Get a lifetime opportunity to encounter the world’s distinct wildlife on this special combined 10-day Rwanda Uganda safari. Visit top primate and wildlife destinations both in Uganda and Rwanda. Explore all your favorite wildlife species in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and cross over to Rwanda to unearth the wonders of Volcanoes National Park.
Your combined Rwanda Uganda safari takes 9 nights, 10 days and covers iconic experiences such as gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game drives and launch cruise. It begins from Kampala and ends in Kigali Rwanda.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer by road to Kibale National Park to see chimpanzees
The 10-day Rwanda Uganda safari will begin with a hefty breakfast and after, you will meet with your driver guide for a short briefing. The journey to Kibale will run for 5-6 hours, and en-route, key area to navigate through include Mityana, Mubende, Matiri Forest, and Fort Portal city.
Spectacular sights to enjoy en-route include the extensive tea plantations, crater lakes and the legendary Rwenzori Mountain ranges (Mountains of the Moon). On arrival at Fort Portal tourism city, settle for a delicious lunch meal in one of the best restaurants. Have a relaxed moment shortly and then proceed to the pre-booked lodge.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Ndali/Papaya Lake Lodge
- Midrange: Primate Lodge/Isunga Lodge
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
Day 2: Explore Kibale National Park chimpanzees & afternoon Bigodi wetland walk
At leisure, enjoy a hefty breakfast and later, join the rest of primate lovers at Kanyanchu for you to clear with Uganda Wildlife Authority team before you get briefed about chimpanzee tracking guidelines. The morning chimp trek session begins at 8:00am and will run for 2-4 hours which is inclusive of an hour for up close and personal moment with community of chimpanzees.
Other diverse primates living in Kibale will be spotted on Kibale chimp trek and include l’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies, black and white colobus monkeys, plus many birds. Your primate sightings start right from the moment you leave Kanyanchu Visitor Centre.
After great time with chimps, you will get back to have a delicious lunch and refreshments till in the afternoon when you will proceed to Bigodi wetland. At Bigodi, enjoy a guided nature walk which comes with great sights of more primates and birds.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Ndali/Papaya Lake Lodge
- Midrange: Primate Lodge/Isunga Lodge
- Budget: Kibale Forest Camp
Day 3: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth Park for wildlife encounter in the savanna plains
Pick up at the lodge in Kibale and set off for Queen Elizabeth Park in Western Uganda, one of the best places to find diverse savanna wildlife. En-route, keep eyes on spectacular Crater Lakes and scenic surrounding area. Once you have arrived at Queen Elizabeth Park, delicious lunch will be offered and in the afternoon, continue with an exciting boat cruise on Kazinga channel to enjoy sights of hippos, crocodiles and water birds.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
- Midrange: Ihamba Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Budget: Simba Safari Camp
Day 4: Game drive and exit Queen Elizabeth Park for Bwindi
Following a hefty breakfast, depart from your lodge for morning game drive 2-3 hours. The early morning game drive allows you enjoy sights of sun risers and plenty more of the park species including elephants, cape buffaloes, spotted hyenas, leopards, antelopes, and birds.
Return after the game drive, check out and you will drive to the Southern part to explore the tree climbing lions and later proceed to the lodge in or around Bwindi NP.
Accommodation
- Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge
- Ichumbi Lodge/Bakiga Lodge or Engagi Lodge
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 5: Go enjoy Bwindi gorilla trekking & visit the Batwa pygmies’ community
Gather at the park offices for briefing about gorilla trekking regulations. The gorilla family will be assigned to you plus a gorilla group which you will take 2-6 hours searching for. Once you have come across gorillas, the guide will let you have 60 minutes face-to-face with them and taking pictures. Get back and have leisurely lunch break then you will proceed with evening cultural walk to the Batwa community.
Accommodation
- Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge
- Ichumbi Lodge/Bakiga Lodge or Engagi Lodge
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 6: Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi
Enjoy the morning breakfast and after, check out. Start your journey to Lake Bunyonyi, a stunning natural lake with 29 islands. The boat ride on this freshwater lake covers visit to the islands and enjoying the scenic surrounding places.
Accommodation
- Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort
- Bunyonyi Rock Resort
- Byoona Amagara Island Retreat/Bunyonyi View Resort
Day 7: Road transfer to Rwanda’s Volcanoes NP
A hefty breakfast and after, you may take a guided walk around Lake Bunyonyi and later, proceed to Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri. You will cross to Ruhengeri via Cyanika or Katuna border and settle at the classic lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Five Volcanoes Boutique Lodge/Hotel
- Da Vinci Lodge/Le Bambou
- The Garden Place
Day 8: Enjoy gorilla trekking experience & tour Iby’Iwacu Village
Get briefed about guidelines for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda and the official will assign to you a family of gorillas to explore. Park guides will also be allocated and at 8:00am, you will set off for actual search for mountain gorillas.
Depending on your fitness level, the entire adventure may run for 2-6 hours which is inclusive of an hour for up close and personal encounter. After, begin trekking back and relax at the lodge till evening when you will have great cultural entertainment by locals at Iby’Iwacu Village.
Accommodation
- Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Five Volcanoes Boutique Lodge/Hotel
- Da Vinci Lodge/Le Bambou
- The Garden Place
Day 9: Golden monkey tracking & relaxation/visit the Twin Lakes
After breakfast, join others for briefing at Kinigi and get to know the guidelines to be observed on golden monkey trek. The day golden monkey search will run for 2-4 hours which includes 1 hour for a face-to-face encounter with a troop of these unique primates. In the evening, you may choose to relax at the lodge or embark on a short tour to the Twin Lake (Lake Burera and Ruhondo).
Accommodation
- Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Five Volcanoes Boutique Lodge/Hotel
- Da Vinci Lodge/Le Bambou
- The Garden Place
Day 10: Road transfer to Kigali, city tour & departure
A hefty breakfast will be followed by departure from Volcanoes NP to Kigali. This will be 2-3 hours’ drive and on arrival, proceed with a tour to Kigali genocide memorial and short shopping. Later, you will be dropped off to the airport for departure or at the hotel for relaxation.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Park entrance fees
- Golden monkey permits
- Gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee permits
- Airport transfers
- Bottled water
- An English-speaking driver guide
- Transportation
- Accommodation and meals
Exclusions
- Tips
- Travel Insurance
- Airfares
- Visas
- Passport, etc.