12 Days Uganda Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Trekking Safari

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Trekking Safari. If it is primates, birds, wildlife or culture that you have always wished to explore in East Africa then this 12 days safari in Uganda and Rwanda is the best package you can book this coming season and you won’t regret in life. This safari offers you a great opportunity to explore varied species of primates in Kibale Forest National Park, mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi National Park and Rwanda Volcanoes National Park as well as pay a visit to stunning Queen Elizabeth National Park for unforgettable wildlife encounters both on game drive and launch cruise. This 12 days Uganda Rwanda safari starts in Kampala/Entebbe-Uganda and ends in Kigali Rwanda.

Activities to do on this safari

• Chimpanzee habituation experience
• Game viewing and boat cruise
• Gorilla trekking
• Buhoma village walk

Safari highlights – 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Trekking Safari

• Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe
• Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
• Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX)
• Day 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 5: Game drive and boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 6: Game drive via Ishasha sector and proceed to Bwindi National Park
• Day 7: Visit the Batwa pygmy village
• Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
• Day 9: Buhoma village walk
• Day 10: Transfer to Rwanda
• Day 11: Either go for gorilla trekking/hike to Dian Fossey tomb site
• Day 12: Drive to Kigali and departure

Detailed itinerary – 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe

Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and be welcomed by our driver guide who then will transfer you to your hotel of choice in Entebbe or Kampala. You will have overnight stay at Central Inn Entebbe/Cassia Lodge/Protea Hotel Entebbe or that in Kampala, Serena Hotel Kampala or Sheraton Hotel Kampala (Luxury).

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at your respective hotel facility. Thereafter, start your journey to western Uganda to Kibale Forest National Park via Kampala-Mityana-Mubende and then Kyenjojo-Fort portal about 5-6 hours’ drive. Along the way, have amazing views of the picturesque landscape of the areas’ stunning hills and tea plantations as well as the clear view of the Rwenzori Mountain range at the background.

In Fort Portal, make a stopover for lunch before proceeding to Kibale Forest National Park about 30 minutes’ drive. On arrival at the park, check in at Primate Lodge/Crater safari lodge/Ndali Lodge (Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Chimps Nest/Kibale Forest Camp (Midrange), Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve and community campsite (Budget). Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Early in the morning, have a tasty cup of tea at the lodge and after, join the rest of the visitors at Kanyanchu visitor center where you will be briefed on dos and don’ts to be observed while in search of chimpanzees in the jungles. On this day, you will set off to the forest with packed lunch and spend the entire day on chimpanzee exploration with park ranger guide/trackers, researchers, conservationists as well as scientists.

Chimpanzee habituation experience is all about making chimpanzees get used to human presence by following and observing them the whole day, and you will have opportunity to discover a lot more about their behavior in the wild, take as many photos as you can. This process usually takes about 2 years or even more depending on how these creatures can get ready for tracking. Later, return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Primate Lodge/Crater safari lodge/Ndali Lodge (Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Chimps Nest/Kibale Forest Camp (Midrange), Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve and community campsite (Budget).

Day 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Get up early in the morning and have breakfast, after head off to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the crater lakes of Kasese and you will spend about 3 hours driving. From Kasese, you cross through equator-have some photo taking and while at Queen Elizabeth National Park, you have opportunity to sight at most antelopes, elephants, buffaloes as they roam around.

On arrival, you will have lunch and some rest then you embark on afternoon game drive via Kasenyi track or boat cruise through Kazinga channel where you will look out for hippos, crocodiles, water birds and many others. Later, return to the lodge for rest, dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Kyambura Gorge (Moderate) or Bush Lodge (basic).

Day 5: Game drive and boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park

On this day, start your day with a cup of tea or coffee and after, set off for an exciting morning game drive via Kasenyi sector. On a game drive, enjoy amazing views of savanna grassland dwellers such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, birds and many others. After, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation then embark on afternoon boat cruise through Kazinga channel which covers about 32 kilometers and mainly links Lake George with Lake Edward.

On a boat ride, have a chance to spot out large schools of hippos, the crocodiles as they bask at the Lake shores and not to forget water birds including kingfishers, fish eagles and others. Later, return to the lodge for chilling, dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Kyambura Gorge (Midrange) or Bush Lodge (budget).

