Countries: Rwanda – Uganda
Destinations; Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kibale National Park.
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Day 2: Kigali city tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Golden Monkey trek and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 4: Gorilla trek at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for leisure
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha sector)
Day 7: Game drive and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (mweya sector)
Day 8: Game drive and boat Cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National Park.
Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale National Park.
Day 11: Transfer back to Kigali
Day 12: Kigali Airport transfer for departure
Trip Overview
The 12 Days Rwanda Uganda Primate and Wildlife Encounter Safaris will greatly immerse you to the jungles of both Uganda and Rwanda parks, primate parks and wildlife parks, with great opportunity to trek gorilla, chimpanzee and golden monkeys, spiced with game drives and boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park. This will be a lifetime safari to remember as you share the same environment with the giant gorillas, golden monkeys, wildlife’s and chimpanzees. You will be able to visit both countries known for their unique primates and their attractions in great depth while exploring some of the most famous and visited parks. The trip starts and ends in Kigali.
Trip Highlights
- Gorilla habituation experience in Uganda
- Golden monkey trekking experience in Rwanda
- Game drives
- Wildlife experience
- Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
- Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
- Bigodi nature walk
- Canoe ride experience on Lake Bunyonyi
- Kigali city tour
- Kigali genocide memorial visit
- Border crossing
Day 1: Welcome to Kigali – Rwanda!
Day Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will go through custom and immigration, clearance process and you will be met by our company representative who will warmly welcome you to the Land of a thousand hills that Rwanda is known for and later introduce you to your safari guide, before leading you, to your vehicle and your will be transferred to your booked hotel accommodation for dinner and overnight stay
Overnight stay at: Kigali Marriott Hotel (luxury) or Heaven Boutique Hotel & Restaurant (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast
Day 2: Transfer to Musanze. Travel time +2hrs
Day Itinerary
You will make up with a morning buffer breakfast, before you guide pick you up at 0900hrs and head for a city tour, with a visit to Kigali genocide memorial ground, were over 25000 bodies of victims of Rwandan genocide of 1994 were laid to rest in a mass grave as respect to their soul. There are video clips to watch and listen to. You will later head for lunch before being transferred to Musanze with a beautiful view of unwinding rolling hills that Rwanda is known for. The drive is roughly 2 hours’. Musanze is a tourism area near Volcanoes National Park, where most of the lodges are located since there are no lodges inside of the park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Luxury) or Amarembo Gorilla Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park.
Day Itinerary
Today after your warm early morning breakfast at 6:30 am, you will be picked by our safari driver guide who will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing and start off your day golden monkey trekking. Just like the gorilla trekking experience, the same applies to golden monkey trekking though not so hectic like gorilla trekking. One hour will be allocated for you to share a wonderful moment with these shy lovely golden monkeys. You will later return for lunch, and later you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park, one of the world UNESCO heritage sites, having a number of bird species and harboring half of the left mountain gorilla population. The park is one of the best spots to see the endangered mountain gorillas, one of the leading activities in the park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge
Overnight stay at: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking Experience at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Day Itinerary
Early morning cup of coffee by 0630hrs, then prepare for the gorilla trekking briefing from the park headquarters and thereafter, you will enter the jungle with your packed lunch to search for the shy mountain gorillas and enjoy their lifestyle in their real home. After meeting the gorillas, you can sit around these great apes for an hour watching their social life as you take pictures. On a gorilla safari, a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as walking shoes, packed snacks and mineral water, insect repellent, sunscreen and hut. The gorilla trekking experience takes almost 2 – 6 depending on the movements of these primates and pace of your trekking group. After this gorilla tracking experience you will return to your lodge for hot lunch. You will spend the evening relaxing and going through your great shots during your trekking as you wait for overnight stay at the lodge
Overnight stay at: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi: Travel time + 1.3 hrs
Day Itinerary
Have a relaxed breakfast at your lodge, and check out, drive to Lake Bunyonyi, which is a few hours’ drive away, reach and check in for lunch. After lunch, head for a scenic boat ride, to explore this beautiful lake, known as a bird watching paradise, blessed with over 29 islands. The boat ride rewards you with a great view of the hills, covered with terrace gardens. You will later return and relax at leisure, watch the sunset, and later serve dinner before getting to bed.
