10-Day Best of Rwanda & Uganda , Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Safari

Welcome to Rwanda.

On arrival at Kigali International Airport, meet your safari representative and transfer to your hotel.

The remainder of the day is primarily reserved for rest after your journey.

For guests arriving early, an optional Kigali city tour can be arranged. Depending on current opening arrangements and your interests, the tour may include selected historical and cultural sites.

The source itinerary includes the Presidential Museum and Kigali Genocide Memorial. Any visit to the Genocide Memorial should be approached respectfully and with sufficient time rather than fitted hurriedly between airport arrival and other activities.

Return to your hotel afterwards and spend the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, leave Kigali and travel north towards Musanze and Volcanoes National Park.

As you leave the capital, the landscape changes to cultivated hills and increasingly mountainous scenery as you approach the Virunga region.

Arrive at your lodge, check in and spend some time relaxing.

Later in the afternoon, take part in a guided cultural experience with local community hosts, where you can learn about aspects of Rwandan traditions, music, dance and everyday cultural practices.

Travellers who prefer a quieter afternoon can instead remain at the lodge and prepare for the following morning’s golden monkey trek.

After an early breakfast, transfer to the designated briefing point for golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park.

Meet your ranger guides and receive instructions before entering the forest in search of a habituated golden monkey group.

Follow the guides through bamboo rich habitat while looking and listening for the monkeys. Once located, observe their behaviour during the permitted viewing period while following your ranger’s instructions.

After completing the trek, return for lunch before beginning the journey towards Uganda.

Travel to the border, complete the necessary immigration formalities and continue through the highlands of southwestern Uganda towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Arrive later in the day and check in at your lodge.

After an early breakfast, transfer to your designated gorilla trekking briefing point.

Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers will explain the trekking procedures, safety guidelines and appropriate behaviour around the gorillas before you enter the forest.

Accompanied by ranger guides and trackers, begin your trek in search of your assigned habituated mountain gorilla family.

The duration and difficulty vary according to the gorillas’ location, weather and trail conditions. Trekkers should be prepared for hills, dense vegetation, uneven ground and potentially muddy conditions.

Once the gorillas are located, observe the family for the regulated viewing period while following the instructions of your ranger guides.

After completing the trek, return to your lodge.

Depending on trekking finish time and your energy levels, a Batwa cultural experience may be arranged later in the day. Community hosts can introduce visitors to aspects of Batwa heritage, forest knowledge, music, storytelling and contemporary community life.

After breakfast, leave Bwindi and travel towards Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The journey takes you through the Ishasha sector, an area particularly known for lions that are sometimes seen resting in large trees.

Explore suitable wildlife areas with your driver-guide while searching for lions, elephants, buffaloes, topis and other species.

Tree-climbing lion sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Continue to your lodge later in the day and spend the evening at leisure.

Begin the day with an early morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains and surrounding wildlife areas.

Explore the savannah with your driver guide, looking for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and other wildlife. Predators such as lions may also be encountered, although sightings vary.

Return to the lodge for lunch and some time to rest.

In the afternoon, head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat safari.

The channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and provides excellent opportunities to observe wildlife around the water.

Look for hippos, Nile crocodiles and numerous waterbirds, while elephants, buffaloes and other animals may also be seen along the shoreline.

Return to your lodge after the cruise.

After breakfast, travel to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee tracking.

Meet your ranger guide for a briefing before entering the forested gorge in search of chimpanzees.

Tracking duration and sightings vary, and chimpanzees should not be presented as guaranteed. The forest also supports other primates, birds and wildlife that may be encountered during the activity.

After completing the trek, begin the journey north towards Hoima.

This overnight stop breaks up the longer journey between Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.

Arrive in Hoima later in the day and check in at your hotel.

After breakfast, continue towards Murchison Falls National Park.

Enter the park and travel towards your accommodation.

Depending on arrival time and park logistics, head out for an afternoon game drive.

Explore the savannah with your driver guide, searching for giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, hartebeests, antelopes and other wildlife. Lions may also be encountered.

Return to your lodge later in the day for dinner and overnight.

Begin early with a morning game drive through Murchison Falls National Park.

Explore the northern savannah areas with your driver guide, searching for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and predators while also watching for the park’s varied birdlife.

Return for lunch and some time to rest.

Later, board a boat for a safari along the Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls.

Watch the riverbanks for hippos, Nile crocodiles and waterbirds. Elephants, buffaloes and other wildlife may also be seen near the river.

As the boat approaches the falls, enjoy views towards the point where the Nile narrows dramatically before passing through the rocky gorge.

Return to your lodge after the cruise.

After an early breakfast, leave Murchison Falls and travel south towards Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

On arrival, meet your ranger guide for a guided rhino tracking experience on foot.

Following a safety briefing, walk through the sanctuary in search of white rhinos while maintaining the required distance and following the ranger’s instructions.

The experience also provides an opportunity to learn about rhino conservation in Uganda.

After tracking, stop for lunch before continuing towards Entebbe.

Your driver guide will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport or another agreed drop off point.