7 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safaris Tour – Overview

The 7 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safaris Tour offers you the chances of encountering wild game in Uganda’ second largest Savannah National Park of Queen Elizabeth with four of the big five namely; elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopards along with other wildlife like side stripped jackals, water bucks, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, Kobs, Nile crocodiles & Hippos in Kazinga Channel and the famous tree climbing lions of Ishasha.

The safari incorporates the gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park offering you a diverse gorilla trekking experience.

The drive through Lake Mburo offers you possibilities of encountering Impala, Burchell’s Zebra, Topis and elands among others. The recreations overnight stay on Lake Bunyoyi brings in a touch of relaxation and romance.

7 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safaris Tour – Highlights

Day 1 : Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Make a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe & traditional lunch at Igongo Cultural Center

Day 2: Do morning game drive & afternoon launch cruise along the Paradise of Hippos – the 45km long Kazinga Channel

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Do game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree climbing lions

Day 4: Do gorilla trekking & relax at the lodge & relax at the lodge

Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park & visit the twin lakes with a boat cruise on Lake Ruhondo

Day 6: Do Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park & cross to Uganda (Lake Bunyonyi)

Day 7: Transfer to Kampala. Traditional lunch at Igongo Cultural Center & do a game drive in Lake Mburo National Park en route

7 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safaris Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Make a Stop at Uganda Equator Crossing Kayabwe & Traditional Lunch at Igongo Cultural Center

After breakfast, embark on the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park 417km about 6 – 7 hours’ drive. You will drive out of Kampala towards the south west after which you drive past the equator crossing Kayabwe 77km from Kampala and through the farmed hill sides and the range lands of Ankole.

Continue to catch up with an afternoon chimp trek in Kalinzu in the afternoon. You will marvel at the Chimpanzees as the roll themselves on tree branches, munch fruits and make their pant – hooting calls.

After the 2 -5 hour activity with 1 hour of direct encounter with them, you will proceed to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

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

Day 2: Do Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Launch Cruise Along The Paradise of Hippos – the 45km Long Kazinga Channel

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 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Do Game Drive in Ishasha Sector in Search of Tree Climbing Lions

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to the gorilla trekking haven of Bwindi. You will drive through Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park where the famous tree climbing lions are known to thrive.

The drive offers you the possibilities of encountering more game adding to the sights of the upper parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Encountering the tree climbing lions lying on the fig tree branches is very rewarding. You will have lunch en route and continue in the drive to arrive in Bwindi in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

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

Day 4: Do Gorilla Trekking & Relax at The Lodge & Relax at The Lodge

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 relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket/Luxury), Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort (Mid-range/Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget/Basic).

Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park & Visit The Twin Lakes With a Boat Cruise on Lake Ruhondo

After a relaxed breakfast, embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park 236km from Buhoma, 140km from Ruhija, 93km from Rushaga and Nkuringo.

You will drive along the impressive landscapes of Virunga ranges. Arrive in Rwanda in the afternoon, have lunch and do a boat cruise on Lake Ruhondo exploring the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo. Retire for dinner and overnight.

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

Day 6: Do Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park & Cross to Uganda (Lake Bunyonyi)

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 Lake Bunyonyi in particular for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Bird nest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort (Upmarket/Luxury), Lake Bunyonyi Eco- resort (Midrange/Standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Budget/Basic).

Day 7: Transfer to Kampala. Traditional Lunch at Igongo Cultural Center & Do a Game Drive in Lake Mburo National Park En-route

After a relaxed breakfast after the sun rise, you will embark in the transfer to Kampala 437km about 7 – 8 hours’ drive.

You will drive along impressive countryside landscapes of western Uganda before approaching Mbarara town and Igongo Cultural Center 12km past Mbarara for a traditional lunch after which you will branch off at Sanga to Lake Mburo National Park for a game drive through the park exploring its Savannah landscapes dotted with Zebras, Topis, elands, Impala among others before driving out of it through the Nshara gate. Continue on the drive to Kampala arriving in the afternoon to mark the end of the safari.

End of the 7 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Uganda Rwanda Wildlife Safaris Tour.