Lake Mburo Zebras as seen on the 10 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari -  Gorillas, More Primates and Wildlife Experiences

Uganda & Rwanda Safari - Gorillas, More Primates & Wildlife Experiences - 10 Days

Gorillas and Wildlfe Safaris Hall of Fame Trip Advisor RecommendedA joyous East African safari, the 10 Days "Uganda and Rwanda Safari -  Gorillas, More Primates and Wildlife Experiences" is designed for you who prefers to have the cream of the two countries' wildlife spots as well as doubling your chances of seeing the mountain gorillas. We has have more intimate primates' exposures at Kibale when you trek to the chimpanzees and 10 other primates species. Seeing some of the last remaining 1066 mountain gorillas in the world is a fantastic experience and this safari takes you to three gorilla parks – Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. It offers an opportunity to track gorillas five times, twice in Bwindi, once in Mgahinga/Nkuringo, and twice in Volcanoes National Park.

Not only will you be reaching the Equator crossing point, you also have superb game viewing experiences in Lake Mburo National Park which has giraffes, zebra, hippos, leopard and several antelopes. Another superb African safari wildlife experience is when we enter the biodiversity-rich Queen Elizabeth National Park where are going to do more game drives on the Savannah plains to get closer to large herd of African elephants and Cape buffaloes, as wells as the larger predators like lions, leopard, and hyenas. Indulge yourself on the Kazinga Channel boat trip and even get closer to the wildlife and array of birds (Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 660 bird species). In Ishasha go on the hunt for the tree-climbing lions lounging on old fig trees.

You can also climb a volcano or go for a nature walk or visit the endangered golden monkey. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda has five habituated gorilla families and tracking most groups in the afro-montane forest usually takes only a few hours. You can also climb a volcano, visit the remains of Dian Fossey’s grave or visit the endangered golden monkey.

Tour Brief for 10 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari -  Gorillas, More Primates and Wildlife Experiences

10 day/9 night Uganda and Rwanda Safari with gorillas, more primates & wildlife safari experiences.

  • Day 1: Start the Uganda 10 day Uganda and Rwanda safari by meeting with your Uganda safari guide in Entebbe or Kampala (or at Entebbe Airport), set off to Lake Mburo National Park, wildlife game drive safaris for the rest of the afternoon when you enter the park.
  • Day 2: All morning game drives, later continue driving to East Africa's Primate Capital, - Kibale Forest National Park
  • Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park | Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
  • Day 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, afternoon game drive
  • Day 5: Discovering Queen Elizabeth National Park with game drives and a boat trip on Kazinga Channel
  • Day 6: Depart from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park - Uganda
  • Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Uganda
  • Day 8: Transfer to Rwanda
  • Day 9: Day for Optional Gorilla Trek or Excursions
  • Day 10: Tour of Kigali

Tour Plan for the 10 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari - Gorillas, More Primates and Wildlife Experiences

Day 1: Meet at your hotel in Kampala / Entebbe or Entebbe Airport, drive to Lake Mburo National Park

The 10 day "Uganda and Rwanda Safari - Gorillas, More Primates and Wildlife Experiences" shall be starting when you meet with your local safari guide from Entebbe Airport upon arrival. Your flight should be arriving note later than 1 pm, otherwise you might consider spending the night in a hotel near the airport and striating off on the next day (we shall be happy to assist you on this arrangement).

We shall then set off driving to Lake Mburo National Park for our first African wildlife experiences. Our drive today is for about 4 hours on surfaced roads.

Along the way to Lake Mburo National park is the Equator line crossing point taken as one beautiful scenery in Africa - the pathway of the sun and take photographs. There are also several traditional organic fruit gardens, all so beautiful.

Shortly, you shall be entering the through the gates of Lake Mburo National Park for a rendezvous with the big grazers and predators of Africa. In fact you shall start encountering zebra herds before you enter the park. Inside the park, more wildlife is at your disposal to enjoy. We shall however be conducting an expository game drive deeper inside the park for you to get all there is here. Keep your camera ready to snap the acacia related wildlife including zebras, topis, buffalo, eland, impala, water hogs, waterbucks, giraffes, etc.

