5 Days Uganda Safari from Kigali

5 Days Uganda Safari from Kigali

Experience the magic of Uganda – The Pearl of Africa on this 5 Days Uganda Safari from Kigali, this safari package is designed for visitors planning to start and end their safari in Kigali City.

Visitors get a chance to explore Uganda’s best safari destinations that as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a magical encounter with mountain gorillas, head to Kibale National Park for chimpanzee trekking, and Queen Elizabeth National Park for sightings of various wildlife species including lions, and leopards, cape buffaloes, Uganda kobs among others.

Also, get to experience Kigali City by visiting some of the hot spots in the capital of Rwanda.

Highlights of 5 Days Uganda Safari from Kigali

  • Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda
  • Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking – Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel
  • Day 4: Game drive at Ishasha Sector – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Day 5: Mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi – Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda

Our Guide/ Safari driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kigali City after breakfast at 08:00 am or earlier and embark on a 6-hour journey to Kibale National Park – Africa’s Primate Capital.

Before you embark on this journey, you will have a short city tour in Kigali City – the capital of Rwanda visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, the main city market, the former presidential palace museum, and artisan shops for souvenir shopping.

After the city tour, you will drive to Uganda with a border crossing at the Cyanika or Isebania Border arriving in the afternoon, expect to have a treat of the scenic rolling hills which is a feast for nature lovers. Once you reach your lodge in Kibale Forest National Park, you will check in, show, and relax and spend the night as you prepare for chimpanzee tracking the next day.

Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Guest House (mid-range and budget) and Kyaninga Lodge (luxury).

Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Have early breakfast, meet your driver-guide and head straight to Kibale National Park offices for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking, the rangers will share information about the park, the creatures therein, the chimpanzee clans, and how to behave while in the presence of the chimpanzees, and what to expect.

Enter into the forest of Kibale looking for chimpanzees, the trek usually takes approximately 3 to 5 hours. Chimpanzees are easy to trek due to their vocal nature, also their groups are more dramatic compared to mountain gorillas. You will spend one hour with them watching them in full action, taking care of their young ones, and jumping from one tree to another. Take as many photos as you wish, then return to the park headquarters, meet your guide, and return to the lodge for lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will start your 2 hours journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Parkview Lodge (mid-range), and Simba safari camp (budget).

Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel

Wake up early for breakfast and head to the park for an early morning game drive, the early morning game drive is organized to allow you to catch the early risers before they go out hunting. Watch out for leopards, lions, and hippos returning after grazing outside the water during the night.

The morning is also the best time to spot birds and other animals as they are grazing, other animals to look out for include buffaloes, lions, gazelles, elands, hartebeests, and other antelopes among others. Return to the lodge for lunch and rest.

At 2:00 pm, you will be transferred for a boat cruise at the Kazinga Channel. The Kazinga boat cruise is one of the top activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park on a Uganda Safari, the Kazinga Channel connects Lake Edward to Lake George and is considered one of the best places for birding in Africa.  As you cruise, you will various species of birds including herons, and crested cranes among others. Expect to see hippos and crocodiles in the waters of the channels and elephants and buffaloes on the shores drinking water.

Dinner and Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Parkview Lodge (mid-range), and Simba Safari Camp (budget).

Day 4: Game drive at Ishasha Sector – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After enjoying breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and embark on a journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Home to the largest population of mountain gorillas. You will drive through the Ishasha Sector –the southern region of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will see tree-climbing lions resting on fig trees.

Have en-route lunch and when you arrive in the park, you will spend the rest of the day resting as you prepare for gorilla trekking the next day.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Lodge (Luxury), Buhoma Haven Lodge (Mid-range), and Buhoma Community Camp (Budget).

5 Days Uganda Safari from Kigali
Tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5: Mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi – Departure

Wake up early, have breakfast, and head to the park offices for a briefing on gorilla trekking. The briefing covers several topics including what to expect, how to behave yourself while with the gorillas, the gorilla groups andthe history of the park.

Head to the starting point in groups of 8 people, the trek takes approximately 4-6 hours of trekking through the mountainous slopes and moving in the deep forest. When you locate the gorillas, you will spend one with the gorillas watching them go on with their daily life in the forests of Bwindi. Take as many photos as possible as long as your flashlight is off.

Return to the lodge for lunch, checkout, and embark on a journey to Kigali City for a drop-off. You will be dropped off either at your hotel or at Kigali International Airport for your onward flight.

End of 5 Days Uganda Safari from Kigali 

The price of the tour will include:

  • A safari vehicle with a retractable roof
  • A driver/ Guide to be with you full-time.
  • Fuel for the 5 days
  • Gorilla Permits for Bwindi
  • Chimpanzee permits for Kibale National Park
  • Park entry fees
  • Game drive and boat cruise at the Kazinga channel
  • The Kigali city tour
  • All planned activities
  • Drinking water and lunch while traveling
  • Accommodation for 4 nights
  • Pickup and drop-off in Kigali

The cost of the safari doesn’t include flights, visas, personal expenses, and insurance.

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