5 days Rwanda Uganda wildlife safari
This 5-day Rwanda Uganda safari starts in Kigali, Rwanda, and ends in Kampala or Entebbe in Uganda. This trip is a highlight of a combined safari including visiting the popular Volcanoes National park in Rwanda for a close encounter with the human cousins in the wilderness- mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, all endangered primates. From Rwanda, the trip flows to Uganda’s second largest savannah park , Queen Elizabeth National Park for adventurous game drives and cruise along the Kazinga Channel. As you travel to Kampala for your departure, enjoy the amazing green and fresh environment at the roadside and more adventures that make Uganda valued and called the Pearl of Africa.
Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2:Gorilla tracking
- Day 3: Golden Monkey tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 4: Game drive and boat cruise
- Day 5: Transfer to Kampala – departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1:Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
The guide will pick you up at the airport or your hotel in the morning to begin your tour. You will start by touring Kigali city. Expect to visit places like the Gisozi genocide memorial, the presidential palace museum, local artisan shops, and markets. After lunch, start the 2 to 3 hours’ journey to the Volcanoes National Park. While traveling to the park, enjoy the beautiful mountainous countryside and see for yourself why Rwanda is often referred to as “The Land of a thousand hills”.
Dinner and overnight at Five Volcanoes Boutique hotel(luxury), Le, bamboo gorilla lodge (midrange), Muhabura Hotel (Budget)
Day 2: Gorilla tracking
Wake up for an early morning breakfast, then head to the park headquarters for a briefing about mountain gorillas and how to behave while on the trek and when with the gorillas. After being assigned to a gorilla group, you will hire a porter to help you with your backpack. Grouping is based on fitness levels. With the leadership of armed ranger guides, you will trek into the dense forest to find the gorilla family. trekking takes 30 minutes to 6 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. When you find them, you are allowed to stay with the gorillas for only one hour, watch the young ones play and roll around. Then there’s the powerful silverback, the juveniles, and the mothers who are breastfeeding. After one hour, head back to the starting point to meet your driver guide, who will transfer you back to the lodge for a late lunch. Spend the evening relaxing at the lodge
Optional activity: Visiting the Gorilla guardian village located in Musanze. This place exhibits the best of Rwandan culture and tradition.
Dinner and overnight at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (midrange), Muhabura Hotel (budget)
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After an early morning breakfast, head to the park headquarters for another briefing about golden monkeys. Golden monkeys are also regarded as endangered primates like mountain gorillas. They are usually sighted on top of short bamboo trees but always come down to forage. Tracking golden monkeys lasts for 3-4 hours because they don’t go deep in the forest jungles. After observing them for one hour, return to the accommodation for lunch.
Once done, check out and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Arrival will be in the late evening hours. Check in for dinner and overnight Mweya safari lodge( luxury), Bush lodge (midrange) Tembo Safari Lodge (budget)
Day 4: Game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel.
Have an early breakfast and then embark on a morning game drive in the park, which begins at 6 a.m. This morning game drive provides an excellent opportunity to see the park’s spectacular wildlife, including African savannah elephants, hyenas, Uganda Kobs, heart monsters, giraffes, zebras, and many more.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 612 bird species, making it an ideal location for birding activity. During your game drive, you may see birds such as the African skimmer, Chapin’s flycatcher, Shoebill stock, great flamingos, and pink-backed pelicans. Game drives in the park typically last 2-3 hours or more, depending on the parts of the park you visit. After your exploration, return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch head out for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. The boat cruise starts at 2pm and lasts for 2 hours.
While on the cruise, expect to see aquatic creatures like hippos, crocodiles. Watch elephant herds and antelopes that come to drink water at the shores and several water birds. After the cruise, return to the lodge for dinner and night’s stay.
Optional activity : night game drive
After your dinner, you can choose to go on a night game drive in the park. Night game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park are perfect for spotting nocturnal wildlife like lions, cheetahs, jackals, bushbucks, and hyenas. All night game drives must be conducted with the accompaniment of park rangers. They are only carried out in Mweya sector of this park.
Dinner and overnight Mweya safari lodge(luxury), Bush lodge (midrange),s Tembo Safari Lodge (budget)
Day 5: Transfer to Kampala – departure.
On this last day of your safari, have a leisurely breakfast, and optional activities for the day can be an early morning game drive, or a visit to Katwe salt mines. Later, travel to Kampala. Lunch will be in Mbarara. You will stopover at the equator monument at Kayabwe for photography and then drop off either in Kampala or Entebbe International airport for your departure.
End of 5 days Rwanda Uganda safari
Tour includes
- 4X4 safari car
- Professional English-speaking tour guide/driver
- Rwanda Gorilla permits
- Golden monkey permit
- Park entrance fees
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
- Game drives and boat safari
- Packed drinking water in the car
- Pick up and drop off
Tour excludes
- Optional activities
- Visa fees
- Personal insurance
- Flight tickets
- Tips
- All personal expenses such as laundry, phone bills, and curio purchases.