7 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
Our 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari offers you the best of Uganda and Rwanda, on this week combined safari you will visit Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking, Queen Elizabeth National Park for typical African game viewing safaris in Uganda. On the Rwanda side, you will visit Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking.
This 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari start in Kigali City of Rwanda and ends in Kigali.
Highlights of 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
- Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National park
- Day 3: Game drive – Boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel
- Day 4: Game drive at Ishasa sector – Transfer to the Volcanoes national park in Rwanda
- Day 5: Mountain gorilla tracking in Rwanda – Touring the Iby’iwacu cultural village
- Day 6: Golden Monkey Tracking – Visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
- Day 7: Transfer to back Kigali – Kigali City Tour – departure
Detailed itinerary of 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Kibale Forest National Park
To start your safari you will be picked up from Kigali City’s hotel after breakfast by your safari driver guide and start the journey to Kibale Forest National Park, the journey takes approximately 5 to 6 hours. Along the way you will enjoy the beautiful countryside of Rwanda and Uganda.
You are required to clear with the immigration at Cyanika Border and continue to Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park, some of the important documents not to forget include A yellow Fever card and a visa (more preferably and East African Visa).
Continue to Kibale with en-route, arrive in late afternoon, check in and spend the rest of the day at relaxation at your lodge. Later have dinner and overnight stay.
Dinner and overnight stay at Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury), Primates Lodge (Midrange) and Chimpanzee Guest House (budget).
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National park
Wake up early for breakfast and head to park headquarters for briefing led by a park guide, the briefing covers topics about chimpanzee trekking, what to expect and the right way to conduct yourself while in the presence of chimpanzees.
Head to the starting point and enter into the forests of Kibale looking for chimpanzees, the trek takes between 3 to 6 hours or more looking for chimpanzees. The trek is difficult compared to gorilla trekking as the chimpanzee are more mobile which implies that you have to keep following them at high speed even after finding them.
Chimpanzees are more dramatic with conflicts among members, locating chimpanzees is more easier because they are very vocal. You can hear them from miles away even before seeing them.
You are allowed one hour of watching them jump from one tree to another, groom each other, pick fruits and take as many photos as possible and then trek back to your lodge for lunch and have a short rest.
Later check out and embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is 2 hours, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Dinner and overnight will be at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Park view lodge (Mid-range) and Simba safari camp (budget).
Day 3: Game drive – Boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel
Wake up early and head to the park for a game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, this morning game drive is designed to allow you get a sight of nocturnal animals and predators as they head back to their dens after hunting in the night. Some of the animals to lookout for include leopards, lions, wild dogs, hyenas among other morning risers.
Head back to your lodge for lunch and rest for a while, later in the day you will head to Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise which starts at 2.00 Pm. Kazinga Channel is a water way connecting Lake Edward to Lake George. The channel is a collection point for most wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park and during the cruise you will see many animals include aquatic wildlife like hippos and crocodiles and elephants and buffaloes drinking water on the banks of the channels and several water birds.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Park view lodge (Mid-range) and Simba safari camp (budget).
Day 4: Game drive at Ishasa sector – Transfer to the Volcanoes national park in Rwanda
Wake up early for a morning game drive with your packed lunch as you head to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, during the game drive in the Ishasha Sector of the park you will see the rare tree climbing lions lounging on tree branches, elephants, buffaloes and Uganda kobs among other wildlife.
Then embark on a drive to Volcanoes National Park with border crossing, along the way you will enjoy the beautiful scenery and countryside. Arrive late in the afternoon, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Mountain gorilla tracking in Rwanda – Touring the Iby’iwacu cultural village
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing in Kinigi at 07:00 am, the briefing is led by a ranger guide who will take you through the dos and don’ts on gorilla trekking while in the misty forests of Volcanoes National Park. Be assigned a gorilla family to trek and head into the forests looking for gorillas.
The trek takes approximately 2 to 6 hours or more with one hour of being in the presence of the gorilla family, gorilla trekking can be challenging depending on the location of the family but the end of the day is worth every effort. The chance to see mountain gorillas in the wild is an ultimate wildlife experience, please a bid by the instructions from the park guides and wardens especially when you encounter the gorillas.
After spend one hour with the gorillas, you will return to starting point, meet your guide and head back to the lodge for lunch.
Later in the day, you will go for a cultural tour in the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village also known as the Gorilla Guardians Village in Musanze, the center brings together all the different tribes of Rwanda to showcase their heritage. Expect musical performances, dance and drama. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) and Kinigi Guest House (budget).
Day 6: Golden Monkey Tracking – Visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing about golden monkey trekking conducted by a senior ranger guide, with armed guides and rangers you will be escorted into the forest to search for these cute monkeys.
Golden Monkeys are endangered primates and can only be found in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo’s rainforests, they thrive in the bamboo forest and feed on shoots and other vegetation. When you locate the golden monkeys, you will be entertained by their playful nature, picking shoots and playing with each other. Once spending a great time with them, trek back to the park headquarters, meet your guide and head back to your lodge for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, your driver will take you to visit the beautiful twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera for a boat ride and enjoy stunning beauty of the lakes. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) and Kinigi Guest House (budget).
Day 7: Transfer to back Kigali – Kigali City Tour – departure
Have breakfast at your leisure, check out of your lodge and embark on a journey back to Kigali City, the journey is approximately 3 hours and you will enjoy amazing views of the beautiful rolling hills of Rwanda’s countryside and the vast tea plantations.
Lunch will be in Kigali City and then go for a short Kigali City Tour visiting the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Site, the presidential Palace Museum, city markets and gift shops where you can buy local crafts and arts. Later you will be dropped off either at the hotel or transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
End of 7 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari
