7 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari
per person
This 7-day Rwanda and Uganda wildlife safari offers a variety of exciting activities. It is for visitors interested in gorilla tracking in either Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. The safari also includes a wildlife experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s top tourist destinations. Kibale Forest is chosen for its reliable chimpanzee tracking, although chimpanzee habituation is not included in this package. The tour includes golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, along with a cultural experience at Iby’iwacu Cultural Village. This itinerary will provide further details about each destination.
Kibale National Park is a top spot for viewing primates in Africa, with about 13 species and around 1500 chimpanzees, including four habituated communities. Tourists can also see other mammals and birds. Wildlife from Queen Elizabeth National Park, like lions, sometimes visits Kibale. The Bigodi Wetlands Swamp, located at the park’s edge, is great for primate and birdwatching. Kibale features crater lakes and scenic views of the Rwenzori mountains. Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its beautiful landscape, has chimps in Kyambura Gorge and offers sights of tree-climbing lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. Visitors can see park animals during game drives or boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel.
This 7-Day Rwanda and Uganda wildlife safari includes a visit to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, known for its 370 mountain gorillas. Besides mountain gorillas, the park has other attractions, including 5 volcanoes and various animals, such as golden monkeys, hyenas, and elephants. Visitors can also explore the Iby’iwacu Cultural Centre and the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. This tour can start in Uganda, and you can choose gorilla trekking in Uganda to save money or do the whole tour in Rwanda, including chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest. For longer options, consider the 10-day or 14-day tours, or a shorter 5-day package if that seems more appealing.
Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 3: Game drive – Boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel
- Day 4: Game drive at Ishasa sector – Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
- Day 5: Mountain gorilla tracking in Rwanda – Touring the Iby’iwacu cultural village
- Day 6: Golden Monkey Tracking – Visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
- Day 7: Transfer to Kigali – Kigali City Tour – departure
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Kibale Forest National Park
Wake up early and have breakfast while waiting to be picked up from the hotel. If you arrive by plane, the company Guide will meet you to begin the journey to Kibale National Park, which takes 5 to 6 hours. Enjoy the scenic countryside of Rwanda and Uganda during the trip. Keep your documents ready for the Uganda-Rwanda border crossing, especially your yellow fever card. You will have lunch at a suitable place along the way, and the driver will ensure you arrive early enough to rest for the Chimpanzee tracking the next day.
Accommodation: Crater Safari Lodge (Luxury), Primates Lodge (Midrange), and Chimpanzee Guest House (budget).
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking – Canopy Walk in Nyungwe forest
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up early after a long rest and have breakfast. The company guide will pick you up and take you to the park offices for a briefing. This briefing, led by a park senior guide, will sensitize you about Chimpanzee trekking during the 7-Day Rwanda and Uganda wildlife safari, covering what to expect, the chimpanzee communities in the park, and how to act around them. Chimpanzee trekking takes about 3 to 5 hours and is different from gorilla trekking because chimps are more mobile and dramatic, often involving conflicts. Finding chimps is easier since they are vocal and can be heard from far away, making the experience exciting compared to gorillas. After watching the group for an hour, return to your lodge for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, the guide will take you on a 2-hour journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. After check-in, explore your lodge before sleeping early.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), and Simba Safari Camp (budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: Game drive – Boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel
You will wake up early and head to the Kasenyi plains or Mweya area with your packed breakfast for a morning game drive. This drive allows you to see nocturnal animals returning to their homes after hunting at night, including leopards, hippos, hartebeests, lions, small primates, and various birds. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for an early lunch and some rest before the next activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park. At 2:00 pm, the guide will take you to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise, where you can enjoy wildlife and bird watching.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), and Simba Safari Camp (budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Game drive at Ishasa sector – Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
Wake up, have breakfast, and after your guide will pick you up for a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park on the way to Rwanda. This drive focuses on spotting the famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha section, where they rest in trees after hunting. The lions climb to avoid insect bites and to watch for prey. You can also see several wildlife species such as buffalo, waterbucks, elephants, and Uganda Kob in this area. After enjoying the game drive, you will start your journey back to Rwanda as you transfer to Volcanoes National Park, with enroute lunch. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range), and Kinigi Guest House (budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Mountain gorilla tracking in Rwanda – Touring the Iby’iwacu cultural village
Wake up early to have breakfast and wait for the driver to take you to the park office for a briefing at 7:00 am, led by Rangers and park Guides. After the briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla family based on your fitness and age. During this time, you can hire a porter if you have heavy luggage. Gorilla tracking can be tough, but it’s a rewarding experience to see mountain gorillas in the wild. Follow the park guides’ instructions when near the primates. You will spend one hour with the gorilla family, so take time to observe and take photos. Afterward, your safari driver will take you back to the lodge for lunch and rest.
After resting in your room, the guide will pick you up for a tour of the Gorilla Guardians Village in Musanze. Formerly the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, it exhibits Rwanda’s cultural heritage through music, dance, and drama by various tribes. Tourists can also buy souvenirs and wear traditional costumes to join in the performances.
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range), and Kinigi Guest House (budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 6: Golden Monkey Tracking – Visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
Wake up early, have breakfast, after your driver will take you to the park offices for the briefing on golden monkey tracking in Uganda and Rwanda. You will get a Guide and armed Rangers to help you find the golden monkeys, which are endangered and live in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They eat bamboo and other plants. Humans threaten them, while Eagles are their natural enemies. Golden monkeys are playful and enjoy having their pictures taken. After hiking, you will see them in trees or on the ground. Afterward, return to your lodge for lunch and rest. Later, the driver will take you to the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera.
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range), and Kinigi Guest House (budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali – Kigali City Tour – departure
You will wake up early, take breakfast, and hit the road to Kigali. The journey is 3 hours, but you will once again be treated to the beautiful rolling hills of Rwanda’s countryside and the vast tea plantations. Lunch will be in Kigali, after which you will go for a tour of the city. The tour involves visiting the Gisozi Genocide memorial site, the presidential palace museum, city markets, and gift shops where you can buy local crafts/arts. The Kigali city tour takes about 2 hours. After this final tour of Rwanda, you will be dropped off at your hotel or transferred to Kigali International Airport.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
End of Tour
7 Days Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari Includes and Excludes
Inclusions:
- All transfers, including pick-ups and drop-offs
- A private English-speaking guide
- 1 Gorilla trekking permit per person
- 1 Chimpanzee trekking permit per person
- Golden Monkey trekking
- A visit to the Iby’iwacu cultural village
- A boat cruise on the Kazinga channel
- Kigali City Tour
- All accommodation for 6 days
- Bottled drinking water for 7 days
- All meals throughout the safari
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary
Exclusions
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Air ticket
- Visa Ticket
- Extra activities and accommodation
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks such as soda, juice, wine, etc.
- Personal expenses and items such as gifts, tips, souvenirs, laundry, phone charges, etc…