8 Days Uganda Rwanda Primates and Wildlife Safari : This 8 days primates and wildlife safari is an amazing adventure that will start in Kampala and end in Kigali. During the safari you will be able to visit Kibale national park where you have great views of the chimpanzees and also spend one hour with them in their natural habitat, visit Queen Elizabeth national park where you will engage in a game drive activity with views of different animals and boat cruise activity on Kazinga channel. From Queen Elizabeth national park you will transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park in south western Uganda for gorilla trekking which is the most popular activity carried out in Uganda that allows you to move into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural environment. You will also visit Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing an interesting activity where you will paddle along the water shores in a dugout canoe and wrap up your safari with a tour in Volcanoes national park Rwanda where you will engage in golden monkey trekking an adventurous activity that gives you an opportunity to know more about their behaviors and habits.
Highlights of the 8 days Uganda wildlife, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi swamp walk and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 5: Gorilla trekking
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 7: Golden monkey trekking
Day 8: Departure to Rwanda
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of the 8 days primates and wildlife safari
Pick up and transfer to Kibale national park, upon arrival at Entebbe international airport on day 1 of the 8 days Uganda Rwanda primates and wildlife safari you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Kibale national park which is located in western part of Uganda. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours drive from Entebbe airport and on the way you will have en-route lunch in fort portal town. After lunch you will proceed the journey to Amabere Ganyinamwiru stalagmite site where you will be able to view the beautiful waterfall and the crater lake. From there you will proceed to Kibale national park with great views of the landscape, tea plantations, crater lakes, Rwenzori Mountain on the way. Upon arrival you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.
Accommodation- Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Chimpanzee trekking, after an early breakfast on day 2 of the 8 days Uganda Rwanda primates and wildlife safari you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 6 people where each group will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with the forest trails. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park starts at around 8:00am and takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours or even longer depending on the location of the chimpanzees because they like to move from one place to another in search of food.
During the trekking chimpanzees you will be able to view other primates like vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, different bird species, plant and tree species among others. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their life style, behaviors, habits, watch them breastfeed, feed, play up in the trees, hunt, fight among others. During the one hour you will also be able to take clear photos and record the moments with a flash less camera to show people back home. After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to the lodge for lunch.
Bigodi swamp walk, after lunch you will go for a nature walk in Bigodi wetland a sanctuary that is managed by the community. During the swamp walk you will have incredible views of different bird species like the great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek, views of primates like the black and white colobus monkey, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, view colorful butterflies, different tree and plant species among others.. After the swamp walk you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. Where you will arrive in the evening and continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation- Park View Safari Lodge
Day 3: Morning game drive/ lion tracking and afternoon Boat cruise
Game drive/ lion tracking experience, after an early breakfast on day 3 of the 8 days Uganda Rwanda primates and wildlife safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to go for a morning game drive/ lion tracking experience in Kasenyi plains. During the game drive you will be able to spot animals like elephants, buffaloes, lions, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, warthogs, leopards, different bird species among others. After the game drive you will return back to the lodge for lunch.
Boat cruise, after lunch your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and drive to the landing site near Mweya safari lodge for a boat cruise. The boat cruise which takes about 2 hours is done on Kazinga channel a water body that joins Lake George and Lake Edward. During the lunch cruise you will have great views of large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, ride close to the animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks among others along the water banks drinking water, view water birds like cormorants, hornbills, martial eagle, papyrus gonolek, pelicans, African skimmers, African spoonbills, fish eagles, king fisher’s among others. After the boat cruise you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation- Park view safari lodge
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
On day 4 of the 8 days Uganda Rwanda primates and wildlife safari you will have breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park which is located in south western part of Uganda. The journey takes about 4 hours’ drive and on the way you will pass via Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park where you will view the tree climbing lions lying up in the acacia, fig tree branches and other animals like elephants, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, some bird species among others. After the game drive you will have en-route lunch and then continue the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.
Accommodation- Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on day 5 of the 8 days Uganda Rwanda primates and wildlife safari you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulation and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in Bwindi forest. Trekking of the mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park starts at around 8:00am and takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorilla family is located, during trekking you will have stunning views of various plant and tree species, primates like chimpanzees, L’hoest monkeys, birds in trees among others. Once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment and during the one hour you will be able to learn more about their habits, behaviors, lifestyle, watch them carry out their daily activities such as feeding, breastfeeding, playing among others, you will also be able to take photos and record the breathtaking moments. After the one hour encounter with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and then meet up with your driver guide to return back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation- Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and transfer to Volcanoes national park
After an early breakfast on day 6 of the 8 days Uganda Rwanda primates and wildlife safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale which is the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest in Africa. Upon arrival you will go for canoeing activity in a dugout canoe with an experienced guide who will help you to spot different bird species, animals along the shores among others. During the boat ride on the lake you will have an opportunity to explore some of the 29 islands such as the punishment island, view terraced farmlands, enjoy the sunset among others. After the boat ride you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Transfer to Volcanoes national park, after lunch you will start the journey to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda passing via Katuna border in Kabale. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours drive and on the way you will have spectacular views of the rolling hills, terraced farmlands, traditional homesteads, beautiful landscape, local people among others. Upon arrival you will check into the lodge, have dinner and over night.
Accommodation- Le bamboo gorilla lodge
Day 7: Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park
Golden monkey trekking, on day 7 of the 8 days Uganda Rwanda primates and wildlife safari you will have an early breakfast and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of golden monkey trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a golden monkey family to trek, a park guide and then start trekking in the jungle which takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on where they are located because golden monkeys are very active and usually move from one place to another in search of food which is bamboo leaves and shoots. Once the golden monkey family is found you will be allowed to spend one hour with the individuals in their natural habitat where you will be able to learn more about their behaviors, habits, lifestyle, watch them feed, play in tree branches, take great photos and record the fascinating moments to show people back home. After the face to face encounter with the golden monkeys you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet your driver guide to transfer back to the lodge for late lunch, have an evening relaxation at the lodge, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation- Le bamboo gorilla lodge
Day 8: Departure to Kigali
On day 8 of the 8 days Uganda Rwanda primates and wildlife safari you will have a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kigali where your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of convenience.
End of 8 days Uganda Rwanda primates and wildlife safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Park entrance fees
- Boat cruise fees
- Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- all activities as indicated
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, phone calls, hiring a porter, tips among others.
