Overview of 8 Day Uganda Safari from Kigali

Our 8 Day Uganda Safari from Kigali, Rwanda is meant for those people who are interested in safari in Uganda and can fly into Kigali international airport in Rwanda for a fancy shorter drives as well as those staying in Rwanda. Also with the current price of the Gorilla permit of Rwanda, Uganda is now a preferred destination for Gorilla tracking. This this trip gives you a shorter drive time while giving you a feel of both Uganda and Rwanda while on the trip. It will take you to some of the amazing national parks of Uganda such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorillas, Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives and boat cruise and Kibale National Park for Chimpanzees. The last day of this safari to spent around Lake Bunyonyi to enable you to just relax after the safari.

Summary of 8 Day Uganda Gorilla, Game and Chimpanzee safari from Kigali

  • Day 01: Pickup from Kigali City/Airport and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Day 02: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
  • Day 03: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for Evening Game drive
  • Day 04: Game drive and Boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National park
  • Day 05: Transfer to Kibale National Park
  • Day 06: Chimpanzee trekking
  • Day 07: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi to Relax and Canoeing
  • Day 08: Drive to Kigali Airport for your flight out.

Highlights of 8 Day Uganda Safari from Kigali

  • You’ll visit Rwanda and Uganda
  • This tour starts and ends in Kigali (Rwanda)
  • You’ll visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda
  • Activities: gorilla tracking, Chimpanzee trekking, game drive and boat cruise
  • Getting around: Open-sided 4×4 vehicle & pop-up roof
  • A transfer from Kigali airport to  the hotel and from the hotel to Kigali airport
  • Additional accommodation before the tour departs and on the last day can be arranged for an extra cost

Things To Note on 8 Day Uganda Safari from Kigali

  • Accommodation is Inclusive
  • Tour Can Depart any day
  • Tour can be customized
  • Solo travelers can join this tour
  • Age Limit: 15 years and above for gorilla trekking
  • Age Limit: 12 years and above for chimpanzee trekking

Detailed Itinerary

Arrival

  • You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel)
  • Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost

DAY 1: Pick up from Kigali Airport/Hotel to start your 8 Days Gorilla, Game and Chimpanzee Safari through Kigali.

  • Morning/Transfer:You will be picked from Kigali International Airport/Any Hotel in Kigali to start your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. You will have a stop at the Genocide museum and then take a Kigali city tour if time allows. This safaris takes you through amazing scenery in both Rwanda and Uganda. Rwanda is popularly known as ‘a country of a thousand hills’ while Uganda is referred to as the ‘Pearl of Africa’.
  • Afternoon/Lunch: After you cross over to Uganda via  the Katuna  border, you will make a brief stop at Kabale town for lunch in Local Restaurant before proceeding to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
  • Evening/accommodation: You will spend the evening at Leisure at your hotel, then Later dinner and overnight

Drive time: Approximately 4-5 hours

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation:

Budget: Rushaga Havens Lodge/Bakiga Lodge

Mid Range: 4 Gorillas Lodge/Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Kiho Lodge

DAY 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

  • Morning/Briefing: After an early morning breakfast, with your packed lunch, you will report to the Park Headquarters at about 7:45 am for registration and then you will join other trackers for a briefing about the Dos and the Don’ts during your Gorilla Tracking experience. Your guides and researchers will lead you through the thick creepers and undergrowth as you trek to find the Gorillas.
  • Trek and Observation: This trek can take you half an hour to three quarters of the day. The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The amount of time you take during the trek largely depends on the movement of the gorillas. While you may encounter several birds, other animals and primates in the forest during the trek, once you find the gorillas, it is usually an extraordinary feeling being with these beautiful yet endangered Creatures.  You will have an opportunity to listen and observe researchers do their work of habituating gorillas and if possible you will be called upon to participate by collecting samples, naming of group members, making calls and so much more.
  • Afternoon/Lunch: You will have your packed Lunch while still in the forest, then trek back to the park headquarters to pick your certificates and Proceed to your Lodge.
  • Evening: You will spend evening at Leisure, you can opt to visit the Community or relax. then Later dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation:

Budget: Rushaga Havens Lodge/Bakiga Lodge

Mid Range: 4 Gorillas Lodge/Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Luxury: Gorilla Heights Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge/Kiho Lodge

DAY 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

  • Morning/Transfer: After breakfast, you will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park located in Southwestern Uganda arriving in time for Lunch at the Lodge.
  • Afternoon and Lunch: You will have Lunch at a Local Restaurant after crossing the border into Uganda, Proceed to enjoy a stunning view of the rift- valley as you enter Queen Elizabeth National Park.
  • Evening/Accommodation: You will arrive at your Lodge for a short relaxation before heading to Kasenyi Plains for an evening game drive. On your game drive, you will have an opportunity to sport several animals including antelopes, buffaloes, Elephants, and if lucky big cats like lions and leopards. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation:

