8 Day Uganda Rwanda Safari : All Apes

Welcome to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda since its independence in 1962. While many associate Rwanda with the tragic genocide of 1994, it is a nation that has worked tirelessly to rebuild its economy and offers much for the adventurous traveler. 

Although the past must never be forgotten, Rwanda’s tourism future is thriving, thanks to its warm-hearted people, numerous lakes, and the stunning Virunga Volcanoes. 

Your journey begins with a meet-and-greet with a Greenway Nature Tours Representative, who will transfer you to your hotel. If you arrive early, take some time to explore at your leisure. Visit Nyamirambo, the Muslim quarter, for some delicious grilled tilapia, or stop at a local café to taste why Rwandan coffee is renowned as some of the best in the world.

Accommodation Options

Midrange: Chez Lando Hotel

Luxury: Hotel Des Mille Collines/ Kigali Marriott Hotel

Budget: Okapi Hotel/Kigali Holiday Hotel

Meals: Dinner   

After breakfast, your tour guide will take you to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, which opened in 2004 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi. 

This museum provides a poignant look at the history and aftermath of the genocide, while also serving as a place for those mourning lost loved ones. Later, you’ll drive to Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, home to both gorillas and golden monkeys.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. This center is at the forefront of gorilla research and conservation, working to protect these magnificent creatures and support local communities in conservation efforts. You’ll learn about Dian Fossey’s legacy and the ongoing efforts to safeguard Rwanda’s endangered mountain gorillas.

In Musanze, there are also plenty of optional activities to explore, including Golden Monkey Trekking in the Virunga Mountains, hiking Mount Bisoke, or simply relaxing with a canoe ride on the Mukungwa River. You can also visit Redrocks Rwanda to discover the local banana beer-making process and enjoy traditional dancing, drumming, and basket-weaving demonstrations.

Accommodation Options

Midrange: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge/ Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/ La Palme Hotel

Luxury: Bisate Lodge/One & Only Gorilla’s Nest

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Today, you’ll leave Rwanda and cross the border into Uganda, heading towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park is home to 612 bird species, 10 types of primates, including chimpanzees, and 96 mammal species. 

The journey to your accommodation will feel like an impromptu safari—keep an eye out for African elephants, buffalo, hippos, warthogs, Nile crocodiles, leopards, spotted hyenas, lions, and chimpanzees. Tonight, you’ll stay in a comfortable safari lodge within the park, offering scenic views of the Kazinga Channel.

Your Accommodation Choice:

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages/Bush Lodge

Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge/Bush Lodge/Park View Lodge

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Elephant Plains Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Start your day with another thrilling 4×4 game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Keep your eyes peeled for any animals you might have missed yesterday, and if you’re fortunate, you may spot leopards, lions or giant forest hogs.

In the afternoon, experience the park from a different angle with a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, home to one of the largest concentrations of hippos in the world. Accompanied by local guides, you’ll learn about the landscape and the wildlife that inhabits it. Look out for hippos lounging on the shores, as well as crocodiles, herds of elephants, and a variety of water birds.

Your Accommodation Choice:

Luxury: Elephant Plains Camp/Kambura Gorge Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Bush Lodge/Enganzi Game Lodge/Park View Lodge

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

This morning, we head to Kalinzu Forest, located near Queen Elizabeth National Park. The forest is home to 300 wild chimpanzees, along with various monkeys, duikers, and bushbucks. After trekking to observe the chimpanzees, you’ll return to the lodge to relax and enjoy lunch.

In the afternoon, visit the Omwani Women’s Coffee Cooperative, a community-based initiative that provides vocational training and a sustainable source of income for local women and their families. A highlight of this cultural experience will taste some of the best coffee in Uganda, made from beans grown, harvested, and processed by these amazing women.

Your Accommodation Choice:

Luxury: Elephant Plains Camp/Kambura Gorge Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Bush Lodge/Enganzi Game Lodge/Park View Lodge

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Today, you’ll depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and journey to the southwest corner of Uganda, a drive that takes approximately 6 hours. The route itself offers great opportunities for wildlife spotting, with chances to see antelopes, baboons, and monkeys from the window. 

Before leaving the park, you’ll take a short game drive through Ishasha, the southern sector of the park, known for its tree-climbing lions. Upon reaching the southwestern tip of Uganda, where the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo meet, you’ll settle in Kisoro. This area provides access to seven different gorilla families in Mgahinga and Bwindi.

Your Accommodation choice

Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort/Chameleon Hills Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner   

Join a local guide and trackers as you venture through the rugged, mountainous terrain of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of mountain gorillas. 

A brief eye contact with these magnificent creatures is a deeply moving experience, and visits are tightly regulated to minimize disturbance. Make no mistake, gorilla trekking is no walk in the park – it’s called Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a reason. 

It can be wet, muddy, strenuous and uncomfortable, but the indescribable elation at coming across a group of gorillas is worth the effort. Spend an unforgettable hour observing them as they eat, sleep, groom, and play, with the dominant silverback keeping a watchful eye. Afterward, return to your lodge for dinner and time to reflect on this extraordinary adventure.

Your Accommodation Choice

Midrange: Mutanda Lake Resort/Chameleon Hills Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner       

After breakfast this morning, it’s time to make the journey back to Kigali. When you arrive, there are no further activities planned and your 8 Day Uganda Rwanda Safari adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to spend more time here, just speak to us.

*Please note: Extensions toTanzania, or Kenya can easily be organized. Please don’t hesitate to ask for our expert assistance.

Accommodation: Not Included

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch