This 12 Days Uganda and Rwanda Combined Safari includes a variety of fantastic wildlife encounters, such as monitoring habituated chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, as well as viewing the Big Five in Akagera National Park.
This 12 days Uganda and Rwanda combined safari includes a boat tour on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park, and a canopy walkway in Nyungwe Forest, ensuring a variety of primate experiences. Beyond animals, it includes a Batwa culture tour, a visit to Dian Fossey’s study site, and historical insights in Kigali, making this primate safari journey immersive and unforgettable.
12 Days Uganda and Rwanda Combined Safari
Day 1: Pickup and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park- Visit Bigodi Swamp
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest
Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park- Boat Cruise and Evening Game Drive
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking Experience and Visit Batwa Community
Day 6: Transfer to Rwanda- Volcanoes National Park
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking and Visit Dian Fossey Center
Day 8: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
Day 10: Transfer to Akagera National Park- Sunset Boat Cruise
Day 11: Morning Game Drive and Guide Hike
Day 12: Transfer Back to Kigali and Departure
12 Days Uganda and Rwanda Combined Safari
Day 1: Pickup and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park- Visit Bigodi Swamp
Upon arrival, your monkey safari journey will begin with a drive to Kibale Forest National Park, which is recognized for its high population of primates. The park is home to around 13 species, including red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is home to additional primates and an abundant bird population. This experience adds complexity to your primate safaris by providing an opportunity to watch animals in a quiet atmosphere.
Head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest
Your 12 days Uganda and Rwanda combined safari journey continues with a chimpanzee trekking excursion in Kibale Forest, where you may observe these sophisticated monkeys interact. Rangers discuss their behavior, including grooming and territorial shouts. Later, visit a nearby cultural hamlet where locals discuss their practices, such as basket weaving and banana beer production. This tour expands your knowledge of Uganda’s communities while keeping your primate trekking safaris interactive and culturally engaging.
Dinner will be served at your lodge.
Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park- Boat Cruise and Evening Game Drive
Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a wildlife viewing hotspot for Uganda safaris. A boat cruise on the Kazinga channel allows you to see hippos and crocodiles up close, as well as elephants roaming the beach. In the evening, a spectacular game drive leads to encounters with buffalo and large predators. Though noted for its savanna animals, this park also has baboons and vervet monkeys, ensuring that your primate safaris are diversified. Every wildlife sighting on your primate safari is memorable due to the diverse environments.
Return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After having your breakfast, proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, situated in southwestern Uganda, a world-famous habitat for mountain gorillas. Along the trip, you’ll see picturesque towns and terraced slopes that depict rural life. Bwindi’s lush rainforest adds a new dimension to your primate trekking safaris, bringing exotic vegetation and the excitement of tracking its mountain gorillas. The journey itself is an adventure, with sightings of monkeys in the treetops, underlining Uganda’s many primate tracking destinations.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking Experience and Visit Batwa Community
Set out on a gorilla trekking expedition, following skilled guides through Bwindi’s forest. The walk may take hours, but discovering a gorilla family is well worth the effort. Watching mother gorillas nurture their children and juveniles play provides unique insights into their environment, improving your primate safari experience. Later, visit the Batwa community, who live in the rainforest and have a strong relationship with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Their rituals and stories provide another element to your 12 days Uganda and Rwanda combined safari experience.
Day 6: Transfer to Rwanda- Volcanoes National Park
Cross into Rwanda and see Volcanoes National Park, another popular gorilla destination known for its conservation heritage. The border transition brings diverse cultures and landscapes, representing the diversity of East African primate safaris. Along the route, you’ll witness additional primates in the forest, including golden monkeys. As you arrive, the towering volcanoes provide a thrilling background, laying the groundwork for another memorable chapter in your primate safari journey.
Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking and Visit Dian Fossey Center
A second gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park provides new insights into these species. The behavioral patterns of the gorillas change with each walk; some are timid, while others are curious. Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park takes between 1-4 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family that you are tracking.
Dian Fossey’s conservation work, which transformed gorilla preservation efforts, is revealed during a visit to Karisoke Research Center. Her legacy influences current conservation initiatives, making primate safaris more than simply an adventure, but also an educational trip into animal preservation. Understanding her work gives significance to every primate encounter throughout your 12 days Uganda and Rwanda combined safari.
Day 8: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Begin your day by monitoring golden monkeys, a vivacious and gregarious species peculiar to Volcanoes National Park. Their brilliant orange fur makes them easily identifiable as they sprint through the bamboo jungles. Following the walk, drive to Nyungwe Forest, which is known for its monkey safari options. The golden monkey trekking excursion in Volcanoes National Park includes observations of other monkeys along the way, emphasizing how primates dominate Rwanda’s terrain. Arriving in Nyungwe forest national park lies the setting for another amazing 12 days Uganda and Rwanda combined safari experience.
Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
The Nyungwe Forest is home to big chimpanzee groups that communicate with loud sounds. Unlike Kibale’s chimps, these groups frequently scatter across large distances, making tracking an interesting challenge on monkey safaris. The experience emphasizes the disparities in primate populations among parks. Later, proceed to the canopy walkway, where a suspension bridge offers magnificent jungle vistas. High above the forest floor, the richness of monkey habitats becomes clear, providing another layer to your 12 days Uganda and Rwanda combined safari tour.
Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 10: Transfer to Akagera National Park- Sunset Boat Cruise
As you transfer to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s sole park where the Big Five may be found, the landscape changes from woods to wide savanna. The transition highlights the diversity of habitats found within East Africa’s primate safari sites. In the evening, a boat trip on Lake Ihema offers water-based animal encounters, with hippos and crocodiles dominating the coastline. Baboons may also be seen along the banks, keeping the ape theme going throughout this leg of your safari excursion.
Return back to your lodge for dinner.
Day 11: Morning Game Drive and Guide Hike
A morning game drive in Akagera National Park includes lions, elephants, and rhinos, completing the Big Five experience. Though primates aren’t the major attraction here, baboons and vervet monkeys still appear frequently, reminding visitors of their continued existence in East Africa’s primate safari regions. A guided nature walk helps you to enjoy tiny details such as animal tracks, bird cries, and plant species, providing a deeper feeling of immersion than gaming driving. The contrast between trees and savanna provides depth to your 12 days Uganda and Rwanda Combined safari experience.
Later return back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 12: Transfer Back to Kigali and Departure
The tour concludes in Kigali with a half day tour to historical places provide insight into Rwanda’s evolution. The Kigali Genocide Memorial offers an educational experience, while local marketplaces and museums demonstrate the country’s resiliency. Though the tour is focused on primate safaris, this last day combines animal encounters with cultural lessons. Departing from Kigali, memories of different landscapes, monkeys, and conservation efforts linger, ensuring that your primate safari trip is both gratifying and unforgettable.
End of your 12 days Uganda and Rwanda Combined Safari!
