15 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari, Chimps Tracking & Wildlife Highlight Tour – Overview

The 15 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari Highlight involved double gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National in Rwanda and Uganda respectively.

The safari commences in Kigali city Rwanda and ends at Entebbe International Airport Uganda. You traverse the impressive hill sides of Rwanda, the Uganda’s Kigezi Highlands, the Savannah rolling plains of Queen Elizabeth National park dotted with great counts of wild game including tree climbing lions, leopard, elephants and buffaloes, Kibale National Park dubbed the primate capital of the world with 13 primate species including the common chimpanzees, the Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and the adventure town of Jinja.

The range of other Eco-tourism and scenic encounters are incorporated to broaden your experience while on safari in Rwanda and Uganda.

15 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari, Chimps Tracking & Wildlife Highlight Tour – Highlights

• Day 1: Arrive in Rwanda – Kigali International Airport.
• Day 2: Visit the Gisozi genocide memorial & transfer to Volcanoes National Park
• Day 3: Do gorilla trekking & relax at the lodge
• Day 4: Do golden Monkey tracking & cross to Uganda – Lake Bunyonyi
• Day 5: Do Boat cruise, exploring the 29 islands & transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP
• Day 6: Do gorilla trekking & relax at the lodge
• Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Do an afternoon game drive in Ishasha in search of tree climbing lions
• Day 8: Do Morning game drive & afternoon launch cruise along the 45km long Kazinga Channel
• Day 9: Transfer to Kibale NP & visit Rwenzori Art foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa and Ruboni Community wax & craft center en route.
• Day 10: Do whole day chimpanzee Habituation in the primate capital of the world Kibale NP
• Day 11: Hike the Fort Portal Crater Area, visit the Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru caves & transfer to Hoima
• Day 12: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park & visit Kibiro Salt Gardens and hot springs en route
• Day 13: Do Morning game drive & afternoon Nile launch cruise & hike to the top of the falls
• Day 14: Transfer to Jinja & do white Rhino tracking in Ziwa Sanctuary
• Day 15: Night departure through Entebbe International Airport

15 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari, Chimps Tracking & Wildlife Highlight Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Rwanda – Kigali International Airport

Arrive in Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport after you long day flight in the evening here you will be welcomed by your driver guide who will then transfer you to your respective lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Hotel Des Milles Collins (Upmarket/Luxury), Hotel chez Lando (Midrange/Standard) or Golf Hills Residence (Budget/Basic).

Day 2: Visit The Gisozi Genocide Memorial & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After a thrilling breakfast, embark on the tour of Kigali city. You will drive through impressive Kigali landscapes with very tidy and green streets that generate a fume of freshness that is not common in many cities of the world.

You will visit the Gisozi genocide memorial where great counts of the remains of the Rwandese people especially the Tutsi and the moderate Hutus are kept in memory of the bloody genocide that hit Rwanda in 1994.

From here, you will embark on the 116km transfer about 2 ½ hours’ drive to Volcanoes National Park. The drive offers impressive scenic sights of the country side landscapes with rolling hills that have earned Rwanda the dub as the land of a thousand hills before arriving in Ruhengeri in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury) / Hotel La Palme (Midrange/Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/Basic).

Day 3: Do Gorilla Trekking & Relax at The Lodge

Wake up in the morning for a cup of coffee at your place of stay after which you transfer to Kinigi Park Headquarters in Volcanoes National Park for the gorilla trekking encounter.

At 8am, you catch up with the briefing exercise by the park rangers about the gorilla trekking conduct. In this session, you will be allocated a specific gorilla family that you are going to track and in case of special concern such as mobility issues, you can notify the responsible personnel to allocate you a suitable family.

For the sake of the adventurous ones, you can also notify the responsible personnel to allocate you a more strenuous and challenging gorilla family to track.

After this encounter you head to the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes where the Park is located in search of the critically endangered mountain gorillas which only thrive in the Virunga Massif and the famous Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the neighboring Uganda.

The activity which may last between 2 – 8 hours depending on the gorilla movements will involve a 1 hour of direct encounter with gorillas coupled with unlimited opportunity to take as many photos as you wish after which you will descend back to the gorilla trekking point.

The gorilla trekking in Rwanda is most times brief as the gorilla families tend to be closer to the starting point. After this encounter, retreat to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury) / Hotel La Palme (Midrange/Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/Basic).

