7 Day Rwanda and Uganda Primate Safari

7-day Rwanda and Uganda primate safari combines mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda, golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park, wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park. The safari starts in Kigali and crosses into Uganda, offering a strong primate and wildlife route in one week. You begin with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, one of the best places to track mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. The journey then continues into Uganda through Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale Forest. This itinerary is ideal for travellers who want gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, savannah wildlife and scenic landscapes without taking a very long safari.

Rwanda and Uganda Primate Safari
Rwanda and Uganda Primate Safari

Safari Highlights

  • Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
  • Golden monkey trekking in the Virunga foothills
  • Scenic cross-border route from Rwanda into Uganda
  • Lake Bunyonyi overnight stay after the Rwanda primate experience
  • Search for tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector
  • Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Kazinga Channel boat cruise for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and birds
  • Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park
  • Private driver guide throughout the safari
  • Good route for travellers combining Rwanda and Uganda in one week

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1, Kigali Arrival and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

On arrival in Kigali, your driver guide will meet you at the  Airport or your hotel. You will receive a short safari briefing before starting the journey to Volcanoes National Park. If time allows, you may take a short Kigali city visit. This can include the Kigali Genocide Memorial or a local market visit, depending on your arrival time. The drive to Musanze takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, passing through Rwanda’s rolling hills and farming communities. On arrival, check in at your lodge near Volcanoes National Park and prepare for the gorilla trekking experience the next morning. Accommodation options: Budget option: Kinigi Guest House or Muhabura Lodge, Mid-range option: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge or Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Luxury option: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge or Virunga Volcanoes Lodge

Day 2, Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, transfer to the Park headquarters for registration and briefing. Ranger guides will explain the trekking rules, health guidelines and group allocation before you are assigned a gorilla family. After briefing, your guide will drive you to the trailhead where the forest walk begins. The trek can take 2 to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are feeding or moving that day. The walk may pass through bamboo forest, farmland edges, thick vegetation and volcanic slopes. Once the gorillas are located, you spend one hour with the family. You may see a silverback, females with infants, young gorillas playing, feeding behaviour and quiet family interaction. Flash photography is not allowed, and visitors must follow the ranger’s distance and safety instructions. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and rest. If time allows, an optional visit to the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo can be arranged at an extra cost. Dinner and overnight stay near Volcanoes National Park.

Day 3, Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, return to the park headquarters for the golden monkey trekking briefing. Golden monkeys are active, fast-moving and are commonly seen in the bamboo forest. This experience is usually lighter than gorilla trekking, but it is still very rewarding, especially for photography. You may watch them feeding, jumping between branches and moving in groups through the forest. After the golden monkey experience, return for lunch and begin the cross-border transfer into Uganda. You will drive towards Kabale and continue to Lake Bunyonyi, one of Uganda’s most scenic lake. Lake Bunyonyi gives you a quiet overnight stop between the Rwanda primate experience and the wildlife part of the safari. The area is known for its terraced hills, islands and calm lake views. Dinner and overnight stay near Lake Bunyonyi. Accommodation options: Budget option: Bunyonyi Overland Resort or Bushara Island Camp, Mid-range option: Arcadia Cottages Lake Bunyonyi, Luxury option: BirdNest Resort or a similar lakeside property

Golden Monkey Trekking Rwanda
Golden Monkey Trekking Rwanda

Day 4, Ishasha Tree Climbing Lions and Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, leave Lake Bunyonyi and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The route passes through the scenic landscapes of southwestern Uganda before reaching the Ishasha sector, the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha is known for its tree-climbing lions, although sightings depend on the day’s wildlife movement and conditions. You will take a game drive through Ishasha, looking for lions, buffalo, topi, elephants and other wildlife. If weather and timing allow, lunch can be arranged along the route before continuing towards the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive in Mweya, Kasenyi or another lodge in the evening. Check in, relax and prepare for the next day’s wildlife activities. Dinner and overnight stay near Queen Elizabeth National Park. Accommodation options: Budget option: Simba Safari Camp or Bush Lodge, Mid-range option: Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge or Parkview Safari Lodge, Luxury option: Mweya Safari Lodge or Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Day 5, Kasenyi Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Wake up early for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park this time in the Kasenyi plains, one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the park. This area has open grassland and a strong population of Uganda kob, which often attracts predators. Your guide will search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks and other savannah wildlife. The early morning hours are best because animals are more active before the heat of the day. Return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. The channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is one of the best places in Uganda for relaxed wildlife viewing. You may see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and many water birds along the shores. After the boat cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

kazinga channel boat cruise
kazinga channel boat cruise

Day 6, Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking and Fort Portal

After breakfast, drive to Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking. You will report to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing before entering the forest with ranger guides. The trek can vary depending on where the chimpanzees are feeding or moving, but Kibale is one of Uganda’s strongest chimpanzee tracking destinations. Once the chimpanzees are located, you spend one hour observing them. You may see them feeding, grooming, calling, playing or moving through the forest canopy. Kibale Forest also supports other primates such as red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys, so the forest walk adds more than one wildlife sighting. After the trek, continue to Fort Portal or your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Accommodation options: Budget option, Chimpanzee Guest House or a simple Fort Portal guesthouse, Mid-range option: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Luxury option: Primate Lodge Kibale or Ndali Lodge

Day 7, Return to Kampala or Entebbe

After breakfast, begin the return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours depending on road conditions, traffic and stops along the way. If time allows, you may stop at Mpambire Drum Makers or another suitable roadside craft stop before continuing to Entebbe International Airport or your hotel. For same-day international flights, choose a late evening departure to allow enough time for the road transfer. This marks the end of your 7-day Rwanda and Uganda primate safari.

 Inclusions and Exclusions 

Inclusions

  • Kigali airport or hotel pickup
  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle
  • English-speaking driver guide
  • Cross-border transfer from Rwanda into Uganda
  • 6 nights accommodation
  • Meals
  • Bottled drinking water during transfers
  • Gorilla permit
  • Golden monkey permit
  • Chimpanzee permit
  • Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Kazinga Channel boat cruise
  • Park  entry fees
  • Drop-off in Kampala or Entebbe

Exclusions

  • International flights
  • East African Tourist Visa
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for driver guides, rangers, trackers, porters and lodge staff
  • Personal drinks, laundry and calls
  • Optional Twin Lakes visit
  • Optional cultural visits or extra activities
  • Extra accommodation before or after the safari
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