12 Days Uganda Rwanda Primates Wildlife & Cultural safari

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Primates Wildlife & Cultural safari: Uganda and Rwanda are incredibly interesting countries to visit combined. Rwanda has incredible scenic hilly landscapes making her famous as “Land of a thousand hills” rich in biodiversity. Rwanda’s most visited primates’ destinations include; Volcanoes national park and Nyungwe national park with a bit of relaxation during the trip. Volcanoes national park is the most popular park unique for gorilla trekking along with other 2 parks in Uganda and 1 in Congo. Volcanoes national park has about 10 habituated gorilla families for tourism. Apart from gorilla trekking, Volcanoes national park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys and a few of the forest animals and the park hosts about 200 different bird species. Nyungwe forest national park on the other hands is home to the endangered chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. Trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest is one of the most scenic experiences under the montane rainforest and walking on a canopy above the forest is an added beautiful experience. 

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Primates Wildlife & Cultural safari

Uganda on the other hand is known as the “Pearl of Africa” a blessed country with over one million travellers each year mainly for adventure, hiking, primates and wildlife safaris. In Uganda, this trip features Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Lake Mburo National park. This trip involves doing different interesting and tiring activities in the different national parks including game drives, Boat cruise, community/cultural encounters, hiking, nature walks, birdwatching, Chimpanzee tracking, Gorilla trekking, canoeing in Lake Bunyonyi, Golden monkey tracking and other excursions of your interest.

Safari highlights of the 12 Days Uganda Primates Wildlife & Cultural safari

  • Day 1: Pick up from hotel in Kigali
  • Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park – Canopy walk
  • Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and Isumo trail
  • Day 4: Colobus Monkeys – Transfer to Lake Kivu
  • Day 5: Transfer to Parc National Des Volcans – Community tour
  • Day 6: Golden Monkey tracking – Cross to Uganda – Kisoro
  • Day 7: Batwa Community trial
  • Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
  • Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
  • Day 10: Lion tracking/Game drive and boat cruise
  • Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – Horseback riding safari/Night game drive
  • Day 12: Transfer to Kampala – Departure

Detailed itinerary 

Day 1: Pick up from hotel in Kigali

Upon arrival at Kigali international airport with your morning confirmed booked flight or Depending on your location in Kigali, you will be met by your safari driver who will drive you off at your hotel in Kigali. Dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Kigali Serena Hotel/ Mid-range option – Des Mille Collins Hotel/ Budget option – Step Town Motel

Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park – Canopy walk

After your early breakfast, embark on your journey to Nyungwe forest national park which is a 6-7 hours’ drive from Kigali with en-route early lunch. Proceed to the park and connect for the 2 pm canopy walk experience. You will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees; you will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving below you. Proceed to check-in your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Nyungwe One and Only Hotel/ Mid-range option – Nyungwe Top Hill Hotel/ Budget option – Gisakura Visitors Centre

Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and Isumo trail 

Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest with your backpack. The Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3-5 hours depending on their location. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos.  Connect to visit Nyungwe’s biggest waterfalls on Isumo trail. This is one of the most refreshing experience with sights of different birds and some primates. The walk is approximately 4 hours walking up and down the Nyungwe forest. Thereafter, return to your hotel for relaxation and good memories. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 4: Colobus Monkeys – Transfer to Lake Kivu (Estimated distance: 3-4 hours)

After breakfast, follow the same procedure as of chimpanzee tracking, receive a briefing then enter the forest to search for the colobus monkey. These primates are quite different to spot as they keep jumping from tree to tree however, the park rangers will do their best to help you get the best view of the primates. This will take 2-5 hours and on finding them, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence. After you lunch, transfer to Kibuye with great views of the Virunga Mountains and Lake Kivu. Check in your booked lodge near the lake shores and great views for dinner and overnight stay at Cormoran Lodge/Inn on the Lake/Delta Resort Hotel

Day 5: Transfer to Parc National Des Volcans – Community tour 

After breakfast, meet your guide to transfer to Lake Kivu for a boat trip experience in Gisenyi that may last for about 2 hours, Have your lunch thereafter, embark on your journey the Musanze that is a 2 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village which is a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. Connect to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge/Virunga lodge for Luxury option/Le Bambou Gorilla lodge for the mid-range option/Hotel Muhabura/Kinigi Guesthouse for the budget option

Day 6: Golden Monkey tracking – Cross to Uganda – Kisoro

After morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing from the park warden about the endangered golden monkeys. After connect to the tracking starting point and enter the forest to search for the rare golden monkey. This activity can take about 1-5 hours and is done at closer view of the other primates in the park like the red tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys among other. After viewing the rare golden monkeys for an hour while taking pictures and studying their behaviours. 