Day 4: Do Golden Monkey Tracking & Cross to Uganda – Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, embark in the golden monkey tracking starting at 8am at the Kinigi park headquarters. The golden monkey trek is one of the thrilling encounters that you can have while on safari in Rwanda and Uganda.

The golden monkeys are among the critically endangered primate species that are only thriving in the Virunga massif on global scale. They have impressive skin colors that have got a golden patch on their back thus attractive to look at.

After this encounter which tends to last for about 4 hours, you will retreat to the lodge for lunch and then cross to Uganda passing through magical sights of Virunga ranges.

Upon crossing to Uganda in the shadows of Virunga ranges, you will be welcomed by the rolling hills of Kigezi known as Kigezi Highlands – the Switzerland of Africa.

Branch off at Muko from the main Kisoro – Kabale road which is very scenic to drive along Lake Bunyonyi known as the lake of a thousand islands connecting to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket/Luxury), Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort (Mid-range/Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget/Basic).

Day 5: Do Boat Cruise, Exploring The 29 Islands & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP

After breakfast, embark on the boat cruise on the lake of a thousand islands amidst the rolling hills of Kigezi. The boat will enable you explore the major islands and the history behind them. The boat can take 5 hours before returning to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will embark on the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the fascinating views if the farmed Kigezi Highlands arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

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

Day 6: Do Gorilla Trekking & Relax at The Lodge

After your early morning breakfast, your driver guide will drive you to the Park head Quarters in your respective gorilla trekking region for briefing about the do’s and don’ts of gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

You will meet other trekkers in the headquarters and you will be divided in groups of eight individuals who are allowed to visit one particular gorilla habituated group.

After briefing, UWA experienced ranger guide will lead you to the trail heads where gorilla trekking starts from and you will enter in the thick dark impenetrable forest to start searching for the mountain gorillas.

It can take you like 2-8 hours to encounter mountain gorilla and once up close, you will be allowed to spend one magical hour with these stunning apes.

During this time you can decide to sit down listen to gorilla crumble, study how these apes go about their daily activities and you can take as many photos as possible.

When the one hour is done, you will walk back to the park headquarters and finally after the whole mountain gorilla encounter in Uganda’s Bwindi you will drive back to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill lodge (Luxury/upmarket) or Gorilla Mist Camp (midrange/standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/basic).

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Do an Afternoon Game Drive in Ishasha in Search of Tree Climbing Lions

After breakfast embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 309km from Rushaga, 218km from Ruhija and 160km from Buhoma.

The drive will take you through impressive rural landscapes of Kihihi and Kanungu before approaching Ishasha in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You can make a lunch stop at Savannah Hotel if the time for it finds you there.

Continue to undertake a game drive in the rolling Savannah plains of Ishasha dotted with short fig trees with low lying branches that are a favorite for lions to climb.

Having a chance of encountering the famous tree climbing lions of Ishasha is very rewarding. The Ishasha sector also has other counts of wild game including elephants, buffaloes and Antelopes. Continue to the northern parts of Queen Elizabeth NP for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 8: Do Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Launch Cruise Along The 45km Long Kazinga Channel

Wake up for an early morning 3 – 4 hour game drive though the Kasenyi tracks where you will have chances of viewing a range of wildlife.

Some of these include; lions, elephants, Buffaloes, Antelopes, jackals, among others. You will marvel at them as they gather what to put in their stomachs and others taking a rest.

The Savannah landscape in which they thrive is an attraction in its self. Return to the lodge for relaxation till lunch time after which you will gather at Mweya for a launch cruise on Kazinga channel at 3:00pm.

The 2 hour launch cruise takes you through the offers of the 45m long Kazinga channel including possibilities of encountering the Nile crocodiles, Hippos, abundant bird life and a range of wild game quenching their thirst along the channel waters. Return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

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

Day 9: Transfer to Kibale NP & Visit Rwenzori Art foundation – The Only Bronze Casting Center in Africa and Ruboni Community Wax & Craft Center En-route

After a relaxed breakfast, embark in the transfer to Kibale National Park 157km from Mweya. You will drive along the magical scenery of the Mountains of the moon – the Rwenzoris which is the highest mountain range on the continental lands of Africa towering to 5,109m above sea level with snowcapped peaks.

You will make a stop at Rwenzori Art Foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa where a range of sculptures are made and you can equally participate in the process.

