If you are interested in long safaris then the 20 days Uganda and Rwanda safari is the best package designed to meet your travel desires. It offers the most memorable gorilla trekking experience both in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
The 20 days Uganda and Rwanda safari is one of the best long safaris and it also covers a number of other best tourist sites like Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park expecting to see the tree climbing lions, Lake Bunyonyi, Nyungwe Forest National Park and others. Your trip will start from Kampala/Entebbe and end in Kigali Rwanda.
Trip activities to do on 20 days Uganda and Rwanda safari
- Mountain gorilla trekking
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Game drives
- Rhino tracking
- Canopy Walk
- Community walk
Brief itinerary of your 20 days Uganda and Rwanda safari
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe Airport to Kampala
Day 2: Depart Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Game drives and launch cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Day 4: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp nature walk
Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 7: Game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8: Game drive via Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 9: Travel from Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 10: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community visit
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi-canoe ride
Day 12: Drive to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
Day 13: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 14: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 15: Chilling at beaches of Lake Kivu
Day 16: Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 17: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
Day 18: Drive to Kigali
Day 19: Kigali city tour
Day 20: Departure
Detailed itinerary of your 20 days Uganda and Rwanda safari
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe Airport to Kampala
Get a warm welcome to the pearl of Africa by your Uganda safari guide on arrival at Entebbe International Airport. He will brief shortly and after, drive you to Kampala to check into your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Kampala
- Luxury: Serena Hotel Kampala/Sheraton Hotel
- Mid-range: Protea Hotel/Cassia Lodge
- Budget: Ruch Hotel
Day 2: Depart Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, Murchison Falls National Park will be your first destination on 20 days Uganda and Rwanda safari. This is Uganda’s biggest safari park and it takes you about 5 hours to get there. Your journey starts from Kampala via Gulu highway and it includes en-route stop visit at Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking.
The next stop will be at Masindi town for lunch and then you drive to Murchison Falls National Park a home to diverse mammal species, 451 birds including shoebill stork, primates and others. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge/Chobe Lodge
- Mid-range: Kabalega Wildness/Fort Murchison
- Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp/Camping
Day 3: Game drives and launch cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, expect to start a morning game drive via the Northern circuit of the park and this may cover 2-3 hours. While in your 4×4 Uganda Safari Land Cruiser/Safari Van with pop-up roof, you will have excellent view of park’s Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, lions, leopards, warthogs, hartebeest, birds and others.
Have lunch break and after, you will have 2-3 hours boat cruise starting from Paraa towards the bottom of Murchison Falls. Expect to see crocodiles, hippos, water birds and later, hike to top of the falls to have a breathtaking view. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park
- Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge/Nile Safari Lodge/Chobe Lodge
- Mid-range: Kabalega Wildness/Fort Murchison
- Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp/Camping
Day 4: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Have a cup of delicious tea or coffee and after, check out ready for transfer to Kibale Forest National Park about 6-7 hours. This park hosts 13 primate species including 1500 chimpanzees, an estimate of 375 bird species, 200 butter fly species and others. En-route lunch break will be at a hotel in Fort Portal city. Leave Fort Portal for Kibale Forest National Park to check into your lodge of preference for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Kibale Forest National Park
- Luxury: Primate Lodge/Ndali Lodge
- Mid-range: Kibale Forest Lodge
- Budget: Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Chimp Nest
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp nature walk
A heavy breakfast will be served to you early in the morning and after, report to Kanyanchu for briefing before setting off for chimpanzee tracking experience at 8:00am. The whole chimp trek can take 2-4 hours including 1 hour of observing chimpanzees, learning about their behaviors and photography.
Retreat from jungle search for chimpanzees and other primates. Lunch will be offered at the lodge and later, drive to Bigodi for nature walk. Return to the lodge to have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Kibale Forest National Park
- Luxury: Primate Lodge/Ndali Lodge
- Mid-range: Kibale Forest Lodge
- Budget: Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Chimp Nest
Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enjoy your breakfast and after, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park about 3 hours and you will pass via Fort Portal. Arrive early to check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Ishasha Wilderness Camp
- Mid-range: Enganzi Lodge/Park View Lodge/Bush Lodge
- Budget: Mweya Hostel/Bush Lodge in the Tents
Day 7: Game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
First, breakfast early in the morning and later, go game drive along Kasenyi track. Enjoy good sight of African bush elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, birds, antelopes and many more. Drive back after 2-3 hours of wildlife viewing to have lunch at your lodge.
At 2:00pm, expect to engage in a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. This can take 2-3 hours and you should expect to spot hippos, crocodiles and identify mostly water birds including shoebill stork, eagles, kingfishers and others. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Ishasha Wilderness Camp
- Mid-range: Enganzi Lodge/Park View Lodge/Bush Lodge
- Budget: Mweya Hostel/Bush Lodge in the Tents
Day 8: Game drive via Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, a game drive will be conducted via Ishasha area in the southern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Expect to see the tree climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, birds and other wildlife. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge around Ishasha area.
Accommodation at Ishasha area
- Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
- Mid-range: Ishasha Jungle Lodge
- Budget: Ishasha River Camp
Day 9: Travel from Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Dine and spend a night at gorilla tour lodge as you wait to engage in gorilla trekking experience the next day.
Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Gorilla Resort
- Mid-range: Silverback Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Ichumbi Lodge
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Nshongi Camp
Day 10: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community visit
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, gorilla trekking being your next activity; join others for an early morning briefing about the dos and don’ts. The park official will also assign to you a park guide and gorilla family which you will explore starting at 8:00am. The trek can take 2-6 hours and because it is a strenuous adventure, you should have bottled drinking water and snacks. One hour will be allowed for you to have a face to face encounter and then you return for relaxation.
In the afternoon after relaxation, Batwa community visit will be your next activity. You will enjoy amazing traditional dances, music performances; learn about the Batwa traditions, lifestyles and others. Dinner and overnight stay will be at your gorilla safari lodge.
Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge/Gorilla Resort
- Mid-range: Silverback Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Ichumbi Lodge
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Nshongi Camp
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Have breakfast and after, pay a visit to Lake Bunyonyi the second deepest lake in Africa with 29 magnificent islands. Your evening will involve taking a canoe ride to one of the lake’s islands and later, relax around the cool shores. Dinner and a night will be at nearby lodge.
Accommodation around Lake Bunyonyi
- Luxury: Birdnest Resort
- Mid-range: Bunyonyi Safari Lodge
- Budget: Overland Resort Camp
Day 12: Drive from Lake Bunyonyi to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
Enjoy breakfast and later, you will leave Lake Bunyonyi for Volcanoes National Park and this includes border crossing to Rwanda via Katuna/Chanika. En-route trip involves enjoying the breathtaking view of countryside rolling hills. Check into the gorilla safari lodge in Volcanoes National Park for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge
- Mid-range: Le Bambou Lodge/Da Vinci Lodge
- Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse/Muhabura Hotel
Day 13: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Early morning cup of tea or coffee and after, connect to Kinigi for briefing on gorilla trekking rules and regulations. You will be assigned to one habituated gorilla family (from anyone of the following-Susa A, Hirwa, Karisimbi, Ugenda, Umubano, Amahoro, Sabyinyo, Bwenge, Agashya and Kwitonda).
With your packed snacks and bottled water, the actual trek begins at 8:00am and each group of 8 trekkers will be led by park guide. Your trek may last 2-6 hours inclusive of 1 hour which you will spend to observe, taking photos and learning about the behaviors of mountain gorillas. Retreat from your gorilla trek to chill at the gorilla lodge and then you will have a cultural visit at Iby’Iwacu cultural village. Dinner and overnight stay at gorilla safari lodge.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge
- Mid-range: Le Bambou Lodge/Da Vinci Lodge
- Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse/Muhabura Hotel
Day 14: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Have breakfast and later, you will check out of the lodge ready to drive to Lake Kivu, one of the largest lakes in Rwanda. You will engage in a number of activities including canoe/boat ride, skiing. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the nearby lodge.
Accommodation around Lake Kivu
- Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: Paradise Hotel deluxe rooms
- Budget: Paradise Hotel standard rooms
Day 15: Chilling at beaches of Lake Kivu
After you have had breakfast, take a boat ride on Lake Kivu and enjoy the amazing view of the lake plus mesmerizing surrounding areas. Return for lunch and later, chill around the lake shores/beach area. Dine and spend a night at your hotel.
Accommodation around Lake Kivu
- Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: Paradise Hotel deluxe rooms
- Budget: Paradise Hotel standard rooms
Day 16: Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Rise up to have heavy breakfast and later, drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park in the southern part of Rwanda. Check in at the lodge to have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Lodge/Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 17: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
After an early morning breakfast, get to Uwinka reception to be briefed on chimpanzee tracking rules. At 8:00am, start trekking to view chimpanzees, learn about their behaviors and take photos but expect to spot other primates, birds and a lot more. Return for lunch break and at 2:00pm; go for canopy walk that involves sighting lots of primates, birds. After enjoyable canopy walk experience, get back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Lodge/Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 18: Drive to Kigali
Wake up early to have breakfast and later, your Rwanda safari guide will take you Kigali about 5-6 hours’ drive. Check in at the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Kigali
- Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: Collines Hotel
- Budget: Garr Hotel
Day 19: Kigali city tour
Have breakfast early in the morning and later, you will have a memorable Kigali city tour. The top sites to pay a visit include museum, Gisozi genocide site, craft markets and others. Relax the entire evening and dinner plus overnight will be at the hotel.
Accommodation in Kigali
- Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: Collines Hotel
- Budget: Garr Hotel
Day 20: Departure
Have a hefty breakfast and later, check out of the hotel ready to transfer to Kigali airport for your scheduled flight back home. This then marks the end of your 20 days Uganda and Rwanda safari.
End of your 20 days Uganda and Rwanda safari
Your safari includes
- Gorilla permits for Uganda & Rwanda
- Chimpanzee permits for Uganda and Rwanda
- Park entrance fees
- Rhino tracking fees
- Boat rides/launch trips
- Game drives
- Accommodation for 19 nights and meals
- Relevant government taxes in Uganda & Rwanda
- All trip activities but not the optional ones
- Bottled water
Your safari excludes
- Airfares
- Insurance
- Telephone bills
- Laundry
- Tips
- Beverages
- Cigarettes
- Extra activities out the travel plan
- Accommodation fees while after the trip