8 Days Rwanda And Uganda Safaris From Kigali

Tour Overview

An 8-day safari in Rwanda and Uganda is a great way to explore the rich wildlife and stunning landscapes of these East African countries. Both Rwanda and Uganda are known for their incredible national parks and wildlife, including the famous mountain gorillas, making them popular safari destinations. While of the 8-day safari, you will be able to visit Bwindi impenetrable forest for gorilla trekking, Queen Elizabeth national park for game drives and boat cruise, Kibale forest national park for Chimpanzees trekking and lake Bunyonyi. The trip can start from Kigali and end in Entebbe international airport or from Kigali ending in Kigali.

Tour Highlights

• Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes national park
• Day 2: Golden monkey trekking
• Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park
• Day 4: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community walk
• Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth via Isha sha sector- Evening game drive
• Day 6: Morning game drive, boat cruise and transfer to Kibale forest national park
• Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Transfer to lake Bunyonyi
• Day 8: Canoe boat and Departure

Day by Day Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival In Kigali, Rwanda

Arrive at Kigali International Airport and the driver will pick you up and transfer to your hotel for check-in and relaxation.
Accommodation option: Hotel des Mille Collines
Accommodation option: Five volcanoes Boutique Hotel (luxury lodge), Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge(mid-range), Le Palme Hotel (Budget Lodge).
Meal plan: Dinner

Day 2: Kigali City Tour And Transfer To Volcanoes National Park

Have morning breakfast and go on Kigali city tour to visit some of the interesting and iconic sites in Rwanda including the Rwanda Genocide memorial where thousands of Rwanda citizens were brutally slaughtered, the National History of Museum among others. You will have lunch and thereafter, drive to Volcanoes national park. On arrival, check in to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation option: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking And Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Embark on a gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park. Spend an hour observing a gorilla family in its natural habitat.
Rise up early for morning breakfast, and head out to the park headquarters for briefing about the rules and regulations for trekking the Golden monkeys. Tracking the golden monkeys is not as challenging compared to Gorillas because the monkeys live in low land areas but still requires physical fitness and speed while following them. The exercise may last for about 1-4 hours. After you will return to the park headquarters then to the lodge for lunch. Check out of the lodge and drive to Bwindi crossing via the Katuna border to the southern sector of Bwindi. On arrival in the park, drive and check in to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation option: Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge
Meal plan: Dinner

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking And Batwa Community Visit

Wake up early and have morning breakfast, then head to park headquarters where you will be briefed by an expert ranger on the rules and regulations for gorilla trekking. You will then be divided in groups and assigned a gorilla group based on your ability and physical fitness. Accompanied by the ranger guide well versed with the trails to begin the search in the forest. During the trek, you will also be able to see other primate species like the several species of monkeys, baboons, bird species and colorful butterflies. The trekking may last for about 1-6 hours depending on the location or how far the gorillas have moved in search for food. After you found them, you will be allowed one hour to observe them, watch them play, feed, groom young ones among other daily activities. Return to the lodge for relaxation.
In the afternoon, you will for Batwa community visit where you will meet the local Batwa people living in the surrounding areas of the park. You will engage in several village activities like basket weaving, art and craft, preparing local foods among others. You will end the day with some entertainment from the locals through dances and songs. You return to the lodge in evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation option: Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake up for morning breakfast and after, check out of the lodge and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park passing via kabale to Mbara town where you will have your lunch. Continue to the park via the Ishasha sector famous for the tree climbing lions. On lucky day, you will catch a glimpse of the them hanging on top of the tree’s scaping the heat from the ground. Drive to the Northern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and continue to the lodge where you will check in for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation option: Mweya safari lodge(luxury), Simba safari camp (Luxury).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Game Drive, Boat Cruise And Transfer To Kibale Forest National Park

Morning up early enough and have morning coffee/tea, drive to the park for morning game drive, mornings offer great wildlife sightings. Morning gam drive offers an opportunity to catch up with the predators before they retire in their hide outs. Queen Elizabeth boosts with several mammal species including; the elephants, buffalos, giraffes, water bucks, antelopes, Uganda kob, lions, leopards among others. After the game drive, proceed with the 1:00am boat cruise in Kazinga channel which offers more wildlife sightings. You up close and spot the animals at closer range. You will be able to see the biggest group of hippos, Buffalos and Nile crocodiles among other mammal species seen in the shores. Drive back to the lodge for lunch for lunch and thereafter, check out of the lodge and drive to Kibale forest national park. On arrival, check in to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking And Afternoon Transfer To Lake Bunyonyi

Wake up early for morning breakfast and drive to the park headquarters for pre-trekking briefing on the rules and regulation of Chimpanzee trekking. You will be put in groups accompanied by the ranger as you begin the search in the forest. The trekking may last for about 1-4 hours or more depending on the location of the chimpanzees. After you found the chimps, you will be allowed one hour to observe them, take photos as they go about their daily activities. Return back to the lodge for lunch and after, check out and start your journey to lake Bunyonyi. On arrival, check in to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation option: Bird nest, Acardia cottages, Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Morning Canoe Boat And Departure To Kigali

Wake up for morning breakfasts and go on canoe boat cruise to explore some of the areas in Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi comprises of 29 Islands each having historical unique story like the punishment Island, Bacuranuka Island among others. Other activities in lake Bunyonyi include; Nature walk and community walk, pygmy visit, Hiking, zip lining and Rope swing among others. Return to the lodge and check out and start your journey back to Kigali. You will have lunch enroute in Kabale town before a drop off at the Kigali airport for your departure flight.
End of tour

End of tour.

Getting There

The trip will start from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park to Bwindi forest National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale Forest National Park to Lake Bunyonyi and you will be dropped off at Kigali International Airport.

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