9 Days Uganda Rwanda Adventure Safari will take you to Africa’s most incredible countries for Mountain gorillas and wildlife safaris in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest wildlife national park located in the western part of Uganda in Rubirizi district near Kasese district. The park inhabits about 95 mammal species including the big 4 game (Lions, Leopards, buffaloes, and Elephants), other animals including; hyenas, hippos, waterbucks, Oribi to mention a few and over 600 bird species. Queen Elizabeth national park is surrounded by 2 lakes including Lake Albert and Lake Edward which support water activities like boat cruises, and fishing activities. Queen Elizabeth national park is located in the western part of Uganda, covering a distance of about 335Kms from Kigali-Rwanda crossing via Katuna border.
Kibale Forest National park is one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of natural rain forests in Uganda. The park protects up to a total of 70 mammal species and 13 species of primates including the endangered chimpanzees. Kibale national park is also Africa’s best destination of chimpanzee trekking with 99% chances of seeing the wild chimpanzees.
Bwindi forest gorilla trekking experience is the most exciting place and activity for any travellers to Africa. Bwindi forest is located in the southwestern part of Uganda close to Rwanda-Uganda border at the edge of the Rift Valley. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species. Bwindi Impenetrable national park inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world and it is divided into 4 sectors including; Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector which has the largest number of gorilla families, Ruhija sector and finally Nkuringo sector. Bwindi forest also shelters some species of mammals including the forest elephants and the different species of antelopes. The park is also rich with different bird species including Albertine Rift endemics.
Rwanda is incredibly interesting to visit in its incredible scenic hilly landscapes making her famous as “Land of a thousand hills” rich in biodiversity. This 9 Days Uganda-Rwanda Safaris is the best way to spend your safari in Uganda and Rwanda taking you Rwanda’s most visited primates’ destinations that is Volcanoes national park and relaxation during the trip at Lake Kivu. Volcanoes national park is the most popular park unique for gorilla trekking along with other 2 parks in Uganda and 1 in Congo. Apart from gorilla trekking, Volcanoes national park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys and a few of the forest animals and the park hosts about 200 different bird species. This trip features Golden monkey trekking and Community tour in Volcanoes national park
Highlights of the 9 Days Uganda Rwanda Adventure Safari
- Day 1: Pick-up and transfer to Kibale national park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 3: Lion tracking, morning game drive and boat cruise
- Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Day 5: Gorilla trekking
- Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 7: Golden Monkey tracking and community tour
- Day 8: Full day Lake Kivu
- Day 9: Return to Kigali – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Bigodi nature walk
Depending on your location in Kampala, you will be met by our company representative/driver guide and start your 6 hours’ drive to Kibale forest national park in the western part of Uganda with stopovers to stretch and lunch depending on your location and time. Connect to your lodge with en-route visit of the crater lakes near the park.
Explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds. Spectacular birds like Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek will be of great interest to birders. The swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope. There is also the opportunity to visit local community projects that have been financed by tourism. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Mid-range option: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
- Budget option: Isunga lodge
- Luxury option: Kyaninga lodge for luxury
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking activity and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast, drive to Kibale park head offices for briefing about the chimpanzees. Enter the forest and start trek the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, its take 2-5 hours to find them and on finding them, you are allowed 1 hour to be in their process as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor.
After trekking, have lunch then transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive with en routes at the stopover at the equator. Check-in your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Budget option: Pumba Safari Cottages
- Mid-range option: Parkview Safari lodge
- Luxury option: Kyambura Gorge lodge/Mweya Safari lodge
Day 3: Morning game drive/Lion tracking and afternoon boat cruise.
You will wake up early, have breakfast and embark for an early morning game drive in the Kisenyi region. While on the game drive, expect to see the big four-game, antelopes, giraffes, warthogs and white Colobus monkeys just to mention a few.
You will then return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will go for a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel where you will get an opportunity to see a number of bird species, elephants and buffalos, hippos and crocodiles at the lake shores. Return and relax at lodge as above
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
On the 4th day of your 9 Days Uganda Rwanda Adventure Safari, after breakfast early in the morning, transfer to the Ishasha sector for an opportunity to spot the tree-climbing lions, have lunch then after embark your 4-5 hours journey to Bwindi national park. Arrive in the park late afternoon and connect to your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Buhoma Lodge
- Mid-range option: Buhoma Haven lodge
- Budget option: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking experience.
Breakfast is served quite early since you are required to report at the park headquarters by 7 am for a briefing about Gorilla trekking by the park officials. By 8 am, you will connecting to then starting point after you have being allocated a group to trek along with your trekking gears. The time taken trekking is not guaranteed between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas hiking up and down the impenetrable forest to find the gorillas.
Meeting the Rwanda gorillas is one of the most fascinating lifetime experiences. You will observe and take pictures of them at very close range. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point where your driver will readily be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge for a restful evening. Dinner and overnight stay at the same lodge as above
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Community tour
On the 6th day of your 9 Days Uganda Rwanda Adventure Safari, after breakfast, meet your safari guide and embark on your drive to Volcanoes national park crossing via the Cyanika border, proceed to check-in your accommodation. Later connect for the Ibya wacu community village tour and learn about the Banyarwanda culture and be entertained. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Budget option: Hotel Muhabura
- Mid-range option; Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
- Luxury option: 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge for luxury
Day 7: Golden monkeys and transfer to Lake Kivu
Breakfast will be served in the morning and transfer to PNV headquarters for trekking briefing. After this, with your packed lunch, you will start tracking. The Golden Monkey trekking time takes between 2-5 hours depending on the movement of the monkeys. The activity is demanding although at the same time it’s rewarding. The pleasure encountered after meeting the giant primates in unforgettable. Thereafter, drive to Gisenyi with en-route lunch. Check-in your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay.
- Luxury option: Mikeno lodge for luxury
- Mid-range option: Lac Kivu Lodge
- Budget option: Hotel Linda for budget
Day 8: Full day Lake Kivu
On the 8th day of your 9 Days Uganda Rwanda Adventure Safari, After breakfast, depart to explore to explore the beauty of Lake Kivu. Take a boat trip to some of the most interesting islands on the lake. Enjoy the shores of the lake. Before night fall return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at hotel as above
On the 9th day of your 9 Days Uganda Rwanda Adventure Safari, you will have an early breakfast then embark on your journey back to Kigali. En route, visit the Kigali genocide memorial and Kimironko market. Be dropped off at your hotel or airport to find your onward flight. (Ensure your booked flight is in the evening departure time).
End of the 9 Days Uganda Rwanda Adventure Safari
