp
Day 12: Gorilla tracking
After breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters to join other trekkers to be allocated a Gorilla family that you will trek. This trek may take between 30 minutes to three quarters of the day, depending on where the Mountain Gorillas will be found. Please noted that gorilla trekking can be strenuous and as such a certain level of fitness is required. Once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour to observe them and take photographs. Thereafter, you will return to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate in recognition of your effort in contributing to the conservation of these endangered mountain gorillas. Return to the lodge for relaxation followed by a visit from the local community for performances and dances at the lodge. Or use the rest of the day to take optional nature walks back in the forest, including bird walking safaris. Over 350 bird species have been recorded here and about 25 of them are Albertine endemics. Also we do have the chameleon walk where you get to see the three horned chameleon which is one rare species to find.
Day 13: Early Morning Hiking of Mt. Sabinyo
Today, you will start your day with a short drive to the footsteps of Mountain Sabinyo and hike to the top, a Virunga Volcano that you can only access its summit from the park. Rising up, the mountain lies at 3,645 meters (11,959 ft), marks the intersection of the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda.
The hike to the top and down the mountain is a one day experience which makes it something most can do for those who wish to hike. Basically would involve 4 hours climbing and another 4 hours to get down the mountain but depends on the pace and weather conditions. Walking sticks are provided for free meanwhile the porters are available for hire. You will go through vegetation ranges from the bamboo zone between 2400 – 2800m. After ascending to its park, have some rest and your packed lunch. Start descending the mountain. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight Rugigana campsite.
Day 14: Cross the Border into Rwanda.
Drive across the Katuna or Cyanika border post. Enter Rwanda, adjusting to driving on the right side of the road, and navigate to Musanze near Volcanoes National Park.
Cross border from Chanika and drive to volcanoes , in the afternoon go for diana fossey Museium and visit the Ibwiwachu cultural village, they perform cultural activities like singing, dance
Day 15: Volcanoes National Park.
Trek to see the endangered golden monkeys jumping through the bamboo forests. Alternatively, challenge yourself to a strenuous day hike up Mount Bisoke’s crater lake.
Day 16: Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.
Immerse yourself in traditional Rwandan history, dance, and archery at the gorilla guardian village.
Day 17: Drive to Lake Kivu (Gisenyi/Rubavu).
Transition from the mountains to the stunning beaches of Lake Kivu. This route winds through Rwanda’s terraced, volcanic hills, offering spectacular views of the Virunga Mountains and the surrounding agricultural landscapes.
Day 18:Kayaking and Lakeside Drive.
Enjoy a morning kayak tour or boat excursion on the lake. Drive south along the scenic Congo Nile Trail route down to Karongi or Rusizi. Kayaking on Lake Kivu and taking a lakeside drive are two of the best ways to experience Rwanda’s stunning Rift Valley region. Because the lake is free of hippos and crocodiles, it provides safe, serene waters for paddling and swimming.
Day 19: Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Head deep into one of Africa’s oldest remaining mountain rainforests. Experience the high-elevation Canopy Walkway suspended 70 meters above the jungle floor that takes about 2 hours. Expect to see many species of chimpanzees, plus owl-faced, birdlife, orchids and waterfall and colobus monkeys.
Day 20:Drive east to Kigali.
Break up the journey across Rwanda with a historical stop at the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza.
Day 21: Kigali Cultural Tour and Departure.
Visit the deeply moving Kigali Genocide Memorial. Shop for authentic souvenirs and textiles at the bustling Kimironko Market before your evening flight home.
