In this Uganda & Rwanda gorilla safari we focus on the fascinating primates that can be found in Uganda and Rwanda. You start off the Uganda & Rwanda gorilla tour by spending a full day with our close cousins the chimpanzees and continue on to trek the mysterious mountain gorillas in Uganda. Along the way we take the chance to get a taste of the animals of the savanna in Queen Elizabeth national park as well. Heading over to Rwanda you go trekking golden monkeys and finish off with a trek to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
This Uganda & Rwanda gorilla safari includes:
- Kibale Forest National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Volcanoes National Park
- Kigali
Learn more about Uganda’s national parks or gorilla trekking.
Day by day itinerary for our Uganda & Rwanda gorilla safari:
DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO UGANDA FOR OUR UGANDA & RWANDA Gorilla SAFARI
Arrival at Entebbe airport for the Uganda & Rwanda gorilla safari. We meet our tour guide and transfer to our Hotel to relax after the flight.
Overnight Tilapia Lodge
DAY 2: TRANSFER TO KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK, “THE PRIMATE CITY”
We leave Lake Victoria behind in the morning and target to have lunch in Fortportal town. After that we proceed for an evening around in the Tropical forest. During the journey we lessen the pressure and fatigue with a punctuation of stopovers at sceneries, typical African village setup in the far countryside and tea plantations along the drive. When entering the Kibale area we keep our eyes open since there is an amazing display of primates in this area. Monkey species that can be seen are for example black and white colobus, red colobus, red tailed monkey and grey cheeked mangabeys.
Overnight Primate Lodge
DAY 3: CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION EXPERIENCE IN KIBALE FOREST
Head into the forest of the Primate city of Kibale in the morning for a full day of participating in chimpanzee habituation, the first primate we trek during this Uganda & Rwanda gorilla safari. During the day you get to follow the chimps as they go about their day, a truly exclusive experience. Kibale Forest national park is a rainy forest and a home to over 1500 Chimpanzees. Here you have the chance to see the chimps close up. You can capture shots of our closet cousins in the jungle in there frenzy exciting moods as they are grooming, building relationships, bringing up young ones, think and sharing food, plus rare bird species following them.
Overnight Primate Lodge
DAY 4: TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK AND BOAT-CRUISE
After breakfast we leave the forest and drive through the Crater lakes area in the hills. We arrive in Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon and head for the boat-cruise on Kazinga channel. This natural channel connects Lake George – Lake Edward. During the boat-cruise you can see Hippopotamuses yawning, Nile Crocodile gaping along the Banks, warthogs, impressive elephants and more. After the boat we continue on to the lodge for dinner and a relaxed evening.
Overnight Pumba Safari Cottages
DAY 5: GAME-DRIVE IN ISHASHA AND TRANSFER TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast we leave the lodge and head towards Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha is known for its tree-climbing lions, one of two places in Africa where the lions have the habit of regularly climbing trees. We drive along the tracks seeing buffaloes, topis and hopefully the lions in the fig-trees. After the game-drive we continue the journey to Bwindi mountains, the home of the mountain gorillas. This journey offers stunning views as we transfer from a landscape of savanna, via cultivated hills to the forest covered mountains of Bwindi.
Overnight Buhoma Community Rest Camp
DAY 6: GORILLA TREKKING DAY- BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
In the morning we drive to the gorilla trekking starting point where your adventure will begin as we have reached on of the great highlights of our Uganda & Rwanda gorilla safari. You are lead into the forest in a group with a specialized guide and make a trek to the point where the gorillas are. Then you get to spend one unforgettable hour with the gorilla family. This Impenetrable Forest is as well full of birds, butterfly and plant species plus forest hog, forest elephants, statungas and dikers. After the trek your guide picks you and brings you to the lodge for relaxation. If you wish and time allows we take a village walk.
