Tour both Uganda and Rwanda on this 11 Days gorilla safari. The trip combines the experience of gorilla tracking with other adventures in both countries; classic game viewing in natural safari parks, chimpanzee tracking, nature hiking, leisurely tour at Lake Kivu and more. This is one of the best trips to explore both Uganda and Rwanda’s top highlights. Remember you will track the endangered mountain gorillas twice on this tour with one trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in south western Uganda and another in Volcanoes National Park.

Trip Highlights

  • Game Viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge & Nyungwe Forest
  • See the tree climbing lions of the Ishasha Sector
  • Gorilla Tracking in both Bwindi Forest and PNV
  • Lake Kivu

Brief Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Kampala – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 2: Adventure in Queen Elizabeth National Park – Enjoy game drives, boat cruise along the Kazinga channel.

Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Go for chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge. Nature Walk in Maramagambo, visit the bat cave and the Blue lake

Day 4: Adventure through the Ishasha sector – look out for the tree climbing lions

Day 5: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Optional Local community tour in the evening

Day 6: Go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Day 7: Cross to Rwanda. Overnight in Ruhengeri (present Musanze District)

Day 8: Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park

Day 9: Go for golden monkey tracking or hike to Dian Fossey Grave

Day 10: Relax at the Lake Kivu

Day 11: Travel to Kigali. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial site, local markets, Kaplaki etc.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel or specified address. Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is about 420km via Mbarara and 410km via Mubende. The trip takes about 5-6 hours from Kampala depending on the road conditions. Have lunch at Mweya and then spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure at your preferred lodge. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 2: Game Drive and Launch cruise

After an early morning breakfast go for an early morning game drive within the park. In the afternoon go for a launch cruise along the kazinga channel where you will spot various water birds and animals such as hippos, solitary buffaloes, and more. Relax at the lodge during the evening. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge plus a nature walk

Have breakfast and leave for the Kyambura Gorge where you will track the fast moving chimpanzees that live within the gorge. Return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch go for a nature walk in Maramagambo Forest to see other primates, the bat cave and the blue lake.

Day 4: Ishasha sector

After breakfast you will drive to the Ishasha sector, an area known for sightings of the famed tree climbing lions. On arrival you will go for a game drive, where you might spot the tree climbing lions, and other animals like elephants among others. Return to the lodge for lunch and relax the rest of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 5: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to more than half of the remaining mountain gorillas. You will have lunch enroute. Upon reaching the lodge, you can have a leisurely evening at the lodge. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 6: Gorilla trekking
After breakfast, our guide will drive you to the park headquarters for a briefing about gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest. Led by the experienced trackers, start your hike into the impenetrable forest and search for the mountain gorillas. The time spent on the hike is unpredictable! Experience shows that the trek takes 4-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas within the forest. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Transfer to Rwanda

After breakfast, embark on your journey to Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. On arrival in Kinigi, have lunch before proceeding to one of the lodges in Ruhengeri. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 8: Gorilla trekking

After breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters where you will meet the ranger guides. After the briefing you will begin the search of mountain Gorillas. The trek can be quite tough that it takes a lot of time approximately 2-8 hours. After the trekking, have lunch. You can take a local community tour. Dinner and Overnight at the lodge.

Day 9: Golden Monkey Tracking / Dian Fossey Trek

After breakfast go for golden monkey trekking within Volcanoes National Park. During the trek, you may spot other primates plus viewing other inhabitants of the forest like birds and butterflies, return to the lodge for late lunch. If you don’t want to go gorilla trekking, take a hike to Dian Fossey’s Grave. This is a full day hike to a place where Dian Fossey premiered in the popular Gorillas in the Mist movie, spent most of her time looking after the injured mountain gorillas. After the trek, relax at the lodge. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge

Day 10: Have optional relaxed activities in Kivu

Have breakfast, drive to Gisenyi and participate in optional relaxed activities like a swimming, boat ride and sun bathing that will refresh you from the tiresome activities. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 11: Departure

Have breakfast and transfer back to Kigali, you may do a city tour with a visit to the cultural museum in Butare enroute, visit the genocide memorial site. Then transfer to the airport for your departure flight

Trip Information – Things to Know

  • This trip is available all year round and can depart anytime of the year.
  • The trip is a fully inclusive tour package.
  • Gorilla trekking is an adventure activity that demands a considerable degree of fitness. If you have fitness problems always talk to our tour consultants so that you can get helped.
  • Always check out Gorilla Trek Planner for information on planning a gorilla trekking trip in Rwanda.

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