8 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla safari
This 8 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla safari will give you an opportunity to visit both Uganda and Rwanda, you will have a chance to trek the endangered gorillas in these two parks which are regarded as the leading mountain gorilla safari destinations in the world. You will track in Bwindi national park in Uganda and volcanoes national park in Rwanda. The tour will give you a chance to share the love of gorillas with that of wildlife in Queen Elizabeth national park Uganda’s most bio-diversified park. The tour will either begin in Uganda or Rwanda depends on the travelers interest.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will be picked up at the lodge or at any other agreed point; our safari guide/driver will drive you to the most bio- diversified park with incredible species of wildlife (Queen Elizabeth national park) which is located in the south western part of Uganda.
The drive from Kampala Uganda’s capital to the park takes about 5-7 hours drive however, with stopovers at any interesting point including at the equator crossing for informative talks; photography and snacks, then also at Mbarara for an hour lunch break. From here we will continue with the drive to the Park passing through beautiful views of people’s homes, tea and banana plantations and finally to the park.
We will arrive at the park in the late afternoon check into your pre-booked accommodation for relaxation. If the evening if it’s free, you will be taken for an optional traditional salt industries and mining methods or tour around the Crater Lake region which is a fantastic site. Dinner and an overnight at
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge
Mid range: Twin Lake Safari Lodge/Ihamba Lake Side Safari Lodge
Budget: Hippo H-ill Lodge/ Irungu safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 2: Morning game drive and Launch cruise on kazinga channel
Followed by a morning breakfast will be a transfer to Kasenyi side of the park to catch up with morning risen rushing to their hide-outs. Games expect to see this morning include predators like leopard, hyena, lion, Elephants, others include buffaloes, warthogs, bush pigs, Uganda kobs, water buck, giant forest hogs, and many species of birds and plants.
After this interesting activity, retire to the lodge for relaxation at the pool side as you wait for lunch. In the afternoon after lunch, enjoy a 2 hour’s launch cruise on the Kazinga channel which offers another chance to spot various species of animals including schools of hippos and crocodiles swimming just a few meters from the boat, whereas elephants and buffaloes are expected to be seen along the shoreline plus many species of birds such as the king fisher, herons, blue oraco and the shoebill for the lucky visitors. After, drive back to the lodge to for relaxation, Dinner and an overnight at at
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge
Mid range: Twin Lake Safari Lodge/Ihamba Lake Side Safari Lodge
Budget: Hippo H-ill Lodge/ Irungu safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi national park
Followed by an early morning breakfast is a transfer to bwindi penetrable national park a home to a few remaining mountain gorillas in the world. From Queen national park we will pass through the famed part of Queen Elizabeth national park the Ishasha sector known for its tree climbing lions, we will enjoy watching them sited on fig trees/ tree blanches. A game drive will also enable us see more species of animals like antelopes, elephants, buffaloes and many species of birds. Have lunch en-route, before arriving at the park in the evening. Check into your pre-booked accommodation for relaxation, dinner and an overnight at
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:Gorilla Safari Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp/Bakiga Lodge
Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp/Buhoma Community Campground
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 4: Mountain Gorilla tracking and Nature walk in Bwindi national park
After an early breakfast at the lodge, our safari guide will drive you to the park headquarters where you will meet the park wardens or senior ranger guides who will take you through a short briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas and also gets you allocated to the gorilla family to visit.
After, the ranger guide will lead you to the impenetrable forest to begin the search of these incredible species of gorillas. Carry bottled water, and sometimes packed lunch since the trek is unpredictable meeting them depends on where they last spent the previous night from the search may go to a half or full day in the jungle, so don’t forget to put on strong shoes/boats .
Passing through the steep, thick and sometimes muddy forest is a bit tiresome, however once these apes are meet you will forget all the troubles you have gone through and utilize the one hour you are allowed to stay with the gorillas, learn their behaviors as well as taking as many photos and videos with them .
After this wonderful activity, retreat back to the lodge for relaxation and late lunch, if the evening is free go for a community walk and visit the Batwa community. Dinner and an overnight at
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:Gorilla Safari Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp/Bakiga Lodge
Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp/Buhoma Community Campground
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 5: Leave Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, our safari guide/driver will transfer you to Lake Bunyonyi the second deepest lake in Africa, free from Bilharzia. Arrive in time at the lodge for relaxation and later have lunch, in the late afternoon visit the batwa community and interact with them, learn more about their lives. Dinner and an overnight stay at
Location: Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation Option:
luxury:Bird nest @ Bunyonyi Resort
mid-range:Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi
Budget:Hawks Eye Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 6: Transfer to Ruhengeri -Rwanda
Wake up early for breakfast and then after embark on the canoe ride on the lake and visit the neighboring island around, come back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will be transferred to Uganda-Rwanda border passing through stunning scenery sometimes referred to as ‘’Switzerland of Africa’’. After finalizing with the border crossing requirements, you will cross to Rwanda up to Ruhengeri in the northern part of Rwanda passing through rolling hills and beautiful land scape (the crock will go forward for one hour); from here you will continue to your pre-booked accommodation within or outside the park, arrive in time for lunch. If the evening is free visit the twin lakes of Burela and Rubondo, diiner and an overnight stay at
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/Hotel Muhabura
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in volcanoes national park
You will get up very early for breakfast, after our safari guide will drive you to the park headquarters in Kinigi to receive short briefings from the park wardens about the all gorilla tracking process and also get you allocated to the gorilla family and the ranger guide. After, head to the thick rain forest to begin the search of our closest relatives the gorillas sharing almost 97% of human make-up.
The walks might be difficult so some physical fitness is needed as well as study pair of walking shoes/boots, the trek is unpredictable it can go up to half to full day, however once the gorillas are met, you are only allowed an hour with them while taking photography and videos with them (flash cameras are not allowed) after this wonderful activity, retire back to the lodge for relaxation. However should the evening be free enjoy a community walk and visit the local people who live near the park. Dinner and an overnight at Luxury:
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/Hotel Muhabura
Day 8: Departure
This day after breakfast, you will be transferred to Kigali and if time allows, our safari guide will take you for a Kigali city tour and visit some of the interesting places within the city and visit the Kigali genocide memorial site, national museum, hand craft shops and after lunch you will continue to Kigali airport and meet your departure flight back.
End of tour
The safari includes
- Transportation and fuel in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
- Full Board Accommodation on Safari as included in the itinerary
- 1 gorilla permit per person
- Kigali city tour
- Game drive and Launch cruise on Kazinga channel
- Full English Speaking driver guide and all his associated expenses. We can also provide any other foreign language speaking guide on request.
- Park entrance fees
- Any other Activity fees as mentioned in the Itinerary
But it exclude,
- Accommodation in Kampala/Kigali unless is on itinerary
- Flights
- Visa fees,
- Airport taxes
- Item of personal nature, like bar bills, tipping, Laundry ,Beverages
- Optional Activity fees
- Other extra expenses not included above