12 Days Uganda & Rwanda Safari

12 Days Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Safari

12 Days Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Safari offers you an ultimate safari as you get a chance to trek the Gorillas, Chimpanzees and watching many wildlife animals as they wander around their natural habitats. You visit safari destinations like Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park,  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park.

Trip Overview of the 12 Days Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights

Style: Private 4×4 safari vehicle in Uganda, road transfer across the border, private vehicle in Rwanda

Highlights: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, Kazinga Channel cruise, Ishasha tree-climbing lions, two separate mountain gorilla treks (Bwindi and

Volcanoes NP), golden monkey trekking, Kigali city tour & Genocide Memorial

Border crossing Cyanika or Katuna/Chanika, roughly 4 hours from Bwindi to Musanze/Volcanoes National Park

Best time to go Year-round; drier months (Dec–Feb, Jun–Sep) suit trekking best

Physical level Moderate to challenging (gorilla trekking can involve steep, muddy terrain in both countries)

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe to Hotel

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to a hotel  situated along the shores of Lake Victoria. You shall check and settle in then embark on an optional afternoon walk through Entebbe Botanical Gardens watching vervet monkeys and forest birdlife. After the adventure, you shall transfer back to hotel for Dinner and Overnight. Protea Hotel.

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Depart early and drive west, breaking the journey to have lunch then later proceed on journey via the scenic Rift Valley escarpment to Kibale Forest National Park. You shall transfer for a period of 7 to 8 hours with views of the green terrain and after a while, you reach the Park headquarters for registration to track the chimpanzees the next morning then later you shall proceed to check in your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Primates’ lodge Kibale.

Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Walk

Rise early for a briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre before entering Kibale National Park, home to the highest density of primates in Africa. Trek through the forest in search of habituated chimpanzee families, along with red colobus, black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and l’Hoest’s monkeys. In the afternoon, take a community-guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, known for over 200 bird species, including the elusive great blue turaco.

Overnight: Kibale Forest area Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through the Rwenzori foothills with views of the “Mountains of the Moon” (weather permitting). En route, stop at a crater lake viewpoint in the Kasenda crater field. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive on the Kasenyi plains, where lion, elephant, buffalo, Uganda kob, and hyena are commonly seen.

Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise & Game Viewing

An early game drive gives the best chance of predator sightings. After breakfast, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa’s great wildlife-viewing waterways, connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. Expect close encounters with massive pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffalo herds, and prolific birdlife including African fish eagles, pelicans, and kingfishers. Optional afternoon activities include a visit to a local fishing village or the Kyambura Gorge for a chance at chimpanzee tracking in the “Valley of Apes.”

Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Ishasha Sector to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Head south into the remote Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions that lounge in the branches of fig trees during the heat of the day. After searching for this unusual sight, continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, arriving in the afternoon as the terrain shifts from open savannah to dense montane rainforest.

Overnight: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

The centerpiece of the trip. After an early breakfast and briefing at the park headquarters, set off with expert trackers and rangers into the forest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. Trek times vary from 1 to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are located. Once found, you’ll spend a profound hour observing them watching silverbacks, mothers, and playful youngsters at close range in Uganda’s UNESCO-listed forest, home to roughly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The Gorilla Trekking adventure starts at the Park headquarters where you are welcomed by park rangers who take you through short briefing on conduct around the Mountain Gorillas, then later he shall locate you into groups of 8 with lead park ranger who lead you to enter the forest and trek the Gorillas for 3 to 6 hours depending on current location. Follow varying trails in the forest and after a while you shall meet the Gorillas and in an hour stay in their presence taking many photos to keep. After trekking the Gorillas, you shall return back to lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Rushaga Gorilla Camp.

Day 8: Cross the Border into Rwanda

Breakfast then transfer to the Uganda–Rwanda border at Cyanika (or Katuna) a straightforward crossing with immigration formalities on both sides. After documentation clearance, you shall proceed into Rwanda at Volcanoes National Park situated close to Musanze (Ruhengeri) and when you get here, enjoy views of the five volcanic peaks of the Virunga range. After a while, you shall transfer to the lodge for relaxation, Dinner and Overnight. Singita Kwitonda Lodge.

Day 9: Mountain Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes National Park

Breakfast early morning then transfer to the Kinigi Park headquarters where you welcomed with a cup of cappucino, milk tea, black tea, then later will be briefed on conduct around the Gorillas and located into groups of 8 with lead rangers who transfer you into the green forest vegetation habitat to trek the Gorillas. You shall trek the Gorillas for a period of 3 to 5 hours as you follow through the green vegetation habitat and after a while, you shall meet them and stay in their presence taking many photos to keep. After trekking the Gorillas, you shall stay in their presence taking many photos to keep. After trekking the Gorillas, you shall return to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Singita Kwitonda Lodge.

Day 10: Golden Monkey Trekking or Dian Fossey Hike

Breakfast then transfer to the park headquarters for short briefing on conduct around the Golden monkeys then later you shall be allocated into groups of 8 with lead rangers who transfer you into the forest tracking the Golden monkeys in their natural forest habitat. You shall watch the Golden Monkeys when you meet them as you transfer from one point to another for 2 to 4 hours watching them play, jump, communicate, lead, etc. Take many photos to keep about them then after, you shall break off for lunch and later continue to engage on the Dian Fossey hike towards the Dian Fossey Tomb and former Karisoke Research Center site. The hike takes a half-day honoring the researcher (Dian Fossey) who sacrificed her life to save that of the Gorillas that were killed rampantly at the time. After the Hike, you shall transfer back to lodge for relaxation, Dinner and Overnight. Singita Kwntonda Lodge.

Day 11: Transfer to Kigali, City Tour & Genocide Memorial

Breakfast then transfer on scenic drive south to Kigali, Rwanda’s clean, hilly capital. On reaching the City, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, National Museums, National Market. You shall learn about Rwanda’s history, local markets, craft cooperatives and viewpoints over the city’s rolling hills. After the city tour, you shall proceed to check-in lodge for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 12: Departure from Kigali

Enjoy a final relaxed breakfast before transferring to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight home.

Inclusions

Exclusions