Overnight stay at: Bird Nest Resort Bunyonyi (Luxury) or Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Sector: Travel time + 3 hrs
After your relaxed morning breakfast, you get your bags ready for a long drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha sector reach and be served lunch before you will head off, for an amazing game drive in search of the tree climbing lions, of which the Ishaha sector is well known for. A number of other wildlife such as hyena, topi, leopards, elephants, buffaloes can as well as be encountered during the game drive. On a lucky day, you will land on the tree climbing lions, lying and relaxing on the fig tree branches. You will later return to your lodge, for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury) or Enjojo Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Game drive in Ishasha and transfer to Mweya sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day Itinerary
You will wake up and find breakfast ready, before you meet your driver guide, who will be waiting for you, for another game drive in Ishasha, to try out your luck, with the tree climbing lions, as you increase your wildlife count. You will later return to drive off to Mweya sector which is roughly 2 hours’ drive away from Ishasha sector, within Queen Elizabeth National Park. If time permits, you will make a Crater Lake tour around the Kichwamba area, before you proceed to your booked lodge and catch up with lunch. After lunch, you may decide to relax at the lodge at leisure, or head for an added game drive in the Kasenyi area, keeping your eyes on the big and small ones.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Mweya Safari Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Game drive and boat cruise at Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day Itinerary
Get closer to thrilling wildlife interactions and see creatures big and small on morning and afternoon game drives, with the boat cruise at Kazinga channel which gives you a great opportunity to sight the large Nile crocodiles and big number of hippos that you have never seen.
After having a very delightful breakfast at your lodge, it is time to catch up with another beautiful sunrise moment in Africa. You will jump onto your safari jeep and head off for a morning game drive in the park, in search of a number of wildlife in the Kasenyi area and later return for lunch, before heading for an afternoon boat cruise on the scenic Kazinga channel. The boat cruise along the Kazinga channel to view the water dwelling birds and wildlife such as the pied kingfisher, African fish eagle, herons, darters to mention but a few and see animals such as buffalos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, elephants wallowing at the mad and much more. After boat cruise, you will proceed for a short game drive as you find your way back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight stay at: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Mweya Safari Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National Park. Travel time +3 hrs
Day Itinerary
Today, you may opt to have another added game drive or have a relaxed morning breakfast and drive off to Kibale National Park which is roughly a 3 hours’ drive with beautiful crater lakes and mountain Rwenzori ranges that can be observed along the way to the lodge. You will catch up with lunch at the lodge. Afternoon at your own leisure, as you relax by the pool side, overlooking the beautiful crater lake with a stunning view. Dinner and overnight at the lodge
Overnight stay at: Crater Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Turaco Treetop Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10: Chimpanzee trekking and nature walk
Day Itinerary
After your early morning breakfast at 0630hrs, you will drive to the park for briefing at 0730hrs and later head off to the Kibale forest for the chimpanzee trekking adventure. Kibale forest is known as home to chimpanzees, primate capital of the world with over 13 primate species that can be sighted in the forest. The chimpanzee trekking can take 2 – 4 hours depending on the fruiting and chimpanzee movements. An hour will be granted to you to spend with the chimpanzee as you enjoy a wonderful moment with them, taking photos. You will later return, have lunch, and later head for nature walk at Bigodi wetland for a wonderful birding life and primate sighting. Lots of monkeys and birds can be sighted at Bigodi wetland. The walk is roughly a 2 hours walk, giving you a great nature treat. You will return and drive back to your lodge, for relaxation as you wait for dinner and overnight stay
Overnight stay at: Crater Safari Lodge (Luxury) or Turaco Treetop Lodge (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 11: Transfer to Kigali. Travel time +6 hrs
Day Itinerary
After your early morning relaxed buffer breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge, and transfer back to Kigali. You will have a wonderful drive with a beautiful view of the countryside. You will have a number of stops for stretching as you drive back. You will enjoy an en route lunch at one of the local restaurants along the way. Upon reaching Kigali, you will either head straight to your booked hotel, or opt for an added Kigali city tour to visit the local market and art galleries. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight stay at: Kigali Marriott Hotel (luxury) or Heaven Boutique Hotel & Restaurant (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 12: Departure
Day Itinerary
Finally, our 12 days safari adventure comes to an end!
Have a relaxed breakfast, as today marks your last day in Rwanda, after having 12 days, exploring the beauty of Uganda and Rwanda. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and later transfer to Kigali airport to catch up with your flight to your home country. End of service!
Meal Plan; Breakfast only.
This safari package includes.
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop up roof
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- 1 Gorilla permits ($800), per person
- 1 Chimpanzee permit, per person
- 1 Golden Monkey permit, per person
- En-route lunches
- Game drives as mentioned
- Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
- Visit to the genocide memorial
- Park entrance fee
- Bigodi wetland walk
- Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Services of English speaking driver/guide
- Bottles of mineral water during safari
- Lot of fun on African soil
- English speaking local guide
The package excludes expenses of personal nature like:
- Visa Fees & flights
- Optional activities
- Tips for guides
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- International vaccinations & tests
- Health test requirements
- Personal travel Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Phone call bills
- Extras while at the hotel
- Items of personal nature
Please contact us for a free detailed quote on the option of your choice. We can tailor a request that suits your interests, and budget, as well as we can change or upgrade the lodge options. Write to us with more details about your safari.