11 DAYS Uganda and Rwanda Wildlife Safari and Gorilla Trekking Tour
Do you want to discover Uganda and Rwanda’s primates? Combining the two country’s premier national parks and its most intimate experiences, in this unique itinerary brings a bubbling pot of excitement and enchantment. From the country of a thousand hills to the pearl of Africa this 11 days and 10 Nights Rwanda-Uganda tour bring aall-inclusive safari experience.
11 DAYS Uganda and Rwanda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
- Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
- Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking
- Day 4: Drive to Kibuye
- Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 6: Gorilla Trekking
- Day 7: Dian Fossey grave hike
- Day 8: Cross to the Ugandan side
- Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Southern Bwindi
- Day 10: Drive to Kampala
- Day 11: Kampala City tour
Detailed Itinerary for 11 DAYS Uganda and Rwanda Tour
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our safari guide and transferred to Kigali for a city tour. Visit the Genocide Memorial centre in Gisozi. The memorial site represents on sacred ground where a quarter of a million people lie buried. Later, transfer to your selected accommodation unit for dinner and overnight stay. The meal plan for this day is lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation.
- Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel/Hotel Mille Collines
- Mid-range: Urban city Blue Hotel
- Budget: Hotel Lemigo
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
The safari guide will pick you up at 10:00am at your preferred accommodation in Kigali and head to Nyungwe Forest, passing through splendid hills and cultivated countryside. Have a stopover in Nyanza to visit the famous King’s Palace and later proceed to Nyungwe Forest for relaxation and overnight. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation.
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Midrange: Nyungwe Tophill View Lodge
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking
Early morning proceeds for a guided nature walk in Nyungwe Forest in search of primates like the chimpanzees, the colobus monkey, l’hoests monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey or blue monkey. Chimpanzees tracking time is not known it can take anytime from a few hours to a full day depending on their location.
It should be mentioned that it is not guaranteed to see the chimps as they are unpredictable and can move long distances in a day, carry lunch with you. Birdwatchers will also appreciate the exceptional rich bird life. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. The meal plan for this day is breakfast and dinner at your preffered accommodation.
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Mid range: Nyungwe Tophill View Lodge
Day 4: Drive to Kibuye
After breakfast, you will start your exploration of Lake Kivu. On your way to Kibuye, you will visit the Genocide Memorial of Bisesero. After lunch, have some relaxation on the shores of Lake Kivu. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation.
- Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Midrange Comoran Lodge
- Budget: Paradis Malahide
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast while enjoying a speed-boat trip to Gisenyi and be picked up in Gisenyi for lunch. After, drive to Ruhengeri or Kinigi for an overnight. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation.
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Mid range: Davinci lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking
After an early morning breakfast, you will drive to Volcanoes National Park headquarters where our trackers will be met and head up the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes after a briefing from the park wardens. Visit one of the ten habituated groups assigned to you.
Tracking the gorillas through the thick forested slopes of the Virunga’s is an absolutely exquisite experience. You need to have a good level of fitness for the gorilla trek. Tracking takes from 1-6 hours through dense forest vegetation, slippery slopes and changing weather. If you are lucky you can get to the gorillas, spend an hour with them.
Some gorilla families however are hard to pin down, and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy. After lunch, you may decide to visit the local communities neighbouring the park or relax at the lodge. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation.
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Mid range: Davinci lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Day 7: Dian Fossey grave hike
Have breakfast and pack some light food as your lunch to take a hike up to the grave of Dian Fossey and the remains of the Old Karisoke Research Station. Over the course of the morning you follow in Dian Fossey’s footsteps on our way to her grave, as well as the graves belonging to many poached gorillas including famous Digit.
You will be guided around the area where Old Karisoke Research Station was set up by a park guide. Although very little of the station remains, the setting is incredible and one can imagine the incredible life that Dian Fossey led in these isolated mountains. After the hike, you may decide to visit the twin lakes; Ruhondo and Bulera. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation.
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Mid range: Davinci lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Day 8: Cross to the Uganda
After breakfast, drive to the Rwanda-Uganda border and be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi for a relaxation. The meal plan for this day is, lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation.
- Luxury: Chameleon Hill lodge
- Midrange: Gorilla Mist lodge
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Southern Bwindi
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the gorilla tracking information office for a pre-gorilla tracking briefing by the park warden and rangers at 8am. After briefing, the rangers will then lead you into the forest to track these gentle giants (Mountain gorillas).
The thrill of spending time observing the gorillas as they interact with each other is a pleasing and unforgettable one, you are allowed an hour witnessing the interaction of these close relatives of ours. You are advised to carry with you a packed lunch for, the time spent tracking the gorillas would not be known to you but varies from 3 to 8 hours.
Time permitting; you may go for a late afternoon community walk to see the local people’s way of life and cultures. The meal plan for this day is breakfast, lunch and dinner at your preferred accommodation.
- Luxury: Chameleon Hill lodge
- Midrange: Gorilla mist lodge
Day 10: Drive to Kampala
After breakfast, drive to Kampala having a stop over at the equator for photographs. Check in at any preferred hotel in Kampala. The meal plan for this day is and lunch at your preferred accommodation.
- Luxury: Kampala Serena Hotel
- Mid range: Golden Tulip Canaan Hotel
- Budget: cozy hotel Kampala
Day 11: Kampala City tour
Have a chance to explore Kampala’s stand out attractions to include; Cathedrals, locals’ markets, kasubi tombs, Gadhafi mosque as well as the museum. This day would also be better suiting for some souvenir shopping. Later, be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your fight. END OF 11 DAYS Uganda and Rwanda TRIP