Safari Overview
This 7 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari focuses on both primate and wildlife experiences in the 2 countries. Explore the gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. There are about 24 habituated gorilla families in the jungle of Bwindi, and 13 are in Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla trekking offers an unforgettable encounter with the unique mountain gorillas, whereby you have a chance to explore how these great apes behave in their natural setting and also to take pictures.
The 7 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari combo also includes game drives and boat cruise tours in the scenic Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s 2nd biggest Park with a total of 95 mammal species, including the rare tree-climbing lions. While in Queen Elizabeth National Park, your key areas of interest include Kasenyi & Ishasha for game drives, then the Kazinga channel for a rewarding boat tour.
Key Highlights of 7 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari
- Get the best of Uganda & Rwanda gorilla trekking experience.
- Game drives & boat tours to watch the savanna & aquatic species.
- Interact with locals during the cultural experience at Batwa & Iby’Iwacu Villages.
- Take pictures of gorillas & savanna animals.
The Brief Itinerary of the 7 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Pickup & depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park via Kikorongo
Day 2: Experience a Game drive & Boat safari
Day 3: Drive in a 4×4 car to Bwindi via Ishasha –enjoy a quick game drive
Day 4: Gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi Forest with Batwa visit
Day 5: Bwindi to Volcanoes National Park via Katuna/Chanika border
Day 6: Golden monkey trek/gorilla trekking & a cultural tour in Iby’Iwacu Village
Day 7: Pick up & transfer by road to Kigali, short city tour, then depart
The Detailed 7 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Pickup & depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park via Kikorongo
Following an early morning breakfast, meet the expert from Rivo Safaris for a quick briefing about the 7 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari. After the briefing, you will start your journey at around 8:00 am, and this will involve driving via Fort Portal-Kasese for about 6-7 hours. En route, expect to have an unforgettable moment of photography at the Kikorongo Equator crossing and later, proceed to the pre-booked lodges for your dinner and a night’s stay.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Simba Tented Camp/Kazinga Channel Resort/Bulbul Safari Lodge
- Moderate/Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge, Katara & Mweya Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Half-board with free bottled water in a car
Day 2: Experience a Game drive & Boat safari
Wake up early to enjoy a delicious breakfast and today’s morning will involve exploring the wonders along the Kasenyi Plains. The Kasenyi plains game safari includes 2-3 hours of searching for the savanna wildlife and birds. Luckily, your day will reward with surprising encounters such as cape buffaloes, elephants, lions, plus diverse antelopes for instance Uganda Kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, and many birds.
Drive back within the park speed limits while also keeping an eye on more wildlife including exciting spotted hyenas. Once you are at the lodge, you will freshen up and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, you will have a remarkable tour on the Kazinga channel for 2-3 hours while on a boat cruise. The Kazinga channel extends 40km linking Lake Edward and Lake George. During the Kazinga boat tour, you will be watching lots of the Nile crocodiles, hippos, and aquatic birds. Thereafter, drive back to the lodge for a leisurely dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Simba Tented Camp/Kazinga Channel Resort/Bulbul Safari Lodge
- Moderate/Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge, Katara & Mweya Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Half-board with free bottled water in a car
Day 3: Drive in a 4×4 car to Bwindi via Ishasha –enjoy a quick game drive
After breakfast, you will be picked up, and today’s morning will mainly focus on you connecting to Bwindi National Park. Drive through the Ishasha, but don’t miss a quick game drive to search for the tree-climbing lions, and later, you continue to your respective accommodation choices in Buhoma.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Ride 4 a Woman/Bwindi Community Guesthouse
- Midrange: Bwindi Haven Lodge/Engagi/Silverback Lodge
- Luxury: Ultra VIP Mahogany Springs/Bwindi Lodge & Buhoma Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board offer
Day 4: Gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi Forest with Batwa visit
After breakfast, report to the Buhoma region at around 6:30 am and be part of the briefing session where you get to know the rules & regulations for trekking with mountain gorillas. Have a ranger guide and gorilla group allocated to you before you set foot in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest at 8:00 am to see gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is thrilling, and expect it to last for 2-6 hours, which also include one hour of you watching their daily behaviors and taking photos.
Begin trekking back from the scenic Bwindi Forest for you to receive your certificate from the park official. Later, your driver guide will drop you off to the lodge for relaxation and in the afternoon, you will get entertained by the Batwa pygmies during the cultural/community tours.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Ride 4 a Woman/Bwindi Community Guesthouse
- Midrange: Bwindi Haven Lodge/Engagi/Silverback Lodge
- Luxury: Ultra VIP Mahogany Springs/Bwindi Lodge & Buhoma Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board offer
Day 5: Bwindi to Volcanoes National Park via Katuna/Chanika border
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and check out of the accommodation in Bwindi. After, set off for Volcanoes National Park in Musanze and access the Rwandan side via the Kabale-Katuna route. Get to the Volcanoes early so you to be able to check into the lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Kinigi Guesthouse & Muhabura Hotel
- Midrange: Da Vinci/LeBambou & Five Volcanoes Hotel
- Luxury: Bisate Lodge/Silverback Lodge Rwanda/Virunga Lodge by Volcanoes
Meal Plan: Full-board offer
Day 6: Golden monkey trek/gorilla trekking & a cultural tour in Iby’Iwacu Village
After a hefty breakfast, you may choose to embark on a golden monkey trek or have 2nd phase of trekking mountain gorillas in the African jungle. Both experiences begin early morning with briefing at the Kinigi reception, and you will be led by an experienced park ranger guide. After your primate trek, you will have leisure moment in your respective lodges, and in the afternoon, you will have a spice up of the Iby’Iwacu cultural experience.
Accommodation Options
- Basic: Kinigi Guesthouse & Muhabura Hotel
- Midrange: Da Vinci/LeBambou & Five Volcanoes Hotel
- Luxury: Bisate Lodge/Silverback Lodge Rwanda/Virunga Lodge by Volcanoes
Meal Plan: Full-board offer
Day 7: Pick up & transfer by road to Kigali, short city tour, then depart
Wake up early and you will have a tasty cup of tea/coffee, then check out of the lodges in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. After, expect to depart from Musanze to Kigali, where you will have a quick city tour to visit the Kigali genocide memorial. Have a lunch break and get dropped off to the airport or stay back in your respective hotels in Kigali.
End of the 7 Days Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Safari Inclusions
- Gorilla permits (Rwanda & Uganda)
- Game drives & Boat tours (Uganda)
- Park entry fees –Rwanda & Uganda
- Transport & border crossings plus driver services
- All trip activities on this Rwanda & Uganda safari
- Relevant government taxes –Rwanda & Uganda
- Airport transfer services
Safari Exclusions
- Visas
- Insurance fees
- Laundry services
- Souvenir fees
- Alcoholic drinks
- Airfares