10 Days Uganda and Rwanda gorilla tracking Safari
The 10 days Uganda and Rwanda gorilla tracking safari will take you to two countries for an opportunity to compare gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda and also an opportunity to see the big five animals in their natural habitats. Some of the national parks you will be visiting include Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth Park, Bwindi National park and Volcanoes national park of Rwanda. 10 Days Uganda and Rwanda safari, offers you an opportunity to see the big five animals and also track gorillas and chimpanzees in their nature habitat.
Summary of Itinerary
- Day 1: Depart Kampala to Transfer to Murchison Falls National park
- Day 2: Game Drives and Boat ride
- Day 3: Transfer to Hoima
- Day 4; Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 5: Game drives / Boat ride
- Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Sector / Transfer to Bwindi National Park
- Day 7: Gorilla Tracking
- Day 8: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 9: Gorilla Tracking
- Day 10: Transfer to Kigali. End of 10 days Tour.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1; – Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
A representative from AA safaris and tours will pick you up from your hotel in Kampala and drive towards the Northern part of Uganda to start the Uganda Safari section of the tour. You will pass via Luwero and then Masindi . Visit the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary a home to some of the rescued Rhinos . You will indulge in Rhino tracking and then have lunch . After transfer to Murchison falls NP. Murchison Falls National Park is a magnificent Savanna Wildlife National Park found in North western Uganda.
Murchison falls park covers 3,840km2 and has the most intense concentration of animals along the river. The park has the spectacular Murchison Falls where the River Nile plunges itself into a narrow gorge 48 from a 7 metres wide crevice – an amazing outlook!. The park has a variety of vegetation ranging from riparian forests and swamp lands to broad savannah and it provides the opportunity of seeing many of the animals found in Uganda almost all Uganda’s National Parks .
In the southern section of the park is the beautiful Budongo Forest which harbors a variety of primates that include Chimpanzee. Dinner and over night at
Budget – Red Chillis Camp / Bush Lodge
Standard- Sambiya River Lodge Cottages / Pakuba Lodge
Luxury –Paraa safari Lodge / Chobe Lodge
Super Luxury: Nile Safari lodge
Day 2; Game drive and Boat cruise on the Nile.
Take a cup of coffee or tea to warm up for your early morning game drive. You will then transfer to the northern sector of Murchison Falls Np. Indulge in a game drive. Your driver guide will help you search and spot the savannah wildlife in this park that include; giraffe, Elephants, Hyenas, the Uganda Kob , bush backs, water bucks, leopards, oribi and many other animals, birds like the crested crane, black and white eagle will be seen along the search and if you are lucky , you will encounter the legendary shoe bill and many other animals. Return to the lodge for mid morning breakfast and then relax as you wait for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will assemble at the starting point of the launch for a cruise along the Victoria Nile. The River Nile is a home to one of Africa’s densest hippo and crocodile populations and a stunning diversity of water birds which include the world’s most accessible wild population of the rare shoebill stork. The rangers will give you a clearer explanation whilst on the boat after which you will reach the bottom of the falls. A sight of the crocodiles sun bathing as well as hippos yawning offers an exhilarating experience.
You will return to your accommodation for dinner and over night.
Day 3- Transfer to Hoima
In the morning after breakfast, you will depart Murchison Falls National park to transfer to Hoima. Time permitting, you may go visit Lake Albert and the fishing communities around. Being a long drive, you can opt to just stay at your hotel and relax as you prepare for the drive the next day.
Dinner and over night at Hoima Cultural Lodge or Kikonko Lodge.
Day 4; – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
You will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth Np. The 1978Km2 Queen Elizabeth park is strategically located on the rift valley floor in between Lake Edward and George where a medley of habitat supports 95 mammal species and an extraordinary assortment of avian species above 612 . 40 years ago, Douglas Willock 2nd lieutenant in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry described Queen Elizabeth Np as a home of diverse features. The park forms part of an extensive system of contiguous protected areas which include the Kyambura Wildlife reserve, Kalinzu Forest reserve as well as Kyambura game reserve and it is neighbored by Kibale park and the 2000 Km 2DRC’s Virunga National Park.
Rwenzori national park a is also nearer to the park as well as Bwindi National park. You will arrive in the late afternoon and have lunch after which you will indulge in an evening game drive. The game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park will expose you to several unique Animals that Queen Elizabeth harbours amongst which is the Elephants, Leopards, Hartebeests , Lions, Hyenas, bufallos, the Legendary Eland and Topis and many more.
