8 Days Uganda safaris from Kigali- game drives, gorilla and chimpanzee tour is one of the interesting safari packages that most clients like to purchase especially those who are interested in Uganda safaris but fly to Kigali international airport or those who would like to drive for shorter distances as well as the visitors who are staying in Rwanda and would wish to explore the Uganda safaris. We know that the current price of gorilla permits in Uganda being double that of Uganda in terms of the price of gorilla permits, then Uganda becomes the perfect and affordable destination for gorilla tracking. You will drive for fewer hours as you enjoy the safari insights of both Uganda and Rwanda. Our 8 days Uganda safaris from Kigali will takes you to Queen Elizabeth National Park for safari game drives and then to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for gorilla trekking and Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking and then on your last day, enjoy the beautiful scenes of the lake Bunyonyi thereafter you drive back to Kigali international airport for your flight out of the country.

Highlight of 8 Days Uganda safaris from Kigali (game drives, gorilla and chimpanzee safaris from Kigali)

Day 1: You will be picked up from the Kigali international airport or Kigali city and transfer to Bwindi National Park

Day 2: Morning Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 4: Game drives and boat cruise experience at Kazinga channel

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park 

Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking/trekking  

Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for adventure relation

Day 5: Transfer Drive back to Kigali International airport

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali internal airport or hotel address in Kigali

The first day of our 8 days Uganda safaris from Kigali will start from Kigali upon your arrival at Kigali airport or your hotel that we have booked for you in Kigali. You will meet and greet our professional guide who will introduce himself forests and thereafter give you a short briefing about the itinerary. In case you have enough time, let say you have arrived in the morning, he will take you for the short Kigali city tours and enjoy one of the cleanest cities of Africa Kigali, visit some of the genocide memorial site and the Kigali museum if time allows. After you will now start the fantastic road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park as you enjoy the scenic views of the rolling hills of Kigali before you cross to Uganda via Cyanika and Katuna boarders. After crossing to the Uganda side, you will drive to Kabale town or Kisoro for lunch before you proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to your booked lodge. While crossing Uganda, you notice a change in the geography of the two countries and here you will enjoy the Kigezi hills as well as the crop gardens on top of the hills well terraced. Then from Kisoro or Katuna proceed to Bwindi for your overnight stay

Point of stop:  Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Journey time: Approximately four to five hours (4-5)

Accommodation / lodging options: Silverback lodge (Luxury), Bakiga Lodge (midrange) and Ride 4 a Woman (budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner

Day 2: Morning Gorilla trekking and evening Batwa cultural experience.

The major highlight of your 8 days Uganda safaris from Kigali is the gorilla tracking activity. After taking your breakfast, with your packed lunch ready, you will now embark on the life-changing adventure of gorilla trekking in the jungle. The gorilla trekking experience will make you meet and endangered mountain gorillas in their natural world which is so rewarding, you will starting the gorilla trekking experience at the park headquarters for a briefing which is done by the ranger guides who will give you the instructions to follow while in the forest enjoying the gorilla trek. Here, you will also be allocated the gorilla family to trek and that’s why it important that you inform your guide about the interest of the gorilla family that you would like to trek such that you can be considered when allocating the gorilla families. Gorilla family allocation is done basing on your interests, physical fitness, and age, and after all this, you will be transferred or taken to the starting point for your gorilla family. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park may last between 30 minutes three hours and thus you need to prepare for this journey. You will walk majestically within the forest as you encounter other different wildlife which will be identified to you by your guide until you reach the habituated gorilla family. You will spend only one hour with the habituated gorilla family as you enjoy the family while observing their activities such as feeding and learn more about these animals including what do they do and what they like. Feel free to ask your ranger guide and you will get enough explanation. After, this you will be guided back to the starting point and get a certificate and then go to the loges relax and then go for the Batwa cultural experience where you will encounter the unique pygmy people who were once the inhabitants of the forest and interact with them as you are led by the local Mtwa guide, enjoy the local cultural dance and drama as presented by the Batwa. After return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation /lodging options: Silverback lodge (Luxury), Bakiga Lodge (midrange) and Ride 4 a Woman(budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner

