10 Days Gorilla & Wildlife Safari Uganda-Rwanda – Overview

The 10 days Gorilla & Wildlife Safari Uganda-Rwanda will give you the opportunity to explore the cultural sites with in Kampala, adventurous activities in Jinja the city of Adventure in Uganda, trek the primates in the Uganda’s primate Capital in Kibale forest park, enjoy the game drives and Launch cruise in the famous Queen Elizabeth national park.

The safari tour will offer you the double opportunity to encounter the mountain gorillas in the two famous natural habitats both in Uganda’s Bwindi and Rwanda’s Volcanoes national Park.

You will have time to tour the different genocide memorial centers in Rwanda. The highly exploring safari will start in Uganda’s Capital Kampala and it will end in Rwanda’s international Airport in Kanombe.

10 Days Gorilla & Wildlife Safari Uganda-Rwanda – Highlights

• Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe International Air Port
• Day 2: Transfer drive from Kampala to Jinja (Drive distance of 80kms)
• Day 3: Transfer drive from Kampala to Kibale Forest Park (Drive distance of 358kms)
• Day 4: Kibale Forest National park (Chimp-trekking, tour to Bigodi wetland)
• Day 5: Transfer Drive from Kibale forest Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Drive distance of 157kms).
• Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Game drive 3 – 4 and transfer drive to Bwindi)
• Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable (Mountain Gorilla trekking 2 – 8 hrs.)
• Day 8: Transfer Drive from Bwindi to Volcanoes National park (Drive distance of 93kms)
• Day 9: Volcanoes national park (Gorilla trekking 2- 8hrs and transfer to Kigali City)
• Day 10: Kigali City Tour and transfer to Kanombe Air port

10 Days Gorilla & Wildlife Safari Uganda-Rwanda – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe International Airport

Upon your arrival in Entebbe international air which is the main entry point to Uganda the pearl of Africa, you will be met by our company representative in this case driver guide who will warmly welcome you and transfer you to your booked Kampala Lodge /hotel to have rest, lunch before you embark on an afternoon city tour.

The driver guide who will be your immediate contact person for the rest of your 10 days safari in Uganda and Rwanda will brief you how the trip will be, the places to visit, time to wake up.

After the briefing and lunch, you will start your tour by visiting the prominent sites such as Kasubi tombs, Rubaga Cathedral, Uganda Museum, Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, Bahai Temple (the only one in Africa), and late in the evening you will head to Ndere troop Center to enjoy cultural performances, dances, check out on the crafts. After having your wonderful time in Ndere, you will retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Sheraton Kampala Hotel (Upmarket/Luxury), Cassia Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Buziga Country Resort (Budget/Basic).

Day 2: Transfer Drive From Kampala to Jinja

You will depart Kampala as early as 7:00am local time, after your early morning cup of coffee driving on the Eastern direction from Kampala to Jinja the City of Adventure in Uganda.

You will stop at Mabira forest to enjoy the natural green vegetation, bird species and if lucky see the monkeys. Afterwards, you will continue with the drive to Jinja enjoying the beautiful scenery portrayed by the green tea plantations along the way.

Immediately you arrive in Jinja, you will have your lunch and proceed to catch up with the afternoon activities such as horseback riding, and bungee jumping, quad biking along the banks of the Nile River through forests and farms and past villages and the boat to the source of the Nile.

Take Boat ride to the source of the Nile where you will have the chance to take nice photos, view different bird species and after the thrilling experience, you will return to your starting point and board your tourists Van back to Kampala.

You will arrive in Kampala late in the evening and proceed to your previous lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Sheraton Kampala Hotel (Upmarket/Luxury), Cassia Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Buziga Country Resort (Budget/Basic).

Day 3: Transfer Drive From Kampala to Kibale Forest Park

After taking cup of Coffee, you will depart Kampala driving on the south western part of Uganda to Fort portal which is the nearest town to Kibale National Park.

The scenic drive to Fort portal is very interesting with impressive country side landscapes and the lush tea estates.

On arrival to portal, you will have your lunch within Fort portal town and after lunch, you embark on tour to the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves and the Fort Portal Crater lake Area to gain magical sights of the area

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Mid-range/Standard) or Rwenzori View guesthouse (Budget/Basic)

Day 4: Kibale Forest National Park (Chimp-trekking, Tour to Bigodi Wetland)

You will wake up early in the morning, take your breakfast and proceed to the park headquarters in Kayanchu tourism Center for briefing at 8:00am about the etiquette of trekking Chimpanzees.

