Safari Overview
This 10 Days Uganda-Rwanda gorilla safari features a double gorilla trekking experience in both countries as well as breathtaking wildlife viewing encounters. The tour starts in Uganda with game drives and primate tracking experiences before crossing to Rwanda for a second gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park.
Key Highlights of the 10 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari
- A double gorilla trek experience
- Photography with the Great Apes & Big Game in the wild
- Travel in a 4WD vehicle & an English-speaking driver guide
- Relax in the finest accommodation & enjoy delicious meals.
Brief Itinerary of 10 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Pick up & Travel by car to Murchison Falls National Park, en route tour to Ziwa
Day 2: Game drive & Launch or Boat safari experience
Day 3: Murchison to Kibale Forest through Fort Portal City
Day 4: Kibale chimpanzee trek with a ranger guide, drive to Queen Elizabeth Park
Day 5: Game & Launch/Boat tour with a guide
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth Park-Bwindi National Park (Uganda)
Day 7: Gorilla trekking experience with Batwa community tour
Day 8: Bwindi Forest –Volcanoes National Park (Musanze)
Day 9: Volcanoes gorilla trekking & Iby’Iwacu village experience
Day 10: Volcanoes to Kigali, city tour & depart
Detailed 10 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Pick up & Travel by car to Murchison Falls National Park, en route tour to Ziwa
Enjoy a heavy breakfast in your respective accommodation & later, you will be picked up by your professional driver guide in Uganda. Before you officially depart from Kampala, expect to get briefed about your rewarding tour. You will reach Murchison on the Kampala-Gulu highway which is 6-7 hours and en route, expect en route tour at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. At the Ziwa Sanctuary, you will enjoy a guided trek with rhinos and later continue up to Murchison Falls National Park.
En route lunch break will be enjoyed upon arrival at Masindi and you depart for you to visit the top of the falls. After the great time on the top of the falls, drive to your lodge for a long evening relaxation.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Fort Murchison Lodge/Red Chili
- Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge & Paraa Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Half-day service offer
Day 2: Game drive & Launch or Boat safari experience
A hearty breakfast will be served in your respective lodges, and after that, you can expect to set off for the actual game drive experience through the plains of Murchison Falls National Park. On a game drive, you will be watching different animals, including the Rothschild giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, waterbucks, buffaloes, lions, elephants, oribis, warthogs, and more.
After you have spent 2-3 hours in the wild exploring the savanna wildlife, you will get back to enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, the focus will be mainly on a boat or launch cruise to explore the aquatic species on the Victoria Nile.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Fort Murchison Lodge/Red Chili
- Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge & Paraa Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service offer
Day 3: Murchison to Kibale Forest through Fort Portal City
Have a delicious breakfast, and after, head to Kibale National Park in Kabarole. Getting to Kibale will include driving through the beautiful Albertine escarpments, Hoima, and Fort Portal city, where lunch break will be had. From Fort Portal, you continue via the Kamwenge route to check into your accommodation.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Isunga Lodge/Rwenzori View Guesthouse
- Midrange: Primate Lodge & Treetop Turacos
- Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge & Kibale Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service offer
Day 4: Kibale chimpanzee trek with a ranger guide, drive to Queen Elizabeth Park
Leave your respective lodge for the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for you to get briefed on the guidelines for chimpanzee trekking. At Kanyanchu, the tourism official will assign you a ranger guide. Today’s morning chimpanzee trek session will last for 2-4 hours and includes an hour for observing Kibale’s unique behaviors. Lots of other primates also await you to watch, in addition to chimpanzees. After, you will walk back & meet the driver guide to transfer you to the lodge for a short relaxation & lunch.
