12 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari – Best Long Gorilla Trekking

12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari is one of the best long safaris you should consider a must to book. This tour package introduces important wildlife safari parks in Uganda and Rwanda including Kibale Forest National Park the primate capital of the world for chimpanzee habituation experience, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Volcanoes National Park for you to enjoy mesmerizing gorilla trekking experiences.

Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Other than primates, the 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari also takes you to a splendid Queen Elizabeth National Park for remarkable game drives and boat cruises. Queen Elizabeth National Park protects 4 of the big five game and much other wildlife including antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, 620 bird species, etc. On a 12 day Uganda Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, your trip will begin in Kampala/Entebbe and ends in Kigali Rwanda.

Brief itinerary for the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safari

  • Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport (EBB)in Uganda
  • Day 2: Safari to Kibale Forest National Park (KFNP)
  • Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience/CHEX
  • Day 4: Wildlife safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park/QENP
  • Day 5: Game drives, Boat/launch cruise QENP
  • Day 6: Game drive, pass via Ishasha area to see tree climbing lions & go to Bwindi
  • Day 7: Visit Batwa pygmy community
  • Day 8: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 9: Buhoma village walk in Bwindi
  • Day 10: Bwindi to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
  • Day 11: Gorilla trekking or Dian Fossey tomb hike
  • Day 12: Departure from Kigali Airport

Detailed itinerary of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport in Uganda

Day one of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, fly to Entebbe International Airport (EBB), get a warm welcome into the Pearl of Africa. After briefing about your long trip in Uganda and Rwanda, transfer to a hotel in Entebbe/Kampala.

Accommodation: Luxury/Upmarket: Protea Hotel Entebbe/Sheraton Hotel Kampala, Midrange: Cassia Lodge/Fairway Hotel, Basic: Central Inn Entebbe/Ruch Hotel

Day 2: Kibale Forest National Park

After an early morning breakfast served from your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala, meet your Uganda safari guide for transfer to Kibale National Park in Kabarole District, Western Uganda. This will be 5-6 hours of driving and you will take the Kampala-Mityana-Mubende-Kyenjonjo-Fort Portal City route. Enjoy the picturesque landscape of the countryside characterized by extensive tea plantations, settle for lunch at Fort Portal City.

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park

After lunch, have half an hour’s drive up to Kibale Forest National Park where 13 primate species including 1500 chimpanzees all live. Check into your pre-booked accommodation in Kibale for evening relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.

Accommodations: Luxury:Upmarket: Ndali Lodge/Crater Safari Lodge/Primate Lodge, Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp/Chimps Nest, Basic: Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve and Community Campsite

Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

Have breakfast early, after, leave your place of stay for a briefing about the chimpanzee habituation experience. The briefing is done at Kanyanchu Tourist Centre and after, set off for a long day of following chimpanzees, interacting with them, learning in-depth about their behaviors, taking pictures, where possible name them.

You embark on a CHEX expedition with trackers/researchers etc. It is a distinct experience where semi-habituated chimpanzee communities are made used to human presence. You will have lunch in the jungles and proceed with your exploration then walk back for an overnight stay at the lodge.

Accommodation: Luxury:Upmarket: Ndali Lodge/Crater Safari Lodge/Primate Lodge, Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp/Chimps Nest, Basic: Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve and Community Campsite

Day 4: Wildlife Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Have an early breakfast at the lodge and after, you will leave Kibale for Queen Elizabeth National Park while enjoying the breathtaking views of Crater Lakes on your 3-4 hours’ road trip. Drive via Fort Portal city, connect to Kasese, cross via the Equator where you will have a chance to take some pictures and as you go to check into your lodge, enjoy the sight of wildlife species like elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, birds, etc.

6 days Uganda Safari

Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Arrive early, have lunch, and relax before undertaking an afternoon game drive on the Kasenyi game track or a launch cruise on Kazinga Channel that connects Lake Edward & Lake George. A boat cruise on this channel guarantees you a clear view of its basking Nile crocodiles, hippos, aquatic birds, etc.

Accommodations: Luxury/Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mid-range: Kyambura Gorge, Basic: Bush Lodge

Day 5: Game drives, Boat/launch cruise Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5 of your 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari shall begin with an early morning breakfast. After, go enjoy a 3-4 hours game drive on the Kasenyi wildlife track of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Today’s possible sightings are countless ranging from bush elephants, cape buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, birds, lions, and a general distinct landscape. Drive back while still sighting for more and settle for lunch at the pre-booked accommodation.

