7 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari

Tour Overview

The 7 Days Rwanda Uganda safari takes you to the leading primate and wildlife destinations across the two East African countries. In Uganda, your complete one-week vacation provides you with a lifetime opportunity to explore the wonders of Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In Rwanda, the focus will be Volcanoes National Park –a prominent primate protected areas in the Country’s Northwestern end.

Visit Kyambura Gorge for you engage in a thrilling chimpanzee tracking adventure. At Queen Elizabeth National Park, the main focus will be a guided game drive and a launch/boat cruise. You will sum up your primate expedition in Uganda with mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. When you cross to Rwanda, you will have another thrilling opportunity as you embark on a gorilla trekking or golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park.

Tour Details

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park

Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise

Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking Kyambura Gorge & visit Bwindi

Day 4: Gorilla trekking & Batwa Community tour

Day 5: Drive to Volcanoes

Day 6: Gorilla trekking & relax

Day 7: Golden monkey track & drive to Kigali

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park

Enjoy a heavy breakfast in the morning and after, you will meet an experienced Uganda driver guide. He or she will take you through what the 7 days Rwanda Uganda safari covers and what you should expect. Afterward, be ready to embark on the 7-8 hours drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi route.

En route stopover visit will include the Equator crossing for photography and for leg stretching. You may also perform a water experiment to determine the northern and southern hemispheres then proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive at the park late in the afternoon and continue to check in the pre-booked accommodation.

Accommodation option

• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Elephant Plains Lodge
• Midrange: Buffalo Safari Lodge/Bulbul Safari Lodge
• Budget: Simba Camp/Kazinga Channel Resort

Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise

Start the day in Queen Elizabeth National Park with a game drive early morning. During the 2-3 hours game drive, expect to explore the wonders of Kasenyi plains. The Kasenyi plain game viewing session will get you great encounters with different wildlife such as African bush elephants, cape buffaloes, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks, hyenas, and plenty of bird species.

When you return to the lodge, you will have a great time chilling and also enjoy lunch at leisure. Today’s program will end with a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel for 2 hours and expect to come across hippos, crocodiles, and water birds like kingfishers, fish eagles, pelicans, and others.

Accommodation option

• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Elephant Plains Lodge
• Midrange: Buffalo Safari Lodge/Bulbul Safari Lodge
• Budget: Simba Camp/Kazinga Channel Resort

Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking Kyambura Gorge & visit Bwindi

After a hefty breakfast, you will be transferred to Kyambura Gorge. Expect to indulge in thrilling chimpanzee tracking to explore chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge plus other primates. The chimp will go for 2-4 hours including one hour for photography and observing how chimpanzees behave. After the trek with Kyambura Gorge, you will connect to Bwindi National Park.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
• Midrange: Engagi Lodge
• Budget: Ride 4 a Woman

Day 4: Gorilla trekking & Batwa Community tour

Enjoy a heavy breakfast and after, you depart the lodge with a pack of lunch. You will transfer to the park offices to meet the official who will take you through the gorilla trekking regulations and other safety measures. At around 8:00 am, you will begin your trek in the jungle to search for a group of mountain gorillas that you will be allocated.

The park official will group visitors depending on their interest, age, fitness level and all groups will be led by an experienced park ranger guide from Bwindi National Park. The trek with Bwindi gorillas will go for 2-6 hours of navigating via the natural rainforest. On locating a family of mountain gorillas, you will spend great time observing behaviors, lifestyle, body gestures of these large apes, as well as taking pictures.

When you walk back, you will be at the lodge to enjoy a delicious lunch at leisure. Late in the afternoon, you will be head off to the Batwa pygmy community to explore the unique traditions and cultures of the Batwa pygmies.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
• Midrange: Engagi Lodge
• Budget: Ride 4 a Woman

Day 5: Drive to Volcanoes

At leisure, you will enjoy a hefty breakfast and after, expect to be transferred by road to Volcanoes National Park. Accessing Volcanoes National Park will include border crossing at Katuna or Chanika border and on arrival, you will check in your respective lodges.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Wilderness Bisate Lodge
• Midrange: Da Vinci Lodge/Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
• Budget: Muhabura Hotel or Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 6: Gorilla trekking & relax

Wake up early morning for you to be provided with a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, you will be assigned a gorilla group plus a park ranger guide to lead you to the jungle of Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri. Today, the gorilla groups to expect to visit include the Susa A, Ugenda, Hirwa, Agashya, Kwitonda, Amahoro groups, and more each of which will be trekked by a group of 8 visitors.

The long day trek with mountain gorillas will take between 2 and 6 hours which includes an hour of interacting with these large primates. As per the park authority, expect to spend a maximum of 1 hour for you to explore the unique behaviors, body gestures, and lifestyles of gorillas. You will get back to have the rest of the evening at the lodge.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Wilderness Bisate Lodge
• Midrange: Da Vinci Lodge/Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
• Budget: Muhabura Hotel or Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 7: Golden monkey track & drive to Kigali

Golden monkey tracking will be conducted with the presence of an experienced park ranger guide. First, you will get briefed about guidelines and today’s primate adventure will take around 2-4 hours. The advantage of it is that it covers one hour for up close and personal encounters with a golden monkey troop.

After you have interacted with golden monkeys and taken pictures, expect to get back to check out of the lodge. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Kigali Capital City and it will mark the end of the 7 Days Rwanda Uganda safari.

End of safari

Inclusions

• Park entrance fees
• Gorilla trekking permits
• Chimpanzee permits
• An English-speaking driver/guide
• Accommodation & meals
• Transportation
• Water bottle on a safari

Exclusions

• Tips
• Hiring porters
• Laundry services
• Insurance
• All optional activities
• Souvenirs
• Shopping expenses
• Telephone bills