9 Days Uganda – Rwanda Gorilla And Wildlife Safari Adventure

The 9 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour Adventure will start either Kigali – Rwanda or in Entebbe – Uganda. Kigali is Rwanda’s Capital city while Kampala is Uganda’s Capital city. During this 9 Days Safari adventure, you will visit 4 of the major National Parks in both country’s including Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park and enjoy a city tour of Kigali before ending your trip.

The trip starts with a visit to Kibale Forest National Park a park that is famous for chimp trek among other 13 primate’s species, Kibale is a 6 to 7 hours’ drive from Entebbe. On arrival at Kibale Forest National Park we shall start with a nature walk at bigodi swamp a project managed by KAFRED a community based organized, several bird species and primates can be sighted on this walk.

The following day wake up early for your chimp trekking experience, the trek lasts average of 3 hours, only people who are 12 years and above are allowed to track chimps, visitors are put in the groups of 06 people, morning chimp tracking starts at 0800am while the afternoon starts at 1400hrs. After your morning chimp trek we shall transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park- Uganda’s most famous national park. Gazatted in 1952, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a home to a number of bird and wildlife species including the 95 animal species, the 600 bird species and 10 primates including chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge, the park is famous for its rare tree climbing lions which are common in the southern sector of the park also known as Ishasha sector, game drive in the Kasenyi plains and the boat ride on the Kazinga Channel.

From Queen Elizabeth we head to Bwindi Forest National Park a home to 18 Gorilla habituated families that can be tracked every single day spread among the 4 sectors of Buhoma, Ruhijja, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Gorilla tracking can also happen at Nyakagezi family the only habituated gorilla family at Mount Gahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorilla tracking is a full day activity however time spent on the activity will depend of the family you are allocated to. Once you meet the Gorillas you will be allowed to stay with them for one hour. After your Gorilla trek in Uganda, we continue to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park – another park famous for Gorilla Tracking, Volcanoes National Park has a total of 12 habituated Gorilla families that can be tracked on a single day. Just like in Uganda you will be allocated a gorilla family after briefing at the park headquarters head to the jungle to find these gentle giants. In the evening visit the Ibwachu Cultural Village (Also known as the ex-poacher’s village) for entertainment and cultural experience.

Golden monkey tracking is yet another experience offered by the park, there are 2 habituated families located on the slopes of Karisimbi and on Mount Sabinyo that can be tracked, after the activity head to Kigali city tour visiting the local food and craft markets as well as the genocide memorial center before transferring to the airport for your flight back home.

For a more details and ideas on what else to do and to stay, please get in touch with us.

Safari Highlights

Kigali City tour
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda,
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda
Golden monkey tracking in Rwanda
Community walks
Border Crossing
Boat cruise along the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park

Full Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive at Entebbe Airport – Entebbe Hotel (Approx. 10 -30 mins drive)

On your arrival at Entebbe Airport, your will be met and welcomed by our representative. He will be your tour and driver guide for the rest of the days you will be in the country. After the interaction and brief introduction, you will be transferred to your preferred Hotel in Entebbe for Overnight stay. Bed and Breakfast

Accommodation Options:

Papyrus Guest house (BUDGET)
Boma Guest House/2 Friends Guest House/Best Western Hotel (MIDRANGE)
Hotel No. 5/Lake Victoria Serena Resort (UPMARKET)

Day 2: Depart for Kibale Forest National Park (Approx. 6- 7hrs drive)

Early morning have your breakfast at the lodge and depart for Kibale National Park. The Journey will take you through the Western Rift Valley’s Albertine Escarpment as well as the green country side and traditional homesteads of the local people with in the Bunyoro and Toro Kingdoms. Upon arriving in Fort portal, clear days will give you a glimpse of the legendary snowcapped Mountain also famously known as the “Mountains of the Moon” (Mt Rwenzori). Kibale Forest National Park is a home to 13 primate species including the common Mans’ closest Cousins (Chimpanzees). The Forest is also a home to over 325 bird species including the rare Green Breasted Pitta. Arrive at your Lodge in the afternoon. Check in and later set out for a nature and bird walk with in the Bigodi Swamp. The wetland is a project being run by local communities and is much known for its rich diversity of bird species and other primates. It also provides employment and job opportunities to the local youth through tour guiding. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay. Full Board

Accommodation Options:

Kibale Guest Cottages (BUDGET)
Turaco Tree Tops (MIDRANGE)
Crater Safari Lodge/Chimpundu Safari Lodge/Primates Lodge (UPMARKET)

Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Morning breakfast at your lodge and set out for a half day Chimpanzee tracking experience. You will be transferred to the park headquarters at Kanyanchu for a 30-40mins briefing and get to know more about the chimpanzees and their ways of living with in the forest. After this, you will then embark on your journey to search for these primates through the forest. On spotting the chimps, you are only given one Hour to be with them as you take videos and pictures. Along the way other primate species can be spotted such as the LHoest’s Monkeys, Red tailed Monkeys, Blue Vervet Monkeys, and Black & White colobus Monkeys among others. Other animals that can be seen are Forest Elephants, Buffalos and a lot of bird species. After the tracking, return to your Lodge for Lunch and afternoon transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is one of country’s best wildlife National parks with over 600 bird species, mammals like Lions, Leopards, elephants, buffaloes and so many others. Dinner and Overnight at your Lodge. Full Board

Accommodation Options:

Baboon Safari Resort/Elephant Hub Lodge/Twin Lakes Safari Lodge (BUDGET)
Park View Safari Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge/(MIDRANGE)
Elephant Plains/ Mweya Lodge/Katara Lodge/Kyambura Gorge (UPMARKET)

Day 4: Game drive and Boat ride along the Kazinga channel

After an early morning breakfast, depart for your morning game drive in Kasenyi areas. Look out for wildlife animals such as Lions, Leopards, Buffalos, Elephants, Antelopes, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Bushbucks and so on. Lunch and in the afternoon set out for the launch cruise along the Kazinga channel. The channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel is a home to one of Africa’s largest hippo populations and bird species. this 3hrs boat cruise will enrich you with views of the water loving animals such as Hippos, Elephants, Buffalos, Crocodiles and other antelopes as we as bird species. Return to your Lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation Options:

Baboon Safari Resort/Elephant Hub Lodge/Twin Lakes Safari Lodge (BUDGET)
Park View Safari Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge (MIDRANGE)
Elephant Plains/ Mweya Lodge/Katara Lodge/Kyambura Gorge (UPMARKET)

Day 5: Ishasha Sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (Approx. 5hrs drive)

After breakfast leave the northern side of the park and transfer to the southern sector of Ishasha. Game drive in the mid-morning hours searching for the rare tree climbing lions. Afternoon embark on your journey to the famous Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. The park is well known for being a habit to the endangered species of Mountain Gorillas. Check in at your Lodge. Full Board.

Accommodation Options:

Ride 4 A woman /Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – (BUDGET)
Buhoma Haven Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge/Engagi Lodge (MIDRANGE)
Mahogany Springs Lodge/Bwindi Lodge /Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge (UPMARKET)

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

The day is finally here for your unforgettable life time experience of meeting face to face with the giant mountain Gorillas. You will start your day with an early breakfast at your lodge and then transfer to the Park headquarters (Depending on which location you have booked your accommodation) for briefing. There are 4 sectors in which Gorilla trekking takes place with in Bwindi Forest. The northern side of the park is comprised of Buhoma and Ruhija Sector and the southern side comprised of Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. After Briefing, you will start on your day’s trek. Searching for the gorillas may take like 2-5hrs depending on where they were last spotted the previous day. Once they have been spotted, you will be given one hour to take videos, photos and also get a chance to ask the rangers and the guides any questions about these giant apes. Besides the great Apes, the forest is also a home to other wildlife and bird species such as butterflies, primates, mammals, frogs and so on which all can be seen along the way to the Gorillas. After seeing the Gorillas, you will then head back to your lodge and retire for the rest of the day. The whole day activity can take between 5 to 9hrs. Packed Lunch and hiring porters are highly recommended. If time permits, you will also visit the Ride 4 A Woman project in Buhoma and get a chance to interact with local women and also learn about their variety of hand work crafts made out of local materials like basket weaving and knitting. Dinner and overnight stay at your Lodge. Full Board

Accommodation Options:

Ride 4 A woman /Bakiga Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – (BUDGET)
Buhoma Haven Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge/Engagi Lodge (MIDRANGE)
Mahogany Springs Lodge/Bwindi Lodge /Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge (UPMARKET)

Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

Morning breakfast and set out for the community walk and Batwa cultural experience activity and later continue with your journey crossing the border of Uganda and Rwanda via either Cyanika or Katuna and transfer to Volcanoes National Park which is a home of endangered species of Mountain Gorillas and also the very part that makes Rwanda a Land of a thousand Hills. Overnight at your Lodge. Full Board.

Accommodation Options:

Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge / Davinci Lodge (Budget)
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Five Volcanoes Lodge/ Ingagi Park View Lodge (Midrange)
Bisate Lodge/ One & Only Gorilla Nest/ Bishop’s House/Virunga Lodge/Sabinyo Lodge (Upmarket or Luxury)

Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Community walk

Today morning after breakfast, you will be transferred from your lodge to the park headquarters for the days’ briefing about Gorilla trekking activity. Its advisable to park your lunch, drinking water and hire porters as the time taken in the jungle is unpredictable. After the briefing from the Park rangers, you will be allocated your Gorilla family and then head into the forest to search for the gentle jungle giants. Tracking the Gorillas may take a few hrs. to a full day to hike up and down the mountain as this always depend on where they were last seen the previous night. Physical Fitness is highly recommended but also those who are not fit enough, they have the chance to hire Human helicopters (Sedan chair). Upon seeing the gorillas, you will be allowed to stay with them for one hour maximum (Take videos and Photographs). Then later return back to your Lodge and evening visit the Ibwachu Cultural Village (Also known as the ex-poacher’s village) for entertainment and cultural experience. Dinner and overnight stay at your Lodge. Full Board.

Accommodation Options:

Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge / Davinci Lodge (Budget)
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Five Volcanoes Lodge/ Ingagi Park View Lodge (Midrange)
Bisate Lodge/ One & Only Gorilla Nest/ Bishop’s House/Virunga Lodge/Sabinyo Lodge (Upmarket or Luxury)

Day 8: Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Kigali

After morning breakfast, you will head back to the Park offices for your briefing about the morning activity. This time it will be Golden Monkey tracking. These endangered monkey species are found within the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Unlike the Gorillas, Golden monkey trekking will not take long and are easily located. Return to the lodge for early lunch and afternoon transfer to Kigali city. Overnight at your Hotel. Full Board

Accommodation Options:

Scheba Hotel /ChezLando Hotel (Budget)
Heaven Boutique Hotel/Mille Collines Hotel/Lemigo Hotel (Midrange)
Kigali Serena/The Retreat (Upmarket or Luxury)

Day 9: Kigali City tour and Departure

Morning breakfast at your Hotel in Kigali and set out for a half day Kigali city tour. The tour is inclusive of a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site and Museum, Nyamata genocide Church, local markets and so on. Later depending on the time of your departure flight, have Lunch and then transfer to the Airport for your departure flight out of Kigali. Breakfast and Lunch.

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