15 Day Rwanda Uganda luxury safari

Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where your Wild Compass Africa guide will meet you for a private welcome and transfer you to your luxury hotel.

The rest of the day is reserved for settling in and recovering from your journey. Enjoy the comfort of your hotel, take a leisurely evening, or simply relax before the safari begins in earnest.

There are no scheduled activities today, allowing you to arrive without feeling rushed and start your journey at your own pace.

After breakfast, begin with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an important place of remembrance and reflection that provides historical context to Rwanda's recent past.

Continue north towards Volcanoes National Park, travelling through Rwanda's distinctive highland countryside of cultivated hills, terraced slopes and rural communities. As you approach Musanze and Kinigi, the Virunga volcanoes gradually rise above the landscape.

On arrival, check into your lodge and take time to enjoy a relaxed lunch and settle into your surroundings. Later in the afternoon, visit the Dian Fossey Museum, where you will learn about gorilla research, conservation in the Virunga region and the pioneering work of Dian Fossey.

Return to the lodge in the early evening for dinner, relaxation and preparation for your first gorilla trekking experience the following morning.

Rise early for your first mountain gorilla trekking experience.

After breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for registration and briefing before entering the forest with your ranger and tracking team. The trek takes you into the bamboo and montane forests of the Virunga landscape in search of a habituated gorilla family.

The duration of the trek depends on where the gorillas are located and how they move through the forest. Once you find your family, slow down and simply observe. Watch the silverbacks, mothers and young gorillas interact at close range while your guide helps interpret their behaviour.

After returning from the forest, spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge. If you prefer, an optional cultural experience can be arranged.

Your second morning in the Virunga landscape takes you into the forest in search of golden monkeys, one of the region's distinctive primates.

These energetic monkeys move through the bamboo forest in lively groups, often feeding, climbing and jumping through the vegetation. The trek offers a very different experience from gorilla trekking, with more movement and opportunities to observe the monkeys as they travel through the forest.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and check out before crossing into Uganda.

Continue towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, travelling through the highlands of southwestern Uganda and into the dramatic landscape surrounding the forest.

Arrive at your lodge in the Nkuringo area and settle in for the evening.

Today brings a second opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas, this time in the ancient forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After an early breakfast, proceed to the trekking briefing before entering the forest with your ranger and tracking team. Bwindi's dense vegetation and rugged terrain give the experience a distinctly different character from the Virunga encounter in Rwanda.

Once your gorilla family is located, spend the designated viewing time quietly observing their natural behaviour. Your guide will help you understand the individuals within the group while allowing the experience to unfold naturally.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and take the remainder of the day slowly. Enjoy a shower, relax at the lodge, take in the forest surroundings or simply rest after your trek. There are no further scheduled activities, allowing you to fully enjoy the evening in Bwindi.

After a relaxed breakfast at the lodge, depart Bwindi and begin the journey towards the remote Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Before leaving the Ruhija area, visit a community-supported school in Ruhija that receives support through Wild Compass Africa. Spend time meeting the teachers and children, learning about the school's work and seeing first-hand how support from safari guests can contribute to education and the wider community. It is a meaningful opportunity to connect with the people who call this region home and to see the impact of responsible tourism beyond the national parks.

Continue towards Ishasha, travelling through the changing landscapes of southwestern Uganda as the forested highlands gradually give way to the savannah country of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Arrive at Ishasha Wilderness Camp in time for lunch and settle into your private tent. The afternoon is intentionally unhurried, giving you time to relax and enjoy the camp's setting on the edge of the wilderness.

Later, head out for a relaxed sundowner experience, taking in the expansive views towards the Albertine Rift as the light softens across the landscape. Pause, enjoy the setting and watch the landscape change as evening approaches.

Return to camp for dinner and a peaceful evening surrounded by the sounds of the wilderness.

Rise early for a full morning safari through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, searching for the area's famous tree-climbing lions. Your private vehicle allows you to explore at a relaxed pace, following fresh tracks and spending time wherever wildlife activity is unfolding.

Beyond the lions, Ishasha supports a rich variety of wildlife. Keep watch for elephants, buffalo, topi, Uganda kob, waterbuck, bushbuck, warthogs and hippos, along with smaller mammals and the diverse birdlife of the southern sector. The open savannah, fig trees, woodland and riverine habitats create excellent opportunities for both wildlife viewing and photography.

Later in the morning, pause for a private bush picnic in a suitable wilderness setting. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast or brunch surrounded by the sights and sounds of the park, with time to relax rather than move from one sighting to another.

After the picnic, continue with a gentle wildlife drive before returning to camp for a relaxed afternoon. Enjoy the camp, rest, or simply take in the surrounding wilderness.

