Book our 10 days private Rwanda Uganda primate safari which will allow you to explore the best national parks in Rwanda and Uganda. Expect to explore destinations such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Bwindi National Park in Uganda and on Rwandan side, pay a visit to Volcanoes National Park.
10 days primate adventure in Uganda and Rwanda to enjoy on this package include chimpanzee tracking, game drives, boat cruise, mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, Kigali city tour, cultural experiences in the Iby’Iwacu Village and Batwa community.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Travel by road up to Kibale National Park
Meet our company representative who will pick you up at the hotel in Kampala pr Entebbe. Kibale National Park is the leading primate park, an excellent place to engage in chimpanzee trekking experience. This park lies in Western Uganda and the fastest route to take you there is the Kampala-Mubende-Fort Portal tourism city route which is 5-6 hours’ drive. At Fort Portal, you will settle for lunch and then later continue to the lodge with a chance to view the spectacular Crater Lakes and also the legendary Rwenzori Mountain at the background.
Accommodation options
- Kyaninga Lodge –Luxury
- Primate Lodge –Midrange
- Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Isunga Lodge –Budget/Basic
Day 2: Chimpanzee encounter in the wild
After breakfast, transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for briefing about Kibale National Park chimpanzee trekking regulations and for you to have the park guide allocated to lead you throughout this adventure. You and the park ranger guide will set off at 8:00am to look for chimpanzees deep inside Kibale Forest and expect to spend 2-4 hours.
As you move, there will be plenty of other primates and birds to see. On locating a community of chimps, you have absolute 1 hour to have in-depth observation of these apes’ behaviors, body gestures and taking pictures. The park ranger guide will again lead you back to where your chimpanzee trek commenced from. Continue up to the lodge to enjoy a leisurely lunch then in the afternoon, drive off to Queen Elizabeth National Park- 2 hours’ drive.
Accommodation
- Mweya Safari Lodge –Luxury
- Ihamba/Buffalo Safari Lodge –Midrange
- Simba Safari Camp –Budget
Day 3: Enjoy the morning game drive in a 4WD and launch cruise along the Kazinga
Be ready for unforgettable game drive trip through Kasenyi plains. This will be 2-3 hour excursion and allows you come across the early risers and other mammals including spotted hyenas, leopards, lions, bush elephants, buffaloes, warthogs and lots of antelopes. You will have enough rest at the lodge after the game drive and after lunch, you take part in the Kazinga boat cruise.
Accommodation
- Mweya Safari Lodge –Luxury
- Ihamba/Buffalo Safari Lodge –Midrange
- Simba Safari Camp –Budget
Day 4: Leave Kasenyi for Ishasha for a game drive, then drive to Bwindi
Enjoy a delicious breakfast and after, you will drive towards the Southern end of the park where another game drive session will be undertaken. Along the Ishasha game track, expect to see the rare tree climbing lions plus topis, etc. You will also have your lunch break and after, drive up to Bwindi Impenetrable NP arriving in the evening.
Accommodation
- Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge –Luxury
- Bakiga Lodge/Engagi/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge –Midrange
- Buhoma Community Camp –Budget
Day 5: Gorilla trekking & Batwa cultural experience
At leisure, enjoy your cup of tea/coffee and after, proceed up to the briefing point to meet the park official. You will have insight into the guidelines to be observed when trekking with gorilla and the park ranger guides will also be allocated. The length of the trek to see gorilla varies and depends on your speed of walking, location of the gorillas and other factors. On normal day, be prepared to take 2-6 hours on a search for the gorilla family but this includes an hour of up close and personal encounter.
After the trek with mountain gorillas, walk back to the lodge. Have a leisurely moment at the lodge till evening when you will be visiting the Batwa pygmy community –explore more about the original inhabitants of the lush Bwindi Impenetrable rainforest.
Accommodation
- Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge –Luxury
- Bakiga Lodge/Engagi/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge –Midrange
- Buhoma Community Camp –Budget
Day 6: Lake Bunyonyi –boat ride to one of the islands
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and after, you will leave Bwindi for Lake Bunyonyi –a spectacular fresh water lake in the far Southwestern Uganda. This is the deepest lake in Uganda and features 29 islands making it one of the most spectacular lakes in Africa. A tour at Lake Bunyonyi includes taking a boat ride to one of the islands but you may also take on other activities like zip lining, swimming, community walk and more.
Accommodation
- Birdnest @Bunyonyi
- Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Day 7: Tour around Lake Bunyonyi & drive to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
After breakfast, consider taking a guided walk around Lake Bunyonyi and after meet the driver guide ready to connect to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. You will spend 4-5 hours crossing via Katuna/Cyanika border and on arrival, check in at the nearby lodge.
Accommodation
- Bisate Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge –Luxury
- Da Vinci Lodge/Le Bambou Lodge –Midrange
- The Garden Place Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse –Budget
Day 8: Gorilla trekking + cultural visit (Rwanda)
Get briefed about gorilla trekking guidelines at Kinigi and at 8:00am, leave for actual trek to explore the assigned gorilla family. Accompanying you will be an experienced park ranger guide and porters who will be assisting you carry heavy luggage. Once you have located a family of mountain gorillas, expect to spend at least 1 hour on face-to-face encounter. After, begin walking back to the lodge where relaxation, lunch and other refreshment will be had. In the evening, visit the nearby community –Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to explore more about the distinct cultures and traditions of the Rwandese.
Accommodation
- Bisate Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge –Luxury
- Da Vinci Lodge/Le Bambou Lodge –Midrange
- The Garden Place Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse –Budget
Day 9: Golden monkey tracking & Twin Lake tour
Enjoy a delicious cup of tea/coffee and after, proceed to Volcanoes NP offices for another briefing session. Today, get to know the guidelines for golden monkey tracking and the park ranger guides will be allocated to you. Begin a search for the unique golden monkeys in the wild with a guide expecting to take 2-4 hours with an hour available for you to enjoy a face-to-face encounter with these apes. Once you have returned, enjoy a leisurely lunch and in the afternoon, you will end the day with twin lake tour.
Accommodation
- Bisate Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge –Luxury
- Da Vinci Lodge/Le Bambou Lodge –Midrange
- The Garden Place Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse –Budget
Day 10: To Kigali, enjoy city tour & depart
Following an early morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and today, you will be transferred to Kigali. This will be 2-3 hours’ drive and at Kigali, expect to visit the nearby historical sites like Gisozi genocide site. After the Kigali city tour, proceed to the airport for departure.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Golden monkey, chimpanzee, and gorilla permits
- Accommodation and meals on this 10-day trip
- Transportation and all services of guides/driver
- All trip activities on the itinerary excluding optional
- All relevant government taxes
- Bottled drinking water
Exclusions
- Tips
- Laundry services
- Telephone bills
- Insurance
- Cigars
- Visas
- Fees on passports
- Beverages
- Shopping for yourself