This 6 Days Rwanda & Uganda: Golden Monkey – Gorillas and Chimps Trekking Safari Holiday starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. It will take you to Rwanda and Uganda, covering three national parks: Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. You will trek with golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, you will be involved in different activities such as boat cruises, Gorilla treks, Chimpanzee treks, Game drives, and nature walks, among others. Isn’t this a great combination?
The Rwanda-Uganda Safari experience begins in Rwanda’s vibrant capital, Kigali, before heading to the mist-shrouded slopes of Volcanoes National Park to track golden monkeys in their natural habitat. As you cross into Uganda, the adventure intensifies with close encounters with the gentle giants of Bwindi and the diverse wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park, offering a perfect blend of primate tracking and classic safari experiences.
Throughout this Rwanda-Uganda Safari, you’ll be accompanied by expert guides whose knowledge enhances every wildlife encounter. At the same time, comfortable accommodations in strategic locations ensure you’re perfectly positioned for each day’s adventures. From the bamboo forests of Rwanda to Uganda’s savannahs and gorges, this journey showcases the remarkable biodiversity and natural beauty that makes this region one of Africa’s premier safari destinations.
Tour Highlights:
Comprehensive Kigali city tour, including the moving Genocide Memorial
Golden monkey tracking in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park
An up-close encounter with endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions
Boat cruise along the wildlife-rich Kazinga Channel
Chimpanzee tracking in the dramatic Kyambura Gorge
Cultural interactions with local communities
Breathtaking landscapes from volcanic mountains to savannah plains
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali City Tour including Genocide Memorial & Local market: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Your Rwanda-Uganda Safari begins with a comprehensive tour of Kigali, including the sobering Genocide Memorial and vibrant Capalaki Craft Market, offering insights into Rwanda’s history and culture. The Rwanda-Uganda Safari continues with a scenic 2.5-hour drive northwest through terraced hillsides to Volcanoes National Park, known locally as “Parc National des Volcans,” covering approximately 116 kilometers. You’re evening on this Rwanda-Uganda Safari includes settling into your comfortable lodge near the park entrance, with dinner featuring local Rwandan cuisine and stunning views of the volcanic peaks.
Location: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodations
Silver: Kinigi Guest House
Gold: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Platinum: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (Border crossing from Rwanda to Uganda)
Our Rwanda-Uganda Safari adventure begins early with a 7:00 AM briefing at Kinigi Park Headquarters before tracking the playful golden monkeys (Cercopithecus kandti) through bamboo forests. This Rwanda-Uganda Safari Day continues with a 4-hour (approximately 180 km) border-crossing journey through the “Switzerland of Africa” to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, passing the scenic Echuya Forest Reserve. The final leg of today’s Rwanda-Uganda Safari takes you to your lodge in one of Bwindi’s sectors (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo), where you’ll prepare for tomorrow’s gorilla encounter while enjoying dinner under the stars.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodations
Silver: Ride 4 A Woman
Gold: Gorilla Bluff Lodge
Platinum: Bwindi Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
The highlight of your Rwanda-Uganda Safari arrives with an early start and 8:00 AM briefing at the park headquarters before venturing into the ancient forest to track one of Bwindi’s habituated gorilla families. Your Rwanda-Uganda Safari experience today includes trekking through dense vegetation for 1-6 hours until reaching these gentle giants, where you’ll spend an hour observing their fascinating behaviors and family dynamics. After this life-changing Rwanda-Uganda Safari encounter, you’ll trek back to your vehicle and return to the lodge for a well-deserved rest, recounting your gorilla experience over dinner.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodations
Silver: Ride 4 A Woman
Gold: Gorilla Bluff Lodge
Platinum: Bwindi Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 4: Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Sector for Tree Climbing Lions
Today, your Rwanda-Uganda Safari transitions from mountains to savannah with a scenic 4–5-hour drive (approximately 170 km) to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through the “Kigezi Highlands” and small villages. The Rwanda-Uganda Safari journey takes you to the park’s Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions that drape themselves over fig tree branches during hot afternoons. This section of your Rwanda-Uganda Safari includes an afternoon game drive seeking these unique lions, along with buffalo herds and the Uganda kob antelopes that frequent this southern region of “Parc Elizabeth,” as it’s known locally.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodations
Silver: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
Gold: Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Platinum: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 5: Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise Along Kazinga Channel
Your Rwanda-Uganda Safari continues with an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth’s northern sector (Kasenyi Plains or Mweya Peninsula), departing at 6:30 AM to maximize wildlife sightings of elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes. The afternoon Rwanda-Uganda Safari activity features a 2-hour boat cruise along the 40-kilometer Kazinga Channel (“Omwiga” in local dialect), offering exceptional viewing of hippos, crocodiles, and elephants coming to drink. Your Rwanda-Uganda Safari Day concludes with dinner at your lodge overlooking the savannah, where distant elephant trumpets and lion roars might serve as your evening soundtrack.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodations
Silver: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
Gold: Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Platinum: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer Back to Kigali or Entebbe
The final day of your Rwanda-Uganda Safari begins with an early morning chimpanzee tracking experience in Kyambura Gorge (“Valley of Apes”), a 100-meter-deep forested ravine that cuts through the savannah. After your Rwanda-Uganda Safari chimp encounter, you’ll enjoy lunch before beginning the approximate 6-hour (320 km) journey back to Kigali, crossing at the Cyanika or Katuna border posts. Your memorable Rwanda Uganda Safari concludes with drop-off at your Kigali hotel or the airport, carrying with your incredible memories of close encounters with our primate relatives and the diverse landscapes of these two remarkable countries.
Location: Kyambura Gorge
Accommodation: No
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the Journey
Price Includes:
Gorilla tracking permit
Chimpanzee tracking permit
Golden monkey tracking permit
All Park entrance fees
All activities mentioned in the itinerary
Ground transport in a 4WD custom safari vehicle
Bottled water during the safari
Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
Driver allowances
All mentioned activities except for optional ones
Price Excludes:
Rwandan and Ugandan Visas
International and domestic flights
Personal needs such as gratuities and souvenirs
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Laundry fees
Tips for guides and lodge staff
Travel and medical insurance
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages apart from water
