8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari from Kigali
per person
8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari starts from Kigali and ends in Kigali using Cyanika and Katuna borders. The safari will take you to different places such as Bwindi impenetrable forest national park where mountain gorilla trekking is done, Queen Elizabeth national park where game viewing and boat cruise activities will be done, Kibale national park for chimpanzee trekking, and then Lake Bunyonyi where you will explore over 29 islands.
8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari from Kigali highlights
- Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
- Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park and evening game drive
- Day 4: Game viewing and boat cruise
- Day 5: Ishasha sector game drive and transfer to Kibale forest national park
- Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland
- Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 8: Drive back to Kigali
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
Depending on the time of arrival, our English speaking guide will pick you up from your hotel or Kigali international airport and he will brief you about the whole safari. If time allows you can first have a simple Kigali city tour where you will visit places such as Kigali genocide memorial, markets, and arts and craft shops. You will have an en route lunch before starting on your journey to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park via Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro. Upon arrival at Bwindi, you will check in your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan
Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
Silverback Lodge – luxury, Bakiga Lodge – Mid-range, Ride 4 a woman – budget
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
On the 2nd day of 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will wake up very early in the morning for breakfast, and later you will meet your driver guide to transfer you to the park offices. Here you will be briefed about the rules and regulations of the gorilla trekking activity before ranger guides lead you into the jungle to search for these apes. While going through different trekking trails searching for mountain gorillas, the trekkers will encounter different park animals such as monkeys, buffaloes, duikers, giant forest hogs, and different bird species.
When the mountain gorilla family is located, the trekkers will be given 1 hour to be around it learning about their habits, taking photos, and watching them do daily activities such as hunting, nesting, patrolling, coupling among others. You will thereafter trek out of the jungle meet your driver guide to take you back to the lodge.
Meal plan
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
Silverback Lodge – luxury, Bakiga Lodge – Mid-range, Ride 4 a woman – budget
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park and evening game drive
On the 3rd day of 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will wake up to relaxed morning breakfast, check out of the lodge, and meet your safari driver for a transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. On arrival, you will check in to your lodge for lunch and prepare for an evening game drive.
In the afternoon you will be taken for an evening game drive by your safari guide and this will give you an opportunity to spot different park animals such as lions, hyenas, buffaloes, antelopes, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, duikers, elephants, hippos, birds and different vegetation covers. Later you will return back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
Mweya Safari Lodge – luxury, Buffalo Safari Lodge – Mid-range, Pumba Cottages – budget
Day 4: Game viewing and boat cruise
On the 4th day of Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will wake up very early in the morning for breakfast so that you hurry getting to the park to see the nocturnal animals before going back to the lodge. Your safari driver will take you through different game trucks searching for animals and during the activity, you will be able to see tree-climbing lions, lions, leopards, buffaloes, hyenas, waterbucks, sitatungas, Uganda kobs, topis, warthogs, and banded mongoose among others. Later you will return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will head out to Kazinga channel located inside the park for an evening boat cruise. During the boat cruise, you will be able to see the sunset, water animals such as crocodiles and hippos, birds such as African skimmer, grey crowned cranes, open billed stork, African jacana, shoebill, red-capped lark, doves among others. You will be able to see some of the park animals on the shores of the lake such as elephants, buffaloes, antelopes trying to take some water most especially in the dry season. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
Mweya Safari Lodge – luxury, Buffalo Safari Lodge – Mid-range, Pumba Cottages – budget
Day 5: Ishasha sector game drive and transfer to Kibale forest national park
On the 5th day of 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will wake up early in the morning for breakfast, check out of the lodge, and head to Ishasha sector of the park. Here you will encounter tree climbing lions which are rare in the whole world. You will also have a chance to see other park animals such as elephants, hyenas, buffaloes, antelopes, waterbucks, duikers, leopards, and much more. You will check out of the park and then move to Kibale forest national park with an en route lunch.
Meal plan
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
Crater safari lodge – luxury, Isunga Safari Lodge, mid-range, Rweteera Safari Park budget.
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland
On the 6th day of Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will wake up to an early morning breakfast and meet your driver-guide for a transfer to the park offices for a briefing from the wardens. During the briefing, you will be taught about the rules and regulations of the chimpanzee trekking activity before being grouped and given an armed ranger guide to lead you into the jungle. While in the jungle searching for chimpanzees, you will meet different park animals such as monkeys, duikers, sitatungas, chimpanzees, giant forest hogs, elephants, birds, and different plant species.
When the mountain gorilla is located, you will be given 1 hour to be around these apes learn about their habits, take photos and watch them do daily activities such as hunting, coupling, nesting, breastfeeding among others. Later you trek out of the jungle, meet your driver guide, and get back to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for Bigodi wetland.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Bigodi wetland sanctuary where you will do a number of activities such as guided nature walks, birding, wildlife viewing among others. While at Bigodi wetland, you will see birds such as great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek, yellow spotted barbet, hairy breasted barbet, superb sunbird, black and white shrike flycatcher, animals such as olive baboons, sitatungas, grey-cheeked mangabeys, bushbucks, and warthogs among others. Later you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
Crater safari lodge – luxury, Isunga Safari Lodge, mid-range, Rweteera Safari Park budget.
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
On the 7th day of 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will wake up to a morning breakfast and check out of the lodge and start on your way to Lake Bunyonyi. On arrival at Lake Bunyonyi you will check in your lodge, relax ass you wait for lunch. In the afternoon you will have a boat cruise to explore the lake. The lake has no crocodiles and hippos but you will explore most of the islands most especially Akampene island. Get back to the lodge, have dinner, and overnight stay.
Meal plan
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
Birdnest Safari Lodge – Luxury, Bunyonyi Arcadia lodge – Mid-range, Bunyonyi Rock Resort – Budget
Day 8: Drive back to Kigali
This will be the last day of 8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari, you will wake up to a relaxed morning breakfast and meet your safari guide for a simple nature walk around the lake, hiking, or community visits and later you will drive to Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale and end the safari in Kigali.
Meal plan
Breakfast and Lunch
8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari from Kigali includes;
- A gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Bigodi Nature walk
- Park entrance fees
- Boat cruise
- Transport
- Service of the English-speaking guide
- Accommodation
- Drinking water and meals indicated in the itinerary
- Batwa cultural tour
- Kigali city tour
8 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari from Kigali excludes;
- International tickets
- Visas
- Personal expenses
- Personal insurance
- Tips
- Optional activities not included in the itinerary
- Porter fee