The 12-day Uganda-Rwanda combined safari starts in Kigali, the Capital, and ends in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. This safari offers you a great opportunity to visit the gorillas twice in both countries, birding, an incredible primate trekking experience, boat trips, cultural excursions, City tours, and big-game drives, among others.

Upon arrival in Kigali, you will meet your driver-guide at the airport and transfer to Parc National des Volcans. If time allows, we can take a tour of Kigali city; visit the Genocide memorial site, local markets, local art and crafts, among others. The 2-hour journey to PNV passes through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterise much of Rwanda’s landscape. Check in at Wilderness Bisate Lodge / My Hill Eco-Lodge / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Le Bambou Lodge / Tiloreza Volcanoes Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Wake up early and prepare for today’s incredible experience of Gorilla trekking adventure. We shall assemble at Park Headquarters with a packed lunch, attend a briefing on the Dos and Don’ts while with the gorillas. Tracking gorillas takes 1-6 hours, depending on their movements. You will stay with these Giant apes for 1 hr for observation and photographing. Descend to the hotel for a rest, and if the evening is free, we can have a walk to nearby communities, interact with them and learn more about their culture. Dinner and overnight stay at DAY1.

Have breakfast at the lodge and start our excursion to the grave of Diana Fossey, the American primatologist. This is situated at the former Karisoke Research Centre, where Diana spent about 20 years studying and habituating the Mountain Gorillas. The trek to the site is quite spectacular, through a bamboo forest and thick Afro-montane habitats, crisscrossed by trails with tracks of forest buffalo and elephants. You will be exposed to several primates and birds as you make your way up and down to Karisoke, nestled between the volcanic peaks of Karismbi and Visoke. Overnight as on DAY 1.

Have breakfast, depart Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, for Lake Bunyonyi in southwestern Uganda, famous for its beautiful islands and prolific birdlife. Settle into Arcadia Cottages or Bird Nest Resort, and relax as we wait for lunch. Join a canoe ride in the afternoon to experience excellent bird-watching, and visit the beautiful Islands of Lake Bunyonyi—dinner and overnight.

Breakfast followed by a scenic drive to Buhoma in the north of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Keep your eyes out for beautiful scenery and take fantastic photos. Arrive at the lodge for lunch and enjoy entertainment from the Batwa people (Pygmies). Dinner, and overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge, Orugano Bwindi Lodge, Gorilla Close Up Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp or Gorilla Mist Camp.

After early breakfast, we shall proceed to the park offices with a packed lunch for a briefing about the Dos and Don’ts while with gorillas. Gorilla Tracking can take 2-9 hours, depending on their movements. Tracking involves walking up steep and densely forested hills before finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation. You will stay with these Giant apes for 1 hour for observation and photography. Relax in the evening as we wait for dinner and an overnight stay.

Take breakfast and set off to Queen Elizabeth Park. The journey takes you through beautiful rolling hills and the Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth, a home for tree-climbing lions. Lunch at Mweya and proceed for a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel, famous for the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa. Birdlife is prolific, with over 610 species and hundreds of Nile crocodiles. You will also see herds of elephants and buffalo drinking water on the channel. The boat provides a clear platform for photographing. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Irungu Forest Safari Lodge / Katara Lodge / Enganzi Lodge / Kyambura Gorge Lodge.

Breakfast at your lodge, then proceed for Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge. The activity starts at 08:00 hours and ends in the afternoon. The afternoon shift starts from 14:00hrs to 17:00hrs. Chimps here are quite mobile, and viewing is unpredictable, but the walk is enchanting. During the trek, expect encounters with other primates such as Baboons, Red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, Vervets, Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys, and Giant forest hogs, among others. Return to the lodge for lunch and proceed for an evening game drive along Mweya peninsula before sunset—dinner and overnight as on DAY 7.

Wake up early for a cup of tea or coffee and take a morning game drive to Kasenyi plains to catch up with early risers and predators returning to their hideouts. You will be exposed to a wide variety of animals, including elephants, buffalo, Warthogs, several Antelope species, Lions, leopards, and more. Return to your lodge for a full breakfast, then relax as we wait for lunch.
Depart Queen Elizabeth for Kibale forest following the Rwenzori ranges. The journey will reward you with big-game viewing en route. Dinner and overnight at Chimpundu Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Turaco Tree-tops, Crater Safari Lodge, or Papaya Lake Lodge.

Have an early breakfast and assemble at Kanyankyu Park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. This is home to 13 primate species, including Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys, Red-Tailed Monkeys, Mangabeys, Giant Forest Hogs, Olive Baboons, and Blue Monkeys, among others. BirdLife is prolific, with about 350 bird species. Lunch at your lodge, relax and then proceed for a nature walk around Bisgodi Swamps to see antelopes like the sitatungas, 8 primate species, and over 200 bird species, including the rare shoebill—dinner and overnight as on DAY 9.

We can also take a night forest walk in Kibale Forest to catch a glimpse of night dwellers.

Breakfast, then hit the road to Kampala (7 hours). Checkin Kampala Forest Cottages or Skyz Hotel, Naguru.

Depending on your flight time, you may have a city tour in Kampala, visit Kasubi Tombs, Bahai Temple, or Nakasero Fruit Market before connecting to Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled onward flight.

End of the Safari

This safari quotation includes;

– Airport transfers
– Full Board Accommodation throughout the trip
– All Park entry fees and activities as per the itinerary
– Gorilla permits
– Chimpanzee Permits
– Private transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for excellent game viewing and photographing.
– Services of a professional English-speaking guide.

EXCLUDED ARE;
– Flights, Visas, Extra night accommodations in Kampala, personal expenses like tips for staff, Laundry and beverages