8 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari
Embark an unforgettable adventure to Rwanda and Uganda, East Africa’s remarkable safari destinations on this 8 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari. This East African combined safari offers you an opportunity to trek mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park and game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Highlights of 8 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari
- Day 1: Pick up from Kigali – Transfer to Nyungwe forest
- Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking – Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest
- Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Visit the Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera
- Day 4: Gorilla trekking – Tour the Iby’iwacu cultural village
- Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking and transfer to Kigali
- Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 7: Game drive and boat safari on Kazinga channel
- Day 8: Travel back to Kigali for departure
Detailed Itinerary of 8 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali – Transfer to Nyungwe forest
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our guide, he will give you a short briefing about the safari and go for a short Kigali City Tour visiting The Kigali Genocide Memorial Site, art centres among others.
Then embark on a journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park located in the Southwestern part of Rwanda and the drive is about 5 hours by road. Along the journey you will have stop at several sites along the way including the Palace of the former King of Rwanda and other Key places. When you arrive in the park, check in at your lodge for an evening of rest, have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge
Midrange: Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge
Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking – Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest
Wake up very early and enjoy breakfast and drive to the Nyungwe Forest Park headquarters for briefing about chimpanzee trekking, covering topics about the history of the forest as well as wildlife to be found, what to expect and how to prepare.
Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda takes between 2 to 6 hours, Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to 13 primate species including a large concentration of chimpanzees among others. With your experienced guide and armed rangers, you will head into the forest looking for chimpanzees, expect to see other primates like black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons among others.
You will spend one hour in the presence of chimpanzees watching them play, feed and groom. Take as many photos and videos as possible, at the end of your incredible time with the chimpanzees. Return to the park headquarters, meet your guide and return to the lodge for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, you will go for the forest canopy walk conducted on a canopy walk suspended above Nyungwe Forest canopy. Nyungwe Forest Walk is the first of its kind in East Africa, offering visitors an opportunity to get an aerial view of the park. From the viewing platform, you can spot butterflies, birds, primates and different primate species. After this amazing experience, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge
Midrange: Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge
Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Visit the Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera
Wake up to a leisurely breakfast, checkout of your lodge and embark on a journey to Volcanoes National Park, home to mountain gorillas. The drive offers you beautiful views of Lake Kivu and other beautiful features. Take as many photos of the lake as you can.
Arrive in the park in time for lunch, after check in at your lodge. In the later afternoon you will go for a visit to the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo for a boat ride.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge
Midrange: Da Vinci Lodge
Budget: Mount Muhabura
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Gorilla trekking – Tour the Iby’iwacu cultural village
Wake up early for breakfast, meet your guide and head to the park headquarters in Kinigi for briefing about gorilla trekking. A senior ranger guide takes you through the rules and regulations about gorilla trekking. In groups of 8 people you will be assigned a gorilla family to group based on your fitness and age among other factors.
Enter into the forest looking for mountain gorillas, the trek takes approximately 30 minutes to 4 hours or more depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent their previous night. Once the gorilla family is located, you will be allowed to spend one hour observing their behavior and way of life, watch gorillas feed, baby gorillas playing with each other and their mother and silverback watching over the family.
After this grand experience, return to your lodge for lunch and an afternoon of relaxation. Later in the day, head to the Iby’Iwacu Village for a cultural experience. Here you will be entertained by local dances and drama, interact with the local people among others fascinating experiences. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight and overnight the stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge
Midrange: Da Vinci Lodge
Budget: Mount Muhabura
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking and transfer to Kigali
Wake up early for breakfast, and return to the park offices in Kinigi this time for briefing about golden monkey trekking. A senior ranger guide will take you through rules and regulations to follow while in the presence of the cute primates, head into the forest with armed ranger and guide in their search.
The trek takes approximately 30 minutes to 3 hours, the endangered golden monkeys are live in the bamboo forest. They are very playful creatures and you will spend one hour watching them play, feed, pick fruits and jumping from one tree branch to another.
Trek back to the park headquarters and return to the lodge for lunch, then check out and embark on a drive to Kigali where you will arrive in the evening, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel
Midrange: Des Mille Collins
Budget: Step Town Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, you will embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park with border crossing at Cyanika Border, enjoy en-route lunch along the way. Enter the park through Ishasha Sector where you will get to see animals as you head to your lodge, check in, have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Elephant Hub
Budget: Engiri Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Game drive and boat safari on Kazinga channel
Wake up to a delicious breakfast, meet your guide and head to the Kasenyi Plains for a game viewing experience. From the comfort of your safari vehicle you will see several animals including lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, elephants, warthogs and several bird species.
Return to your lodge for lunch and enjoy some rest, later head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise. As you cruise, you will see several animals including hippos and crocodiles in the waters of the channel as well as herds of elephants and buffaloes along the channel’s bank and several water bird species. At sunset, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnights stay.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Elephant Hub
Budget: Engiri Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Travel back to Kigali for Departure
After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and embark on journey back to Kigali where you will be dropped off at the airport for your flight back home.
End of Tour
Inclusions
- Gorilla Permit
- Cultural entertainment
- Park Ranger Fees
- Relevant Government Taxes.
- Full Board Accommodation (7 nights) and en-route meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- Full-time English-speaking Driver/Guide
- Ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends.
Exclusions
- Airfares
- Visa Fees
- Personal Insurance
- Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.
