Spend 7 days exploring Uganda and Rwanda on your 7 days combined Uganda Rwanda gorilla tour which starts from Kampala and ends in Kigali capital city of Rwanda. This primate safari package allows you trek mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and it also incorporates game drives, launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park Western Uganda. Your trip covers 6 nights and meals.
Activities to do on 7 days combined Uganda Rwanda gorilla tour
- Gorilla trekking
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale
- Game drive and Launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Photography
- Kigali city tour
Brief itinerary of 7 days combined Uganda Rwanda gorilla tour
Day 1: Travel from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale and travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: Game drive via Ishasha area and drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 6: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park & visit to the Twin Lakes
Day 7: Drive back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of your 7 days combined Uganda Rwanda gorilla tour
Day 1: Travel from Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park
Breakfast early in the morning and later, your tour guide will drive you to Kibale Forest National Park in Western Uganda. This is 5-6 hours’ drive journey and the main towns you will drive through include Mityana, Mubende, Fort Portal and then you connect to Kibale. Lunch will be served to you in a hotel in Fort Portal however, en-route, there is a lot to keep your eye busy ranging from the extensive tea plantations and general beauty of the area.
Accommodation in Kibale Forest National Park
Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge
Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp, Primate Lodge
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse, Kibale Forest Camp (Tents)
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale and travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will be expected to rise up early to prepare, take your cup of tea or coffee. Later, assemble at Kanyanchu Visitor Center for briefing on the dos and don’ts for chimpanzee tracking guidelines. The actual trek to view chimpanzees always starts at around 8:00am with park ranger guide on lead. This takes between 2 and 4 hours but rewards you with lots of astonishing sights not only for chimpanzees but also other primates like the red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys plus forest birds. After 1 hour of photo taking and learning about how these apes behave, walk back or meet the driver at a point he dropped you then return to the lodge to have lunch.
In the afternoon, check out of the lodge in Kibale then drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park about 2-3 hours’ away.
Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Ihamba Lodge, Park View Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge, Simba Safari Camp
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have breakfast in the morning and go game drive along Kasenyi Plains for about 2-3 hours. This comes with lots of amazing sights of African bush elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, birds, antelopes, lions to mention but a few. After, drive back to be served lunch. In the afternoon, go on a boat cruise along Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This will expose you to lots of water birds, hippos, basking crocodiles and many more.
Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge
Mid-range: Ihamba Lodge, Park View Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge, Simba Safari Camp
Day 4: Game drive via Ishasha area and drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4 of your 7 days combined Uganda Rwanda gorilla tour will commence with breakfast and later, check out of the lodge. You will have a morning game drive still in Queen Elizabeth National Park but today along Ishasha area which lets you spot the tree climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes and many more. Later, drive to Ruhengeri via Katuna or Chanika border. You will be offered lunch en-route.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, The 5 Volcanoes Lodge
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Lodge
Budget: Hotel Muhabura, Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 5 days of your Uganda Rwanda gorilla tour begins with a cup of tea or coffee and later, at 7:00am assemble at Kinigi visitor center to be briefed on the guidelines for gorilla tracking. The actual trek begins at 8:00am after you have been allocated the gorilla family to trek and park ranger guide to lead you through this adventure. This is a worth experience despite the long hours of search, the 1 hour of magical encounter rewards travel endeavors with lots of memories. Walk back after your magical encounter and photography to relax at the lodge then in the evening, take a walk in the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to enjoy the dances, music performances and also learn about the traditions, culture of Rwandese.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, The 5 Volcanoes Lodge
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Lodge
Budget: Hotel Muhabura, Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 6: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park & visit to the Twin Lakes
Tracking golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park begins at 7:00am with briefing on safety measures you have to observe while in the wild. At 8:00am, the actual trek will start with park ranger guide and this may cover about 2 and 4 hours including 1 hour of a face to face encounter. Return to chill at the lodge then in the afternoon, visit Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo-these are 2 magical twin lakes.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, The 5 Volcanoes Lodge
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Lodge
Budget: Hotel Muhabura, Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 7: Drive back to Kigali
Start your drive back to Kigali after breakfast and checking out of the lodge. Arrive early to embark on Kigali city tour with chance for you to visit Kigali/Gisozi genocide site, nearby gift shops and historical sites. Later, have lunch in the hotel in Kigali then connect to the airport for your flight back home.
End of your 7 days combined Uganda Rwanda gorilla tour
Tour includes
- Kigali city tour
- Park entry fees
- Game drives
- Launch trip
- Chimpanzee permits
- Gorilla trekking permits.
- Visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
- Golden monkey permits
- Bottled drinking water
- Relevant government taxes
- 6 nights and meals
- Service of an English-speaking tour guide
- All trip activities in the itinerary except the optional ones.
Safari exclusions
- Tips
- Cigarettes
- Personal insurance
- Laundry services
- Alcoholic drinks
- Telephone calls
- Extra accommodation
- Optional activities