18-Day – Wildlife Grand Safari: Uganda and Rwanda Primate

A rich cross-border journey combining Big Five safaris, primates, rainforests, lakes, culture, and scenic landscapes in Uganda and Rwanda

A rich cross-border journey combining Big Five safaris, primates, rainforests, lakes, culture, and scenic landscapes in Uganda and Rwanda.

UGANDA • RWANDA • Big Five • Gorillas • Chimps • Golden Monkeys • Lakes • Culture

Uganda • Murchison • Kibale • Queen Elizabeth • Bwindi Rwanda • Volcanoes NP • Lake Kivu • Nyungwe Forest • Kigali

GORILLAS x2 CHIMPS x2 GOLDEN MONKEYS BIG FIVE LAKES x2 RAINFORESTS CULTURE

Entebbe

Ziwa

Murchison

Kibale

Queen E.

Bwindi

Border

Volcanoes

Kivu

Nyungwe

Kigali

Day 1 – Arrival at Entebbe International Airport – Overnight UG Uganda

Arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Meet and greet by professional safari guide. Transfer to hotel, safari briefing, and leisure time. Dinner and overnight in Entebbe.

Uganda • Arrival • Safari briefing

Day 2 – Transfer from Entebbe – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Murchison Falls NP UG Uganda

Breakfast at 07:00. Then 07:30–10:30 drive for 180 km to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Then 11:00–13:00 guided on-foot rhino tracking (southern white rhinos, bushbuck; birds: ground hornbill). Lunch 13:00–14:00. After continue from 14:00–17:30 drive to Murchison Falls NP. Dinner and overnight.

Uganda • Ziwa Rhinos • Transfer to Murchison Falls

Day 3 – Murchison Falls National Park UG Uganda

Early breakfast 06:00. From 06:30–09:30 morning game drive (elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalo). Brunch 10:30–11:30. Then 14:00–17:30 enjoy a boat cruise (hippos, crocodiles, elephants). Optional top-of-the-falls hike. Dinner and overnight.

Uganda • Murchison Falls • Game drive • Nile boat cruise

Murchison Falls • Big Five • Nile River • Waterfalls

Day 4 – Transfer from Murchison Falls – Kibale Forest National Park UG Uganda

Breakfast at 07:00. Continue from 07:30–16:00 drive for about 430 km with lunch en-route. Afternoon arrival, rest. Dinner and overnight.

Uganda • Drive: 430 km to Kibale NP

Day 5 – Kibale Forest National Park UG Uganda

Early breakfast 06:00. From 06:30–09:30 chimpanzee trekking (chimpanzees, red colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys). Return for brunch 10:30–11:30. Then 14:00–16:30 Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk (birds, community interaction). Dinner and overnight near Kibale.

Uganda • Chimpanzee trekking • Bigodi Wetland

Kibale • Chimpanzee tracking • Primates of Uganda

Day 6 – Transfer from Kibale National Park – Queen Elizabeth National Park UG Uganda

Breakfast at 07:00. From 07:30–11:00 drive to Queen Elizabeth NP. Lunch 12:30–13:30. Then 14:30–17:30 afternoon game drive (elephants, lions, buffalo, and antelopes). Dinner and overnight.

Uganda • Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP • Afternoon game drive

Day 7 – Queen Elizabeth National Park UG Uganda

Early breakfast 06:00. Then from 06:30–09:30 morning game drive in Kasenyi Plains. Lunch at lodge. Starting from 14:00–16:30 Kazinga Channel boat cruise (hippos, crocodiles, waterbirds). Dinner and overnight.

Uganda • Kasenyi Plains • Kazinga Channel cruise

Queen Elizabeth • Big Five • Kazinga Channel • Hippos

Day 8 – Drive from Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi Impenetrable NP UG Uganda

Breakfast at 07:00. The day will start from 07:30–13:30 drive via Ishasha sector (tree-climbing lions). Lunch en-route. Afternoon arrival in Bwindi, rest. Dinner and overnight.

Uganda • Ishasha tree-climbing lions • Transfer to Bwindi

Day 9 – Ultimate Gorilla Trekking (Bwindi Impenetrable NP) UG Uganda

Early breakfast 05:30. The day starts from 06:00 transfer to park headquarters. Then 07:00–13:00 gorilla trekking (1–6 hrs depending on gorilla family). Packed lunch in the forest. Afternoon rest or optional community visit. Dinner and overnight near Bwindi.

Uganda • Gorilla Trek #1 • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Bwindi • Mountain Gorilla Trekking • Once in a Lifetime Experience

Day 10 – Drive from Bwindi Forest – Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) UG Uganda RW Rwanda

Breakfast at 07:00. Then from 07:30–12:30 drive to Cyanika/Gatuna border. Border formalities and immigration. Lunch near Volcanoes NP. Afternoon leisure with volcano views. Dinner and overnight.

