13 days uganda rwanda safari with golden monkey tracking in the volcanoes national park

The 13 Days Uganda Rwanda safari is an exceptional package set for you to explore diverse natural wonders in Uganda and Rwanda. This package is exceptional the fact that it involves double trek to view mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park in southwestern Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda. Your 13 days Uganda Rwanda safari also covers chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, game drive and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park as well as rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. The 13 days Uganda Rwanda tour begins from Kampala and ends in Kigali.

Program for the 13 Days Uganda Rwanda safari
Day 1: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Wake up early in the morning to enjoy your cup of tea or coffee at your respective hotel in Kampala. After, meet our professional driver guide to have a quick briefing on what your 13 days Uganda Rwanda safari covers and later, embark on a road trip to northwestern Uganda. Your journey will cover about 4-5 hours to Murchison Falls National Park and you will drive from Kampala via Luweero route. En-route, you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track the white rhinos that are only inhabited in this particular part of Uganda.

Later, proceed to Masindi to have lunch and after, drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Arrive early enough and embark on a hike to the top of falls that will leave you amazed by its powerful roar as it squeezes itself in a narrow gorge of about 8 meters prior falling 43 meters below. After, transfer to the lodge to relax and have night stay.

Accommodation options: Paraa Safari Lodge/Chobe Safari Lodge (Luxury), Murchison River Lodge (Midrange), Red Chili Rest Camp (Basic).

Day 2: Game drive and launch cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
After an early morning breakfast at your lodge, you will drive to the northern circuit of Murchison Falls National Park where game drives are conducted. On a game drive, expect to view huge concentration of wildlife species including antelopes, leopards, giraffes, lions, elephants, buffaloes, birds to mention but a few. Game drive along the northern track of Murchison Falls National Park will take you approximately 2-3 hours and after exciting moments, drive back to the lodge to relax and enjoy lunch.

In the afternoon, you have a launch cruise to the bottom of the falls at 2:00pm. A boat cruise along to the bottom of the falls will reward you with amazing sight at hippos, crocodiles, water birds including kingfishers, bee-eaters and many others. The boat ride in this area takes you about 2-3 hours.

Accommodation options: Paraa Safari Lodge/Chobe Safari Lodge (Luxury), Murchison River Lodge (Midrange), Red Chili Rest Camp (Basic).

Day 3: Drive to Fort Portal
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, head off to Fort Portal. En-route, get the best view of the Albertine rift/escarpment. Your journey to Fort Portal may take you about 8-9 hours and you will have lunch in Hoima. After, you will drive to Fort Portal where you will have the best view of the magical Rwenzori Mountain range.

Accommodation options: Kyaninga Lodge (Luxury), Mountains of the Moon Hotel (Midrange), Rwenzori Guesthouse (Budget).

Day 4: Crater Lake hike and Amabere Cave walk
Enjoy your breakfast early in the morning and after, embark on a hike to the Crater Lake and Amabere Caves walk. Amabere g’ Nnyinawiru caves are a few most incredible history and cultural assets in this region and the caves date back from the Chwezi era. The Amabere has breast like features of stalagmites and stalactites with the seasonal the scenic Nyakasura waterfalls. The hike takes you to Kyegangwa Hill to have breathtaking view of the Crater Lakes and Rwenzori Mountain ranges. In the evening, pay a visit to Karambi Royal tombs and Karuzika Palace. After, head off to Kibale Forest National Park about 26 kilometers away from Fort Portal.

Accommodation option: Primate Lodge (Luxury), Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Midrange), Kibale Forest camp (Basic).

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park
Have enjoyable cup of tea or coffee at your respective lodge in Kibale National Park and after, gather at Kanyanchu Visitor Center to have briefing on the set rules and regulations for chimpanzee tracking. Briefing starts at 7:00am and at 8:00am, you embark on actual trek. A trek to view chimpanzee gets you not only magical view of chimpanzees but also other primates including black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboon, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys to mention but a few as well as variety of birds that make up a total of 350 bird species in Kibale National Park.

Chimpanzee tracking via the lush rainforest of Kibale National Park may take you about 2-4 hours and this also covers the one hour of magical hour, exploring their behavior and body gestures. In the afternoon, you will head off to Bigodi Wetland to have enjoyable nature walk. A nature walk along this area gets you the sight at variety of primates including black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, olive baboons as well as birds such as the Rwenzori Turacos.

Accommodation option: Primate Lodge (Luxury), Chimpanzee Guesthouse (Midrange), Kibale Forest camp (Basic).

Day 6: Transfer from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park about 3-4 hours from Kibale National Park. Arrive early enough and have your lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, pay a visit to the Salt Lake to explore salt extraction process.

Accommodation options: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange), Simba Safari Camp (Basic).

Day 7: Game drive along Kasenyi track and boat cruise via Kazinga Channel
Have enjoyable breakfast at your respective lodge and after, head off to Kasenyi track to do game drive. Along Kasenyi track, expect to see wildlife species such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, birds to mention but a few. A game drive via Kasenyi track takes you about 3-4 hours and after, return to the lodge to have lunch. At 2:00pm, you have the best of launch cruise via Kazinga channel that extends up to 45 meters from Lake George to Lake Edward.

A boat cruise along the Kazinga channel gets you the best sight of hippos, crocodiles, water birds and many savanna grassland wildlife species. Return to the lodge to relax and spend a night at Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange), Simba Safari Camp (Basic).

Day 8: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early morning breakfast, check out from the lodge at Queen Elizabeth National Park ready to head off to Bwindi National Park southwestern Uganda. Drive via Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park and at Ishasha sector; get magical view of tree climbing lions. Continue to Bwindi with stopover at Savanna Resort Kihihi to have lunch.

Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury), Engagi Lodge/Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange), Bwindi View Bandas (Budget).

Day 9: Gorilla trekking and drive to Lake Bunyonyi
Early in the morning to enjoy your cup of tea or coffee and after, head off to park headquarters to have briefing on safety measures for gorilla trekking. Briefing is done in any of the 4 main trailheads-Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Since the trek to view mountain gorillas is not predictable, don’t forget to have packed snacks and bottled water.

This adventure may take you about 2-6 hours and this also involves an hour of magical encounter, exploring behavior and body gesture, photography. Gorilla trek in this area also comes with view over other primates, birds, colorful butterflies and many others. Later, return to the lodge to relax and then proceed to Lake Bunyonyi.

Accommodation options: Birdnest@Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Luxury), Arcadia Cottages (Standard), Byoona Amagara (Basic).

Day 10: Explore Lake Bunyonyi and drive to Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy your breakfast and later embark on a boat ride to one of the islands in Lake Bunyonyi to have magical view of the islands, spot out birds. Lake Bunyonyi comprises of 29 magical islands. After, return and have a rest before embarking on a road trip to Volcanoes National Park approximately 120 kilometers.

Accommodation options: Mount Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge (Luxury), La Palme Hotel (Midrange) or Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse (Basic).

Day 11: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you will gather at Kinigi park headquarters to have briefing on the set rules and regulations for gorilla trekking. Make sure you have some packed lunch and water. You will be assigned to one habituated family to track in a group of eight visitors. Volcanoes National Park has ten habituated groups set for trekking and they include Hirwa, Sabyinyo, Kwitonda, Amahoro, Umubano, Susa A, Susa B (Karisimbi), Agashya (Group 13) and Bwenge.

A trek to view mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park may take you about 2- 6 hours depending on your hiking speed, where the gorillas are found and nature of habitat. You have an hour of magical encounter, exploring their behavior, body gestures and photography. In the evening, you have a walk to Iby’Iwacu cultural village for cultural exploration. After, return to the lodge to relax, dine and spend a night at Mount Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge (Luxury), La Palme Hotel (Midrange) or Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse (Basic).

Day 12: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park and drive to Kigali
After breakfast early in the morning, head off to Kinigi park headquarters to have briefing on golden monkey tracking rules and regulations. This will take you about 2-4 hours and later, return ready to embark on a road trip to Kigali.

Accommodation options: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury), Hotel Chez Lando (Midrange) or Rwanda Hostel (Basic).

Day 13: Kigali city tour adventure
Have enjoyable breakfast at your respective hotel in Kigali and after, you have a city tour in Kigali. Kigali city tour takes you to amazing sites including Kigali/Gisozi genocide site to learn about what took place during the 1994 Rwanda genocide; craft centers, natural history museum, Hotel Des Milles Collines and others. After, you connect to Kigali Airport for your flight back in case it is scheduled the same date and this marks the end of your 13 Days Uganda Rwanda safari.

Safari includes

  • Kigali city tour
  • Gorilla trekking permit
  • Chimpanzee tracking permit
  • Visit the Amabere caves
  • Game drive and boat cruise
  • All activities in the itinerary
  • Bottled water
  • Accommodation and meals
  • Transport in a 4 wheel drive safari car
  • English speaking driver guide

Safari excludes

  • Visa fees
  • Medical insurance
  • Personal expenses such as laundry services, airfares, telephone call, cigarettes, extra activities, accommodation and meals outside the itinerary.