Detailed Itinerary of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Day 1 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Explore the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route and top of the falls on arrival

Following your breakfast in Kampala, embark on the transfer to Murchison Falls National Park 311km about 5 hours’ drive from Kampala. The drive will take you through the impressive flat scenic landscapes of Nakasongora which because of its terrain has the longest flat road stretch in the whole of Uganda. Proceed to Masindi for an early lunch and eventually Budongo Forest Reserve to catch up with Chimpanzee chimp trek tend to last 2 – 5 hours and after you will proceed to Murchison falls for relaxation dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).

Day 2 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Do morning game drive & an afternoon Nile launch cruise

After an early morning cup of coffee, embark on the drive to the park to explore its wilderness. The game drive carried out in the northern bank of the park presents remarkable encounters with one of the finest wild life species in Uganda and Africa at large giving a typical representation of African savannah. The counts of Rothschild Giraffe, lions, elephants, buffaloes, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis, Leopard, among others can be encountered in this 3 – 4 hour activity. Explore the designated tracks stretching to the delta area where the wildlife tends to congregate. Retreat from the activity and return to the loge for relaxation and lunch after which you will gather at the Paraa jetty for an afternoon boat trip to the bottom of the falls.  The boat trip starting at 2pm see you depart from the Paraa Jetty cruising along the Nile up to the bottom of the falls. The sights of the Nile crocodiles and Hippos may not be missed. The Shoebill stork tends to dwell on the River and can be luckily seen. The other wild game drinking along the river including elephants and a range of antelopes combine to make the boat worth undertaking. Retreat from this 3 hour cruise and get back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:  Paraa Safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Heritage Safari Lodge (Budget/Basic).

Day 3 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. Whole day drive

After breakfast at the lodge, embark on the whole day drive to Kibale National Park 441km about 9 hours’ drive passing through impressive countryside landscapes with the unique features of the Albertne rift. The scenic views en route will make your long journey memorable. Arrive in Fort portal area in evening to check in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

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

Day 4 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Undertake morning chimpanzee tracking & afternoon Bigodi wetland walk

Following your breakfast at the lodge, gather at the Kanyanchu Tourism Center at 8am for briefing. The park staff will handle this session and talk about the chimpanzee trekking conduct after which you head to the forest in search of our closest cousins. The hike through the jungle with sights of birds, impressive flora and other primate species like Black and white colobus monkeys and eventual encounter with the chimpanzees as they roll themselves in their natural habitat gathering fruit, socializing and making pant hooting calls combine to make your chimp tracking experience memorable. The Chimpanzee trekking tracking tend to last 2 – 5 hours and this include one hour of direct encounter with them. You will retreat to the starting point for short relaxation and take your lunch. After this, you will drive to the neighboring Bigodi wetland for and afternoon walk. The Bigodi wetland walk allows you to have an encounter with nature and the people. The swamp has counts of birds including the Great Blue Turaco, swamp animals like Sitatunga antelope and the touch of the community where you visit the traditional healer makes it more interactive. Retreat from this as activity and return to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Chimpanzee guesthouse (Midrange/standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).

Day 5 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park & undertake Kazinga Channel boat cruise in the afternoon

After breakfast at your lodge, embark on the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 3 – 4 hours’ drive. The drive will take you through impressive scenic landscapes of Rwenzori Mountains where you will be making simple stop for unique photography. Arrive in Queen Elizabeth in time for lunch and settle for it after which you will gather at Mweya peninsular for amazing Kazinga Channel boat cruise. The Kazinga Channel boat commences at 2pm and 4 pm for the Marasa boats and 3pm and 5pm for the UWA boats. The cruise offers you opportunities of spotting Hippos and Nile Crocodiles and other counts of wild game that come to quench their thirst on the channel side. Return for the activity and the drive along the channel track as you head back to the lodge.

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

Day 6 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Do a morning game drive and chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge in the afternoon.

After an early morning cup of coffee, embark on the drive through impressive rolling savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth in search of wild game. The stretch to the Kasenyi plains where the mating ground is found offers you opportunities of encountering a range of wild game including elephants, buffaloes, water bucks and Kobs along with predators like lions, leopards and jackals. The game drive takes 3 – 4 hours and you get back to the lodge after the activity for relaxation and lunch after which you connect to Kyambura gorge for briefing at 2 pm and eventual start of the Chimpanzee trekking encounter. The Kyambura gorge which is 100m deep with a lush mature tropical forests thriving below the sea is an impressive feature to encounter on a safari in Uganda and Rwanda. Popularly referred to as the valley of Apes, Kyambura has got a population of habituated chimpanzees whose tracking present a challenging hiking experience. The hike throughout the gorge slopes that are steep and forested is an experience in its self. The chimp trekking activity tend to last 2 – 5 hours with one full hour of direct encounter with these species as they munch fruit, make pant hooting calls and socialize. Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight

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

Day 7 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Do Ishasha game drive en route in search of tree climbing lions

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. En route in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park named Ishasha, you do a game drive in search of tree climbing lions the unique Species that are only found in this part in Uganda with another group known to be living in Lake Manyara National Park in the south of Tanzania. However, low lying fig trees of Ishasha offers a close encounter to the tree climbing than any other part. You will eventually arrive in Bwind 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 8 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Undertake Gorilla Trekking & relax at the lodge  

Following breakfast at your lodge, you will gather at the respective park headquarters in the region where you are going to track for briefing at 8am. The briefing which is conducted by the park staff details the conduct of gorilla trekking activity and at this moment, the gorilla family to track is also allocated per a group of eight (8) people. The eventual heading to the mist is a remarkable experience that will form part of your life time adventure. The forest tends to be covered by mist in the morning and hiking through the forest is an amazing adventure that is worthy your gorilla permit price. The activity tends to last between 2 – 8 hours inclusive of one hour direct encounter with gorillas. Encountering the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is remarkably wonderful. These frightening and yet peaceful creatures would definitely welcome with fear and the silverback would have to punch a little on his chest to check your fighting status. Your concentration will be on your cameras as you take as many photos as you wish without flash light to avoid provoking gorillas to reaction.  Retreat from the activity when your time is used up and then return to the starting point and eventually to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

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

Day 9 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Drive to Rwanda passing through the scenic Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa. Visit the twin lakes with a relaxing boat cruise on Lake Ruhondo

After a relaxed breakfast, embark on the transfer to Rwanda – the land of a thousand hills passing through the impressive scenic views of the Virunga massif that comprise a chain of eight Volcanic mountains. You cross the border and arrive in Ruhengeri in the afternoon. Upon arrival, you visit the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera with a memorable boat cruise on Lake Ruhondo. Retire for dinner and overnight.

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

Day 10 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Do Gorilla tracking in Rwanda’s volcanoes National Park and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)  

After a thrilling breakfast from your respective lodge, you will gather at the Volcanoes Park Headquarters in Kinigi at 8am for briefing and the eventual start of the gorilla tracking encounter. The park rangers will give you the situation that surrounds gorilla trekking and the respective dos and don’ts for the very activity while enjoying a thrilling cup of Rwandan coffee and being entertained by the famous Intore dance demonstrating the traditional Rwandan society. Embark on the actual gorilla tracking hiking through the jungle of Volcanoes following the respective assigned gorilla family and in company of those the eight team mates that have been put together with you track a given gorilla group. The duration for the gorilla tracking tends to fall between 2 – 8 hours and the encounter is more that the ordinary. The hike through the jungle passing by amazing flora and fauna, the impressive and magical scenic landscapes of the Virungas would definitely leave you in a state of bewilderment.  The eventually one hour direct encounter with mountain gorillas seeing direct in their frightening eyes enjoying the beauty of their fur and the being entertained by the playful young ones settles your thoughts of the worthiness of the gorilla permit price. Return from this encounter and embark on the transfer to Uganda driving along the scenic Virunga massif where the chain of eight volcanoes lay in a stretch. After crossing to Uganda, you drive along the scenic Kisoro – Kabale Road with its meandering nature which makes it impressive to encounter. Branch off at Muko and connect to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation dinner and overnight.

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

Day 11 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Half day exploration of Lake Bunyonyi with its 29 Islands dubbed the lake of a thousand Islands. Do a recreational boat cruise and then transfer to Lake Mburo National Park.

After a relaxed breakfast, embark on a thrilling boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi with its 29 Islands dubbed the lake of a thousand Islands. The boat takes you around these Islands amidst scenic views of the Kigezi Highlands. The 5 – 6 encounter gives you an opportunity to encounter the Island Communities as they cruise to and from the shore and others doing some fishing. Retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to Lake Mburo National Park arriving in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia Cottages Mburo (Midrange/Standard) or Eagles Nest (Budget/Basic).

Day 12 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Undertake morning game walking safari and transfer to Kampala. Make a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and water experiments

After a relaxed breakfast, embark on the game walking safari in rolling savannah landscape of Lake Mburo National Park. The walk is a memorable encounter enabling you to explore the wilderness filled with counts of Topis, Impala, Burchell’s Zebra, Waterbucks, Buffaloes and elands. The savannah landscapes dotted with acacia vegetation is impressive to encounter. Retreat from the 3 – 4 hour walk ad retreat from the activity to embark on the transfer to Kampala. A stop will be made at the Equator for amazing photo shoots and water experiments that justy the divide between the north and south spheres.  Continue to arrive in Kampala in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Speke Resort Munyonyo (Upmarket/Luxury), Cassia Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Buziga Country Resort (Budget/Basic).

Day 13 of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Explore Jinja – source of the Nile. Visit Ssezibwa Falls, Mabira Forest walk, snake park visit, Jinja town drive and boat cruise to the source of the Nile.

Embark on the Jinja day trip after breakfast at your place of stay in Kampala. You visit the Ssezibwa Falls, undertake Mabira Forest Walk where you have possibilities of encountering a range of bird species and unique flora, visit the snake park in Jinja filled with counts of reptiles and have a thrilling boat cruise to the source of the Nile which is a mystical site that dates back to the ancient Roman times.

End of the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Please note that Upon your request, we can change(customize) the tour destinations, hotels and number of days to suit your desire .just contact us call us 24/7 on phone

Your Safari Route

Transport Means to Your Safari Destinations

General 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)

General 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)

Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safaris

Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safaris

The Rwanda Wildlife seeing Safaris allows you to explore the destination Rwanda without gorilla trekking. You might have tracked gorillas before or you can not include it at the moment because of budgetary issues and this makes the Rwanda Wildlife Tour ideal for such travelers.

The wildlife safaris in Rwanda mostly feature Akagera National Park for classic wild game viewing which includes elephants, lions, leopards, Giraffes, antelopes and the aquatics of Lake Ihema like Nile Crocodiles and Hippos not forgetting adventure sport fishing on Lake Shakani.

The Wildlife safaris in Rwanda extend to incorporate the culture and heritage tours in Butare in the southern province of Rwanda where the National Institute of Rwandan Museums and Nyanza palace are located. The stretch to Forest park of Nyungwe with 13 Primate Species including common chimpanzees and black and white colobus monkeys with the largest grouping in the whole of Africa is rewarding. Nyungwe also has the famous Nyungwe canopy walk which is the first of its kind in East Africa and the third in Africa stretching to 90m in length and 40m in height.

Rwanda Wildlife Safaris also features beach relaxation on Lake Kivu, tracking the golden monkeys, hiking Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi climbing or the Dian Fossey while not forgetting the tour to the genocide memorial sites of Rwanda.

Combined Safaris – Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safaris | Gorilla trekking in Rwanda & Uganda

Short Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tours

Long Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tours | Long Gorilla trekking Safaris in Rwanda

Rwanda Wildlife Safari Tours | Wildlife Safaris in Rwanda

Uganda Gorilla Safaris

Enjoy the world`s surprising Gorilla trekking Uganda African safari destination offering Uganda Gorilla tours / Uganda gorilla safaris – Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla Park Uganda.Read More about Uganda Gorilla Safari Tours

Uganda Wildlife Safari Tours

Uganda has a count of ten (10) national Parks of which four of these are typical savannah with great counts of wild game. Kidepo, Murchison, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Parks present memorable wildlife safaris in Uganda.Read More about Uganda Wildlife Safari Tours