Overview
An experience that involves 8 days Uganda-Rwanda combined gorilla safari is bound for awesomeness. Track mountain gorillas in both Uganda and Rwanda separately for opportunities to see our closest relatives. They share 98% of their DNA with us and an encounter with them offers an experience to witness their unique behavior. Additional experiences in either country includes golden monkey trek, boat cruise, community visits and city tour. Arrive in Kigali to start the safari and also end it here.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali. Travel to Volcanoes National Park
Arrive in Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport and be met by a guide dedicated for your 8 days Uganda-Rwanda combined gorilla safari. Volcanoes National Park is situated 117 kilometers northwest from there. Transfer to the park by road to check in at your lodge and in the night, sleep after dinner.
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Your first gorilla tour happens in the forest of Volcanoes National Park. Start at the headquarters located in Kinigi. Once briefing is done locate a habituated gorilla group in the jungle with the help of a ranger guide. These gorillas do not care so much when visitors spend an hour to watch them from a safe distance. Have dinner back at the lodge where you have lots of time to relax and unwind. In the evening and nighttime, you eat your dinner and stay for the night respectively.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
This is the third day of the 8 days Uganda-Rwanda combined gorilla safari and offers an exploration of another primate species. The golden monkeys also occupy some parts of volcanoes National Park, with habituated troops available for tracking. Like the habituated gorillas, these monkeys have no worries with visitors who watch them at a safe distance for an hour. Have lunch at the lodge while you relax and unwind for the rest of the day there. Get dinner afterwards before you spend the night in the comfort of your bed.
Day 4: Drive to Bwindi NP
In the morning, you wake up and reenergize yourself with breakfast. Check out and then transfer to Bwindi across the border. To Buhoma, the distance to cover is around 163 kilometers through the Cyanika border. Lunch is enroute because you might take a lot of time every time you pause to soak in the sceneries Then there is a pause at the border for you to do some clearance in regards to your immigration. In Buhoma, check in at the lodge for dinner before a calm goodnight sleep.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi NP. Batwa Village Tour in the Evening
On your 8 days Uganda-Rwanda combined gorilla safari, a gorilla trek in the dense forest of Bwindi is a must-do. Hike along the numerous gorilla trails and find a habituated gorilla group while it forages. Observe this and many other behaviors of these gorillas in front of you for an hour. Head to a village around the forest to visit a tribe known as the Batwa. Enjoy this time among lovable people who offer entertainment through traditional songs and dances.
Nevertheless, they have a full package of ideas to show you, that enabled them survive in the forest for centuries. These include as hunters for animal protein, gatherers for vegetables and fire-makers. They can demonstrate these and more to you for a better visit and experience. After the time here, appreciate them and say goodbye to them. Thereafter, head back to your lodge and get dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Explore Lake Bunyonyi-Boat Cruise, Swimming, Community Tours etc.
Transfer from Bwindi National Park to Lake Bunyonyi, a distance of 107 kilometers away by road from Buhoma. Check in at your lodge and enjoy some moments at the lake. It is safe to swim in this lake thanks to the absence of crocodiles and hippos. Get lunch in the restaurant before you embark on a boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi’s calm waters. This is the deepest lake in the country, and a lot of wildlife can be seen around it.
The areas that surround the lake offer lush vegetation and peaceful communities. When you reach one of the 29 islands on the lake, explore it on foot to view more wildlife. Indigenous people welcome you to their village to exchange their cultural beliefs and practices. Learn how and what they speak, even how they prepare their local food. Return to your boat and head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Drive Back to Kigali. City Tour
Wake up and feel the calm gentle air inside your lodge. This offers a pleasant atmosphere for a warm breakfast. Check out and depart to Kigali through the Uganda-Rwanda border at Gatuna. With enroute lunch, the drive to Kigali covers only 116 kilometers. Travel while you enjoy the picturesque views of the marvelously beautiful hills and vegetation on either side of the road.
Go to Kimironko market and then the Kigali Genocide Memorial for a city tour. What a great opportunity to interact with the indigenous Rwandans in the city center. Purchase and explore a variety of fresh foods treasured among the people. Meanwhile, at the memorial center, take the moments there to remember and learn about the tragedy of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Head to your booked hotel still in the capital for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: End of Tour. Departure.
In your final day of the 8 days Uganda-Rwanda combined gorilla safari get a well-prepared breakfast at leisure. Your safari ends with drop off at the airport for your departure flight home.