11 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda Rwanda Chimpanzee Tracking Tour – Overview

The 11 days gorilla trekking safari Uganda Rwanda chimpanzee tracking tour start in Rwanda and ends in Uganda.

It is a comprehensive primate safari allowing you to explore the big primates in Rwanda and Uganda. The 11 days gorilla trekking safari Uganda Rwanda chimpanzee tracking tour, 11 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife safaris, Uganda primate tour takes you through the heritage sites of Butare, the chimpanzees or black and white colobus monkeys of Nyungwe, the Nyungwe canopy walk, the gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, golden monkeys in Mgahinga, recreational boat encounter on Lake Bunyonyi, second gorilla trekking in Bwindi, chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth NP and Kibale and wild life viewing including the four of the Big five in Queen Elizabeth NP.

11 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda Rwanda Chimpanzee Tracking Tour – Highlights

Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Visit the Institute of Rwanda Museums & Nyanza King’s Palace en route in Butare

Day 2: Do Chimpanzee trekking or Colobus Monkey tracking in the morning & Nyungwe canopy walk in the afternoon

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Day 4: Do gorilla trekking in the slopes of Virunga Massif & transfer to Uganda (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park)

Day 5: Track golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park & transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 6: Do a morning boat cruise & transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 7: Do gorilla trekking & relax at the lodge. Optional Batwa Community tour

Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Drive through the southern sector of Ishasha in search of tree climbing lions

Day 9: Do game drive in the morning and launch cruise along the Paradise of Hippos – the 45km Kazinga Channel in the afternoon

Day 10: Do Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge in the morning & transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Day 11: Do Chimpanzee trekking in the morning & transfer to Kampala.

11 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda Rwanda Chimpanzee Tracking Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Visit the Institute of Rwanda Museums & Nyanza King’s Palace En-route in Butare

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park 268km about 6 hours’ drive from Kigali excluding stops en route.

You will drive through the country side lush landscapes of Rwanda with rolling hills before approaching Butare where you will undertake a tour of the Rwanda’s National Museum – the ethnographic museum which has got over 100,000 artifacts and considered to among the largest museums in East Africa.

The stop will also extend you to visit the Nyanza Palace where the former monarchical kings of Rwanda used to stay.

The two Kings Rudahigwa and Musinga stayed at the palace. It boasts of impressive huts with traditional architecture, Inyambo cows and the history behind it.

Have lunch in Butare and continue to Nyungwe Forest arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel (Midrange/Standard) or Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).

Day 2: Do Chimpanzee Trekking or Colobus Monkey Tracking in The Morning & Nyungwe Canopy Walk in The Afternoon

After breakfast embark on the chimpanzee trekking encounter in the forest of Nyungwe starting at 8am. The encounter will bring you closer to the common Chimpanzees which boast of being our closest cousins along with the bonobos.

The Chimp trek tend to last 2 – 5 hours with one hour of direct encounter with them as the socialize, make impressive pant hooting calls , gather fruit, roll themselves in trees among other interesting features.

The trek for the chimps also exposes you to remarkable Nyungwe Mountain Forest Flora, counts of birds and other primate species.

Alternatively, instead of trekking Chimpanzees, you can opt for Colobus Monkey tracking. Nyungwe Forest National Park boasts of the largest grouping of colobus moneys in the whole of Africa.

Thus, undertaking a black and white colobus monkey trek is one of the remarkable encounters that you can have on this safari.

It starts at 8am and you traverse the lush forest with remarkable flora and sights of birds may not be missed before encountering these unique and beautifully created monkeys.

The 1 hour is availed to you to have a direct encounter with them and the entire trek lasts between 2 – 5 hours.

Retreat from either of the activity, transfer back to lodge for lunch after which you will gather at Uwinka Visitor Center to undertake the famous Nyungwe Canopy walk which is the first of its Kind in East Africa and the third in Africa offers you remarkable views of the forest primates. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel (Midrange/Standard) or Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park in the North East of Rwanda driving along the Congo Nile divide with impressive scenic views of Lake Kivu and the surroundings.

The drive is 338km about 9 hours’ drive passing through the lush country side. You will arrive in Volcanoes in the late afternoon for relaxation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Hotel La Palme (Midrange/Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/Basic).

Day 4: Do Gorilla Trekking in The Slopes of Virunga Massif & Transfer to Uganda (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park)

After breakfast, gather at the Kinigi Park headquarters at 8am to start with a briefing session from the rangers about the gorilla trekking conduct.

The before trek experience is spiced by a cup of coffee grown from the Rwandan soils amidst traditional Kinyarwanda performances.

After this session, you will be allocated a respective gorilla family to track and head to the forest in the slopes of Virunga Volcanoes in search of the critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.

The trek for the gorillas is one of the lifetime experiences that you will always wonder to have had. Hiking the slopes and challenging landscapes is an experience in its self while the magical scenery of the Virunga Volcanoes, the rolling hills of Rwanda, impressive flora and the birds combine to make the gorilla trek to go beyond only gorillas.

The one hour of direct encounter with the gorillas is availed to you upon reaching them and will be utilized maximum by asking the questions that you wish to know about gorillas from the Ranger, taking life time pictures and viewing of the gorillas themselves.