Day 6: Game drive via Ishasha sector and proceed to Bwindi National Park

Get up early in the morning and enjoy your tasty cup of tea or coffee. After, check out from your respective lodge and embark on morning game drive but this time round through Ishasha sector a renowned area for tree climbing lions. While here, you also have a chance to look out for other wildlife species to sum up your day at Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Later, you will head off to Bwindi National Park southwestern Uganda-a home to over 350 birds, 200 butterflies, 160 tree species and 120 mammal species as well as over 400 mountain gorillas. En-route you will have lunch at Savanna hotel then proceed to the park for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma lodge /chameleon hill lodge (Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Nkuringo gorilla camp, Broadbill forest camp/Buhoma community rest camp (Budget).

Day 7: Visit the Batwa pygmy village

On this day, you will have breakfast and after, pay a visit to the Batwa pygmy village. A visit to this village is more of cultural interaction between you and the locals especially the Batwa pygmies-the renowned forest dwellers who lived in the tropical rain forest for over 500000 years as hunters and gatherers but left it with no environmental impact. Today, they are a marginalized group around Bwindi and Mgahinga national park. have dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma lodge /chameleon hill lodge (Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Nkuringo gorilla camp, Broadbill forest camp/Buhoma community rest camp (Budget).

Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast and after, join other visitors at the park headquarters-Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo trailhead for briefing on gorilla trekking rules and regulations for gorilla trekking. After, you will be grouped into 8 members to track one habituated gorilla family and be accompanied by park ranger guide.

Later, hit the jungles to search for these remarkable creatures and upon getting them, you have an hour of face to face encounter, take as many photos as possible, explore more about their general behavior. After, return to the lodge for rest, dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma lodge /chameleon hill lodge (Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Nkuringo gorilla camp, Broadbill forest camp/Buhoma community rest camp (Budget).

Day 9: Buhoma village walk

On this day, have breakfast at your lodge and after, take a walk to Buhoma village. The Buhoma village walk is a local project by the local residents around Buhoma area northern side of Bwindi National Park. A visit to this village isn’t just for recreation purposes but one way for you to support community development programs in this village. The walk usually kick starts at Buhoma community rest camp-a campsite which was set up benefit the locals in this village.

After this rewarding walk, return to the lodge for rest, relaxation and dinner at Buhoma lodge /chameleon hill lodge (Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Nkuringo gorilla camp, Broadbill forest camp/Buhoma community rest camp (Budget).

Day 10: Transfer to Rwanda

Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at your respective lodge. After, set off from Bwindi National Park to Volcanoes National Park-cross the border to Rwanda then drive to the park. On arrival, check in at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Sabyinyo silverback lodge (Luxury), Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel/La Palme Hotel/Gorilla Nest Lodge (Midrange) for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 11: Either go for gorilla trekking/hike to Dian Fossey tomb site/golden monkey trekking and return to Kigali

On this day, you will have breakfast and you either embark on second gorilla trekking experience but this time round in Volcanoes National Park or hike to Dian Fossey tomb site. Alternatively, you can choose to go and explore more about the fascinating golden monkeys. After, return to the lodge and drive to Kigali about 2-3 hours’ drive and have an optional visit to Kigali genocide memorial site. Later, check in at Kigali Serena hotel for rest, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 12: Drive to Kigali and departure

Kick start your day with a tasty cup of coffee or tea and after, check out at the hotel ready to embark on journey to Kigali Airport for your flight back home and this marks the end of your 12 days Uganda Rwanda safari.

End of 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Trekking Safari

Safari inclusions

• Transportation in 4WD vehicle plus full time English speaking driver guide
• Accommodation and meals
• Bottled water
• Chimpanzee habituation experience and gorilla trekking permit
• Game drive and launch cruise
• Dian Fossey tomb hike/golden monkey/gorilla trekking in Rwanda
• Park entry fees
• All activities in the travel plan

Safari Exclusions

• Airfares
• Personal insurance
• Visa fees
• Personal expenses-tips, laundry, alcohol, other accommodation and meal options outside the itinerary, additional activities that are not part of the itinerary.