7 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour – Overview

The 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour is a rewarding tour to these two destinations of Uganda and Rwanda where the ¾ of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas are known to exist in the respective parks of Bwindi Impenetrable and Volcanoes.

The 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour begins in Kigali and ends in either Kigali or Entebbe Uganda.

The safari takes you through the mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes and Bwindi, Dian Fossey hike in Rwanda, wild game viewing, recreational boat cruise and the rewarding chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The safari involves impressive scenic views of the Kigezi Highlands, Rwenzori Mountains and the rolling Albertine flats

7 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour – Highlights

• Day 1: Transfer to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
• Day 2: Do Mountain gorilla tracking & Musaze Caves tour in the afternoon
• Day 3: Track golden monkeys or Hike Dian Fossey center & cross to Uganda.
• Day 4: Undertake gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and do an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise
• Day 6: Do a morning game drive & an afternoon chimp trek in Kyambura gorge.
• Day 7: Transfer to Kampala or Kigali.

 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park

Embark on the transfer to the north west of Rwanda to the famous Volcanoes National Park which is 116km about 3 hours’ drive from Kigali city.

The en route impressive sights of the rolling hills of Rwanda that have earned her a dub as the land of a thousand hills will accompany you up the park.

The rural landscapes that are farmed and dotted with lush green features makes the journey rewarding.

Arrive early enough for lunch and relax and spend the evening at Iby’wachu village to enjoy the Banyarwanda cultural performances.

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Hotel (Luxury/upmarket) La Palme Lodge (Midrange/standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/basic).

Day 2: Do Mountain Gorilla Tracking & Musaze Caves Tour in The Afternoon

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. Retire from the activity to connect back to lodge for relaxation after which you will undertake a walk to the Musaze caves.

The Musaze Caves are located close to Musaze town and have got an ancient background as they were used as hiding place for the Royals in times of trouble and the store for the supplies.

The walk in the caves is very rewarding and a terrifying one. The cathedral like natural feature is impressing to encounter while on Rwanda safari. Retire from the activity and connect to lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Hotel (Luxury/upmarket) La Palme Lodge (Midrange/standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/basic).

Day 3: Track Golden Monkeys or Hike Dian Fossey Center & Cross to Uganda

After breakfast, embark on the golden money tracking at 8am in Volcanoes National Park.

It is such a thrilling encounter to see these golden apes as they roll themselves in the bamboo forest stems and play their hide and seek games.

The golden monkeys are also critically endangered and are to be existing in the Virunga massif across the globe.

From the activity which tends to take about 4 hours, you will have lunch and then embark on the transfer to Uganda.

Alternatively, after breakfast, embark on the hike to Dian Fossey site to encounter the grave yard of the famous mountain gorilla conservationists that the world has ever had.

The Dian Fossey is credited International for fighting tooth and nail to see that the plight of mountain gorillas gain international momentum and interest towards their conservation and continued existence.

The hike takes you through challenging mountain sides and has got impressive views of Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke which are among the eight Virunga Volcanoes that exists in the area.

Thus paying tribute to this woman is one of the rewarding things that you can ever contribute to her commemoration and the existence of mountain gorillas. Connect to the lodge for lunch and embark on the transfer to Uganda.

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

Day 4: Undertake Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

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 depending on time and energy, if you can, you can participate in the interesting evening nature walks in Bwindi. Then after retire back to your respective lodge for dinner and overnight

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

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park And do an Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you through the Ishasha sector in the south of the park where you will do a simple game drive in search of tree climbing lions that tend to lie on fig trees during day time.

You will proceed to catch up with the boat cruise along the 45km long Kazinga Channel dubbed the Paradise of Hippos at 4pm.

The cruise on the calm channel waters connecting Lake Edward and George is very thrilling. The sights of various wild game taking water on the channel side including elephants and buffaloes not forgetting that sights of aquatic wild life cluing Hippos and Nile crocodiles is very rewarding. Do a mini game drive along the channel track as you connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge (Luxury/upmarket), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/basic).

Day 6: Do a Morning Game Drive & an Afternoon Chimp Trek in Kyambura Gorge

Take an early morning cup of coffee before embarking on the wild game viewing in the rolling Savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The drive will take you through Kasenyi which is a dwelling place for a range of game including the elephants, lions, buffaloes, Antelopes among others.

The racks are well designed to increase you possibilities of encountering wild game.

The sights of an elusive leopard, defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, Side stripped Jackal; Oribis among others might be encountered.

Return to the lodge after this 3 -4 hour game drive for refreshment and relaxation until the time for lunch.

After having a thrilling early lunch, embark on the transfer to Kyambura gorge for an afternoon Chimp trekking encounter.

The possible sights of chimpanzees as they roll themselves on the tree branches, make pant-hooting calls, socialize and imitate your body language is very rewarding to encounter while on Uganda Rwanda safari. Retire in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight at the lodge

Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge (Luxury/upmarket), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/basic).

Day 7: Transfer Back to Kigali or Entebbe

After breakfast, you can opt to pass connect to Kampala and Entebbe to depart through Entebbe International Airport an option that will give you an opportunity to encounter the traditional range-lands of Ankole, impressive craters of Bunyaruguru, Uganda Equator crossing at Kayabwe and the Kampala city its self. Alternatively, you can drive back to Kigali city to mark the end of your safari.

End of The 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour.