14-Day Rwanda, Uganda Itinerary

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival-Arrival- Kigali – Rwanda

Welcome to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. You’ll receive an airport transfer and be taken to your hotel. The time difference with Europe is usually just one hour. Nestled among hills, Kigali stands out for its cleanliness and order. In recent years, the city has evolved into a modern metropolis, renowned for its green boulevards, friendly people, and thriving economy. It’s also a significant cultural hub with museums, markets, and various events.

Main Destination:

Kigali (Rwanda)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kigali –Lake Kivu – Rwanda

Leaving the city bustle behind, we head southeast, partly on unpaved roads. Today’s destination is Lake Kivu, where we can enjoy a lakeside sunset and savor grilled fish. Lake Kivu is one of the great lakes in Central Africa, situated on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Among the world’s deepest lakes, it’s known for its breathtaking scenery. The lake plays a vital role for surrounding communities, serving both as a fishing ground and a source of drinking water. The region also features volcanic activity, adding to the lake’s uniqueness.

Main Destination:

Lake Kivu (Rwanda)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ruhengeri – Ruija – Bwindi – Uganda

Navigating a winding path between two lakes, we reach the border with Uganda. Driving into Uganda’s highlands involves traversing some challenging terrain. Be prepared for a beautiful but demanding day. Majestic mountain ranges shrouded in mist come into view, alternating with tea plantations—a stunning part of Uganda. Ruhija is a small village housing the Bwindi research center. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park boasts immense biodiversity, with aparticular emphasis on its mountain gorillas.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February (Gorilla trekking is easiest)

High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeRare

ElephantRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas, Uganda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ruija –Bwindi Optional Gorilla Tracking – Uganda

Today, you have the option to embark on a gorilla visit. The necessary permits have been organized by us before the journey, as only eight individuals per day are allowed to visit each of the three tracked gorilla families. You can spend a maximum of one hour with a family, and each gorilla family sleeps in a different location every night. Early in the morning, trackers are dispatched to locate the family. You, along with a group of eight visitors led by a guide and some rangers, will then be guided through the dense jungle to the gorillas using GPS coordinates. The duration of the trek depends on the gorillas’ current location, but the fascinating hour spent with the gorillas is undoubtedly worth the trek.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas, Uganda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ruija –Bwindi – Kazinga Channel – Uganda

Unpaved roads lead us across mountain ranges to the hilly landscape along Lake Edward, marking the beginning of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha Park, is famous for its tree-climbing lions. A long unpaved road traverses the park, and as we drive along it, we are sure to encounter wild animals. We spend the night at the Kazinga Channel. The Kazinga Channel is an impressive waterway, a natural link between Lake Edward and Lake George, providing a stunning backdrop for wildlife observations. During a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel, we have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and elephants.

Main Destination:

Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP, Uganda)

Best Time To Visit January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)

High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best Weather June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP

ChimpanzeeOccasional

ElephantCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloCommon

HippoAbundant

LeopardOccasional

Show more

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kazingachannel – Fort Portal – Uganda

In the morning, you can optionally participate in chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge, a massive, approximately one hundred meters deep gorge densely covered with tropical rainforest. With luck, you may encounter one of the chimpanzee families living here, with a chance of about 50%. Even if this special encounter doesn’t happen, the Kyambura Gorge will not disappoint. We then continue on our motorcycles to the north, passing the equator. On the west side of the road lies the Rwenzori Mountains with Mount Baker reaching a height of4843 meters. On the east side is Kibale Forest National Park, particularly known for its high diversity of primates, including one of the largest populations of chimpanzees in Africa. We stay overnight in the Fort Portal area.

Main Destination:

Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP, Uganda)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fortportal – Mbarara – Uganda

Today brings another thrilling day of riding through Uganda’s rural areas. Groups of women in colorful dresses carry heavy loads on their heads through the fields. Near Mbarara, green hills and plains dominate the landscape, characterized by agricultural fields. The region is renowned for livestock farming, and expansive pastures with grazing cattle are a common sight.

