The 8 days Rwanda and Uganda safari takes you to magical gorilla trekking destinations specifically Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
This long safari also combines a trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park for game viewing and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park. Your trip begins from Kigali Rwanda and ends in Kampala/Entebbe Uganda.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Kigali city expedition & travel to Volcanoes National Park
Have the best of your early morning breakfast and later, Kigali city tour will be your first expedition on 8 days Rwanda and Uganda safari. Expect to tour places like Gisozi genocide site, craft market, museum, Nyamata Church among others. This takes 2 hours or more and you have a lunch break in a hotel in Kigali.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking
Wake early and enjoy breakfast buffet then proceed to Kinigi to be part of briefing on gorilla trekking rules. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park comprises of 10 habituated gorilla groups and today, you will trek only one of them. The gorilla trek is exciting but requires you to be physically well. It takes about 2-6 hours and once you come across mountain gorillas, you will stay with them for 1 hours which also includes photography.
After get back to have a lunch break at your respective lodges in Volcanoes National Park and have evening visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. This gives you insight into Rwanda’s unique cultures, traditions with a chance to enjoy exceptional dances and great music performances from Rwandese.
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking & travel to Bwindi National Park
Golden monkey is your next primate adventure experience that is covered in 8 days Rwanda and Uganda safari. You will still gather at Kinigi for briefing on dos and don’ts for golden monkey tracking then begin your search for golden monkeys at 8:00am. This may take you from 2-4 hours inclusive of an hour of close interaction with golden monkeys plus photo taking. After, drive to Uganda’s Bwindi for about 3-4 hours through Chanika/Katuna border crossing.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking & cultural trip in Batwa Community
Report to Bwindi park offices to be briefed on gorilla trekking rules from the park official. Of the 20 habituated gorilla families distributed in the 4 gorilla trekking regions (Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Buhoma) of Bwindi, only one is trekked by a group of 8 visitors each day. Be set with your packed lunch and bottled drinking water then begin your trek to see mountain gorillas at 8:00am with park guide onlead.
Take about 2-6 hours trekking and spend 1 face to face with these primates. Return to the lodge to rest a little then visit Batwa community to learn more about Batwa pygmies and don’t miss the great entertainment from amazing dances, cultural music performances.
Day 5: Bwindi-Queen Elizabeth National Park-see the tree climbing lions at Ishasha area
Have breakfast early in the morning and drive from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s only home to the tree climbing lions. These will be spotted at Ishasha sector in the southern Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive early and have lunch then embark on an afternoon launch or boat cruise along Kazinga Channel. On a boat cruise, don’t miss to capture amazing sight of hippos, crocodiles, aquatic birdlife and a lot more.
Day 6: Game drive and drive to Kibale Forest National Park 3-4 hours’ drive
After a delicious hot cup of tea or coffee, go enjoy a morning game drive that will expose you to morning risers. This takes you 2-3 hours via Kasenyi Plains, a popular area of Queen Elizabeth National Park with huge concentration of elephants, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, birds, hyenas and a lot more. In your 4×4 drive car, get back to the lodge to have lunch then transfer to Kibale Forest National Park where you will have evening nature walk around dazzling Crater Lakes.
Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking & go enjoy nature walk in Bigodi Swamp Sanctuary
Have a hot cup of tea or coffee and later, briefing will be caried out at Kanyanchu Tourist Centre in Kibale Forest a home to 13 primate species. Beginning at 8:00am, your park guide takes you on a search for chimpanzees an adventure that lasts for 2-4 hours inclusive of 1 hour photo taking and exploring more about these exceptional primates in the wild. Return to be served lunch, relax and drive to Bigodi for nature walk. In Bigodi, enjoy amazing views of primates, birds, mammals which you missed on a chimp trek in Kibale Forest National Park.
Day 8: Kibale Forest National Park-Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, drive from Kibale Forest National Park to Kampala through Fort Portal Tourism City. This is a journey of about 5-6 hours and you may have Entebbe city tour (optional) or connect to catch up with your flight back home at Entebbe Airport in case it is scheduled today.
