8 Days Uganda & Rwanda Primate Safari
8 Days Uganda & Rwanda Primate Safari: This is a combined tour package that has been specifically designed for tourists who wish to see primates and wildlife in Uganda and Rwanda. Among some of the main highlights of the 8 days Uganda and Rwanda primate safari include; Lion Tracking Experience and Chimpanzee Trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and finally Golden Monkey Tracking and Iby’iwacu Community Tour in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. You will then transfer to Kigali city where depending on your time of arrival in the city, you can opt for a short tour of Kigali City and later transfer to Kigali airport for your departure flight.
Highlights for 8 Days Uganda & Rwanda Primate Safari.
- Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Kampala.
- Day 2: Transfer to Queen and Evening Game Drive.
- Day 3: Lion Tracking Experience and Afternoon Boat Cruise.
- Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge.
- Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Day 6: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Trail Experience.
- Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
- Day 8: Golden Monkey Tracking & Iby’iwacu Cultural Tour.
- Day 9: Transfer to Kigali & Departure.
Detailed Itinerary for 8 Days Uganda & Rwanda Primate Safari.
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Kampala.
Arrival & Transfer to Kampala: Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet up with your guide and transfer to Kampala city where you will check into your hotel and have lunch. Later you will embark on a tour of the city. You will get an opportunity to visit some interesting sites such as: the King’s Palace, Idi Amin’s Torture chambers, National Museum, Ndeere Center, Namugongo Martyrs’ shrine and even shopping malls like Kingdom Kampala, Acacia mall, Garden city and the Craft Village among others.
Later drive back to your hotel for dinner and accommodation.
Day 2: Transfer to Queen and Evening Game Drive.
Transfer to Queen: Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at your hotel. Your guide will then drive you to Queen Elizabeth National Park with a stopover at the equator monuments in Kayabwe, where you will take a few pictures and visit the nearby craft shops. Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge, have lunch and rest for a while.
Evening Game Drive: Upon arrival at Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will embark on an evening game drive. During your evening game drive, you can see animals like hyenas, kobs, impala, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes and so many more.
Later retire back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 3: Lion Tracking Experience and Afternoon Boat Cruise.
Lion Tracking Experience: Wake up and have breakfast at leisure while soaking in the amazing scenery in the national park. You will then meet up with your guide and head out for the Lion tracking experience. The lion tracking experience will give you the opportunity to view the famous tree-climbing lions of Queen. Of recent, these majestic giant cats have become rare sights in the park because of poaching activities that have become rampant in the park. This lion tracking experience takes between 1 to 3 hours and is done only twice a day, in the morning and afternoon. You will drive off tracks when tracking the locations of the lions. You will be able to get an up close view of the lions and take photos. Drive back to your lodge for lunch.
Afternoon Boat Cruise: After having your lunch break, head out for an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel. The boat cruise starts at exactly 1pm and can take approximately 2 hours. During your boat cruise, you may sight lots of wildlife such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and some species of birds like the great flamingos, Shoebill stock, Ibis and so many others.
Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge.
Chimpanzee Trekking: Start your day with breakfast early in the morning at your lodge. You will then meet up with your guide and drive to the park headquarters where you will be briefed and given a guide. You will then drive to Kyambura Gorge where your Chimpanzee trekking experience will start. Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park can take between 1 – 4 hours or more depending on the location of the chimps. You will later have your lunch which you packed from your lodge. Alternatively, simply head back to your lodge for lunch and relax for the rest of the afternoon.
Community Tour (optional): Later in the evening you can head out for a tour to one of the neighboring communities outside the national park. You will get an opportunity to mingle with the locals in these communities and learn more about their interesting cultures.
Later have dinner and accommodation at your lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Transfer to Bwindi: Have a hearty breakfast at your lodge early in the morning and later transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will have a stopover at Igongo Cultural Center for Lunch before proceeding with your transfer to Bwindi.
Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Trail Experience.
Gorilla Trekking: Today marks one of the main highlights of your visit to Uganda. Take your day with heavy breakfast early in the morning and proceed with your drive to the park headquarters. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park takes places in four locations, starting at 8: 30am daily. Following a briefing from the park’s head ranger, you will embark on a forest trek lasting from a few hours up to a full day, depending on the location of the gorillas as they freely range in the impenetrable forest. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is limited to a maximum of eight visitors per gorilla group and visitors spend a maximum of one hour in the company of the gorillas. You will be allocated some time to have your lunch in case you packed some from your lodge.
Batwa Trail Experience: The Batwa trail experience is one of the most interesting and adventurous activities that are conducted in the park. This hiking experience is conducted by local Batwa guides in Bwindi impenetrable forest. You will get to learn a lot including how to hunt using tradition hunting tools and methods, how to use herbs to medicinal purposes and so much more. You will have an opportunity to interact with some of the Batwa local, who are also referred to as Pygmies.
Head back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Transfer to Volcanoes: After having your breakfast, you will transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda via the Cyanika Border. It takes about a 3 hours’ drive to get to the national park from Bwindi. Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge, have lunch and relax for the rest of the evening.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 8: Golden Monkey Tracking & Iby’iwacu Community Tour.
Golden Monkey Tracking: Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at your lodge. Your guide/driver will then drive you to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi where you will begin your tracking activity from. You will trek through the bamboo forests in search of the rare golden monkeys, which are endemic to the Virunga Massif. Trekking through the forests in search for these spectacular primates can take between six to eight hours or more, depending on the location of the monkeys. You will be given only one hour to spend in the midst of the golden monkeys once they have been located.
Iby’iwacu Community Tour: After having your lunch, meet up with your guide at the park’s headquarters and proceed with your drive to the popular Iby’iwacu community village which is located just outside the national park. This community is filled with individuals who were once poachers who have reformed and now actively participate in conservation projects that are run in the park. Visiting the Iby’iwacu community village is a good way to experience the Rwanda culture through music, dance and drumming performances from the local intore dance group.
Later drive to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 9: Transfer to Kigali & Departure.
Transfer to Kigali & Departure: After having your breakfast, check out of your lodge. Your guide will drive you to Kigali city which is about a 2⅟₂ hours’ drive from the national park. Upon your arrival in Kigali, you can opt to embark on a short tour of the city where you will pay a visit to interesting places such as; Kigali Genocide Memorial, Camp Kigali, Kimironko market and Umusambi village which is home to over 50 rescued grey crested cranes. Later have your guide drop you off at Kigali airport where you will board your flight back home.
End of Tour.
