7 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
This 6 nights and 7 days is a combined Uganda and Rwanda safari offering you a chance to explore the three of best national parks found in Uganda and Rwanda that is Bwindi impenetrable national park, Kibale National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
On this safari you will have a golden opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys and several wildlife species such as lions, leopards, buffaloes among others in their natural habitat.
This 7 days Uganda Rwanda Safari starts from Entebbe in Uganda, the head to Kibale National Park – World’s primate capital with over 1500 chimpanzees for chimpanzee trekking. Next destination to explore is Queen Elizabeth National Park – home to four of the big Five (lion, leopards, buffaloes and elephants).
Head to Bwindi impenetrable national park – home to the highest population of mountain gorillas in the world for gorilla trekking then cross over to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park for golden monkey trekking. The safari ends in Kigali City of Rwanda.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 7 DAYS UGANDA RWANDA SAFARI
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park & Bigodi Community
Day 2: chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 3: morning game drive and boat cruise
Day 4: morning game drive and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 5: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 6: Golden Monkey trekking
Day 7: Kigali City and departure
DETAILED ITINERARY OF 7 DAYS UGANDA RWANDA SAFARI
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park & Bigodi Community
To start the safari, you will be welcomed by our guide upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport or from the hotel after breakfast and embark on a 5 hours’ drive west to Kibale Forest National Park dubbed as “The Primate Capital of the World”.
You will drive through the beautiful green countryside arriving in Fort Portal Town for lunch, this scenic town sits in the shadow of Mountains of the Moon. After lunch you will continue to Kibale, check into your lodge. Later you will go for a walk in the Bigodi Village where you will learn about the traditional customs and lifestyle of the local people, you will visit a traditional healer and homesteads, listen to storytelling from wise elderly men and women. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge
Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse-Cottage
Budget – Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Meal Plan –Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park’s headquarters for briefing about chimpanzee trekking and the right way to behave while in the forests, then embark on a 2-6 hours trek through the gorgeous forest of Kibale. Expect to see a number of other primates including Baboons, Mangabeys, Black-and-white colobus, Red-colobus, Red-tailed, Blue, Vervet, and L’Hoest’s monkeys and over 370 bird species.
When you locate chimpanzees, you will spend one hour in their presence while observing the behavior and life in the forests, watch them swing on tree branches, take amazing pictures and videos. Then return to the park’s headquarters, have lunch at your lodge then checkout and embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park arriving in late evening, have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget: – Pumba Safari Cottages
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: morning game drive and boat cruise
Have early breakfast and head to the park for an early morning game drive in the vast grasslands of Kasenyi which is the most popular game viewing circuit in the park, during the game drive you will see many animals including Uganda Kobs, Cape buffalos, African Elephants, Giant Forest Hogs, Leopards, Spotted Hyenas, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Side-stripe Jackals, Common warthogs, and a variety of birds including herons, crested cranes among others.
Head to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will head to Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise. The channel is home to the world’s largest concentration of hippos, Nile Crocodiles which you will see in the waters, you will also spot elephants and many water birds. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge
Budget: – Pumba Safari Cottages
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: morning game drive and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
After breakfast, you will go for a morning game drive in Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will see the tree climbing lions lounging on branches of fig trees, then depart for Bwindi impenetrable National Park with en-route lunch along the way.
Arrive in the park in evening, check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Haven Lodge Buhoma
Mid-range – Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget – Trekkers Tavern
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park’s headquarters for briefing about mountain gorilla trekking, you will be taken through rules and regulations to follow while in the presence of mountain gorillas. In groups of 8 people you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek and head to a starting point and head into the forests of Bwindi looking for mountain gorillas, the trek takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours or more and you will be able to see other forest creatures.
When you find the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend on hour in their presence taking pictures and watch them go on with their daily life in the forests, watch them groom each other and babies playing. You are also allowed to take pictures as long as your flashlight is off.
After one hour of being in the presence of mountains, you will trek back to the park’s headquarters, have lunch and embark on a drive to Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park via the Cyanika Border. Along the way you will enjoy breathtaking scenery of Kigezi Highlands – the Switzerland of Africa. Arrive in Musanze in the evening, check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Golden Monkey trekking
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park’s headquarters for briefing about golden monkey trekking and the rules to follow, you will then head into the forests looking for golden monkeys which you will find in the bamboo forest.
You will watch the golden monkeys playing on forest trees, watch them pick fruits and groom each other, you are allowed to take pictures and videos. Return to the lodge for lunch and leisure, in the evening you will head to the Ib’Iwacu Village for an interaction with the local people, be entertained by local dances and drama, visit a healer and the king’s Palace.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Kigali City and departure
After a relaxed breakfast, you will drive back to Kigali City – Rwanda’s capital, depending on your flight schedule, you will have a Kigali City Tour visiting Kigali Genocide Memorial center, Inema Arts Center, Kimironko Market. Then have lunch and be dropped off at the airport for your flight back home.
End of the safari
SAFARI INCLUSIONS
Gorilla permit fees
Chimpanzee trekking permit fees
An Expert English-speaking local tour driver/guide
A comfortable 4×4 safari car with a pop-up roof & A/C
Your full board accommodation on a safari
Kazinga Channel Boat cruise fees
Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle
Bottled water
Border crossing fees
SAFARI EXCLUSIONS
International & domestic flight fees
Visa fees
Laundry services
Items of personal nature
Gratuities and tips
Other beverages/drinks
Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above