Later in the after, have the best of Kazinga Channel launch cruise to see basking crocodiles, hippos, birds like fish eagles, kingfishers. Return to your accommodation for the rest of the evening relaxation, overnight stay.

Accommodations: Luxury/Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mid-range: Kyambura Gorge, Basic: Bush Lodge

Day 6: Game drive, pass via Ishasha area to see tree climbing lions & go to Bwindi

Have breakfast early and after, leave the lodge for an early morning guided game drive along with the Ishasha sector which is significant for tree climbing lion watching. Other wildlife species will also be sighted including elephants, birds and then you drive to Savanna Hotel for lunch stopover.

After, drive to Bwindi National Park in Kabale, Southwestern Uganda a home to 120 mammal species which include 459 mountain gorillas, 160 tree species, 360 bird species, 200 butterfly species.

Accommodations: Luxury/Upmarket: Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge, Midrange: Gorilla Valley Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Broadbill Forest Camp

Day 7: Visit Batwa pygmy community

After a hefty breakfast served to you at the lodge, expect to pay a visit to the Batwa pygmy community. This will take you through unforgettable cultural interaction with the Batwa pygmies the original forest dwellers who spent at least 500000 years as hunters and gatherers in Bwindi. Presently, the Batwa are a marginalized group around Mgahinga and Bwindi N/Parks. After your Batwa encounter, return to have dinner and a night stay at pre-booked lodge or camp.

Accommodations: Luxury/Upmarket: Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge, Midrange: Gorilla Valley Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Broadbill Forest Camp

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking

Day 8 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari mainly takes you through mountain gorilla trekking. Trekking mountain gorillas start early after briefing about rules and regulations, get allocated to a gorilla family in Bwindi, and later, park guide leads you to look for habituated gorilla groups starting at 8:00 am.

 

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour

Gorilla Trekking

The trek is likely to take you 2-6 hours and it includes a special one hour which you will spend face to face with massive mountain gorillas in the wild. Return to briefing point to be awarded gorilla trekking certificate depending on the region-either Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, or Rushaga.

Accommodations: Luxury/Upmarket: Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge, Midrange: Gorilla Valley Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Broadbill Forest Camp

Day 9: Buhoma village walk in Bwindi

On the 9th day of 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, you will have the best of your breakfast, and after, undertake Batwa village walk. Explore more about the project which is run by local residents in the Buhoma region, in the Northern part of Bwindi.

Visiting Buhoma village is a great opportunity to support community development or initiatives. You will start your walk from the Buhoma community rest camp which was purposely established to benefit the local residents of the area. Later, walk back to relax, dine and spend a night at your respective pre-booked lodges.

Accommodations: Luxury/Upmarket: Chameleon Hill Lodge/Buhoma Lodge, Midrange: Gorilla Valley Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp/Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Broadbill Forest Camp

Day 10: Bwindi to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park

Enjoy a hefty breakfast and after, vacate Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for 3-4 hours’ drive to Volcanoes National Park, Northwestern Rwanda. Arrive early to check into your accommodation of choice at PNV in Ruhengeri.

Accommodations: Luxury/Upmarket: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Midrange: La Palme Hotel/Gorilla Nest Lodge/Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel, Basic: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse etc

Day 11: Gorilla trekking or Dian Fossey tomb hike

On the 11th day of the 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari, wake up for an early breakfast, and after, leave the lodge for briefing about gorilla trekking regulations or Dian Fossey hike or golden monkey tracking. After your primate adventure or Dian Fossey trek, walk back and check out of the lodge ready to hit the road 2-3 hours to Kigali.

Accommodations: Luxury/Upmarket: Kigali Serengeti Hotel/Kigali Marriott Hotel, Midrange: Galaxy Hotel Kigali/Five to Five Hotel/Hotel Beausejour, Basic: Cozy Safari Lodge/Airport First Choice Luxury Motel/Heaven Restaurant & Boutique

Day 12: Departure from Kigali Airport

Have breakfast early, check out of the lodge, and be driven to Kigali Airport for your departure marking the end of the 12 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari.

End of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safari

Inclusions

  • A 4WD vehicle with a full-time English speaking guide in Uganda & Rwanda
  • Gorilla permits-Uganda, Rwanda
  • Game drive
  • 11 nights and meals
  • Chimp habituation permits
  • Park entrance fees
  • Bottled water
  • Dian Fossey tomb trek
  • Launch cruise

Exclusions

  • Insurance
  • Airfares
  • Visas
  • Tips
  • Other accommodation rates
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Laundry
  • Addition activities
  • shopping

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