Border Crossing: Uganda → Rwanda • Transfer to Volcanoes NP

Day 11 – Ultimate Gorilla Trekking (Volcanoes NP – Rwanda) RW Rwanda

Early breakfast 05:30. From 06:00 transfer to park headquarters. Then 07:00–13:00 gorilla trekking in Volcanoes NP. Packed lunch. Afternoon rest and recovery. Dinner and overnight.

Rwanda • Gorilla Trek #2 • Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes NP • Mountain Gorillas • Land of a Thousand Hills

Day 12 – Volcanoes National Park RW Rwanda

Breakfast at 07:00. Then 07:30–11:00 golden monkey trekking or Dian Fossey Tomb hike. Lunch 12:30–13:30. Afternoon leisure or spa time. Dinner and overnight.

Rwanda • Golden monkey trekking or Dian Fossey Tomb

Golden Monkeys • Endangered primates of Volcanoes NP

Day 13 – Volcanoes National Park – Lake Kivu (Gisenyi) RW Rwanda

Breakfast 08:00. Start from 08:30–11:30 scenic drive from about 100 km to Lake Kivu. Lunch at lakeside restaurant 13:00–14:00. Afternoon swimming, kayaking, or relaxation. Dinner and overnight at Lake Kivu.

Rwanda • Drive to Lake Kivu • Lake activities

Lake Kivu • One of Africa’s Great Lakes

Day 14 – Lake Kivu RW Rwanda

Breakfast 08:00. Kick off the day from 09:00–12:00 boat cruise (fishing villages, Napoleon Island bats). Lunch 13:00–14:00. Afternoon coffee experience or lakeside leisure. Dinner and overnight at Lake Kivu.

Rwanda • Lake Kivu boat cruise • Coffee experience

Lake Kivu • Fishing villages • Local coffee culture

Day 15 – Transfer from Lake Kivu – Nyungwe Forest National Park RW Rwanda

Breakfast at 07:00. Starting at 07:30–13:30 drive for 260 km along the Congo–Nile Divide. Lunch en-route and tea plantation visit. Afternoon arrival, rest. Dinner and overnight near Nyungwe Forest.

Rwanda • Drive to Nyungwe Forest • Congo-Nile Divide

Nyungwe Forest • Ancient rainforest • Primates

Day 16 – Nyungwe Forest National Park RW Rwanda

Early breakfast 05:00. Beginning from 05:30–09:00 chimpanzee trekking (chimps, colobus monkeys; birds: great blue turaco). Return for brunch 10:30–11:30. Afternoon leisure. Dinner and overnight.

Rwanda • Chimpanzee trek #2 • Nyungwe Forest

Nyungwe • Chimpanzee tracking • Primates of Rwanda

Day 17 – Drive from Nyungwe Forest – Kigali RW Rwanda

Breakfast at 07:00. Begin at 07:30–13:30 drive for 230 km / 6 hrs back to Kigali with lunch en-route. Afternoon city tour or relaxation. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Kigali.

Rwanda • Return to Kigali • City tour • Farewell dinner

Kigali • Genocide Memorial • Local Crafts • Cultural Tour

Day 18 – Kigali International Airport (Departure) RW Rwanda

Breakfast then transfer to Kigali International Airport for onward flight back home.

Rwanda • Transfer to Kigali Airport • Departure

Disclaimer: Exact lodge options will be shared at quotation stage to match availability and travel dates. And once you confirm the option you like, we will then work on a more detailed itinerary.

Uganda ✦ Rwanda

The Ultimate Cross-Border Wildlife Grand Safari

Uganda

Ziwa Rhinos • Murchison Falls • Kibale Chimps • Queen Elizabeth • Bwindi Gorillas

Rwanda

Volcanoes NP Gorillas • Golden Monkeys • Lake Kivu • Nyungwe Chimps • Kigali

Gorilla Trek x2

Chimp Trek x2

Golden Monkeys

Big Five

Lake Kivu

Culture

18 Days • 2 Countries • 2 Gorilla Treks • 2 Chimp Treks • Golden Monkeys • Big Five • 2 Lakes • Rainforests • Culture

✦ Entebbe • Ziwa • Murchison • Kibale • Queen Elizabeth • Bwindi • Volcanoes NP • Lake Kivu • Nyungwe • Kigali ✦

Rhino tracking • Big Five safaris • Nile boat cruise • Chimpanzee trekking x2 • Gorilla trekking x2 • Golden monkeys • Lake Kivu boat cruise • Nyungwe Forest • Kigali city tour