Accommodation options we plan to book in Lake Mburo National Park

Upper Luxury and Luxury: Mihingo Lodge

Moderate: Rwakobo Rock Lodge | Arcadia Cottages

Low Budget: Mburo Eagles Nest | | Leopard Camp | Rwonyo Rest-camp

Day 2: Wildlife Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park, Drive to the Kibale National Park

This morning we shall be having another game drive on the tracks of the park not covered on the day before. Some lucky guests have been able to spot leopard and a lion but hyenas are more common on such early morning game drives. Other more common wild game include warthog, topi, impala, duiker, bushbuck, waterbuck, eland, and zebra.

You could also consider a horseback safari for a more uniquely different way to get closer to the wildlife. With a horseback safari, you can quietly reach wildlife without the interruptions of motor vehicle noise. Although horseback safaris are available to all visitors in Lake Mburo National Park, priority is hight for those staying at Mihingo Lodge.

After the game drives, we shall be departing Lake Mburo National Park to Kibale National Park, widely considered as the Primate Capital of East Africa (and Africa by some).

This equatorial forest holds a higher diversity (12 species) and density of primates than any other African forest. Kibale’s primates include vervet, L’Hoest’s, red-tailed and blue monkeys, in addition to grey-cheeked mangabey, red colobus, black and white colobus, olive baboon and chimpanzee.

Kibale is the most ideal site in Uganda to seek wild chimpanzees and one of the few parks in Uganda where night excursions are permitted for those who wish to observe primates such as the unusual potto and various galago species (bushbabies).

Kibale Accommodation Options (Full Board)

Upper Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge

Luxury: Primate Lodge Kibale | | Crater Safari Lodge

Midrange: Isunga Lodge| ensuite tents at Kibale Forest Camp

Low Budget: Tents at Kibale Forest Camp (with bedding and mosquito nets, shared bathroom) | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park | Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

This morning we shall make way to the Kibale park office for our chimpanzee trekking experience. Tracking chimpanzees starts at 8 AM or 11 Am from the Kanyankyu River camp and your tour guide shall be handy in getting you here. You will need to show your passport to access the park. After a short but detailed briefing, you shall be accompanied by the park guides to track down the habituate chimpanzees in Kibale.

You could encounter other primates in this forest even as you walk to the chimps, like black and white columbus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, bush babies and pottos. If you are an avid birder, you shall not misroute on species like the yellow spotted nicator, rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, green breasted pitta, the crowned eagle, black bee-eater.

You should normally be trekking for about 1-2 hours before encountering the first signs of the chimpanzee. We usually track them by listening out for their pant-hooting calls, then hustle to the area from which they are calling.

When you finally reach the chimpanzees, you will be allowed at least 1 hour with them to enjoy as they feed in fruiting trees, lounge, and socialize with each other, or even, occasionally hunt.

When done, the park rangers shall assist you on the way out of the forest to meet with your driver again.

In the afternoon, we have planned another guided walk in the Bigodi Wetland sanctuary located on the eastern edge of Kibale forest which is maintained by the local community. You shall be encountering more primates you could have missed out on the chimpanzee trek. Also, expect seeing more birds as well as smaller mammals like the otters, mongoose, bushbucks, bush pigs and among others.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Upper Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge

Luxury: Primate Lodge Kibale | | Crater Safari Lodge

Midrange: Isunga Lodge| ensuite tents at Kibale Forest Camp

Low Budget: Tents at Kibale Forest Camp (with bedding and mosquito nets, shared bathroom) | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

The morning is reserved for you to rest more and take in the beautiful Fort Portal landscape views from your lodge/camp.

During the afternoon we travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a drive of ±2 hours with superb scenery of the Rwenzori mountains, crater lakes and tea plantations. As we enter Queen Elizabeth National Park, we do a short game drive on our way to the lodge.