The bird species that you may spot include the Martial eagle, Chapin’s Flycather, pink-backed buttonquail, African Skimmer , pin-backed pelican , white winged webler among others. You will later retire for dinner and over night at
Budget – Bush lodge / Simba safari Camp
Standard – Ihamba safari Lodge or Hippo Hill Camp/ Marafiki Safari Lodge
Luxury – Mweya safari Lodge / Kyambura Game lodge / Elephant Plains Hotel
Day 5;- Game drives in Queen Elizabeth and launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel
Having taken a cup of tea or coffee to warm up, you will then head to Kasenyi for an early morning game drive. You will search for those animals that you may have missed out in the evening game drive with the aid of your driver guide. Return to the lodge for mid morning breakfast and then relax as you wait for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go for a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel. The 40km long canal connects Lake George to Lake Edward and gives the park a major wildlife display. Its banks attract a big number of birds, mammals and reptiles all year around. It is here that most animals come to take water while a bird watcher will be on a treat of so many migrant and non migrant birds just standing on the bank – an amazing eye catch! The guide on the boat will provide you will details of all encounters. Dinner and over night at your lodge.
Day 6; Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura – Transfer to Bwindi.
Wake up early enough to take breakfast and drive to the starting points of Chimpanzee trekking. You will indulge in chimpanzee tracking in either the Kyambura gorge or Kalinzu depending on availability of chimpanzee permits. Subject to booking chimpanzee permits in advance.
The Kyambura wildlife reserve protected the southern bank of the Kazinga channel and it has 4 crater lakes in which 1000s of flamingos occasionally assemble. It is where the Kyambura Gorge is found. The 100m deep gorge carved by the Kyambura rivers is a home of the few left and threatened Chimpanzees.
After the chimpanzee tracking, you will then embark on the 5 to 6 hours drive to Bwindi. The time depends on where you are tracking gorillas.
Budget – Buhoma Community Bandas/ Bwindi View Bandas / Gorilla Valley Lodge / Travellers Rest Hotel
Mid Range: Ichumbi Safari lodge, / Four Gorillas Hotel / Gorilla leisure Hotel
Standard Engagi lodge / Buhoma lodge / Nkuringo safari Lodge / Gorilla safari Lodge
Luxury- Gorilla Forest camp/ Clouds lodge / Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge.
Day 7; Gorilla tracking day
Take your early morning breakfast and don’t forget to carry your packed lunch. You will then gather for update and briefing from the ranger guides. Your guides will take care of all the formalities needed about gorilla permits. The rangers will then lead you to the forest for Gorilla trekking. The time taken to search for and find the gorillas is unpredictable . This is because you will be tracking gorillas in their own habitat and sometimes finding them depends on how they move to look for food in their habitat. The encounter is an amazing experience.
You will be privileged to spend some time with the only few left endangered gorillas and after return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8; Transfer to Volcanoes National Park- Rwanda.
Volcanoes National park was gazetted in order to protect gorillas from being poached, it is a small area surrounded by Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno and the very first absolute national park to be created in Africa.
Dian Fossey an American naturalist also used this park as a base for her research into gorilla in 1967, she also set up the Karisoke Research Centre between Karisimbi and Bisoke. She spent most of her time in the park, she would spend an hour in the park watching them do their daily routines like feeding, playing and resting. She managed to save so many gorillas from extinction for which she credited. Unfortunately she was assassinated by unknown assailants in 1985. The drive from Bwindi to Volcanoes national park will take about 4 to 5 hours arriving in the afternoon.
Dinner and over night at ;
Budget accommodation: Kinigi Guest Hotel, Muhabura Guest house in Musanze
Mid-range / Moderate / Standard accommodation: MT Gorilla view lodge, Le Bambou Hotel
Luxury accommodation: Virunga lodge or Sabyinyo silverback lodge
Day 9; Gorilla safari Rwanda
This morning you will assemble at the park headquarters for briefing from game rangers as your driver carries on the formalities for gorilla safari You will start the trek from your allocated families. Through the forest you will start the search for the gorillas and then on meeting them, you are allowed to spend 1 hour following them and taking pictures. Dinner and Overnight at your previous Hotel.
Day 10; Transfer to Kigali.
Take your breakfast, and then embark on the 2 and half hours journey to Kigali. You will then catch your onward flight back home. End of the 10 Days Uganda and Rwanda gorilla tracking safari. To book this Safari Visit fill in our contact Form