14 Days Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your professional guide from Rwanda Gorilla Trips will warmly welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, relax after your flight or enjoy the peaceful atmosphere around Lake Victoria.

Your guide will brief you about the exciting adventure ahead before you settle in for your first night in East Africa.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Boma Guest House

Mid-range: 2 Friends Beach Hotel | Imperial Heights Hotel

Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe | Botanical Beach Hotel

Day 2: Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Entebbe Botanical Gardens

After breakfast, transfer to the pier for a scenic boat cruise across Lake Victoria to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is home to rescued orphaned chimpanzees that can no longer survive in the wild. Watch the exciting feeding session from a viewing platform while learning about chimpanzee conservation in Uganda.

After returning to the mainland, enjoy lunch before visiting the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, where you'll discover tropical plants, birds, monkeys, and beautiful lake views.

Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, begin your journey to Murchison Falls National Park.

En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an exciting guided rhino tracking experience on foot. This sanctuary plays an important role in restoring Uganda's wild rhino population.

Continue north to Murchison Falls National Park, where you'll visit the spectacular Top of the Falls. Watch the powerful Nile River squeeze through a narrow 7-meter gorge before crashing 45 meters below to create one of Africa's most dramatic waterfalls.

Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Red Chilli Rest Camp

Mid-range: Sambiya River Lodge

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge | Nile Safari Lodge

Day 4: Morning Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise

Begin the day with an early morning game drive across the northern savannah plains of Murchison Falls National Park.

Look out for elephants, lions, Rothschild's giraffes, buffaloes, Jackson's hartebeests, Uganda kobs, hyenas, leopards, warthogs, and numerous bird species.

After lunch, enjoy a relaxing boat cruise along the Victoria Nile towards the base of Murchison Falls. Along the riverbanks, you'll encounter large pods of hippos, giant Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and countless water birds, with the rare Shoebill Stork occasionally making an appearance.

Return to the lodge for dinner.

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, drive through the scenic Albertine Rift Valley towards Fort Portal, one of Uganda's most beautiful towns.

Enjoy spectacular views of tea plantations, crater lakes, rolling hills, and the distant Rwenzori Mountains before arriving at Kibale Forest National Park.

Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Kibale Forest Camp

Mid-range: Rwenzori View Guest House

Luxury: Ndali Lodge | Mountains of the Moon Hotel

Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Wetland Walk

Today offers one of Africa's finest primate experiences.

After an early breakfast, head to Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking. Led by experienced park rangers, walk through ancient tropical rainforest searching for wild chimpanzees while spotting other primates including black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, and numerous forest birds.

After lunch, explore the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, famous for its exceptional birdlife, butterflies, monkeys, and local community conservation projects.

Return to your lodge.

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Along the way, admire beautiful crater lakes and stop at Katwe Salt Lake to learn about traditional salt mining methods that have supported local communities for generations.

Continue to your safari lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Simba Safari Camp | Albertine River Camp

Mid-range: Hippo Hill Camp

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge | Kyambura Gorge Lodge | Jacana Safari Lodge

Day 8: Wildlife Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Rise early for an exciting morning game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Search for elephants, buffaloes, lions, hyenas, Uganda kobs, giant forest hogs, waterbucks, and numerous bird species while enjoying spectacular views of Lakes Edward and George.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, one of Africa's best wildlife viewing locations. Expect close encounters with hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and hundreds of water birds along the shoreline.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Tracking

Following breakfast, travel to Kyambura Gorge, a spectacular rainforest hidden beneath the surrounding savannah.

Descend into the gorge in search of its resident chimpanzee community while enjoying sightings of birds, butterflies, monkeys, and lush tropical vegetation.

After the trek, return to the lodge to relax for the remainder of the day.

Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha Sector

After breakfast, travel south through the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This area is famous for its rare tree-climbing lions, often seen resting in large fig trees. Enjoy a game drive in search of these remarkable predators before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Arrive in the evening and prepare for tomorrow's gorilla trekking adventure.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Mid-range: Engagi Lodge | Silverback Lodge

Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp | Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Day 11: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today is one of the highlights of your safari.

After breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a briefing before entering the ancient rainforest with experienced ranger guides.

The trek may last between 2 and 7 hours depending on the location of your assigned gorilla family. Once found, you'll spend one magical hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat as they feed, groom, play, and interact.

This is one of the world's most unforgettable wildlife experiences.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

After breakfast, cross into Rwanda through the Cyanika Border and continue to Volcanoes National Park.

The scenic drive passes through beautiful terraced hills, villages, and volcanic landscapes that have earned Rwanda the nickname "Land of a Thousand Hills."

Relax at your lodge before tomorrow's second gorilla trekking adventure.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Kinigi Guest House

Mid-range: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Mountain Gorilla Nest Lodge

Luxury: Virunga Lodge

Day 13: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kinigi Park Headquarters for registration and briefing.

Meet your experienced ranger guides before hiking into the bamboo forests and volcanic slopes in search of one of Rwanda's habituated mountain gorilla families.

Once located, enjoy a full hour observing these incredible primates at close range while learning about their behavior and conservation.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 14: Dian Fossey Hike or Golden Monkey Tracking – Transfer to Kigali

Enjoy your final morning with a choice between two memorable experiences.

Hike to the former Karisoke Research Center and visit the grave of the legendary primatologist Dian Fossey while learning about her remarkable conservation work.

Alternatively, choose Golden Monkey tracking, where you'll encounter one of the rarest and most playful primates living in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park.

After lunch, transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight, bringing your unforgettable Rwanda and Uganda safari to a close.