Retreat from the activity which tends to last 2 – 8 hours to the starting point after your picnic lunch and then transfer to Uganda and Mgahinga Gorilla national Park in particular for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Mount Gahinga Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mucha Hotel (Midrange/Standard) or Amajambere iwacu Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 5: Track Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After a relaxed breakfast, you will embark on the sun rise boat cruise on the Lake of a thousand Islands – Lake Bunyonyi exploring its main Islands while listening to the local stories about the Lake and its Islands from the local guide.

The sights of the birds like Cormorants may not be missed while the magical scenery of Kigezi Highlands will all be around you.

Retreat from the activity and return to lodge for lunch and after which you will embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the fascinating Kigezi Highlands for relaxation dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 6: Do a Morning Boat Cruise & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After a relaxed breakfast, you will embark on the sun rise boat cruise on the Lake of a thousand Islands – Lake Bunyonyi exploring its main Islands while listening to the local stories about the Lake and its Islands from the local guide.

The sights of the birds like Cormorants may not be missed while the magical scenery of Kigezi Highlands will all be around you.

Retreat from the activity and return to lodge for lunch and after which you will embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the fascinating Kigezi Highlands for relaxation dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 7: Do Gorilla Trekking & Relax at The Lodge. Optional Batwa Community Tour

Gather at the respective park headquarter in the morning after an early heavy breakfast for briefing about the gorilla trekking encounter by the park rangers at 8am.

After briefing, you will head to the forest for the thrilling gorilla trekking adventure. The hike across the varied landscapes of Bwindi marked with deep valleys, steep hills and dense vegetation cover is very rewarding.

The moment you come across the critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is one those must list moments that you can ever encounter in the life time.

The gorilla trek lasts between 2 – 8 hours and after the one full hour of direct encounter with them; you will return the starting point and transfer to the lodge for an afternoon relaxation.

In the afternoon, you can do an optional Batwa Community tour to encounter one of the last groups of the short sovereign people in the world with their unique ancient heritage. Retire for dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Drive Through The Southern Sector of Ishasha in Search of Tree Climbing Lions

After breakfast, embark in the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 316km from Nkuringo, 309km from Rushaga, 218km from Ruhija and 160km from Buhoma driving along the rural landscapes of Kanungu and the small trading Centers.

Upon reaching Ishasha sector on the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will do a game drive in search of tree climbing lions that tend to hung on the branches of fig trees during day time.

The possibility of encountering them along with other wild game such as the Kobs and water buck not forgetting the buffaloes and elephants provide you with remarkable memories once successful.

Continue on the drive to the upper parts of Queen Elizabeth National park for relaxation dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 9: Do Game Drive in The Morning And Launch Cruise Along The Paradise of Hippos – The 45km Kazinga Channel in The Afternoon

After breakfast, embark on a thrilling game drive across the rolling Savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park that stretch across the Albertine flats.

The game drive which starts as early as 6am offers you possibilities of encountering a range of wild game including four of the Big five Land Animals including lions, leopard, elephants and buffaloes.

The well placed tracks in Kasenyi traverse a common dwelling for this wild game with additions of side stripped jackals, water buck, Uganda Kobs, among others.

The activity tend to take 3 – 4 hours after which you will return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you will drive to Mweya jetty in the afternoon fir a thrilling boat cruise along the paradise of Hippos – the 45km long Kazinga Channel which adjoins Lake Edward and George with overlooking sights of Democratic Republic of Congo.

The range of birds, Nile crocodiles, Hippos and other wild game drinking on the channel side may not be missed.

Retreat from the 2 hour activity, do a game drive along the channel track as you connect to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 10: Do Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge in The Morning & Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, transfer to the Kyambura gorge in the East of Queen Elizabeth National Park commonly referred to as the Valley of Apes for a thrilling Chimpanzee trekking encounter beginning at 8am.

The hike through the steep sides of the gorge marked with lush tropical forest thriving below sea level with the views of the River lowing on the gorge floor add spice to the entire experience.

The encounter with chimps as they roll themselves in the tree branches, gather fruit, make pant hooting calls and socialize will make your one hour direct encounter with them memorable.

Retreat from the activity which tends to last 2 – 5 hours and embark on the transfer to Kibale National Park arriving in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Primate Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (Midrange/Standard) or Rwenzori View Guesthouse (Budget/Basic).

Day 11: Do Chimpanzee Trekking in The Morning & Transfer to Kampala

After an early breakfast, gather at Kanyanchu Tourism Center for briefing at 8am about the conduct of Chimpanzee trekking experience.

After briefing, you follow the park ranger heading to the pristine forest of Kibale which is a haven of 13 Primate species among which include the common chimpanzees, colobus monkeys among others.

The trek through the forest might expose you to counts of birds in Kibale Forest and its remarkable flora before approaching the habituated chimpanzees.

The one hour is availed to you to maximally explore these Apes in detail including their sound calls, social behavior, structure, and playful tactics among others.

Retreat from the activity that tend to last 2 – 5 hours to embark on the drive to Kampala 358km about 6 – 7 hours’ drive arriving in the evening for your night flight through Entebbe International Airport.

End of The 11 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda Rwanda Chimpanzee Tracking Tour.