6 Days Combined Uganda Wildlife Safari Tour Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris – Overview

The 6 Days Combined Uganda Wildlife Safari Tour Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris is a diverse safari encounter featuring plenty of primate experience including the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda and Golden Monkeys along with magical wild game viewing in the Savannah park of Queen Elizabeth on the flats of the Albertine rift with possible views of lions including the tree climbing lions, the leopards, the Elephants, the Buffaloes, a range of antelopes like the Uganda Kobs, the Topis, the Water bucks among others along with the aquatics of Kazinga Channel namely the Hippos and Nile crocodiles.

6 Days Combined Uganda Wildlife Safari Tour Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris – Highlights

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park with a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe and Igongo Cultural Center for traditional lunch

Day 2: Do morning game drive in the plains of Kasenyi, afternoon river safari along Kazinga Channel and evening game drive along the channel track

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Do game drive in Ishasha sector to the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of tree climbing lions

Day 4: Do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable NP & transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Day 5: Do golden Monkey tracking and cross to Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park

Day 6: Do Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and transfer to Kigali

6 Days Combined Uganda Wildlife Safari Tour Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park with a stop at Uganda Equator Crossing Kayabwe and Igongo Cultural Centre for Traditional Lunch

Team up with the driver guide after breakfast at your place of stay to embark on the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park 417km about 7 hours drive.

This is a long drive but the magical stops and amazing sights will make rewarding. The first stop is made at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe 77km from Kampala to explore the world’s main latitude crossing that partitions the world into two equal parts – the northern and southern hemispheres.

The water experiments can be made to justify this geographical divide. The site is magical for photography and features good craft shops where you can secure a souvenir.

You proceed on the drive; enjoy the good views of the Ankole rangelands dotted with the beautiful Ankole long horned cows before making a traditional lunch stop at Igongo Cultural center.

The food is fresh and organic after which you proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park and if time allows, you can do an evening game drive before retiring for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge / Kyambura Game Lodge / Katara Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge / Marafiki Safari Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages

Day 2: Do Morning Game Drive in The Plains of Kasenyi, Afternoon River Safari Along Kazinga Channel and Evening Game Drive Along The Channel Track

After an early breakfast at the lodge, embark on the game drive in the Kasenyi plains for extensive wild game viewing.

The savannah landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park feature a range of wild game including the big four of the African Big five namely; Lions, Leopards, Elephants and Buffaloes.

The other magical wild game including the defassa waterbucks, the Topis, the Bushbucks, Uganda Kobs, Primates like Vervet monkeys and Olive Baboons among others which might be explored as well.

The activity lasts 3 – 4 hours after which you retreat to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, you embark on the boat safari along the 45km long Kazinga Channel departing at 2pm.

The boat ride offers you chances of exploring the water dwelling species like the Nile Crocodiles and Hippos.

The wild game like elephants, Buffaloes and a range of antelopes tend to be drinking on the channel shores.

The 2 hour activity is a thrilling encounter contributing to lasting safari memories. Retreat from the activity and drive along the channel shores for more wild game viewing as you connect to the lodge to relax, dinner and overnight

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge / Kyambura Game Lodge / Katara Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge / Marafiki Safari Lodge
Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Do game drive in Ishasha sector to the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of tree climbing lions

You embark on the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park and depending on the region where your will be heading; it is 160km to Buhoma, 218km to Ruhija, 309km to the southern regions of Rushaga and Nkuringo.

An en route game drive in Ishasha sector presents opportunity for exploring the tree climbing lions that tend to lie in the fig trees during day time.

The short trees of Ishasha present a clear viewing experience and during the drive more wild game can be explored as well.

Proceed on the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge / Buhoma Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp / Gorilla Valley Lodge
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp

Day 4: Do Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable NP & Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

After breakfast, you gather at the respective gorilla trekking region for briefing starting at 8am. The gorilla families are allocated and the briefing is made accordingly by the Uganda Wildlife Authority Park Rangers after which you embark on the trek in the jungle in search of these gentle giants.

The trekking encounter takes you through the steep densely forested hills of Bwindi, deep valleys and natural flowing streams while being entertained by the magical jungle sounds including the enchanting bird songs.

You are in the company of an armed ranger guide who extends a complete themed interpretation of the various features that you come across.

You eventually encounter the critically endangered apes thriving in their natural habitat and it will be a lifetime wonder to explore them as they forage, play, socialise and make a range of sounds and signs.

This direct viewing lasts for one hour after which you retreat from the activity. The whole trekking duration in Bwindi can last between 2 – 8 hours depending on how far the gorilla family allocated has moved.

You transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with impressive sightseeing in Kigezi Highlands arriving in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Travellers Rest Kisoro
Budget / Basic: Amajambere iwacu Community Camp

Day 5: Do Golden Monkey Tracking and Cross to Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, you embark on the golden Monkey tracking departing at 8am from Ntebeko visitor centre.

The Golden Monkeys are among the endangered species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list and are known to thrive to thrive in the Virunga massif and the Gishwati Forest National Park in Rwanda.

The golden monkey track lasts 4 hours and involves trekking through the verdant jungle on the slopes of Mount Gahinga including the Bamboo forest where the golden monkeys commonly dwell.

You retreat from the trek and embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda through the Chanika border.

The sights of the Virunga Mountain landscape which is a chaing of eight Volcanic Mountains are magical to explore. Arrive in Ruhenger in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mount Gorilla View Lodge / Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge / Virunga Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Hotel La Palme / Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel

Day 6: Do Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Transfer to Kigali

You gather at Kinigi to catch up with gorilla family allocation and briefing starting at 8am. The earlier arrival offers you chances of viewing the traditional Kinyarwanda performances at the site and enjoying the warm cup of the Rwandan coffee.

After briefing, you embark on the hike through the jungle of Volcanoes whose vegetation is comparably shorter to that of Bwindi and thus has better viewing opportunities.

Apart from the group which dwells on the higher layers of Mount Karisimbi, most of the gorilla families in Rwanda are on lower slopes thus easier to trek.

The gorilla viewing lasts for one hour while the entire trek can last 2 – 8 hours depending on the gorilla movements.

Retreat from the encounter and embark on the transfer to Kigali 116km about 2 – 3 hours drive enjoying the scenic countryside.

End of the 6 Days Combined Uganda Wildlife Safari Tour Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris

Safari Inclusions

• Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
• Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari
• Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)

Safari Exclusions

• General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
• Laundry Services
• Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
• International Flights (Arranged on request)
• Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
• Visas
• Optional Activity fees
• Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
• Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
• Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)