Main Destination:

Mbarara (Town, Uganda)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mbarara– Lake Bunyonyi – Uganda

We cross the inland in a southern direction, approaching the tri-border area of Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Here, we turn west and continue our route on varied roads, both paved and unpaved, towards Kabale. The day’s stage of our motorcycle tour concludes at the picturesque Lake Bunyonyi, where we enjoy the stunning backdrop of green hills and small islands. Lake Bunyonyi, also known as the “Place of Many Little Birds,” is one of the deepest lakes in Africa.

Main Destination:

Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lakebunyonyi – Nyagatare – Rwanda

We start the morning at a leisurely pace, giving you the option to sleep in or take a canoe ride in a hollowed-out tree trunk or a village strolls. Afterward, we set our motorcycles in motion again and ride towards the border with Rwanda. Upon crossing the border, we quickly leave the highway and immerse ourselves in the tea plantation region. This adventurous route takes us to Nyagatare, a small provincial town. The accommodation is basic but adequate.

Main Destination:

Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Nyagatare – Akagera National Park – Rwanda

Embarking on a journey southward through warm and flat plains, we can enjoy the ride on the empty stretches of new highways, monitored by digital speed cameras. Along the way, we will undoubtedly explore some gravel roads bordering the Akagera National Park, an extensive conservation area stretching from north to south to the border with Tanzania. The park is home to savannas, forests, marshlands, and a variety of lakes.

Main Destination:

Akagera National Park (Rwanda)

Best Time To Visit June to September and mid-December to mid-February (It is drier and wildlife is easier to spot)

High Season June to September (The park is busiest at weekends)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Akagera NP

GiraffeCommon

BuffaloAbundant

ZebraAbundant

HippoAbundant

White RhinoOccasional

LionOccasional

Show more

ElephantOccasional

Black RhinoRare

LeopardRare

HyenaRare

CheetahNone

WildebeestNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Akagera NP (Rwanda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Akagera National Park – Nyanza – Rwanda

Another adventure awaits us today as we ride along the border with Burundi. The route will primarily consist of gravel roads, making the rest day previously scheduled a wise decision. The landscape becomes hillier again, accompanied by a change in vegetation. The surroundings of Nyanza are characterized by green hills and diverse scenery. Agriculture is predominant in this region, and terraced fields are often seen on the hills, cultivating various crops. The population density also changes: Rwanda is densely populated, comparable to the Netherlands. However, now we enter an area where people are not visible every kilometer! Our overnight stay is in the town of Nyanza, known for its cultural significance, especially the Royal Palace Museum of Nyanza, offering historical insights into traditional Rwandese monarchy.

Main Destination:

Akagera National Park (Rwanda)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Akagera NP (Rwanda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Akageranational Park – Stay – Safari – Rwanda

Today, you have the optional opportunity to embark on a safari in Akagera National Park to explore the richness of this conservation area in terms of nature and wildlife. Lions, rhinos, elephants, and numerous bird species can be found here. Successful anti-poaching measures have led to the reintroduction of various animal species, making it an impressive success in wildlife conservation. Alternatively, you can opt for a half-day motorcycle excursion in the surroundings.

Main Destination:

Akagera National Park (Rwanda)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Akagera NP (Rwanda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Nyanza– Kigali – Rwand

And so, the final riding day is upon us. We return to Kigali. Depending on the available time, we can either take the main road to Kigali or choose the route via unpaved roads. Finally, we reach our starting hotel again. In the afternoon, there’s the opportunity to visit the Genocide Memorial and the Hotel des Milles Collines (known from the movie “Hotel Rwanda”).

Main Destination:

Nyanza (Town, Rwanda)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kigali– Departure – Rwanda

Depending on your flight schedule, there may be an opportunity to spend a few hours in the capital before being timely transported to the international airport.

Local circumstances could require adjustment of the route on site.

Main Destination:

Kigali (Rwanda)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.