12 Day Uganda Rwanda Primates and Gorilla Safari
A 12-day Uganda Rwanda primate safari is designed for travellers who want a complete cross-border journey combining gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys and classic wildlife in one itinerary. The safari starts in Uganda with rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, game drives and a Nile boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, Kyambura Gorge and wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It then continues to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking before crossing into Rwanda through the Cyanika border. In Rwanda, the route includes golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park, a cultural visit near Musanze, Nyungwe Forest chimpanzee trekking, the canopy walk and a Kigali city tour before departure. This itinerary works well for travellers who want a richer East Africa primate safari with varied landscapes, several trekking days, wildlife viewing, boat cruises and a logical Uganda to Rwanda route.
Safari highlights
Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Game drive and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
Additional chimp experience in Kyambura Gorge
Wildlife viewing and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Cultural visit in Rwanda
Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park
Kigali city tour before departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1, Ziwa Rhino Tracking and Transfer to Murchison Falls
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, or after pickup from your Entebbe or Kampala hotel, your driver guide will brief you and begin the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. The drive takes about 6 to 7 hours, depending on traffic, road conditions and stops. On the way, visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking on foot. This activity gives you a chance to see southern white rhinos in a protected natural setting before continuing north. After lunch en route, proceed through Masindi and enter Murchison Falls National Park through Kichumbanyobo Gate. Arrival is usually in the late afternoon or evening. Dinner and overnight stay at your selected lodge. Accommodation options: Budget option, Sambiya River Lodge or Twiga Safari Lodge, Mid-range option, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Luxury option, Nile Safari Lodge
Day 2, Murchison Falls Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, go for a morning game drive in the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. This area offers good chances to see elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hartebeests, Uganda kob, oribi, waterbucks, warthogs and many bird species. Wildlife sightings depend on animal movement, weather and time of day, but the early morning hours are often productive. Return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, take a Nile boat cruise towards the base of Murchison Falls. Along the riverbanks, you may see hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and water birds. The cruise also gives strong views of the falls from below. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3, Transfer to Kibale Forest and Bigodi Wetland
After breakfast, leave Murchison Falls and begin the long scenic transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive takes about 7 to 8 hours, passing through rural towns, tea growing areas and western Uganda landscapes. Lunch is arranged en route or in Fort Portal, depending on timing. If arrival time allows, you may take a short Bigodi Wetland walk before continuing to the lodge. Bigodi is known for wetland birds, monkeys and community tourism. If arrival is late, the Bigodi experience can be handled the next day after chimpanzee trekking. Dinner and overnight stay near Kibale Forest. Accommodation options: Budget option Isunga Lodge, Mid-range option Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Day 4, Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth
After an early breakfast, transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for your chimpanzee trekking briefing. Kibale Forest National Park is one of East Africa’s leading chimpanzee trekking destinations and is home to several primate species. You will enter the forest with ranger guides and trackers to search for a habituated chimpanzee community. The trek usually takes about 2 to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are feeding or moving. Once found, you spend one hour observing them as they feed, call, groom and move through the forest. After the trek, have lunch and continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park. If Bigodi Wetland was not done on Day 3, it can be included before the transfer, depending on time. Dinner and overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Accommodation options: Budget option, Pumba Safari Cottages, Mid-range option, Parkview Safari Lodge, Luxury option, Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 5, Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzees and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
After breakfast, transfer to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee tracking. The search for chimpanzees can take about 2 to 5 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are located. Sightings are not guaranteed, but rangers use recent movement patterns to guide the search. If the chimpanzees are found, you spend one hour observing them. After the activity, return for lunch, then transfer to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise. The channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is one of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s best wildlife viewing areas. During the cruise, you may see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and many water birds along the shores. If time allows, continue with an evening game drive in the Kasenyi area for chances to see elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and, with luck, lions or leopards. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6, Kasenyi Game Drive and Transfer to Kisoro
After breakfast, go for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi area before leaving Queen Elizabeth National Park. This gives another chance to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs and other savannah wildlife before the journey south. After the game drive, begin the transfer to Kisoro, the base town for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The drive takes about 5 to 7 hours, depending on road conditions, stops and the exact lodge location. The route passes through southwestern Uganda’s terraced hills, small towns and highland scenery. Dinner and overnight stay in or near Kisoro. Accommodation options: Budget option, Travellers Rest Hotel, Mid-range option, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Day 7, Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After an early breakfast, transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park headquarters with your packed lunch and drinking water. You will attend a briefing led by ranger guides before entering the forest for gorilla trekking. The briefing covers safety rules, group allocation, gorilla behaviour and what to expect during the trek. The trek can take about 2 to 8 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family, terrain and forest conditions. Once the gorillas are found, you spend one hour observing them. Mgahinga offers a different gorilla trekking setting from Bwindi because it sits within the Virunga volcanic landscape. The forest, bamboo zones and mountain backdrop give the experience a distinct feel. After trekking, return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay. 
Day 8, Cross into Rwanda and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, check out and transfer to the Cyanika border for the crossing from Uganda into Rwanda. Your driver guide will assist with the border process, but all travellers should have the correct visa documents before travel. After crossing into Rwanda, continue to Musanze, the main base town for Volcanoes National Park. The drive introduces Rwanda’s rolling hills, organised towns and cultivated landscapes. Dinner and overnight stay near Volcanoes National Park. Accommodation options: Budget option, Hotel Muhabura, Mid-range option, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Day 9, Golden Monkey Trekking and Rwanda Cultural Visit
After breakfast, transfer to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a golden monkey trekking briefing. Golden monkeys live mainly in the bamboo forest around the lower slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. After the briefing, you enter the forest with park guides to search for them. The trek can take about 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of the group, although golden monkey trekking is often less strenuous than gorilla trekking. Once found, you spend one hour watching them feed, jump through bamboo and move in groups. In the afternoon, visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, also known as Gorilla Guardians Village, for an introduction to Rwandan culture, music, dance and traditional community life. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10, Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, set off for Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda. The drive takes about 7 to 8 hours, passing through Rwanda’s rolling hills, towns and sections near Lake Kivu, depending on the route. Lunch is arranged en route. Nyungwe Forest is one of Africa’s important montane rainforests and is known for chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, forest birds, walking trails and the canopy walk. Arrive in the late afternoon, check in and relax before the next day’s chimpanzee trekking. Accommodation options: Budget option, Gisakura Visitor Centre, Mid-range option, Nyungwe Top View Hotel
Day 11, Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
After an early breakfast, transfer to the briefing point for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest. You enter the forest with ranger guides to search for chimpanzees. The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees and trail conditions. Once found, you spend one hour observing them as they feed, call, move and interact in the forest. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, go for the Nyungwe canopy walk. The suspended walkway gives elevated views over the rainforest, offering a different perspective of the forest, birds, trees and valleys below. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12, Kigali City Tour and Departure
After breakfast, begin the drive to Kigali. The journey takes about 7 hours, depending on road conditions, stops and your departure schedule. Depending on time, you may visit the King’s Palace Museum, Kigali Genocide Memorial or take a short Kigali city tour before your airport transfer. Your driver guide will drop you at Kigali International Airport for your onward flight. For same-day departure, choose a late evening or night flight to allow enough time for the long transfer from Nyungwe.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Included
- Pickup from Entebbe or Kampala
- Drop-off at Kigali International Airport
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
- English-speaking driver guide
- 11 nights accommodation
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- Park entrance fees
- Chimpanzee trekking permits
- Mgahinga gorilla trekking permit
- Volcanoes golden monkey trekking permit
- Nyungwe canopy walk permit
- Border crossing assistance at Cyanika
- Bottled drinking water during transfers
Excluded
- International flights
- Uganda and Rwanda visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips for driver guide, rangers, trackers and lodge staff
- Personal drinks, laundry and phone calls
- Optional cultural activities not listed in the final quote
- Porter fees during trekking activities
- Extra accommodation before or after the safari
