16 Day Rwanda and Uganda Safari Adventure, Gorilla Trekking Africa
16 Days Rwanda and Uganda safari for a city tour, double gorilla trekking, Dian Fossey grave hike, golden monkey trekking, canoe ride, chimpanzee trekking and game viewing with African Jungle Adventures.
Trip Summary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Day 2: Kigali city tour, Transfer to Volcanoes Gorilla Park
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking Adventure
Day 4: Hike to Dian Fossey Tombs & transfer to Mgahinga
Day 5: Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga Forest
Day 6: Canoe Ride, transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 7: Second Gorilla tracking
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking & Game drive
Day 10: Game drive, transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking – nature/cultural walk
Day 12: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park
Day 13: Game drive and Boat cruise
Day 14: Transfer back to Kampala
Day 15: Kampala City tour OR White water Rafting in Jinja
Day 16: Ngamba Island tour & Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Upon arrival in Kigali, you will meet your driver/tour guide (Our company representative) at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Kigali for dinner and overnight. Hotel Des Mille Collines, Kigali Serena Hotel, Umubano Hotel, Step town Hotel, Chez Lando Hotel or Manor Hotel among others
Day 2: Kigali city tour, Transfer to Volcanoes Gorilla Park (2hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel and proceed for a city tour in Kigali, visit Gisozi genocide museum, local art and craft markets as well as fruit markets where you can choose your fruit basket. Lunch and hit the road to Volcanoes National Park, a home to mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The 90 minutes journey goes through the beautiful majestic hills / terraced hillsides that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape. Dinner and overnight stay at Sabyinyo Silverback lodge, Virunga lodge, Gorilla Nest Lodge, Mountain gorilla view lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Hotel La Palme, Gorillas Hotel, Kinigi Guest house or Muhabura hotel among others.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking Adventure
Wake up early for heavy breakfast and prepare for today’s incredible experience of gorilla tracking. We shall assemble at Park Headquarters with packed lunch and water, attend a briefing on the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ while with Gorillas. Tracking gorillas take 2-8 Hours depending on their movements in their natural environment. You will stay with these giant apes for a maximum of one hour for observation and photographing. Descend to your lodge/hotel for lunch, rest and if the evening is free, we can have a walk to nearby communities or Musanze local market, interact with them and learn more about their culture. Dinner and overnight as on Day 2.
Day 4: Hike to Dian Fossey Tombs & transfer to Mgahinga
Breakfast at the hotel/lodge and proceed for another adventurous hike to Dina Fossey Tombs near Karisoke research centre where the Late Diane spent close to 20 year studying and habituating the mountain gorillas. The hike is so spectacular and you may see all sorts of animals such as forest elephants, monkeys and sometimes gorillas. Alternatively, we do golden monkey tracking, or Mount Bishoke hiking, or Musanze caves exploration!
After lunch, leave for Uganda through Cyanika border to Kisoro town or Mgahinga National Park, dinner and overnight at Travelers Rest Hotel Kisoro, Tourist Hotel or Gahinga Lodge.
Day 5: Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga Forest
We can visit Mgahinga Forest / National Park for Golden monkey tracking or hiking to the top of the mountain for fantastic scenic view of DR Congo, or spend the whole day in the forest with the Batwa people experiencing their ways of life, this is called the Batwa Trail! Later transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, famous for its beautiful islands and prolific bird life, settle into Arcadia Cottages, bird nest resort, Bunyonyi Luxury Resort or Bunyonyi Overland Resort!
Day 6: Canoe Ride, transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (2-4hrs)
After breakfast, join a canoe ride that exposes you to excellent birding, and visit the beautiful Islands of Lake Bunyonyi including the Batwa people. However, this depends on the weather. After lunch, drive through the Switzerland of Africa, with the roads winding through many hills and valleys, with distant views of the Virunga volcanoes. We either go to Ruhijha or Buhoma, dinner and overnight at Gorilla Mist Camp, Gift of Nature Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Mahogany springs lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma community rest camp, Silverback lodge, Gorilla Resort or Bwindi safari lodge among others.
Day 7: Second Gorilla tracking
After heavy breakfast, we shall proceed to park offices with packed lunch and water for a briefing about the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ while with gorillas. The trek can take 2-8 hours depending on their movements. The hike involves walking up steep and densely forested hills before finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation. You will stay with these Giant apes for 1 hour for observation and photography. Dinner at your lodge as on Day 6.
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Take breakfast and set off to Queen Elizabeth Park, enjoy a game drive through the Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth Park, a home for tree climbing lions along side other animals. Lunch in Ishasha, then proceed for a 4pm boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, famous for the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa. Bird life is prolific with over 610 species and hundreds of Nile crocodiles. You will also see herds of elephants and buffaloes drinking water on the channel. The boat provides a clear platform for photographing. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Kyambura game lodge, Enganzi lodge, Twin Lake Lodge, Simba safari camp or Kingfisher lodge among others.