After the briefing from the ranger guides, you will be led by the ranger guide to head trails to start trekking the Chimpanzees in the every green forests of Kibale.

When trekking the chimps, you will learn more about the diverse Eco-system in Kibale. The activity takes 2-3 hours for you to encounter the Chimps and once you come up close to the group, you will be given one hour to interact, study how these primates go about their daily activities of feeding ,nesting, looking for food, socializing.

After the one hour, you will return to the park head Quarters and continue to your lodge for relaxation, experience sharing as you wait for lunch.

Immediately you get done with lunch, you will drive to Bigodi Wetland head trails for nature walks in the swamp trails.

The walk will reward you with views of different bird species, primates and the local guide will also take you to the nearby community for cultural encounters, visit to local schools, local craft shops.

You will leave Bigodi area in the evening and you drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Mid-range/Standard) or Rwenzori View guesthouse (Budget/Basic)

Day 5: Transfer Drive From Kibale Forest Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park

You will transfer from Kibale forest park after your early morning Cup of Coffee to Queen Elizabeth national park.

On Arrival to Queen, you will connect to your lodge to check-in, have lunch and after Lunch head to Mweya area for an afternoon Launch cruise which sets off at 3:00pm.

The Kazinga Channel Launch cruise links Lake George to Lake Edward and it takes 2 – 3 hours. The adventurous activity will enable you to enjoy the views of different bird species and wildlife such as the hippos, Crocodiles, Buffaloes, Elephants when they are drinking water in the shores of the Channel.

After exploring the Channel, you will get back to the starting point and you head to the park headquarters for 2-3hours night game drive starting at 6:30pm.

The night game drive will give you glimpse to nocturnal wildlife species which cannot be seen in the day game drives and you will also meet other wildlife species when they are returning to their hiding grounds. After the night game drive, you will retire to your respective lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Pmba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Game drive 3-4 And Transfer Drive to Bwindi)

On this particular day, you will be required to wake up very early in the morning like at 6:00am, take your breakfast and at 6:30 start your interesting early morning game drive.

The early morning game drive may offer you the unique opportunity to meet the nocturnal wildlife species when they are retiring to their hiding grounds.

You will also have the chance to view the early morning wildlife risers as well as birds when they are starting their daily activities of looking for food.

When on game drive, you will keep an eye out for buffaloes, hippos, elephants, lions, warthogs, hyenas, and the elusive leopards.

The highly rewarding game drive will take 3-4 hours covering an estimated distance drive of 200kms. After the game drive, you will head to the Park Head Quarters to say words of thanks to the park staff and you embark on your drive to Bwindi passing through the remote Ishasha Sector.

Here you will have the chance to view the tree climbing lions when they are lying in the tree branches of the fit trees, meet some bird species, primates.

You will also have your Lunch in the Ishasha region before continuing with your wonderful drive through the “Switzerland of Uganda “to Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park.

On arrival to the Rushaga sector in Bwindi, you will connect direct to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid-range/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable (Mountain Gorilla trekking 2 – 8 hrs)

The long-awaited day to encounter gorillas will finally come to your hands and on this special day, you will wake up as early as 6:00am, take your ebullient breakfast that will give you the energy to hike hills, slope valleys, when searching for mountain gorillas.

After your breakfast, you will have your packed Lunch, water, and head to the park headquarters for briefing from the ranger guides about the etiquette of gorilla trekking.

The ranger guides will drive you after the briefing to the head trails where gorilla trekking starts from and when you reach the trails, ranger guides will lead you into the slippery trails to hike the hills, slope the valleys of Bwindi, and walk through the dark impenetrable forest looking for gorillas.

Along the way, you may enjoy the sounds of different bird species; meet the different primate species such as monkeys, different reptiles among others.

After 2-8 hours of trek depending on the movement of the apes, you will encounter gorillas moving in their social groups.

You will be allowed one magical hour to spend interacting, studying these stunning apes, it’s the time you can take as many photos as you can for memories in future.

When the one hour is done, you will walk back to the park headquarters and afterwards you will be transferred to your respective lodge for relaxation, late lunch, experience sharing with friends.