A cup of coffee can consumed at the terrace overlooking the Rwenzoris. Proceed to visit the Ruboni Community wax and craft center to interact with the craftsmanship of the local people and how they are applying their indigenous knowledge to survive in the contemporary world. Continue to Kibale National Park for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Midrange/Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).

Day 10: Do Whole Day Chimpanzee Habituation in The Primate Capital of The World Kibale NP

Wake up early in the morning to catch up with the chimpanzee habituation experience which lasts the whole day starting 6am from Kanyanchu Tourism Center.

The chimpanzee habituation encounter brings you closer to chimpanzees than ever before. The whole day encounter where you start up with them as they get out of their nests and you see them feed, hunt, socialize, mate, make pant hooting calls, patrol until they set for another overnight at 7pm is long enough to generate ultimate chimpanzee memories in Africa and Uganda in particular. Retire from the activity late in the evening to transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Midrange/Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).

Day 11: Hike The Fort Portal Crater Area, Visit The Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru Caves & Transfer to Hoima

After breakfast, embark on the transfer through Fort portal town to the Fort portal Crater Lake Area where you will first make a tour to the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves – the ancient breast-like features that have great historical attachment to the Bachwezi people who are known to have inhabited the great lakes region on the prehistoric era.

The Amabere have impressive sights and the flow of Nyakasura falls makes the sight rewarding to look at. After this encounter, continue to hike the famous Kyeganywa hill which is an impressive hill surrounded by a range of crater lakes and crater hollows with the views of the mountains of the moon – the Rwenzoris.

Retreat from this encounter and embark on the transfer to Hoima Make a stop in Fort Portal town for lunch after which you will proceed to Hoima arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Kontiki Hotel

Day 12: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park & Visit Kibiro Salt Gardens And Hot Springs En-route

After a relaxed breakfast, embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls National Park passing through the scenic road along the Albertine escarpment in the oil fields of Bulisa.

You will make a stop at Kibiro Salt Gardens and hot springs on the shores of Lake Albert. The impressing landscape is very rugged and a bit challenging to ascend and descend.

You will enjoy interacting with the local people as they apply their traditional skills of extracting fine salt. It is an interesting encounter of its own.

Continue on the drive to arrive in Murchison Falls NP in the afternoon fir relaxation, dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).

Day 13: Do Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Nile Launch Cruise & Hike to The Top of The Falls

After an early cup of coffee, embark on the drive through the park in search of wild game. The rolling Savannah combretum of Murchison Falls National Park supports a range of grazers including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, water buck, Jackson hartebeest, oribis among others with predators thriving not far from them including lion, leopard among others.

The drive through the delta area, Buligi tracks, Albert and Queen tracks offers rewarding wild game viewing. Retreat from the 3 – 4 hour activity and get to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you will embark in the drive to Paraa to catch up with the boat at 2:30pm.

The boat on the Nile to the bottom of the famous Murchison Falls is very rewarding. Not only does it offer you opportunities of encountering the game drinking on the river side, it also draws you closer to counts of Hippos, Nile Crocodiles and a range of water birds such as the famous Shoebill Stork.

Upon reaching the bottom of the falls, embark in the hike to the top of the falls following a narrow and challenging path to the top enjoying roaring sounds of the Nile as it clashes its head on the impermeable rocks that have narrowed its way to less than 8m for centuries past. Retire for overnight.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).

Day 14: Transfer to Jinja & do White Rhino Tracking in Ziwa Sanctuary

After breakfast, embark on the drive to Jinja. En route, you will make a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 7km from the main road at Nakitoma to track the white Rhinos.

The encounter with white Rhinos which were re-introduced in 2005 following their extinction in 1983 is very rewarding.

The thicket of Ziwa is interesting to take a walk in while searching for the Rhinos, Retire from the activity and transfer to Jinja for overnight.

Accommodation: Jinja Nile Resort (Upmarket/Luxury), King Fisher Resort (Midrange/Standard) or Source of the Smile Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).

Day 15: Explore Jinja & Have Night Departure Through Entebbe International Airport

After breakfast, you have a whole day period to enjoy the adventure beauty of Jinja. You can participate in half day white water rafting, Nile high bungee, wild jet, kayaking, and quad biking horse riding among other activities and depending on your choice and budget and then have an afternoon thrilling boat cruise to the source of the Nile.

After this you will connect to Kampala 80km and then proceed to Entebbe 40km to catch up with your night flight.

End of The 15 days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari, Chimps trekking & Wildlife Highlight Tour.