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking & Game drive
Have early breakfast and drive to Kyambura Gorge nearby to track the fast-moving and elusive wild chimpanzees, one of man’s closest relations. Kyambura Gorge harbours the only family of habituated chimpanzees in Africa. Chimpanzee tracking safaris depart from Fig Tree Camp each morning at 08:00 Hrs and in the afternoon at 13:00 Hrs. The chimp population is quite mobile and viewing is unpredictable but the walk is enchanting. Other primates include Red-tailed monkeys, Vervet, Black and White colobus monkeys, olive baboons and Giant forest hog.
Return to the lodge for lunch and proceed for an evening game drive along Mweya Peninsular before sunset. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Kyambura game lodge, Enganzi lodge, Twin Lake Lodge, Simba safari camp or Kingfisher lodge among others.
Day 10: Game drive, transfer to Kibale Forest National Park (3hrs)
Wake up early for a cup of tea or coffee and take a morning game drive to Kasenyi plains to catch up with early raisers and predators returning to their hideouts. You will be exposed to a large variety of animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, and several Antelope species, Lion, leopard and many more. Return to your lodge for full breakfast and relax as we wait for lunch.
Depart for Kibale forest following the Rwenzori ranges. The journey will reward you with big game viewing en-route. Visit Toro King’s Palace and take a drive around Fort portal town and markets, interact with local people. Dinner and overnight at Primates Cottages, Kyaninga lodge, Ndali lodge, Chimpanzee guest house, Chimps Nest lodge, Kibale safari lodge.
Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking – nature/cultural walk
Have early breakfast and assemble at Kibale Park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. The trek will expose you to other primates like Colobus Monkeys Giant forest hog, Vervet, red-tailed monkeys, the Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, Olive Baboons, and over 350 bird species. Return for lunch; Relax as we wait for an evening cultural walk to nearby communities or to Bigodi swamps. Dinner and overnight at your lodge on Day 10.
Day 12: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park (6-8hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel/lodge and hit the road to Murchison falls national park, picnic lunch en-route, visit Butiaba Escarpments, and the top of the falls for photographing. Dinner & overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchison River lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp, Chobe Lodge.
Day 13: Game drive and Boat cruise
Early morning go for a game drive in the Northern Nile delta circuit, quite a sight for checking out a high concentration of wildlife. You will spot the leopards along the leopard track, Jackson’s hartebeest, large concentrations of Uganda Kobs because of the many breeding grounds and large families of the Defassa waterbuck, together with giraffe herds, groups of the dainty oribi and buffalo herds. The high supply of Kobs called for inevitable pride of lions to the delta too. The delta also attracts birders with specials like the Abyssinian ground hornbill, shoebill (herons, waders and egrets around small pools of water) Senegal thick-knee and Denham’s bustard.
In the evening head out for a launch trip on the famous Nile River and appreciate God’s creation of the Murchison Falls, the largest crocodiles, Hippos and elephants playing in the water, dinner and overnight at your lodge on DAY 12.
Day 14: Transfer back to Kampala (4-5hrs)
Breakfast at the lodge and drive to Kampala with en-route visit to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino tracking. Arrive in Kampala by late afternoon or early evening for dinner & overnight at Kampala Forest Cottages, Speke Hotel, Cassia Lodge Buziga, Kampala Serena hotel, Sheraton Hotel or Golf Course Hotel.
Day 15: Kampala City tour OR White water Rafting in Jinja
Breakfast at the hotel and visit Kasubi tombs, Bahai temple, Gadaffi mosque, Namirembe and Lubaga Cathedrals, Local art and craft shops along Buganda Road, National theatre and Nakasero fruits market. Dinner & overnight at Kampala Forest Cottages, Speke Hotel, Cassia Lodge Buziga, Kampala Serena hotel, Sheraton Hotel or Golf Course Hotel.
Alternatively, we can have full day white water rafting in Jinja, and adventurous experience for a lifetime
Day 16: Ngamba Island tour & Departure
Go for a half-day tour to Ngamba Island. Watch chimpanzees playing and feed them. Later return to the mainland, have lunch in Entebbe town before connecting to Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled flight.
End of the safari
Tour exclusions
Gorilla trekking permit
Full-time English speaking guide
Ground transport
Accommodation and meals
Chimpanzee trekking
Boat Cruise
White water Rafting
Park entrance fees
All activities in the itinerary
Game Viewing
Bottled Drinking water
Tour exclusions
Visa fees
International flights
Alcoholic beverages
Extra activities not in the itinerary
Tips
Porters fee