After resting, you will be driven to the nearby Batwa community for refreshment cultural activities from the hectic gorilla trekking, cultural exchange with the traditional Batwa community who are the traditional inhabitants of Bwindi Impenetrable forest.

The local guide will lead through community walk and here you will have chance to visit the local traditional homesteads of the Batwa, you will be entertained by the cultural dances, songs, drama performed by the Batwa Women.

You will have time to listen to the interesting history of this special community of Ugandans, check out on crafts made out of local materials among other activities.

Immediately you exhaust the different cultural activities, you will retire back to your respective lodge for dinner and slumber.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid-range/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 8: Transfer Drive From Bwindi to Volcanoes National Park

You will depart Bwindi’s Rushaga sector heading to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for second memorable mountain gorilla encounter in the land of thousand hills.

You will enjoy your 93 kilometer journey to Rwanda’s Volcanoes park because the journey takes you through the unique scenic landscape of Uganda connecting to the hilly sides of Rwanda.

When you arrive at Rushegeri also known as Musanze, you will drive direct to your Lodge to check-in, have lunch and after lunch head to Karismbi Research Center to tour the tomb of the American researcher Dian Fossey, here you will tour the house she was massacred from and also listen to the interesting story about the world fallen Zoologist.

After that one and half tour, you will head to the nearby community for an evening cultural encounter in Rwanda.

The cultural tour while expose you to different cultural performances, you will also listen to interesting stories narrated to you by an experienced local guide.

After the cultural encounter, you will drive back to your respective lodge for early preparation for the next morning encounter with the gorillas, you will have your dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Hotel La Palme (Mid-range/Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/Basic).

Day 9: Volcanoes National Park (Gorilla Trekking 2-8hrs And Transfer to Kigali City)

On this special day, you will wake up very early in the morning like at 6:00am local time prepared for second and the first in Rwanda Mountain gorilla encounter which is an experience of its own different from the one you had in Bwindi.

After taking your early ebullient breakfast, and you will drive with your packed lunch, water, Binoculars, Light weight hiking boots to the park headquarters where you will meet other tourists, you will be divided in groups of 8 trekkers, allocated specific gorilla family to trek, you will be briefed about the etiquette to follow when trekking the mountain gorillas in the hilly forested areas of Volcanoes National park.

After wards, you will be led by ranger guide to hike through the verdant jungle searching for mountain gorillas.

The activity which will take 2-8 hours needs someone to be physical fit since it involves a lot of hiking the hills.

The experience is tedious but impressive when you finally set your small eyes direct to bit big round eyes of the mountain gorillas.

You will see them moving in their social families as they go about their day-to-day routine activities; mothers caring for the young, playing as well as feeding.

You are required to maintain a distance of five meters while you are watch them, make sure to turn off the flash of your camera as you take pictures.

You will be given one magical hour to spend with the mountain gorillas. Right after one hour is over, you will head back to the lodge to relax.

After relaxing from the lodge, you will embark on your drive transfer to Kigali Capital City. The journey of 2-3 hours will be an interesting one and you will arrive in Kigali City in the evening.

The driver guide will drive you direct to your booked Kigali lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Hotel Des Milles Collins (Upmarket/Luxury), Hotel Chez Lando (Mid-range/Standard) or Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel (Budget/Basic).

Day 10: Kigali City Tour And Transfer to Kanombe Airport

On this last day of your safari, you will wake up early in the morning like at 7:00am local time; enjoy your Cup of Coffee and after depart your Lodge for City tour.

In the city tour, you will be surprised by the opulence of Rwanda a land of “a thousand hills”. Kigali city is the cleanest city of all East African cities and the people are very hospitable.

You will have time to tour the Kigali genocide memorial center where you will have time to listen to the comprehensive history of the years leading up to the genocide and the events of the massacres, including personal accounts.

You will view the Photographs, video clips, and artifacts of the genocide. After tour the genocide sites, you will go to the national museum plus other attractive sites within the city.

Afterwards you will have your lunch in Kigali City and after the Lunch your driver guide will drop you in Rwanda’s international airport in Kanombe for your flight back home. Hence this will mark the end of your 10 days Uganda and Rwanda Safari.

End of The 10 Days Gorilla & Wildlife Safari Uganda-Rwanda.