Top recommended Queen Elizabeth National Park accommodation options (full Board)

Upper Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge | Kyambura Gorge Lodge | Kasenyi Safari Camp

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge | Katara Lodge

Mid-range: Ihamba Safari Lodge| Enganzi Lodge | Bush Lodge

Budget: Bush Lodge (tents)| Simba Safari Camp (tents) | Pumba Cottages

Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Discover Queen Elizabeth National Park

We set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes. Early morning game drives in this regions allow you more chances of getting the big cats in hunting actions. You might just be luckier to spot lions chasing after their prey on the plains.

On the Northern tracks there are larger herds of impala-like Uganda kob, as well as topi, elephant, Cape buffalo. We aThere are also several soda lakes filling ancient volcanic calderas where flamingos reside seasonally.

Return to the lodge for your breakfast, before heading out for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray at a mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others.

Overnight options:

Upper Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge | Kyambura Gorge Lodge | Kasenyi Safari Camp

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge | Katara Lodge

Mid-range: Ihamba Safari Lodge| Enganzi Lodge | Bush Lodge

Budget: Bush Lodge (tents)| Simba Safari Camp (tents) | Pumba Cottages

Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Depart from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

On our way exciting the park, we shall attempt one more game drive to try locate any wildlife we could have missed out on the previous days. We can also make a go for the tree-climbing lions in the southern sector of the park, Ishasha Sector. After the game drives, we continue driving to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Bwindi’s chief claim to fame is its resident, habituated population of mountain gorillas. These spectacular primates now number only around 1066, most of which live either at Bwindi or across the border in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. (Bwindi holds some 480 – 520 gorillas, in 18 groups.)

This ancient rainforest has 120 mammal species, perhaps more than any other national park in the country except Queen Elizabeth. Primates include L’Hoest’s, red-tailed, blue and colobus monkeys and the olive baboon. Antelope include bushbuck and 5 species of forest-dependent duiker.

Birders come to Bwindi to seek the 23 Albertine Rift endemics which thrive here. Of those, 14 are found nowhere else in Uganda. Some 200 species of butterfly have been recorded in the park and the colourful clouds of butterflies that congregate at bushpig wallows is a marvelous spectacle.

Bwindi Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Upper Luxury: Gorilla Forest Camp | Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge | Bwindi Lodge

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge | Mahogany Springs Lodge | Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge | Chameleon Hill Lodge or Gorilla Safari Lodge

Moderate: Engagi Lodge |Gorilla Mist Camp | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Low Budget: Gorilla Conservation Camp | Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge | Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp

 

Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

At 7 AM we shall assemble at the Bwindi Park offices for your premier gorilla trekking experience. Because the gorilla trek can last for the entire day, we recommend you have a good breakfast this morning and for with packed  lunch. It is usually hectic trekking through the jungle and you should consider taking not less than 2 liters of drinking water with you in a gorilla trek in Bwindi.

There shall be a short but detailed briefing about the mountain gorillas of Bwindi and the general ecology of the forest. On most days, a local community group of women shall be perfuming  traditional music and dance for the guests before departure into the forest.

After the briefing, the visitors are allocated to the gorilla group they shall be trekking to. Each gorilla group can be visited by a maximum of 8 persons per day. You shall also be accompanied by park staff including the park rangers, gorilla trek guides and trackers to give you all the required assistance for you to enjoy your gorilla trek experience.  The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. When the gorillas are sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 metres from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes. Visitors to the mountain gorillas are only allowed 1 hour with them.

Be on the lookout for the other primates in Bwindi that include unhabituated chimpanzees, L'Hoest's, red tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus, baboon, and Bwindi's most famous resident, the mountain gorilla.

Day 8: Cross from Uganda to Rwanda

After having breakfast we shall be crossing from Uganda to Rwanda via the border post of Chanika. A separate visa is required for Rwanda and Uganda.  

The drive to Volcanoes National Park traverses the Virunga mountain ranges and the terraced hills of Southwestern region on either sides of the road and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which cuddles evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath.

You can spend the evening in the comfortable lodge and enjoy the silence of Volcanoes National Park.  

Top Accommodation options in Volcanoes National Park (all on full board basis)

Upper Luxury: Virunga Lodge | Silverback Sabinyo Lodge | Bishop's House Rwanda

Luxury level: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Moderate: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Low Budget: Muhabura Lodge

Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9: Day for Optional Gorilla Trek or Excursions

You can choose to go gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park (subject to permit availability at the time of booking).

Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virungas is a magical experience. If you are lucky you can get to the gorillas, spend an hour with them, and be back at the base in time for a late lunch! Some gorilla families however are more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy.

Alternatively you can take a nature walk with a guide from the park, learning about the flora and fauna of the forest.

Alternatively, you could go on a short trek to search for one of the troops of golden monkeys which inhabit the forest (this would need to be pre-booked, and is an additional cost).

Or climb the Visoke/Muhavura volcanoes, or, if you wish, you can visit the Iby'Iwachu Cultural Village, which will give you a fascinating insight into the traditions and history of Rwanda's people, or walk to Lake Bulera.

Upper Luxury: Virunga Lodge | Silverback Sabinyo Lodge | Bishop's House Rwanda

Luxury level: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Moderate: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Low Budget: Muhabura Lodge

Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Tour of Kigali, end of the Uganda Rwanda Safari.

We  shall check out of our lodge at 11 AM and set off to Kigali City which is about 2 hours of driving on surfaced roads away. While in Kigali, you shall be visiting the Genocide Memorial Museum to acquaint yourself with the 1994 Rwanda genocide before your driver transfers you to the Kigali International airport for your onward international flight. 

It is a great idea to extend the Uganda Rwanda safari with safari to Tanzania or Kenya. Also explore the "Big Five" in Kenya or discover the beautiful beaches of the dream destination Zanzibar. Please contact us! 

After, you will be transferred to Kigali Airport for your flight back home.

Included in this Uganda and Rwanda Safari

  • All tour activities as indicated above
  • 1 gorilla permit per person in Uganda and 1 in Rwanda
  • Golden monkey tracking
  • All chimps permits
  • All boat trip fees
  • Game drives
  • Accommodation in hotels (with breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
  • Sightseeing as noted in the trip itinerary
  • Park fees
  • Entry fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Bottled drinking mineral water

Excluded

  • Tips for drivers and other staff
  • Bank charges involved
  • Flight tickets and departure taxes
  • Travel documentation (visas)
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Optional excursion
  • Beverages other than mineral water in the vehicle
  • Meals not indicated on your detailed itinerary

Talk to a Rwanda & Uganda Tours Specialist

Enquire about this safari and tour prices.

Talk to one of our destination experts to start planning your Uganda and Rwanda safari.

Chat to us Today

+256 772 979 425 (Ivan)

+ 256 393 201 019

Past Clients Views about the Uganda & Rwanda Safari -  Gorillas, More Primates and Wildlife Experiences

  • star rating  My sister organized an itinerary through Gorillas and Wildlife Safari. We love that it was Uganda-owned. She worked with Ivan to put together a fabulous itinerary through Rwanda and Uganda... read more

    608savannahw
    31st August 2023

    star rating  Amazing experience with Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris - We did a 7 night, 8 day gorilla and Safari tour. It was fantastic - we had such a great time. Ivan was quick to respond to all... read more

    Marissa W
    29th August 2023

    star rating  My wonderful 13-day trip across Uganda - I just returned from my wonderful 13-day trip across Uganda with Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris. My interactions with Ivan as well as my guide, Huzaima, were fantastic. Ivan was very... read more

    Jafar M
    19th August 2023
  • star rating  Amazing experience from the start! - We cannot recommend Gorilla and Wildlife Safaris enough! From the very beginning in planning the trip, Ivan was extremely responsive to all our questions and very helpful in creating the... read more

    323kristalb
    10th August 2023

    star rating  Simply perfect, flawlessly executed - There are so many good things I want to say about our trip, Ivan, and our guide Richard that I'm worried this will be a book. To keep myself in... read more

    Krysten_SF
    9th July 2023

    star rating  A Fantastic 15-day personalised safari with a great company and superb guide - We finally managed to complete the trip we had planned for 2020 that we all understand was delayed due to covid.

    I have to say that the communication in... read more

    Jimmysigs
    24th June 2023

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