7 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife and primate safari is a one week adventure in 2 countries of East Africa that is Uganda and Rwanda. This safari will take you to a breathtaking chimpanzee trekking safari in Kibale forest national park a home to 13 primate species then proceed to Queen Elizabeth national park famous for tree-climbing lions. At Queen Elizabeth national park, you will have a boat cruise along Kazinga channel where you will see crocodiles and hippos, have a game drive in Kasenyi plains, and watch the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha on your way to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for gorilla trekking. You will later exit Uganda to Rwanda for golden monkey trekking in volcanoes national park. This safari starts in Uganda and ends in Rwanda and can never be done a vice versa way depending on how the traveler needs it.

7 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife and primate safari highlights

Day1: Transfer from Entebbe / Kampala to Kibale forest national park

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise at Kazinga channel

Day 4: Tree climbing lions and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Day 6: Drive to volcanoes national park

Day 7: Golden monkey trekking in volcanoes national park and departures

Detailed itinerary 

Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe / Kampala to Kibale forest national park

Depending on your location whether in Kampala or Entebbe, you will be picked by our driver guide from your hotel or Entebbe international airport and the driver guide will brief you about your safari. You will then start on your drive to Kibale forest national park with a stopover for lunch. Upon arrival, you will proceed to your booked lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Ndali Crater Lodge – luxury, Isunga Lodge – mid-range, Kitojo Guest Cottages – budget

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

After delicious morning breakfast, you will pack water and some energy-giving snacks and meet your driver to transfer you to the park headquarters in Kanyanchu for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will be given a ranger guide and grouped after which you will head to Kibale forest in search of these primates. During chimpanzee trekking, you will see other primates such as red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and others since the park is a home of 3 primates. Finding the chimpanzees in the Kibale forest will take you about 2 – 4 hours and on finding them you will be given one hour to observe their behaviors, watch them do their daily activities as you take photos, and record videos. After an hour with chimpanzees, you will trek back to the park headquarters to meet your safari driver and return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will check out of the lodge and meet your safari driver ready to transfer you to Queen Elizabeth national park which is about a 2 hours’ drive from Kibale forest national park. You will get to Queen Elizabeth late in the evening and check-in your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge – luxury, Parkview safari lodge – mid-range, Pumba safari cottages – mid-range

Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise at Kazinga channel

After morning breakfast, your driver-guide will take you for a morning game drive in Kasenyi plains which harbors the largest population of animals. During the game drive, you will be able to see animals such as giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, warthogs, chimpanzees, and some bird species that live in the Kasenyi plains. After the game drive, you will get back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon you will go for a boat cruise at Kasenyi where you will enjoy the cool breeze while viewing water animals such as hippos and crocodiles as well as water birds. You will also see buffaloes and elephants on the lake shores drinking water or bathing. Get back to your lodge later in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mweya safari lodge – luxury, Parkview safari lodge – mid-range, Pumba safari cottages – mid-range

Day 4: Tree climbing lions and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

On the 4th day of your Uganda Rwanda wildlife and primate safari, you will wake up with a morning breakfast then check out of your lodge and drive to the Ishasha sector with packed lunch. While in the Ishasha sector you will go for a game drive in search of tree climbing lions that are always hanging on fig tree branches and acacia waiting for Uganda kobs. You will be surprised with the king of the jungles in tree branches. Another place where you can find tree-climbing lions apart from Queen Elizabeth national park is Lake Manyara national park in Tanzania. After watching tree-climbing lions you will enjoy a picnic lunch under the tree shade.

After lunch, you will exit Queen Elizabeth national park and start your journey to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park located in the extreme southwestern corner of Uganda where you expect to arrive late in the evening to check in your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge – luxury, Buhoma Haven Lodge – mid-range, Buhoma Community Rest Camp – budget

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

After early morning breakfast, pack your lunch and water and get to meet with your driver-guide who will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing. After the briefing, you will be allocated a gorilla group to trek and you will be grouped into 8 with each group given a ranger guide. You will then head into Bwindi impenetrable forest to search for these giants. The trek will take you a few hours to several hours depending on the location of these primates and when you find them you will spend only one hour of close interaction and return to your lodge later for relaxation in the evening.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge – luxury, Buhoma Haven Lodge – mid-range, Buhoma Community Rest Camp – budget

Day 6: Drive to volcanoes national park

After a relaxed breakfast on your 6th day of 7 days Uganda Rwanda wildlife and primate safari, you will check out of your lodge and start your journey to Kigali in Rwanda with a stopover for lunch. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will continue to volcanoes national park where you will check-in for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique hotel – luxury, Le Bambou Gorilla lodge – mid range, Garden palace Hotel – budget

Day 7: Golden monkey trekking in volcanoes national park and departures

After morning breakfast, your driver-guide will be ready to pick you up and transfer you to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing about golden monkey trekking. After the briefing, you will head out of the forest to look for these primates. Golden monkey trekking in volcanoes national park takes you 2 – 3 hours searching for habituated groups in the bamboo forests and when you find them, you are given an hour to be around them after which return to your lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will check out of your lodge and meet your driver guide who will transfer you from volcanoes national park to Kigali international airport to end your 7 Days Uganda Rwanda wildlife and primate safari.

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch