9 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari

9 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari 

This 9 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari is a combined Uganda and Rwanda experience, taking on an adventurous safari to East Africa’s incredible primate and wildlife destinations. On this safari package you will trek mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, enjoy game viewing and a boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park and go golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Highlights of the 9-Day Uganda-Rwanda Safari

• Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
• Day 2: Chimp trekking in Kibale Forest and Bigodi Swamp Walk
• Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 4: Game drive in Queen Elizabeth and Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
• Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and cultural tour
• Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
• Day 8: Golden Monkey tracking – Dian Fossey Hike
• Day 9: Kigali City Tour and Departure

Detailed Safari Itinerary of 9-Day Uganda-Rwanda Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

On arrival in Kigali at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and embark on a journey to Kibale Forest National Park with a border crossing at Cyanika Border. Continue to Kibale with lunch en route, arriving in the late afternoon, check in at your lodge, have dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight at Isunga Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Chimp trekking in Kibale Forest and Bigodi Swamp Walk

Have an early breakfast, meet your guide and head to the Kanyanchu Tourist Centre at 08:00 am for a briefing before tracking the chimpanzees. Kibale Forest is only accessible on foot and the walk will provide you with the opportunity to also see other primate species like Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and several bird species.

You will spend one hour with the chimpanzees observing them play, feed and groom each other. After the trek you will return to the lodge for lunch, in the afternoon you will go for a guided walk in Bigodi Swamp, where you will enjoy incredible sightings of several primates like black and white colobus monkeys, baboons and several bird species.

Overnight at Isunga Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After a leisurely breakfast you will check out of your lodge and embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in time for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon you will go for a guided walk in the Kasenyi Plains, where you will see several animals, including lions, leopards, cape buffaloes and gazelles, among others.

Overnight at Engiri Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Game drive in Queen Elizabeth and Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Enjoy a morning breakfast and head out for an early morning game drive on which you will see lions, leopards, giant forest hogs, cape buffaloes, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, topis and bushbucks, among others.

Return to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon go for a 2-hour boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. This is a 42km channel that joins Lake Edward and Lake George; the trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos, buffaloes, and crocodiles and offers an excellent opportunity for photography, bird watching and game viewing.  The prolific bird life is colourful, with over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Overnight at Engiri Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Game drive in the Ishasha sector and travel to Bwindi

Enjoy a delicious breakfast, check out of your lodge and head to the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for game viewing, this sector is famous for the rare tree-climbing lions and during the drive you will be lucky to see them lounging in the tree branches as they keep a close eye on the herds of Uganda kobs.

Continue to Bwindi Forest with lunch en route, arrive in the evening, and check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Overnight at Buhoma Community Lodge and Camps  

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and cultural tour

Wake up early in the morning for breakfast and head to the park headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking rules and regulations at 7:45 am. Then head into the forest, trekking through the thick emerald jungle looking for mountain gorillas, the trek takes approximately 2 to 5 hours or more depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access by tourists, you will spend an hour with the gorillas watching them play, feed, groom each other and take beautiful pictures of these gentle giants.

Trek back to the park headquarters, meet your guide and return to your lodge. In the late afternoon you will head to the Batwa Community for a cultural experience. Here you will be entertained by local dances and drama, visit the local medicine man, and witness their hunting skills, among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Overnight at Buhoma Community Lodge and Camps  

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast you will check out of your lodge and embark on a journey to Volcanoes National Park with a border crossing at Cyanika Border. Arrive in time for lunch after your check-in and enjoy a short rest.

In the afternoon you will go for a visit to the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, take part in a boat ride on the calm waters of the lake and watch the local people fishing. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Overnight at Amicus Hotel   

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Golden Monkey tracking – Dian Fossey Hike

Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park headquarters in Kinigi for a briefing about golden monkey trekking, a senior ranger guide will take you through the rules and regulations to follow and head into the forest looking for playful golden monkeys thriving in the bamboo forests.

Spend one hour with these playful, beautiful primates; watch them play, feed, groom, pick fruits and jump from one tree to another. You are free to take as many photos as you wish.

Later, return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, return to the park for a Dian Fossey Hike, where you will head to the Karisoke Research Centre established by the iconic Dian Fossey, an American Primatologist who dedicated all her life to conserving mountain gorillas. Here you will learn how she lived in the forest as well as about her tremendous work towards protecting the mountain gorillas.

Overnight at Amicus Hotel   

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Kigali City Tour and Departure

Wake up early for breakfast and set off on a 116 kilometer journey of 3 hours to Kigali for a Kigali City Tour, visiting the Gisozi Memorial Site, the Nyamata Church, and the Presidential Palace Museum before being dropped off at the airport for your flight back home.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch.

End of 9 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari

9 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari  Includes:

• Gorilla permits
• Chimpanzee permit
• Airport transfers
• Safari vehicle
• Fuel for the entire trip
• Drive accommodation and Meals
• English Speaking driver guide
• Accommodation as per the itinerary
• All park fees
• Bottled drinking water

9 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari  Excludes:

• International airfares
• Visa
• Insurance
• Tips and expenses of a personal nature