16 Day Rwanda Uganda Primates Safari
A 16-day Rwanda Uganda primates safari is designed for travellers who want one of East Africa’s most complete primate routes in a single journey. The safari starts in Kigali and combines Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest and Volcanoes National Park with Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest and Murchison Falls. The route includes chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, golden monkey trekking or Mount Bisoke hiking, gorilla habituation in Rushaga, a second gorilla trek in Buhoma, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest and chimpanzee habituation in Kibale. The safari also includes selected wildlife and scenic experiences such as Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls, Ishasha, Kazinga Channel and Bigodi Wetland. This gives the trip a wider safari balance, with primates, savannah wildlife, boat cruises, forest walks, cultural stops and long-distance scenery across Rwanda and Uganda. This itinerary is best suited to international travellers who want a slow, detailed East Africa primate safari with multiple trekking days, varied landscapes and enough time to experience both countries without rushing.
Safari highlights
- 16-day Rwanda Uganda primates safari from Kigali to Entebbe
- Kigali city tour and Rwanda cultural history sites
- Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Nyungwe canopy walk above the rainforest
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Golden monkey trekking or Mount Bisoke hike in Volcanoes National Park
- Gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga, Bwindi
- Second gorilla trekking experience in Buhoma, Bwindi
- Ishasha game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise for hippos, crocodiles and birdlife
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest
- Bigodi Wetland walk near Kibale Forest
- Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa and wildlife viewing in Murchison Falls
Detailed itinerary
Day 1, Kigali Arrival and City Tour
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver guide and transferred to Kigali city. Depending on your arrival time, continue for a Kigali city tour. Possible stops include the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Rwanda Art Museum and Presidential Palace Museum. These sites introduce Rwanda’s modern history, culture and recovery before the primate safari begins. Lunch can be arranged in Kigali before you continue to your hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options: Mid-range option Hôtel des Mille Collines, Budget option Step Town Motel
Day 2, Transfer from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, begin the drive from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda. The drive usually takes about 6 to 7 hours, depending on stops and road conditions. Along the way, you may visit Nyanza King’s Palace and the Ethnographic Museum in Huye, depending on time and final routing. Lunch is arranged en route before continuing towards Nyungwe. The landscape changes from city roads to rolling hills, tea plantations and forested mountain scenery as you approach the park. On arrival, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options: Mid-range option Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Budget option Gisakura Visitor Centre.
Day 3, Nyungwe Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk
After breakfast, transfer to the starting point for chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park. You will attend a briefing before entering the forest with ranger guides to search for a habituated chimpanzee community. The trek can take about 3 to 5 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are feeding or moving. Once found, you spend up to one hour observing them as they feed, call, groom and move through the forest canopy. After the chimpanzee trek, return for lunch and later continue for the Nyungwe canopy walk. This suspended walkway gives wide views over the rainforest and is a good experience for travellers interested in forest scenery, birds, primates and photography. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4, Colobus Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, return to the forest for colobus monkey tracking, depending on the final activity arrangement. Nyungwe is known for large troops of black-and-white colobus monkeys, and the experience gives you another primate-focused activity before leaving the park. The walk can take about 2 to 5 hours depending on the monkeys’ location and forest conditions. After the activity, begin the transfer to Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. The drive takes about 6 to 7 hours, with views of Lake Kivu, rural hills and the Virunga Mountains along the route. On arrival in Musanze, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options: Budget option: Hotel Muhabura, Mid-range option: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge.
Day 5, Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After an early breakfast, transfer to Kinigi Park Headquarters for the gorilla trekking briefing. Ranger guides will explain trekking rules, group allocation and how to behave around the gorillas. You will then proceed to the starting point and enter the forest with your assigned trekking group. The trek can take about 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla family and the terrain. Once the gorillas are located, you spend up to one hour observing them as they feed, rest and interact. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 6, Golden Monkey Trekking or Mount Bisoke Hike
After breakfast, choose between golden monkey trekking or the Mount Bisoke hike, depending on your fitness level, interests and booking arrangement.
Option A, Mount Bisoke Hike: Transfer to the park offices for briefing before starting the Mount Bisoke hike. The hike is physically demanding and leads towards the crater lake near the summit. Along the route, you may see bamboo forest, mountain vegetation, birds and views of the Virunga landscape. After the hike, return to your lodge for rest, dinner and overnight stay.
