Overview
This 8-day Uganda and Rwanda safari combines exploration of iconic destinations in 2 captivating East African countries. Track and see the endangered mountain gorillas as you enjoy seeing the Big 5 in the wild. Other highlights of this safari include a launch cruise, an encounter with the Batwa, and a chimpanzee trek, etc. Destinations to visit include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, and Volcanoes National Park, etc.
The safari starts from Entebbe in Uganda and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. Explore all these exciting places with our professional and knowledgeable guide, who speaks fluent English, French, Swahili, and other local languages.
Tour Summery
Day 1: Pick up & Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day2;Chimpanzee trek & Bigodi Village Tour
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Afternoon Launch Cruise
Day 4: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day5:Gorilla Trek & Batwa Village Visit
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 7: Gorilla Trek & Transfer to Akagera National Park
Day 8: Morning Game Drive. Drive to Kigali & Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up & Transfer to Kibale National Park
Our guide picks you up from your accommodation in Kampala, Entebbe, or at the international airport. Enjoy a transfer to Kibale National Park in the western direction. Your lunch is offered en- route while on a scenic journey of 276 km. Check in at your lodge at Kibale Forest. Refresh, have dinner, and an overnight stay here.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee trek & Bigodi Village Tour
The second day of your 8-day Uganda and Rwanda safari is dedicated to chimpanzee trekking and the Bigodi experience. Start with morning breakfast before you head to the park’s visitor’s information center. Meet the park warden for a quick session where you clearly gain tips on the dos and don’ts of chimp trekking. Start your chimp trek with superb direction from a park ranger guide. Find the habituated chimpanzee community in the forest and view them for an hour. Return to the start for debriefing.
After a delicious lunch at your lodge, head to Bigodi Village to meet the Bakiga and Batooro who live there. Things to experience in the village include traditional music, dances, and folklore. Another exciting experience here involves the gain in knowledge and skills in handicraft-making of items like baskets, mats, etc. Also, explore the Bigodi wetland to see a lot of primates, birds, and other wild animals that live inside. When you return to your lodge, dinner is available for you. Enjoy your overnight stay here.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Afternoon Launch Cruise
Today, you head to Queen Elizabeth National Park, only 75.1 km southwest. This is after breakfast and check out of your lodge. The scenic drive to Queen offers excellent views of some rift valley features. Take some photos at the Kikorongo equator crossing. Inside the park, a chance to view some members of the Big 5 is almost inevitable. Lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo roam across the various savannah vegetation. Check in at your lodge and have a very delicious lunch.
An afternoon launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel is next. An opportunity to see huge hippos and crocodiles submerged in water is a good time while on a motorboat. Also, spot a lot of aquatic birds and some opportunist ones while on the waterway that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. Return for dinner and overnight at your peaceful lodge inside Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Once you get up, have an early morning breakfast, and check out for a game drive and transfer to Bwindi National Park. Spot more wild animals and birds, some of which you possibly missed the previous day. Continue to Bwindi via the Ishasha Sector. The latter is home to the rare tree-climbing lions. They share this part of Queen with elephants, hippos, topis, leopards, hyenas, buffaloes, and others. With en route lunch provided, enjoy the drive to the Buhoma Sector of Bwindi. Cover only 52.8 km on this scenic drive. Arrive and check in at your lodge. In your lodge, dine and enjoy an overnight stay.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Trek & Batwa Village Visit
When you get up from your bed, find breakfast ready and enjoy it. The gorilla trek starts at 8:00 a.m. from the trailhead. Drive there and attend a briefing session by the park warden. Start to track the habituated gorilla family assigned to you by the park. Find them and use a full hour to watch them enjoy their own lives in a pristine forest. Take photos and make a return to the trailhead for a debrief. Head for a Batwa Village experience, where the people educate you about their lifestyles.
Watch and dance along to their exciting and energetic traditional music and dances. Learn more about their history as told by the local guide. These people once lived or co-existed with the mountain gorillas in the forest. They depended on the ecosystem for food, medicine, shelter, and a lot of things. See some demonstrations of their hunting skills. Go back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
On this sixth day of your 8-day Uganda and Rwanda safari, you transfer to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda. On this 91.5 km journey, enter Rwanda via the Cyanika border crossing. Lunch is en route as well, and once you arrive at Volcanoes, check into your lodge and refresh. Spend the rest of the day relaxing before dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7: Gorilla Trek & Transfer to Akagera National Park
Early morning breakfast is available for you before you head to the forest. Make sure you check out of your lodge. Start with a briefing session held by the warden or representative of Volcanoes National Park. Start to track a habituated gorilla family inside the forest. An excellent tracker from the park is offered to help you find them. View the family for an hour once you find them, and subsequently return to the park headquarters. Transfer to Akagera National Park, 219 km in the southeastern direction. Arrive and check in at your lodge inside the savannah park. A delicious dinner is here before your overnight stay.
Mealplan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 8: Morning Game Drive. Drive to Kigali & Departure
Early in the morning, wake up for breakfast, and then check out of your lodge. Across the vast landscape of Akagera National Park, enjoy a game drive. This is a perfect opportunity to view the iconic Big 5 species: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos. Other animals to see include elands, Masai giraffes, zebras, hippos, and waterbucks. Depart west, to Kigali City with your lunch en route. The distance to reach the city is 139 km from the exit gate. Drop off is at your accommodation or the airport. This is the end of your 8-day Uganda and Rwanda safari.
Mealplan: Breakfast and Lunch






























