Destinations: Uganda – Rwanda
Main Highlights: Kibale National Park • Queen Elizabeth National Park • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest • Lake Bunyonyi • Volcanoes National Park
Experience the ultimate East African primate adventure combining the best of Uganda the Pearl of Africa and Rwanda the Land of a Thousand Hills. This 9-day Uganda & Rwanda safari offers a rare opportunity to track both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas, explore Africa’s most biodiverse rainforests, and enjoys scenic drives through volcanic landscapes and tranquil crater lakes.
Day 1: Kampala – Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, depart Kampala for Kibale National Park, home to the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda. The scenic drive takes you through lush countryside, tea plantations, and crater lakes. Enjoy a stopover for lunch en route, and later visit Nyakasura Caves (Amabere Ga Nyinamwiru) near Fort Portal a site of cultural legend featuring beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
Continue to your lodge on the forest edge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Turaco Treetops (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Wetland Walk – Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast, report to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing before setting out on your chimpanzee tracking adventure. Kibale is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species including red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and L’Hoest’s monkeys.
Spend an hour with the chimps as they swing through the treetops and feed in their natural habitat. After lunch, take a guided nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, famous for its rich birdlife, butterflies, and community-based tourism initiatives.
Later, drive south through the crater lakes region to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular savannah park.
Overnight: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Game Drive & Boat Safari on Kazinga Channel
Before sunrise, embark on a morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, known for lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards. Watch the golden light spill across the savannah as antelopes and warthogs graze peacefully.
Return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway linking Lakes Edward and George. This two-hour journey offers up-close views of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and hundreds of bird species along the banks.
Overnight: Buffalo Safari Lodge (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha Sector – Tree-Climbing Lions
After breakfast, drive through the Ishasha Sector, the southern region of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions that rest on fig trees.
With a bit of luck, you may spot them alongside large herds of buffalo and topi antelope.
Continue through rolling hills and banana plantations to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Overnight: Engagi Lodge (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Rise early for breakfast and head to the park headquarters for a briefing. Join your rangers and trackers to begin your gorilla trekking adventure, an unforgettable experience that may take between 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family’s location.
Once found, you’ll spend one full hour observing these gentle giants up close as they feed, groom, and play in the dense forest. The encounter is emotional and deeply rewarding — a true highlight of your African journey.
Return to your lodge for dinner and relaxation.
Overnight: Engagi Lodge (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Bwindi – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, drive to Kabale, often referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa,” due to its beautiful hills and cool climate. Upon arrival, check in at your lakeside lodge and enjoy lunch overlooking Lake Bunyonyi, Africa’s second-deepest lake.
In the afternoon, take a boat cruise to explore some of the lake’s 29 islands, each with its own legend and charm. Relax in the evening as you take in the tranquil scenery.
Overnight: BirdNest Resort (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Lake Bunyonyi – Cross to Rwanda
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast followed by a community walk to interact with the local Bakiga people and learn about their traditions. Later, transfer to Rwanda via the Katuna Border and continue to Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park.
Overnight: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda
After an early breakfast, head to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing before your second gorilla trekking experience. Trek through the bamboo forests and volcanic slopes to meet another family of mountain gorillas a chance to compare Uganda’s dense rainforest to Rwanda’s open bamboo habitat.
Spend one magical hour observing the gorillas before returning to your lodge for relaxation and dinner.
Overnight: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Volcanoes National Park – Kigali City Tour & Departure
After breakfast, drive through Rwanda’s scenic highlands to Kigali, one of Africa’s cleanest and most organized cities. Enjoy a Kigali City Tour, visiting the Genocide Memorial Centre at Gisozi and local craft markets.
Later, transfer to Kigali International Airport for your outbound flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
- All airport transfers
- Private 4WD safari vehicle with fuel
- Professional English-speaking guide/driver
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Park entry fees and ranger fees
- Gorilla trekking permits (Uganda & Rwanda)
- Chimpanzee tracking permit (Kibale)
- Game drives and boat safaris
- Border crossings and logistics assistance
- International flights
- Rwanda and Uganda visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Drinks, tips, and personal expenses