Overnight Buhoma Community Rest Camp
DAY 7: TRANSFER TO RWANDA
After breakfast we set off for our target destination Rwanda, the second country in the Uganda & Rwanda gorilla tour. We leave the mountains of Bwindi behind and drive through villages with cultivated hills. Set off to Rwanda we further drive out to cross the relaxed border post as Congolese traders will be seen requesting for Hitch hiking around. Continuing on through a beautiful landscape in Rwanda we reach the town of Ruhengeri where we spend the night.
Overnight Muhabura Hotel Ruhengeri
DAY 8: GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
This morning you set off to meet the golden monkeys. Your guide takes you to the starting point and you set off with a specialized guide for the trek. You’ll experience beautiful nature and get a great experience of primates. After the trek you relax at the hotel to get ready for the last big adventure the next day.
Overnight Muhabura Hotel Ruhengeri
DAY 9: GORILLA TREKKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
We get up for an early breakfast and head to do the Gorilla trekking briefing which is at 7 o’clock Rwanda time at ORTPN office headquarters. It is a 12km drive to the base of the Volcanoes and you will be grouped into groups for the trekking. We will get into our cars and get driving into the molten lava bread, as it’s tough for the cars you get a so called “African massage”. When the starting point is reached you enter the forest for the trekking in search for the Rwandan version of Mountain Gorillas. After finishing the trekking and lunch we transfer to Kigali, a city in a country different from the rest of the great lakes countries.
Overnight Step Motel Kigali
DAY 10: CITY TOUR AND FLIGHT DAY
Have a city tour of Kigali including the genocide war memorial and traditions and culture of Rwanda in the crafts villages. Your guide will be throwing light on this former French –Belgium colony on how the apocalypse started and how it ended. We have now reached the end of the Uganda & Rwanda gorilla safari. Transfer to airport depending on flight time.
‘IN CONSERVATION WE TRUST- DISCOVER YOUR TRAVEL DREAMS’
CLICK ON THE MAP TO ZOOM AND FOLLOW THE ROUTING OF THE SAFARI. EXACT ROADS USED CAN DIFFER DEPENDING ON THE GUIDES DECISIONS FOR BEST ALTERNATIVES AT THE TIME.
Useful Information
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Tailor-made safaris: We work with private safaris that can be tailor-made to fit your wishes. Contact us and we adjust the itinerary to your preferences.
Price: The price depends on number of people and accommodation level. Contact us with your inquiry to get the best price for your safari.
Included: Accommodation, meals, safari car, fuel, guide, park entries, gorilla permits (if applicable) and activities mentioned in the itinerary. Plus water in the car and a couple of fruits along the way.
Excluded: International flights, visas, drinks, tips and personal expenses.
Accommodation: In general accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is good places on budget to mid-range level (with the exception of luxury safaris). The accommodation can be adapted to your price range of budget, mid-range or luxury. Of-course a mix is also possible. Take a look here for links to the website’s of the lodges we regularly work with.
Payment options: We accept international bank transfer, card payment through PesaPal (adds 3,5% charge) and cash payment if you are in Uganda.
For more info see our terms & conditions.
8 days uGANDA & RWANDA SAFARI
Experience the highlights of Uganda & Rwanda during this safari. Start in Uganda with Queen Elizabeth national park for a boat-cruise spotting elephants & hippos in the banks and a game-drive looking for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, continue on to the beautiful Mgahinga NP for mountain gorilla trekking. Then cross the border to Rwanda where the highlights are golden monkey trekking, beautiful Lake Kivu and finally chimpanzee trekking at Nyungwe Forest.
PRIMATES & SAVANNA – 10 DAYS Uganda safari
Come to meet the great primates of Uganda with trekking of both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. Mixed with the primates is time on the savanna to search for lions, elephants and more. Get the chance to tick off “the Big 5” by visiting 3 savannah national parks & Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Uganda & Rwanda tour – 13 DAYS
Tour Uganda the “Pearl of Africa” and Rwanda “the land of a thousand hills” during this safari. A combination of savanna parks and jungles lets you see the best of what these two countries has to offer. Including game-drives and boat-cruises to spot lions, elephants, hippos and more as well as treks in the jungles to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys.
For more itinerary options take a look under “safaris” in the menu at the top of the site.
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