This 8 days Uganda Gorilla Safari from Kigali as operated by Explore Rwanda Tours has been carefully designed to carter to visitors traveling from Kigali city in Rwanda and wish to explore Uganda. During this 8 days Uganda gorilla safari from Kigali, you will be able to track mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, enjoy classic game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and then wind up your tour at Lake Bunyonyi before you are dropped off in Kigali, Rwanda.
Highlights for 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari from Kigali.
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali and Transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park –Evening Game Drive
Day 4: Game Drive and Launch Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking
Day 7: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi to Relax and Canoeing
Day 8: Drive back to Kigali and Departure
Detailed Itinerary for 8 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari from Kigali.
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali and Transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
You will be picked up from Kigali International Airport or any hotel in Kigali to begin your journey to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. You will visit the Genocide Museum and, if time permits, enjoy a Kigali city tour. This 8 days Uganda gorilla safari from Kigali takes you through breathtaking countryside in Rwanda and Uganda. Rwanda is commonly regarded as “a country of a thousand hills,” whereas Uganda is recognized as the “Pearl of Africa.” After crossing the Katuna border into Uganda, you will stop briefly in Kabale town for lunch before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for the night.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Following an early morning meal and packed lunch, you will head to the Park headquarters for registration, followed by a briefing on the Dos and Don’ts of Gorilla Tracking. As you seek for the gorillas, your guides and researchers will lead you through the dense creepers and vegetation. This walk might take anywhere from 30 minutes to three quarters of a day. The densely wooded area is crisscrossed by numerous animal pathways that provide access to tourists. The amount of time you spend on the walk is primarily determined by the gorillas’ movements.
While you may see a variety of birds, other creatures, and primates in the forest throughout your trip, seeing mountain gorillas is always an unforgettable experience. You will have the opportunity to listen to and witness researchers habituating gorillas, and you may be asked to contribute by collecting samples, naming group members, making calls, and so on. After that, you will return to the Lodge for an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park –Evening Game Drive
From breakfast, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in southwestern Uganda, arriving in time for lunch at your lodge. This will be followed by a brief rest period before an evening game drive in Kasenyi’s savannah plains. Wild creatures like as buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, and large predators such as lions and leopards can be seen here, depending on your luck. Return to your lodge for an overnight stay.
Day 4: Game Drive and Launch Cruise on Kazinga Channel
This morning, you will return to the Kasenyi plains for a morning wildlife drive to see what you may have missed the day before. Lunch will be provided at the lodge. Following lunch, you will proceed to the jetty along the Kazinga Channel for the afternoon boat excursion. This trip provides excellent opportunities to see wildlife such as hippos, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, and water birds that flop into the canal to drink water.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
From an early breakfast, you will drive to the Northern bank of Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasenyi) in search of wild creatures such as elephants, buffalo, and wild cats, as well as other antelope species such as water buck, Uganda kobs, and Savannah birds. After lunch, you will drive to Kibale National Park, arriving at your lodge in the evening.
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking
Following breakfast, you will be taken to Kibale National Park headquarters in Kanyanchu. You will join fellow trekkers for a briefing before heading into the jungle for monkey trekking. A skilled and experienced ranger/guide will lead you on a guided primate walk in Kibale Forest National Park. This woodland allows you to visit one of the habituated chimpanzee tribes.
You may spend an hour with these Great Apes and observe their behavior. You are authorized to snap photos. Make sure your cameras are close. Kibale National Park is also home to 13 other primate species that may be seen when hiking with the chimpanzees. Of course, there are various species of forest birds.
In fact, this is another sanctuary for bird enthusiasts. After lunch, you will proceed to Bigodi Wetland for a wetland walk where you may witness primates and several bird species. This stroll will help you understand the importance of the locals near Bigodi in preserving the wetland. You may help them by donating in kind. Please keep in mind that this is an entirely voluntary action.
Dinner will be served at your lodge.
Day 7: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi to Relax and Canoeing
Travel from Kibale National Park to Lake Bunyonyi to break up the lengthy trip to Kigali and to unwind after the lodge tour. Lake Bunyonyi is one of Uganda’s three Lava Damned Lakes, produced when lava oozing from one of the volcanoes blocked a river channel, forcing water to flow back and filling the area, becoming Lake Bunyonyi.
Bunyonyi is a local term that refers to the profusion of tiny birds in this area. Lake Bunyonyi is claimed to be Uganda’s deepest lake and the second-deepest in East Africa. People generally visit Lake Bunyonyi to appreciate the beauty of the surroundings, making it one of the greatest spots to rest after a long safari.
Dinner and overnight at your resort/lodge in Bunyonyi.
Day 8: Drive back to Kigali and Departure
Following breakfast, you will go for a canoe excursion on the lake to learn about the fascinating histories of the many islands. For example, you may see Punishment Island, where girls who would have children via genuine traditional marriages were abandoned and left to die. This is a full-day adventure that you will certainly love.
Alternatively, you may trek one of the hills around Lake Bunyonyi. Explore Rwanda Tours contributes to several programs in the communities surrounding this location. So, people who wish to accomplish something on their visit might participate in volunteer activity. Later, you will travel to the Katuna border and return to Kigali by a late flight or a post-tour hotel of your choice.
End of the 8 days Uganda Gorilla Safari from Kigali