In the afternoon, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park by road and expect the mesmerizing views of the Crater Lakes plus the Rwenzori Mountain ranges. At the Kikorongo area, you will have a brief stopover at the Uganda Equator monument, newly built, and have fun, take pictures, selfies, and more. Leave Kikorongo for you to check into the lodge for relaxation as you wait for the normal game drive program the following day.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Simba Camp/Kazinga Channel Resort
- Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge & Buffalo Lodge
- Luxury: Elephant Plain Lodge & Mweya or Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service offer
Day 5: Game & Launch/Boat tour with a guide
After an early morning breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up & it is from this moment that your game drive will start. Today’s game drive takes you via the Kasenyi plains and you expect to observe diverse animals like elephants, warthogs, bushbucks, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, lions, leopards, and others. After the game drive, return for lunch, and in the afternoon, you will enjoy a boat excursion. On a boat tour, expect to watch hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Simba Camp/Kazinga Channel Resort
- Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge & Buffalo Lodge
- Luxury: Elephant Plain Lodge & Mweya or Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service offer
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth Park-Bwindi National Park (Uganda)
Enjoy a hefty cup of tea/coffee and later, expect to checkout of the lodge/camp. Meet the driver guide from Rivo Safaris for you to be transferred to Buhoma sector but also expect an en route game drive in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Ishasha sector is the ideal spot to watch the tree-climbing lions and also topis, buffaloes, elephants, and more. From Ishasha, you will continue to straight to the lodge that our team pre-books for you.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Mahogany Springs/Silverback Lodge & Engagi Lodge
- Luxury: Bwindi Lodge & Buhoma Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service offer
Day 7: Gorilla trekking experience with Batwa community tour
Have a hefty breakfast early and after, you will report to park offices to clear with the officials and then join the briefing session. Get detailed insight into the guidelines/rules & regulations for gorilla trekking & also the official will allocate a gorilla group which you will go to track with a ranger guide. The actual walk to see gorilla begins at around 8:00 am and expect to take at least 2-6 hours. Once you have met a gorilla group, you can stay for 1 hour while observing how gorillas behave.
After tracking gorillas, you will start walking back at the offices, the park official will offer each visitor a certificate. The driver guide will then take over and transfer you up to the lodge for relaxation. Enjoy some lunch & after, you will have an afternoon cultural tour to the Batwa community.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Mahogany Springs/Silverback Lodge & Engagi Lodge
- Luxury: Bwindi Lodge & Buhoma Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service offer
Day 8: Bwindi Forest –Volcanoes National Park (Musanze)
Enjoy an early morning breakfast, and today, you will meet the driver guide, then set off for Volcanoes National Park in Musanze. At Volcanoes, you will check into the lodge to relax, dine, and retire for a night.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Muhabura Hotel & Kinigi Guesthouse.
- Midrange: Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel/Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel & Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
- Luxury: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest/Virunga Lodge/Bisate Lodge & Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service offer
Day 9: Volcanoes gorilla trekking & Iby’Iwacu village experience
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the comfort of your lodge, and after, you will assemble at the Kinigi offices for a briefing on the gorilla trekking adventure. Today, you will be visiting the already habituated family of gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, and this park protects about 13 habituated groups. An hour will be spent while you concentrate on observing the unique behaviors of gorillas and taking photos. After the gorilla trek, you will have an afternoon tour to Iby’Iwacu cultural village.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Muhabura Hotel & Kinigi Guesthouse.
- Midrange: Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel/Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel & Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
- Luxury: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest/Virunga Lodge/Bisate Lodge & Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board service offer
Day 10: Volcanoes to Kigali, city tour & depart
After breakfast, you will be picked up from Volcanoes National Park and transferred to Kigali for a city tour. After the city tour, settle for a lunch break and later depart back home.
End of 10 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Inclusions
- Valid gorilla permits –Uganda & Rwanda
- Accommodation + meals
- Transport (Rwanda & Uganda) with a driver guide
- All activities on the 10 day Uganda-Rwanda gorilla safari
- Airport transfers
- City tours
Exclusions
- Tips
- Insurance
- Laundry services
- Telephone costs
- Visas
- Passports
- Optional activities in the Rwanda-Uganda gorilla safari
- Alcoholic drinks etc.