10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Uganda Wildlife Safari – Overview
The 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Uganda Wildlife Safari will start in Kigali and end in Uganda‘s Capital City Kampala.
The 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Uganda Wildlife Safari is a good safari package that provides you a unique opportunity to enjoy the views and sights of the stunning Mountain gorillas protected in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
The 10 days Rwanda Gorilla and Uganda Wildlife Safari will take you through Rwanda’s spectacular attractions like Kigali Memorial Centers, Nyungwe Forest National Park-primate capital of Rwanda, lake Kivu dubbed home of adventure in Rwanda, The Safari will then connect you to Uganda’s finest wildlife safari destination-Queen Elizabeth National Park and Uganda’s Compact game –Lake Mburo national Park.
10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Uganda Wildlife Safari – Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali international Airport and Afternoon Kigali City Tour.
- Day 2: Transfer from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest Park and evening Cultural encounter
- Day 3: Early Morning Chimpanzee trekking and Afternoon Canopy Walk
- Day 4: Transfer to Gisenyi-Lake Kivu and afternoon boat Cruise on Lake Kivu.
- Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes national park and Have an afternoon cultural encounter
- Day 6: Do Gorilla Trekking and Musanze Cave tour.
- Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda
- Day 8: Do an Early Morning game drive & afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel.
- Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and Do an afternoon boat cruise.
- Day 10: Do morning Game drive and transfer to Kampala with stopover at the Uganda Equator.
10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Uganda Wildlife Safari – Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali international Airport and Afternoon Kigali City Tour.
On arrival at the airport, you will be received by our experienced driver guide who will transfer you to your lodge in Kigali Capital City for relaxation and lunch.
After lunch, embark on an afternoon City Tour. The city tour will take you through Gisozi genocide memorial center where you will have time to listen to the comprehensive history of Rwanda during the 1994 genocide and the events of the massacres, including personal accounts.
You will view the Photographs, video clips, and artifacts of the genocide. After touring the site, you will proceed to other attractive sites within the city and after exploring the unique attractions within Kigali City, retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodations: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury/Upmarket), Hotel chez Lando (Mid-Range/Standard), Hotel Okapi (Budget)
Day 2: Transfer From Kigali to Nyungwe Forest Park And Evening Cultural Encounter.
After your early morning breakfast, you will be picked –up by our driver guide from your Kigali hotel/lodge and embark on transfer journey of 225kms about 6 -7 hours’ drive from Kigali to Nyungwe national park.
This journey is very fascinating as you will traverse through amazing scenery all around the area.
The driver guide will slowly drive to allow you capture the best photographs.
You will have lunch en-route and a number of stopovers at Butare National Museum, Nyanza (Rukali) as well as Malaba coffee factory, plus other exciting areas. On arrival to the park, you will drive to the lodge to check-in and relax.
After relaxation, you will embark on an evening cultural encounter with the local people around Nyungwe Forest National Park. The cultural encounter will give you a rare opportunity to interact with the local people in their natural environment, with a taste of their unique culture and traditions.
You will be entertained by the Cyamundongo Cultural troupe and after the activity; you will retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodations: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury /Upmarket), Nyungwe Top View Hote (Moderate /standard), Gisakura Guest House (Budget Lodge).
Day 3: Early Morning Chimpanzee Trekking And Afternoon Canopy Walk
After your early morning breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for an early morning briefing about the dos and don’ts of Chimpanzee trekking in the loviest forest of Nyungwe national park.
Nyungwe National Forest is an ideal destination for lovers of primates, with 13 different species living. In the park you will be divided in groups of 8 trekkers who only authorized to trek one habituated Chimpanzee group.
At exactly 8:30am, you will be led by the ranger guide through the beautiful forest trail to trek the fascinating chimpanzee creatures.
Along the trails you may enjoy the nice melodies of different bird species housed in the forest and you may also have chance to enjoy the views of other primates like grey-cheeked mangabey, monkeys.
The activity takes between 2-6 hours but experienced guides will also make sure that they take you where you will have to see the primates as fast as possible.
Face to face encounter with the chimpanzees is very amazing because you will observe them play, feed and rest.
After this worthwhile experience, you will head back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, embark on adventurous canopy walk to see the beautiful twin lakes as well as various bird species.
Participate in Nature walks in the ever green forests of Nyungwe. After these interesting activities, you will retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge, (Luxury) Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-Range), Gisakura Guest House (Budget)
Day 4: Transfer to Gisenyi-Lake Kivu And Afternoon Boat Cruise to Virgin Islands.
Transfer from Nyungwe Forest Park to Gisenyi in Lake Kivu after your early morning breakfast. The drive journey of 189 kms is very fascinating as it will take you through impressive landscape sceneries dotted with natural setting and local populations.
On arrival to Gisenyi town, you will drive direct to your booked lodge within Lake Kivu for lunch, relaxation.
After lunch, embark on an afternoon boat ride around the Virgin Islands like the Napoleon’s Hat Island. After enjoying the adventurous boat ride on the waters of Lake Kivu, retire back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodations: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (Luxury), Cormoran Lodge (Mid-Range)
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Have an Afternoon Cultural Encounter
After taking your breakfast like at 8:00am, embark on transfer from Lake Kivu to Volcanoes national park.
The drive distance of 62 kilometers about 1and half hours’ drive will lead you to natural home of Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national Park.
On arrival to the park, you will drive to your lodge to relax and have lunch. After lunch, you will embark on an evening cultural encounter with the local communities around volcanoes national park.
The cultural encounter will give you a rare opportunity to interact with the local people in their natural environment, with a taste of their unique culture and traditions.
On arrival to the village, you will be genuinely welcomed by the community as special Visitors. After cultural refreshment, entertainment, you will retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Standard/Mid-range), Muhabura Hotel (Budget).
Day 6: Do Gorilla Trekking and Musanze Cave Tour.
After an early morning hearty breakfast, you will be driven by your driver guide to the park headquarters for a briefing at 7:30am to 8:00am regarding gorilla trekking etiquette in Volcanoes Park.
While at the park headquarters, you will meet other trekkers and you will be divided in groups of eight individuals who are allowed to trek one habituated mountain gorilla group.
After briefing, 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 hiking the hills and slopping the Valleys.
Gorilla trekking process is tedious but impressive when you finally set your small eyes direct to bit big round eyes of the mountain gorillas.
When you eventually meet the gorillas, you will be allowed one hour with them, seeing them feed, play and look for their young ones.
While staying with the gorillas, you will be required to maintain a distance of 7 meters away, also turn off the flash of your camera as you take pictures.
Right after one hour, you will retire back to the starting point and transfer to your lodge for late lunch and relaxation.
After lunch, embark on Musanze Cave tour through the tourist walkways, trails and stairs that take you to the dark interior of the caves that illustrates a picture of a house with several rooms and corridors.
The tour will offer you an in-depth understanding of the geological, geographical as well as historical development of the globe. After exploring the cave, retreat back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Standard/Mid-range), Muhabura Hotel (Budget).
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda
After an early morning breakfast, embark on transfer drive of 411kilometres to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The journey will take you through impressive hilly landscape of Rwanda before crossing to Uganda side through Cyanika border.
After crossing to Ugandan side, you will continue with the drive through the Kigezi highland- dubbed the Switzerland of Uganda to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park.
You may also have game drive within the Ishasha sector in order to gain views and sights of the tree climbing lions that tend to lie on the branches of fig trees while keeping a close eye on herds of Uganda kob.
You may also see other wildlife species like buffaloes, elephants. After game drive in Ishasha, proceed with the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Mweya peninsular.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).
Day 8: Do an Early Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise Along The Kazinga Channel.
After a relaxed breakfast, embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 3 hours’ drive excluding stops en route.
You will make a stop at Rwenzori Art foundation – the only bronze casting center in Africa in the shadows of Rwenzori Mountains.
The process of sculpture making of which you will be free to participate in will be rewarding. The extension to visit the Ruboni community wax and craft center expose you the local traditions and the applicability of indigenous knowledge to contemporary development.
Continue to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, drive through the crater are with possible views of the olive baboons and elephants not forgetting magical scenery before connecting to Mweya for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise which will offer you possibilities of encountering Hippos, Nile crocodiles , wild game drinking on the channel side and counts of water birds. Retire in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and Do an Afternoon Boat Cruise.
After taking relaxed breakfast in your Queen Elizabeth National Lodge, you will embark on drive transfer from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Lake Mburo national park drive distance of 180 kilometers.
The drive will take you through the impressive country side landscapes with rural setting and local populations.
Upon your arrival in Lake Mburo National Park, you will have your lunch and afterwards proceed to catch-up with an afternoon boat cruise which sets of at 2:30pm on the magnificent waters of Lake Mburo and it takes you across 2-3 hours of adventure.
Not only does the boat trip offer you opportunities of encountering the game drinking on the lake side, it also draws you closer to counts of Hippos, Nile Crocodiles and a range of water birds such as the colorful Kingfishers, magnificent Fish Eagles, Hammerkops and their enormous nests and even the prehistoric-looking Shoebill. Retreat back from the activity to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury), Arcadia Cottages Mburo (Mid-Range), Eagle’s Nest (Budget).
Day 10: Do Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Kampala With Stopover at The Uganda Equator.
After an early morning breakfast, embark on an interesting game drive through the park in search of wild game.
The connection of game tracks found in the eastern part of the park passes through a variety of beautiful landscape such as acacia woodland, wetlands vegetation, Savannah grassland which supports the survival of different wildlife grazers including gigantic eland antelope, zebras, waterbucks, Klipspringer and the rare Topi, impala, warthog, oribi, buffalo, Defassa reedbuck.
The game drive which takes 2-3hours covering a distance of 150kms is very rewarding with the views of different wildlife species and an extra view of different bird species.
After the activity, you will retire back to the park headquarters and then proceed with the drive to Kampala.
On your way, you will by-pass Mpigi village, famous for the Royal Drums Makers and of course the Ugandan Equator, where you will have your lunch stopover, take photos and shop for a souvenir.
You will arrive to Kampala late in the evening approximate at 5-6pm and the driver guide will drive you back to your Kampala /Entebbe hotel for dinner and overnight or to Entebbe international Airport for your scheduled flight back Home.
End of The 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Uganda Wildlife Safari
Safari Inclusions
- Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
- Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
- Full Board Accommodation on Safari
- Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
- Fuel
- Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
- Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
- Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
- Bottled water while on safari
- Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)
Safari Exclusions
- General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
- Laundry Services
- Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
- International Flights (Arranged on request)
- Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
- Visas
- Optional Activity fees
- Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
- Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
- Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)
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