12 Days Kenya Uganda and Rwanda Safari : This 12 Days Kenya Uganda and Rwanda Safari will take you 3 of the East African countries and with this safari, you get to purchase an East African Tourist Visa. This safari will take you through the beautiful country with chances of seeing the endangered primates (Chimpanzees and Mountain gorillas) in Nyungwe forest national park, Volcanoes national park and Bwindi forest national park, other primates include Golden monkeys in Mgahinga national park. Expect to also meet the big 5 animals (Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, Rhinos and Elephants) in the savannah parks of Masai Mara national reserve. This safari will be blended with cultural tours visiting the Batwa people in Uganda and Banyarwanda of Rwanda. Visit Uganda and Rwanda for only 10 Days have a lifetime memorable experience
Safari Highlights of the 12 Days Kenya Uganda and Rwanda Safari
- Day 1: Transfer to Masai Mara (5 hours)
- Day 2: Masai Mara full day
- Day 3: Another day – Full day in Masai Mara – community tour
- Day 4: Fly to Entebbe airport
- Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 7: Cross to Rwanda via Cyanika border – Lake Kivu
- Day 8: Explore Lake Kivu
- Day 9: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park – Afternoon canopy walk
- Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking – coffee tour
- Day 11: Transfer to Kigali city
- Day 12: Kigali city tour & Departure back to Uganda
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Masai Mara (5 hours)
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta airport/depending on your location in Nairobi, you will be met by your driver guide to drive you across the floor of The Great Rift Valley, the longest rift in the crust of the earth to Masai Mara National Game Reserve via Narok and visit the Narok market of the Masai people.
Arrive in time for lunch. This is the world’s most famous reserve known for having the highest concentration of plains’ game together with their assorted predators. Bisecting is the Mara River with its populations of Hippos and Crocodiles. After an afternoon siesta, you embark on a late afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Mitimingi Eco-lodge for budget/AA Mara lodge for mid-range/Basecamp lodge for luxury
Day 2: Masai Mara full day
Early morning game drive and return to camp for breakfast. After breakfast Full day in the park with packed lunch in search of its popular residents, The Masai Mara plains are full of wildebeest during migration season early July to end September, zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, Thomson’s gazelle are regularly seen, leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetah, jackal and bat-eared foxes. Black rhino are a little shy and hard to spot but are often seen at a distance if you are lucky. Hippos are abundant in the Mara River as are very large Nile crocodiles, which lay in wait for a meal as the wildebeest cross on their annual quest to find new pastures. Later Meals and overnight at lodge as above
Day 3: Another day – Full day in Masai Mara – community tour
After breakfast, you will head to the plains of the reserve for the final morning game drive sighting more animals, after the game drive you will head back to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon you will head to the Maasai village/Masai Loita Hills for a cultural experience. On this experience you will enjoy getting a deeper insight into the Maasai culture by interacting with the local Maasai people, be entertained by local dancers, drama and Maasai warriors; buy local Maasai items such as local Maasai Shukas, beautifully made accessories such as necklaces and earrings and taste local cuisines. After the experience, you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight at lodge as above
Optional activity; Hot air balloon – Wake early and be picked up by the air balloon team for your hot air balloon safari which starts in the early morning, just in time for sunrise. For about one hour you will be floating peacefully above the ground, with a bird’s eye view of the African bush below. The capacity for this activity is limited making this a very special and exclusive experience. Breakfast will be provided and thereafter connect back to the lodge.
Day 4: Fly to Entebbe airport
Option 1: From Masai mara national reserve – After early morning breakfast, depart the lodge very early and connect for your flight departing for Entebbe airport at 8:45 and arriving at 11:30 am with en-route Kisumu airport. On arrival in Entebbe airport at 11:30 pm, you will be met by your safari driver and connect to your hotel in Kampala. Check-in for lunch, and spend your day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at Forest Cottages – budget/Fairway Hotel – mid-range/Sheraton Hotel – Luxury
Option 2: Fly to Entebbe from Nairobi with own booked flight
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After breakfast, you will be picked up to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park located in the western part of Uganda with approximately 540km from Kampala by road. You will have a stopover at the equator for photography and the experiment and another stopover in Mbarara town for lunch. Proceed to Bwindi arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at Rushaga Haven Lodge for budget/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge for mid-range/Four Gorilla Lodge for luxury
Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience
After early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for a briefing about the endangered mountain gorillas from the park warden. Along with your trekking gear, drinking water and packed lunch, the driver will drop you off at the starting point to trek the gorillas together with the ranger guides. This activity may take between 1-8 hours searching for the gorillas depending on their movement. However, meeting them is so rewarding and you will spend maximally 1 hour with them as you take time studying them and taking pictures and videos
After the gorilla trekking experience, the driver will be waiting to take you back to your lodge. If you still have time, visit the community around Bwindi forest and get to understand their ways of life. Later proceed to your lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 7: Cross to Rwanda via Cyanika border – Lake Kivu
After breakfast at the hotel, you will cross to Rwanda and connect to Gisenyi – Lake Kivu which is a 4-5 hours’ drive with sightseeing in Musanze, visit the twin lakes, have lunch and connect to Gisenyi. Upon arrival, check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at
Day 8: Explore Lake Kivu
After breakfast, explore lake Kivu on a boat ride and chill at the lake and beach side. Dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel/ Lake Kivu Gorilla Hotel for Mid-range option/Paradise Malahide Hotel for budget option
Day 9: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park – Afternoon canopy walk
After breakfast at your lodge check-out and embark on your journey to Nyungwe forest national park. It’s a 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route stops for sight-seeing and lunch.
Later afternoon, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Dinner and overnight stay at Nyungwe One and Only hotel for luxury/Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge for mid-range/Gisakura Visitors centre for budget option
Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking – coffee tour
After having breakfast, connect to enter the forest on a forest walk to the waterfalls, you will encounter different birds and other primates, reaching the waterfalls is relaxing and refreshing with great views of the forested mountain, you will also spot the different primates found in Nyungwe on a lucky day. Return to the lodge for lunch and later afternoon, visit a coffee plantation and learn about Coffee in Rwanda. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 11: Transfer to Kigali city
After breakfast, embark on your journey back to Kigali city. It’s a 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route visit of the Nyanzi Kings’ palace, Kigali national Museum and genocide. After en-route lunch, proceed to Kigali and upon arrival, check-in at your booked hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Kigali Marriot Hotel for luxury/Des Mille Collins Hotel for mid-range/Step Town Motel for budget
Day 12: Kigali city tour & Departure back to Uganda
Enjoy breakfast at leisure, do your city tour visiting the biggest Kigali genocide memorial and Kimoromko market and other attractions in Kigali city and depending on your scheduled flight, the driver will drop you off at the airport for your flight to your next destination. End of the 12 Days Kenya Uganda and Rwanda Safari