Option B, Golden Monkey Trekking: Transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing before entering the forest in search of golden monkeys. This activity is usually less demanding than gorilla trekking and is ideal for travellers who want another primate experience in Volcanoes National Park. After the trek, you may visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, now commonly known as Gorilla Guardians Village, depending on time and final arrangements. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7, Transfer from Volcanoes National Park to Rushaga Sector Bwindi
After breakfast, transfer from Volcanoes National Park to Uganda, crossing through Cyanika border. The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on border clearance, road conditions, and stops. Your driver guide assists with the border process, but you require an East African Tourist Visa to cross the border. After crossing into Uganda, continue through the Kigezi highlands towards the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Arrive at your lodge, check in and rest ahead of the gorilla habituation experience. Accommodation options: Budget option Rushaga Haven Lodge, Mid-range option Ichumbi Gorilla Camp
Day 8, Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga Sector
After an early breakfast, transfer to the Rushaga sector headquarters with your packed lunch and drinking water. You will attend a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers before entering the forest with trackers and researchers. Gorilla habituation involves visiting a semi-habituated gorilla family that is still becoming used to human presence. Once the gorillas are located, you spend up to four hours with them. This makes the experience more detailed than standard gorilla trekking and is especially valuable for photographers and travellers interested in gorilla behaviour. The full activity can take much of the day, depending on the gorilla family’s location and forest conditions. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9, Transfer from Rushaga to Buhoma Sector of Bwindi
After breakfast, check out and begin the transfer from Rushaga to Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on road conditions and stops. This transfer positions you for a second gorilla trekking experience in a different Bwindi sector, giving the safari more variety. On arrival, check in at your lodge and rest. Accommodation options: Budget option Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Mid-range option Buhoma Haven Lodge
Day 10, Gorilla Trekking in Buhoma Sector Bwindi
After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking briefing. Rangers will explain the rules, group allocation and forest safety before you enter the forest with guides and trackers. The trek can take about 2 to 8 hours depending on the gorilla family’s location, terrain and weather conditions. The trail may include steep slopes, muddy sections and thick vegetation, so good hiking shoes and a porter are recommended. Once the gorillas are located, you spend one hour observing them. You may see a silverback, mothers with infants and younger gorillas feeding, resting or playing. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11, Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, transfer from Buhoma to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours, with lunch en route. You will pass through rural communities and changing landscapes as you leave the forested highlands and enter the savannah areas of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Continue for an afternoon game drive in the Ishasha sector, known for tree-climbing lions. Sightings are not guaranteed, but Ishasha adds a strong wildlife break between Bwindi and the central Queen Elizabeth area. Proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options: Budget option: Kazinga Wilderness Safari Lodge, Mid-range option: Elephant Hub Lodge
Day 12, Kasenyi Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
After breakfast, go for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains, one of the best wildlife viewing areas in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The area is known for open grassland, Uganda kob and predator activity. Your guide will search for lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs and other antelopes. Later, continue for the Kazinga Channel boat cruise. The channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and attracts hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and many water birds along the shoreline. The cruise is also good for photography, birding and relaxed wildlife viewing from the water. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 13, Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest
After an early breakfast, depart for chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest, depending on permit availability and final itinerary design. The forest walk usually takes about 2 to 5 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are located. Once found, you spend up to one hour observing them with guidance from the ranger or local tracking team. After the activity, return for lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, you may relax at the lodge or choose an optional activity such as visiting the Lake Katwe salt area or exploring nearby crater lakes. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 14, Transfer to Kibale Forest and Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park takes about 3 to 4 hours, depending on road conditions and stops. After lunch, continue for a guided walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Bigodi is known for birds, monkeys and community tourism. You may see red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, butterflies and wetland birds. After the walk, proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options: Mid-range option Chimpanzee Guesthouse Cottages, Budget option Isunga Lodge
Day 15, Kibale Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch, water and trekking gear. You will attend a briefing with Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and researchers before starting the chimpanzee habituation experience. This full-day activity involves following a semi-habituated chimpanzee community as researchers continue the habituation process. The experience is longer and more detailed than standard chimpanzee tracking. Once the chimpanzees are located, you may spend up to four hours observing their behaviour, movement, feeding, calls and social interaction. After the activity, return to meet your driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 16, Transfer to Kampala or Entebbe for Departure
After breakfast, check out and begin the journey to Kampala or Entebbe. The drive is long, with lunch arranged en route. Arrival time depends on road conditions, traffic and stops along the way. Your driver guide will drop you at your preferred hotel, residence or Entebbe International Airport. For same-day international departures, choose a late evening or night flight to allow enough time for the transfer.
Inclusions and exclusions
Included
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
- English-speaking driver guide
- Accommodation as per selected category
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- Park entry fees
- Nyungwe chimpanzee tracking permit
- Nyungwe canopy walk fee
- Volcanoes National Park gorilla trekking permit
- Uganda gorilla habituation permit in Rushaga
- Uganda gorilla trekking permit in another Bwindi sector
- Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu chimpanzee tracking permit
- Kibale chimpanzee habituation permit
- Bottled water in the safari vehicle
Excluded
- International flights
- Uganda and Rwanda visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
- Drinks not included with meals
- Optional activities
- Extra accommodation before or after the safari
- Porter fees during gorilla trekking or habituation
