6-Day Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari
A wildlife lover’s dream trip spanning two countries: the Rwanda and Uganda wildlife tour. Explore the wonders of volcanic landscapes, track the endangered mountain gorillas to see them in their natural habitat, spot leopards, lions, buffalo, hippos, and elephants on game drives and boat cruises through Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Tour Highlights
>> Track golden monkeys and enjoy a guided nature walk in Volcanoes National Park
>> Trek through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to see mountain gorillas
>> See the rare tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector of QE National Park
>> Spot a variety of wildlife on a game drive through the Kasenyi Plains
>> Cruise down the Kazinga Channel on a boat cruise and see hippos, crocodiles, and elephants
>> Visit the Kimihurura market and the Kigali Genocide Museum
6-Day Rwanda Uganda Wildlife Safari
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- Small-Group Tours
- Socially Conscious Ethos
- Competitive Pricing
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Trip Details
Please inquire for the mid-range accommodation price, this is our budget accommodation tour
DEPARTURE TIME
Anytime between 7:00 am to 12:00 pm Kigali time
MEETING POINT
We offer pick-up from the following places for this experience:
- Kigali city
- Kigali International Airport (only on day 1, this is not available if you arrive before day 1)
AVAILABILITY
Monday to Sunday, year-round
DURATION
Six days
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Moderate – uphill trekking
GROUP SIZE
1 to 4 persons
INCLUDED
- Meals (as per itinerary)
- All permits (gorillas, golden monkeys and chimps
- Drinking water when in the safari vehicle
- Park entrance fees
NOT INCLUDED
- Visas, tips, and costs of a personal nature
- Lodging in Kigali before and after the trip
- Pickup at Kigali airport if arrival is before the start of the trip
- Medical and travel insurance
WHAT TO BRING
- Hiking boots
- Garden gloves
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Long-sleeved shirt/blouse
- Cameras and extra batteries
- Hat/cap and sunglasses
- Pair of binoculars
- Flashlight (torch)
- Mosquito repellent
- Other items to include: zoom lens for wildlife shots and energy bars/bites
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
- Age restriction: 15-80 years old
- A valid passport is required on the day of travel
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
- We advise against people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions participating on this tour
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
GOOD TO KNOW
Depending on the availability of gorilla permits, we may propose trekking gorillas at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Day 1: Transfer to Kinigi for Iby’iwacu Cultural Experience & a Guided Nature Walk around Volcanoes National Park
We will pick you up in Kigali and drive you to Volcanoes National Park. Depending on the departure time from Kigali, you may be able to enjoy a complimentary Kigali city tour before traveling to northern Rwanda, visiting the Kimihurura market and the Kigali Genocide Museum. After a 2-hour drive from Kigali to Ruhengeri/Musanze, we will visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Experience (also known as Gorilla Guardians Village) in Kinigi. We’ll then be treated to a guided nature walk around Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
We will start the day with a golden monkey trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park. This primate is native to the high-altitude forests of the park. Once we have seen their playful interactions, we will head out of the park and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. The transfer to Bwindi National Park will go through the Rwanda-Uganda border at Cyanika.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking Adventure at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 3 is another day for trekking into the wilderness to spot the rare local animals. You will head to the Bwindi National Park gate immediately after breakfast to get a briefing about the gorilla trek. The national park guide will conduct the presentation that covers the basics of what to expect during the gorilla trek and instruct you on how to behave in order to ensure the safety of guests and the animals. You will then embark on your tracking adventure, making your way through the rainforest until you find a family of mountain gorillas. The gorilla trek can take from 3 to 6 hours on average, depending on how far the gorillas are inside the forest. It could last longer, so be prepared just in case!
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Sector to Spot Tree-Climbing Lions
We will start the journey in the morning from Bwindi National Park and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The tour will take us through the stunning landscapes of western Uganda and we’ll arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park in the late afternoon. Our first activity will be to drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, popularly known for the tree-climbing lions. Unlike their counterparts at the Kasenyi plains, the lions at Ishasha have found a way to climb the fig trees to enjoy the warm temperatures. While the sighting of the tree-climbing lions is not 100% guaranteed, a stopover at Ishasha is worth a visit!
Day 5: Kasenyi Plains Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Trip
We will start the day with an early morning breakfast at the lodge. Afterward, we will proceed to the famed Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park to spot various species of wild animals. The Kasenyi Plains are in the vast savannahs of the Albertine Rift in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It will be a morning full of adventure! Expect to encounter lions, herds of buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, topi, and bushbucks. While spotting the ‘big five’ in the park is not guaranteed, on a lucky day, you may sight leopards to make it the ‘big four’. We will return to the lodge for lunch and a quick break before joining the Kazinga Channel boat cruise for an afternoon of wild game viewing. We’ll have the chance to spot crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and a wide range of bird species on the channel waters.
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking Experience at Kalinzu Forest & Return to Kigali
Day 6 begins with yet another early morning breakfast followed by a drive to the Kalinzu Forest to experience tracking the chimpanzees in their forest home. If you are lucky on the trek, you might encounter some of the other different species of monkeys in the forest. These include colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and red-tailed monkeys. Once we have finished our last trekking adventure, it is time to return to Kigali, Kampala, or Entebbe — depending on the end destination that you have decided.
Accommodation & Meals
- Day 1: Muhabura Hotel or similar budget lodge – All meals included
- Day 2: Golden Monkey Guest House – All meals included
- Day 3: Karungi Camp – All meals included
- Days 4-5: Engiri Game Lodge – All meals included
- Day 6: Breakfast & lunch
Optional Activities on Days 2 & 3
- Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- The Batwa Trail Cultural Tour inside Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Visit the Batwa Community in the Village
- Canoe Trekking at Lake Mutanda
- Coffee-Making Experience
- Mabungo Community Village Tour in Kisoro
See our Local Experiences page for more information on each activity.