Budget: Bush Lodge

Mid Range: Buffalo safari lodge/ Elephant Hab Lodge/ Park view safari lodge

Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge/ Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meals: All Meals Included

Drive Time: 5-6 Hours

DAY 4: Morning Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

  • Morning: This morning you will head to back to the plains of Kasenyi for a morning game drive to try to find what could have missed the previous day.
  • Afternoon and Lunch: Lunch will be served at the lodge and after you will head to the jetty along kazinga channel for the afternoon boat cruise. This cruise offers you chances of viewing animals like: hippos, water birds, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles and many other wildlife which flock the channel for drinking water.
  • Evening: You will spend your evening at the Hotel, relaxing, Swimming, and Later Dinner and Overnight

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation:

Budget: Bush Lodge

Mid Range: Buffalo safari lodge/ Elephant Hab Lodge/ Park view safari lodge

Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meals: All Meals Included

Drinks: Drinking Water

DAY 5: Morning game drive and transfer to Kibale National Park

  • Morning/Transfer: After an early breakfast, you will drive to the Northern bank of the Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasenyi) area in search of some wild animals which include: Elephants, Buffalo, and some wild cats, different species of antelopes such water buck, Uganda kobs etc. as well as Savannah birds.
  • Afternoon and Lunch: You will proceed to Fort Portal for Lunch and After lunch you will drive to Kibale National Park arriving at your lodge.
  • Evening: You will spend the evening at Leisure, Later Dinner and overnight.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Accommodation

Budget Lodge: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge/ Kibale Forest Camp/ Isunga Lodge

Mid Range: Turaco Tree Tops Lodge

Luxury: Primate Lodge/ Tabebuia Hotel

Drive time: 2-3 hours.

DAY 6: Chimpanzee Tracking

  • Morning/Briefing: After breakfast, you will drive to Kibale National Park Headquarters for briefing on the Dos and Don’ts of Chimpanzee trekking. You will be divided into small groups of six people headed by one guide who will then move with you into the forest to find one of the Chimpanzee families. Chimpanzees live in communities of between 50-250 individuals but usually breakup into small parties during the day to reduce competition on food. They will then recollect in the evening to build their nests.
  • Trekking and Observation: Once you find the Chimps, you will be allowed to spend one hour with the Chimps before returning to the lodge for lunch.
  • Afternoon: After lunch, you head out for wetland walk in the nearby Bigodi Village. Kibale National Park is popular for 13 recorded primates species and several bird species.
  • Evening: You will then return to the Hotel, relax, have dinner and overnight to end your day.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Accommodation

Budget Lodge: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge/ Kibale Forest Camp/ Isunga Lodge

Mid Range: Turaco Tree Tops Lodge

Luxury: Primate Lodge/ Tabebuia Hotel

DAY 7: Depart Kibale National Park for Lake Bunyonyi.

  • Morning/Transfer: Drive from Kibale National Park to Lake Bunyonyi to break the long journey to Kigali but also to relax after the lodge tour. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the three Lava damned Lakes in Uganda which was formed when lava flowing from one of the volcanoes blocked a river channel and water was forced to flow back hence filling the space to create Lake Bunyonyi. Bunyonyi locally means small birds – due to the abundance of small birds in this area. Lake Bunyonyi is said to be the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest in East Africa.
  • Afternoon/Lunch: You will arrive in time for Lunch at your hotel in Lake Bunyonyi, then relaxation, dinner and overnight

Drive time: Approximately 6-7 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation

Budget: Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Mid Range: Birdnest Resort

DAY 8: Optional Canoeing around the Lake Bunyonyi and transfer back to Rwanda to End the trip

  • Morning/Transfer: After breakfast, you will take canoe ride on the Lake to explore the different islands’ exciting histories. For example, you can visit the Punishment Island where girls who would produce babies out of legitimate tradition marriage would be dumped and left to die. This is a whole day activity and you will surely enjoy it. Alternatively, you can hike one of the hills around Lake Bunyonyi. Encounter Africa Safaris supports some projects in the communities surround this area. So, those who want to do something on their tour can go for volunteer work.
  • Afternoon: Later you will drive to Katuna Border and head back to Kigali with either a late flight or post tour hotel on your own arrangement.

