5-Day Rwanda and Uganda Safari
5-Day Rwanda and Uganda Safari: Gorillas, Chimps & Golden Monkeys
Tour Overview
On this 5-day Rwanda and Uganda safari you will track mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and see the rare golden monkeys in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. You will also visit Kibale National Park, known as the “World’s Primate Capital,” for chimpanzee trekking. The tour is ideal for photographers and nature enthusiasts. You can adjust the activities or upgrade accommodations to your preference. Lodging depends on availability.
Your Itinerary at a Glance
- Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Golden Monkey Tracking in Rwanda and Transfer to Uganda
- Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park
- Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Entebbe Airport
Your Itinerary In Details
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Your safari begins with a pickup from the airport or your hotel. First, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center to learn about Rwanda’s history. Then, drive about 2.5 hours to Ruhengeri for lunch. After lunch, check in at your lodge and settle in. Later, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Kinigi. In the evening, relax at your lodge and get ready for tomorrow’s adventures.
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Tiloreza Volcanoes ecolodge-Standard Room
Luxury: Tiloreza Volcanoes ecolodge – Deluxe Premium Rooms
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Golden Monkey Tracking in Rwanda and Transfer to Uganda
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast at your lodge. Then, head to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing on golden monkey tracking. These playful monkeys have bright golden fur and live only in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountains. Guided by experienced rangers, you will enter the forest to find them. The trek usually lasts 2 to 6 hours, depending on where the monkeys are. Watch them jump, play, and interact—an amazing experience for photos and memories.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch. Later, begin your drive to Lake Mutanda in Uganda. The journey takes about 4 hours and passes through scenic countryside. Cross the Cyanika border, where your guide will handle all procedures. As you approach Lake Mutanda, rolling hills, volcanic peaks, and calm waters greet you. This stunning lake lies at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes and is one of Africa’s most beautiful. Check in at your lakeside lodge in the late afternoon and relax as the sun sets over the water.
*The luxury version of this trip also includes a stay in a luxury cottage at the stunningly situated Mutanda Lake Resort. The room is spacious and luxuriously furnished, but this is not a luxury lodge. We chose it for its beautiful location, excellent service, and delicious food. If you prefer more luxury, we can always accommodate you.
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort- Standard Cottage
Luxury: Mutanda Lake Resort – Luxury Cottage
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today is the most exciting day of your safari. After an early breakfast, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one of Africa’s oldest and richest rainforests. This is home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Before leaving, you will get a packed lunch from your lodge to enjoy in the forest. At the park headquarters, you will meet your ranger guides. They will explain safety rules, trekking guidelines, and conservation efforts. You will be assigned a gorilla family to visit.
The trek begins along narrow forest paths, through thick vegetation, and sometimes up steep slopes. The walk can be challenging, but it moves at a comfortable pace. Your guide will point out plants, animal tracks, and birds along the way. Then comes the magical moment: you see the gorilla family in their natural home. Spend one hour watching the silverback protecting his family, mothers caring for babies, and young gorillas playing and climbing. The experience is quiet, intimate, and deeply moving. This encounter often becomes the highlight of your safari.
After your hour with the gorillas, walk back through the forest to your vehicle. Return to the lodge for a shower, dinner, and rest. Reflect on the incredible experience of meeting these gentle giants.
Optional Gorilla Habituation Experience
For a more immersive adventure, join a small group of researchers during a Gorilla Habituation Experience. You can spend up to four hours with a gorilla family that is still getting used to human visitors. Groups are limited to four people, making it personal and exclusive. Learn about gorilla behavior and conservation methods up close.
Optional Excursions at Bwindi & Lake Mutanda
Explore more of this beautiful region. At Lake Mutanda, try kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, or a sunset motorboat cruise. Hike the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga National Park, or enjoy guided forest walks in Bwindi to see waterfalls, birds, and hidden wildlife. Cultural visits to local villages or the Batwa people are also available. Let your travel specialist help plan optional activities in advance or while on safari.
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort- Standard Cottage
Luxury: Mutanda Lake Resort – Luxury Cottage
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Today, you will travel to Kibale National Park. The drive is long but very scenic. You will pass through rolling hills, lush green landscapes, and small villages. Along the way, you go through Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you may spot elephants, buffalo, and other wildlife from the road. Lunch will be enjoyed en route. You will arrive at your lodge in the early evening. After settling in, you can choose to enjoy optional activities, which your guide will explain. Relax and prepare for the next day’s adventure among the primates of Kibale.
Accommodation Options:
Midrange: Turaco Treetops – Standard Cottage
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer to Entebbe Airport
After an early breakfast, you will drive about 10 minutes to the Kanyanchu Tourism Centre, the main starting point for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest. The trek begins at 8:00 am, so timely arrival is important. At the centre, you will meet your experienced park rangers for a short briefing about the forest, the chimpanzees, and the rules to follow during the encounter.
Then, you will enter the lush forest in search of chimpanzees, our closest living relatives. The trek lasts between 3 and 6 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are. Kibale is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees, and the chance of seeing them is very high. When you find them, you will spend one full hour watching their daily life. You may see them swinging through the trees, feeding, grooming each other, or calling loudly across the forest. It is a lively, emotional, and unforgettable wildlife experience. Kibale Forest is rich in other wildlife too. You may spot bushbuck, blue duiker, warthog, sitatunga, forest hog, or bushpig. With luck, you could see forest-adapted elephants, leopards, or even African buffalo. The forest is full of colorful birds, amphibians, butterflies, and reptiles, making the trek a paradise for nature lovers.
After the trek, you will drive about five hours to Entebbe International Airport for your departure. If you prefer, a short one-hour domestic flight is also possible.
Accommodation: (Not Included – end of tour)
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
5 Day RWANDA UGANDA Safari Price
Midrange Package Price
- 1 Pax: USD 4257
- 2 Pax: USD 2939 per person
- 3 Pax: USD 2733 per person
- 4 Pax: USD2456 per person
- 5 Pax: USD 2225 per person
- 6 Pax: USD 2203 per person
Luxury Package Price
- 1 Pax: USD 5079
- 2 Pax: USD 3549 per person
- 3 Pax: USD 3339 per person
- 4 Pax: USD 2986 per person
- 5 Pax: USD 2887 per person
- 6 Pax: USD 2829 per person
Inclusions
- All transfers and transport in a comfortable safari vehicle
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in Rwanda and Uganda (as arranged)
- All park entrance and activity fees
- Gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale Forest
- Golden monkey trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park
- Professional English-speaking safari guides
- Accommodation as listed (midrange or luxury options)
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner where included)
- Packed lunch for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking
- Cultural visits and optional village tours where specified
- Water in the vehicle during drives and safaris
- Assistance with border crossings and permits
exclusions
- International flights to and from Rwanda.
- Uganda and Rwanda visa fees
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Optional activities not listed as included
- Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, and souvenirs
- Tips and gratuities for driver-guides, lodge staff, and park rangers
- Extra accommodation before or after the safari
- Any services not mentioned under safari inclusions
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