After tracking, meet with your guide to cross to Uganda via Cyanika border. It takes about 3 hours to connect to Kisoro town of Uganda next to the border. Proceed to your booked lodge in Kisoro for dinner and overnight stay at Budget option – Travellers’ Rest Hotel/ Mid-range option – Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge/ Luxury option – Lake Mutanda Safari Resort 

Day 7: Batwa Community trial 

After breakfast, you will drive to Mgahinga national park for the Batwa community trail. The Batwa are the indigenous settlers of the forest before it was gazetted as a national park. You will meet with the Batwa guide who will brief you about your tour and history of the Batwa people. During the trail, you will learn more about the Batwa people and their ways of living, culture, food and their activities for survival like hunting and bee keeping and also visit the sacred Ngarama Caves where the Batwa king lived. Return from the trial and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable national park with en-route lunch. Connect to Buhoma sector of Bwindi forest; it takes about 3 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, check in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay Luxury option – Buhoma Lodge/ Mid-range option – Buhoma Haven Lodge/ Budget option – Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Wake up early, have breakfast and meet your guide to report to the park headquarters for a briefing from the park officials about gorilla trekking and at around 7:00 am, thereafter you have been allocated groups, set off for the gorilla trekking with the help ranger trackers who watch the movement of the gorillas. The search time for these apes is unpredictable but it may take between 2-8 hours depending on their movement. This activity takes you through the steep rocks climbing up and down making it tiresome but in an adventurous way. However, after encountering these humble giant primates for 1 hour, return to the starting point where you will also receive your Gorilla trekking certificate then return to your lodge to relax. Dinner and overnight stay as above

Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park (Estimated distance: 4-5hours)

After breakfast, meet your driver guide to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. Enter Queen Elizabeth national park via the Ishasha gate. Drive through the Ishasha sector for chances of seeing the tree climbing lions. It is not guaranteed to see the lions on tree branches however; the driver will do his best. Have en-route lunch in Ishasha while on your game drive. Later afternoon, proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Luxury option – Mweya Safari lodge/ Mid-range option – Parkview Safari Lodge/ Budget option – Pumba Safari Cottages

Day 10: Lion tracking/Game drive and boat cruise 

After early morning breakfast, meet your driver for transfer to the Kasenyi area the famous place for game drives and mating ground for antelopes. You will have a chance to view different wild animals including Lions, Buffaloes, Elephants, different Antelopes and many more nocturnal animals and predators from hunting. After the game drive, return to your hotel to relax and have lunch.
Later in the afternoon, you will go for the famous launch cruise at Kazinga channel for 2 hours. While on the launch cruise, you will be able to see what you missed during your game drive. You have chance to see Elephants and Buffalos on the shores, Crocodiles sunbathing and schools of Hippos. This is a good place to sight different bird species both original and migratory. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at lodge as above

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park – Horseback riding safari/Night game drive

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Upon arrival in Mbarara town, have lunch and stop over at Igongo cultural Centre where you will visit the museum and learn about the history and culture of Ankole Kingdom. Thereafter continue to Lake Mburo national park, check-in your lodge and connect for a horseback ride for about 2 hours then drive back to your lodge, after dinner, connect for a night game drive in the park with the a ranger to find the nocturnes and on a lucky day, you may spot the lions and leopards hunting or feeding. This will last about 2 hour then drive back to the lodge to sleep. Overnight stay at Luxury option- Mihingo Lodge/ Mid-range option – Rwakobo Lodge/Budget option – Eagles Nest Lodge

Day 12: Entebbe and departure (Estimated distance; 4-5 hours’ drive)

After early morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and transfer to Entebbe with en-route morning game drive, stop at the Uganda Equator for photography and some souvenirs and lunch in Masaka town.  Proceed to Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled flight back home.

End of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Primates Wildlife & Cultural safari

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