Later in the day, head out again for an evening game drive, when the light softens and wildlife becomes active once more. Return to camp for dinner and another peaceful night in Ishasha.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at Ishasha Wilderness Camp before departing for the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The journey takes you through the park's remote wilderness, with opportunities to enjoy wildlife and changing landscapes along the way. Rather than rushing through the park, the drive becomes part of the safari, allowing you to take in the open savannah, woodland and wildlife-rich surroundings.

Arrive at the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon for a private boat cruise along one of Uganda's most remarkable wildlife waterways. From the water, enjoy close encounters with large concentrations of hippos, while elephants and buffalogather along the shoreline to drink and bathe. The channel is also rich in birdlife, with opportunities to see African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, herons, egrets, cormorants and other waterbirds.

As the cruise continues, keep watch along the banks for crocodiles and other wildlife coming to the water. The relaxed pace of the boat allows plenty of time for photography and observation as the channel connects the park's savannah with the surrounding wetlands.

After the cruise, continue to Elephant Plains Lodge, where you can settle in and enjoy a relaxed evening after a full day in the wilderness.

Rise early for a morning chimpanzee tracking experience in Kyambura Gorge, a dramatic forested valley tucked within the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Descend into the gorge and walk beneath the canopy as you search for chimpanzees moving through the forest. The experience is as much about the landscape as it is about the apes, with opportunities to encounter other primates, forest birds and the rich vegetation that fills this remarkable valley.

After the trek, return to the lodge for a relaxed lunch and an unhurried afternoon. There is no further scheduled safari activity, giving you time to enjoy the lodge at your own pace.

Take advantage of the property's wellness offerings, perhaps enjoying a massage or other in-house treatment, or simply relax while taking in views across Lake George and the surrounding Great Lakes landscape. You may also explore the nearby Kikorongo salt pans, where local salt harvesting offers a fascinating glimpse into one of the area's traditional livelihoods.

The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure, with time to rest and prepare for the journey into Kibale's primate-rich forests.

After a relaxed breakfast at Elephant Plains Lodge, transfer to Kasese Airstrip for your scheduled flight towards Murchison Falls National Park.

Upon arrival, meet your private Wild Compass Africa guide and transfer to Nile Safari Lodge. Settle into your accommodation and enjoy a relaxed lunch or afternoon at leisure, taking time to unwind after the flight.

Later in the afternoon, prepare for a special evening on the Victoria Nile. Your private boat safari takes you downstream towards the base of the mighty Murchison Falls, where the river gathers force before being pushed through the narrow gorge.

As the afternoon light softens, watch for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo and abundant waterbirds along the riverbanks. The approach towards the falls offers a spectacular perspective of the landscape and the powerful Nile.

Return to the lodge after the cruise for dinner and a peaceful evening beside the river.

Rise early for a Nile Delta boat safari, exploring the quiet waterways and wetlands where the Victoria Nile meets the Albert Nile. This is also an opportunity to search for the elusive shoebill, one of Uganda’s most sought-after birds, as your guide works with you to explore suitable wetland habitat.

Along the waterways, keep watch for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and a variety of waterbirds, while the cool morning light creates excellent conditions for wildlife observation and photography.

From the delta, continue into a morning game drive through the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. Explore the open savannah in search of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hartebeest, Uganda kob, Jackson’s hartebeest and other wildlife, with opportunities to encounter lions and other predators.

Return to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Relax by the river, enjoy the lodge's facilities or simply take in the surrounding wilderness with no further scheduled activities.

Enjoy a slow morning at Nile Safari Lodge, with no fixed activities scheduled. Take your time over breakfast and enjoy the peaceful setting beside the Nile.

The day is yours to make your own. Relax by the pool, enjoy the lodge's wellness facilities, take a quiet walk around the property or simply spend time taking in the river and surrounding wilderness.

For those who would like to explore, any additional activity can be arranged on request, including a game drive, nature experience or another Nile excursion. Your Wild Compass Africa guide will be available to tailor the day around your interests and energy.

Enjoy a relaxed morning at Nile Safari Lodge, with time for a leisurely breakfast and a final opportunity to enjoy the riverside setting. For those who wish, an optional morning game drive can be arranged before departing.

Later, visit the top of Murchison Falls, where the full force of the Nile is concentrated through the narrow gorge. Take a short hike around the falls and viewpoints, experiencing the spray, sound and power of the river at close range.

Continue south towards Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, travelling through the changing landscapes of northern and central Uganda.

Arrive at the sanctuary later in the day and settle into your accommodation. Enjoy a relaxed evening surrounded by the peaceful bush setting, with the opportunity to rest and prepare for the following day's rhino experience.

Rise early for a guided rhino tracking experience at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Set out on foot with experienced rangers to search for rhinos in their natural surroundings and learn about the sanctuary's conservation work.

After the experience, return to the lodge to freshen up and enjoy a light snack before departing for Entebbe.

The journey south offers a final glimpse of Uganda's countryside before arriving in Entebbe later in the day. Settle into your hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening with no scheduled activities.