Explore the beauty of Rwanda and Uganda on 12 Days Africa gorilla & Wildlife Safari with the leading local experts in tailoring multi country adventures for family vacation or group travelers to key destinations for gorilla trekking, chimpanzee watching & Big five watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park!
A Comparison visit to Akagera National Park in Rwanda and Queen Elizabeth national Park in Uganda is a true big five watching experiences that if you miss one in Akagera , you cant miss it again in Queen Elizabeth with double boat cruise on different lakes.
12 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari tour starts from Kigali the capital of Rwanda with a city excursion and drive to Akagera national park for wildlife viewing and then Volcanoes national park for golden monkey tracking and a cultural encounter.
After, you will cross to Uganda for a relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi, the world’s deepest lake, a gorilla trekking experience at Bwindi impenetrable national park, a game viewing experience at Queen Elizabeth national park and then for chimpanzee trekking at the primate world – Kibale forest national park where you will move for your transfer to Entebbe or Kigali for your departure flight.
Trip Summary for 12 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
Day 1: Arrival and Kigali city excursion
Day 2: Drive to Akagera national park
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise
Day 4: Drive to Volcanoes national park
Day 5: Golden monkey tracking and cultural encounter
Day 6: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda
Day 7: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 8: Gorilla trekking experience and Batwa cultural tour
Day 9: Proceed to Queen Elizabeth national park and boat cruise
Day 10: Game drive and drive to Kibale forest national park
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking experience and nature walk
Day 12: Drive back to entebbe / Kigali
Note: This 12 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari involves border crossing and we recommend that you visit the border crossing page for guide on the safety and borders of crossing .
Itinerary
Explore the Wildlife & Primates in Rwanda , Uganda with Rwanda Safaris the leading tour operator in Rwanda leading Safaris to both countries! 12 Days Rwanda Uganda safari is having you covered on memorial adventure for family vacations or group travels.
Day 1: Arrival and Kigali city excursion
Upon the arrival, you will meet Rwanda Safaris guide for the city tour around different places in the Kigali, the capital city. Among these places include the national museum, historical sites like the Kigali genocide memorial site, art and craft shops, local markets and many others. Later after the tour, you will drive back to the accommodation of your booking for dinner and overnight.
Wake up for your breakfast and embark on your journey to Akagera national park for game viewing experience. The national park is known as the best game viewing destination in Rwanda and it is located in the eastern part of the country. Among the wildlife at the park include; lions, giraffes, zebras, hippos and many others. Arrive at the park in the late afternoon hours with a game drive and later check in at an accommodation of your choice for dinner and overnight.
Wake up for your early morning game drive with your packed breakfast and spot the early hunters – lions, leopards, and hyenas as they are returning to their habitats. The drive will also expose you to grass eating animals like the elephants, water bucks, zebras, giraffes, buffalos, and others. Later after the drive, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema.
Boat cruise on Lake Ihema provides you with splendid views of different species like bird species, along the lake shores, reptiles like Nile crocodiles and also other animals like the hippos and elephant along the shores as they quench their thirsty. Drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Drive to Volcanoes national park
In the morning after breakfast, you will meet your driver for the transfer to Volcanoes national park in the northwestern region for golden monkey tracking experience. The park is known for encompassing the five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga mountains – Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. Bordering Mgahinga Gorilla national park of Uganda and Virunga national park, the park is famous for the endangered mountain gorillas and the unique golden monkeys. Arrive at the park in the late afternoon hours and check in at the lodge of your choice for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Golden monkey Tracking and Gorilla Guardian village visit
Wake up for your early morning breakfast and drive to the park headquarters for briefing and registration for the golden monkey experience. The experience involves trailing through the park rain forests in search of the shy golden monkeys and upon sight, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence as you watch them swing on the trees and also take part in other daily lifestyles like feeding, and others. Drive back to the lodge for lunch and refreshment as you prepare for a cultural trip in Gorilla Guardian village.
While at the village, get a chance of becoming a queen or king for a day as you enjoy other cultural practices like dances, songs, poems, art and craft making and many others. After, drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda
In the morning after breakfast, you will set off to the deepest lake in Uganda – Lake Bunyonyi for some relaxation on its safe waters. The drive from Volcanoes national park to the lake takes about 5 hours thus arriving at the lodge at late afternoon hours. You will have your late lunch at the lodge of your booking and then go for a 2 hours boat trip where you will get an opportunity sighting several bird species and other aquatic species. Later after the cruise, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at Arcadia cottages
Day 7: Nature walk and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Wake up for an early nature walk around the nearby communities like Kyevu and Muko, pass through the terraced farmlands as you enjoy the beautiful sounds of different bird species. After the walk, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch and later start off to Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
Day 8: Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience
Very early in the morning, you will move to the park headquarters after breakfast for registration and briefing about gorilla trekking experience. The experience involves trailing through the thick rain forests in search of the endangered mountain gorillas and once found, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence as you enjoy their lifestyles like playing, feeding and many others. Drive back to the lodge for lunch and later go for a Batwa cultural experience.
During the experience, you will enjoy different practices from the locals like dances, songs, poems and their stories. The Batwa are believed to be the first people to live in the forest and they are also known as the fruit gatherers. After, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
In the morning after breakfast, you will embark on your journey from Bwindi Impenetrable national park to Queen Elizabeth national park via Ishasha sector. The sector is known for hosting the rare tree climbing lions as those in Manyara national park of Tanzania. You will arrive at the park in the afternoon hours, check in at the lodge for lunch and then drive to Kazinga channel for a boat cruise.
Kazinga channel is a bridge that connects two fresh water bodies together – Lake George and Lake Edward. The cruise on the channel provides you with clear views of different species like birds, animals like elephants, crocodiles and others along the shores. Later, drive back to the lodge for dinner overnight.
Day 10: Game drive and transfer to Kibale forest national park
Wake up early for a beautiful sunrise in the wild as you go for a game drive in Kasenyi tracks. The drive provides you spectacular views of different wildlife species like lions, elephants, leopards, hyenas, water bucks, buffalos, bush bucks, and many others. From the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and later embark on your transfer to Kibale forest national park
Accommodation
Luxury Lodge : Chimpundu Lodge
Mid range : Chimpanzee Forest lodge
Lower Mid range: Kibale forest lodge/Jungle lodge
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi nature walk
Wake up for your breakfast and head to the park headquarters for registration and briefing about the dos and don’ts in the experience. After the briefing, you will move to the forests by the lead of a game ranger to search for the chimpanzees. The activity takes about 3 to 5 hours and upon finding them, you will spend some good time in their presence as you enjoy their daily lifestyles. You will after return to the lodge for lunch and then go for a walk along Bigodi swamp.
The swamp is known for hosting a number of bird species and some primate species like colobus monkeys and others. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Drive back to Kigali
In the morning after breakfast, you will check out of the lodge for your 6 hours’ drive back to Kigali international airport for your departure flight or check in at any accommodation in Kigali for an overnight.
Book Uganda Gorilla Safari tour to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National park for the unique gorilla watching in the wilderness of Bwindi with Rwanda Safaris
Mgahinga National Park is located in South western Uganda on the border of Rwanda & Congo within the virunga Mountains ! its re known destination for gorilla trekking, Golden monkey tracking & Habituation along side mountain hiking tours!
Volcanoes National park Rwanda is the best known destination for Mountain Gorilla Encounter while on Rwanda Safaris since its located within the Virunga Mountains shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