Drive Time: 4-5 Hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

 

End

Things to consider on 8 Day Uganda Safari from Kigali

  • Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits: We encourage you to book gorilla and chimpanzee permits in advance so that we secure your trekking spot. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are served on first come first serve at Uganda wildlife Authority. Please contact us so that we book them for you.
  • Cost of the gorilla permit: The gorilla permits in Uganda cost USD800 for Non-Foreign residents, USD700 for East African Foreign Residents, USD500 for Rest of Africa Residents and UGX300,000 for East African Citizens, cost applies for trekking in Both Bwindi impentrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park
  • Cost of Chimpanzee Permit: The chimpanzee permits in Kibale National Park cost USD250 for Non-Foreign residents, USD200 for East African Foreign Residents, and UGX150,000 for East African Citizens,
  • Chimpanzee trekking Regions: Kibale National Park has 2 sections for trekking namely;Kanyanchu and Buraiga. Both sections have  two trekking sessions i:e morning and afternoon
  • Physical Fitness: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be physically demanding, a certain level of fitness will be required, please ensure you are in good health and have a certain level of fitness before you leave your country. Whereas chimpanzee trekking does not require alot of Hiking, Kibale being a lowland area.
  • Park Entrance:  Queen Elizabeth National Park requires Entrance fees per day for all visitors, depending on the number of days you stay in the Park/or do activities will determine the entrance fees per person.
  • Game drives: Morning and afternoon game drives are done in the Mweya region, the Kasenyi plains is rich with wildlife including warthog, water buck, bush buck, leopard, Buffalos, Ugandan kob, elephants, countless bird species and Many others
  • Boat cruise: You will enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel which has the highest concentration of hippos in the whole world. Over 700 species can be spotted by kin birders on a good day and it is recorded that Kazinga channel is the widest natural water channel in the whole world as well. On your two hour boat cruise, you may encounter herds of elephant, buffalos and antelopes, families of warthogs, large groups of hippos, and crocodiles basking on the shore.
  • Packing List: Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,
  • Age Limit: The Minimum age for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is 12 years and above, and Gorilla trekking age limit is 15years and above. please ensure all travelers are above mentioned age.
  • Accommodation Options: Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Kibale and Bwindi have all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.
  • Means of Transport: You can opt to fly or drive to Bwindi or Kibale, Flights take 1-2 hours to Kisoro and Kihihi Airstrip for Bwindi and Kasese Airstrip for Kibale,  For budget clients, we recommend use of safari vans, then others can opt for Safari Landcruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.
  • Best time to visit: Bwindi and Kibale National Parks can be visited all year round for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, The most preferred time is June to September, December to February because they are the drier months of the year.
  • Gorilla trekking Regulations: Uganda Wildlife Authority has rules and regulations to adhere while on your gorilla trek, See regulations here.
  • Chances to see the Gorillas and chimpanzees:  The chances of seeing gorillas and chimpanzees are 98% because there are trackers who follow the movement of gorillas/Chimps on a daily basis, they communicate to the Park guides and you walk in the direction they are.
  • Choose a gorilla family: You can choose your preferred gorilla family of the day of the trek, if you prefer a close/ easy trek due to your fitness level, please request it  and communicate to your guide.
  • Gorilla and chimpanzee Habituation experience: Bwindi and Kibale National Parks have an option of spending 4 hours with the gorillas  and chimps respectively,  this is only possible when you book a gorilla permit that costs USD1500 for Non- foreign residents, USD1000 for East African Residents, and UGX750,000 for East African Citizens as well as Chimpanzee Habituation permit that costs USD300 for Non foreign residents.
  • Other activities: There are several activities you can do in Bwindi and Kibale namely Birding, Batwa cutural experience, Nature walks, Community visits.  All these can suppliment your 8 Day uganda safari from Kigali
  • Trip cost estimate: The cost of the trip Includes gorilla permit, accommodation, Meals, transport, and all services. request a quote
  • About Bwindi: Bwindi impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site, with half of the worlds gorilla population, it has more than 20 Habituated gorilla famillies in regions of Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.
  • About Kibale National Park: Kibale forest National Park is located in western Uganda about 5-6 hours drive from Entebbe/Kampala/Bwindi. This low land tropical rain forest is considered to be one of the few pristine rain forest remaining on continent Africa. Kibale National Park has the largest chimpanzee population standing at approximately 1500 individuals and is the best place to trek habituated wild chimpanzees in the whole of Africa.
  • About Queen Elizabeth National Park: Queen Elizabeth National Park stretches from the equator at the base of the western arm of the great East African Rift valley combining savannah, forest and riverine ecosystems. The Park has a variety of wild game, beautiful scenery that composes of several crater lakes, gorges, escarpments and the great views of the Rwenzori mountains.