 Day 3: Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park- Ishasha Sector

After taking breakfast, you will start the journey to Queen Elizabeth National park which is found in western Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National park is one of the most visited national parks in Uganda with several wildlife species such as elephants, buffaloes, leopards, Nile crocodiles, and tree-climbing lions. The journey will take you approximately 6 hours. You will have an enroute meal at one of the lodges in Ishasha sector, after go to the park to look for tree climbing lions and other wildlife species. Later drive to the northern sector to check in to your booked lodge, relax, enjoy your dinner and prepare yourself for the following day.

Point of stop:  Queen Elizabeth National Park

Journey time: Approximately five to six hours (5-6)

Accommodation /lodging options: Mweya safari Lodge (Luxury), Buffalo Safari Lodge (midrange), and Pumba Cottages (budget)

Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 4: Morning game drives and afternoon boat cruise at Kazinga channel

In the morning you will wake up very early and thereafter drive to Kasenyi plains for game drive safaris. The morning game drive safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park are full of praises with the interesting sightings of the wildlife animals such as leopards, elephants, warthogs, antelopes, lions, buffaloes, and leopards. After this adventurous game drive, you will return to your lodge for relaxation and lunch as you wait for the afternoon boat cruise at the Kazinga channel where you will see the different animal species on the channel banks after strong sunshine as they are drinking or swimming in water. The channel also attracts interesting bird species such as lesser swamp-Warbler, black bee-eaters, and the pied kingfisher among others. Thereafter you will return to the lodge and relax and you prepare for the next day’s course of action.

Accommodation /lodging options: Mweya safari Lodge (Luxury), Buffalo Safari Lodge (midrange), and Pumba Cottages (budget)

Meal plan: Breakfast &Lunch and dinner

Day 5: Morning game drives and then transfer to Kibale National Park

Wake up very in the morning and then move fast to Kasenyi track to look for wildlife such as elephants, lions, leopards and other wildlife species which include buffaloes, antelopes, and waterbuck, and see other savannah bird species and then go to Kibale Forest National Park and check in to your lodge

Point of stop:  Kibale Forest National Park

Journey time: Approximately three to four hours (3-4)

Accommodation /lodging options: Crater Safari Lodge (Luxury), Isunga Safari Lodge (midrange), and Rweteera Safari Lodge (budget)

Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking activity to Kibale National Park

Weak up very early in the morning and have your healthier breakfast and then head to the Kibale Forest National Park headquarters for the briefing before chimpanzee tracking. While at the Kibale Forest National Park headquarters, you will join other chimpanzee trekkers. The briefing is done by the professional ranger guide and thereafter, you will be led by the guide for the walk into the forest primate walk in Kibale Forest National Park. The walk to Kibale Forest National Park will lead you to the habituated communities of chimpanzees and once you have seen the habituated chimpanzees, you will spend one hour with habituated chimpanzees as you observe them as you’re taking the photos of these great apes. And this means that you should be able to come with cameras. Kibale Forest National Park is home to over 13 species of primates can be seen even doing chimpanzee tracking and other numerous bird species. Here you will integrate the chimpanzee trekking with Bigodi wetland after lunch which is the best destination for bird watching and primate watching. See how the people have participated in the conservation of the wetland and you can as well chose to offer a hand to these groups if you wish. After lunch at the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation /lodging options: Crater Safari Lodge (Luxury), Isunga Safari Lodge (midrange), and Rweteera Safari Lodge (budget)

Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 7: Transfer from Kibale National Park to Lake Bunyonyi

Toady drive from Kibale Forest National Park to Lake Bunyonyi for the lake tour and relaxation as you cut your journey short to Kigali. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Africa and one of the only 3 lava dammed Lakes in Uganda and indication that the lake was the result of the larva flowing from one of the Volcanoes blocked the flowing river forcing the water flow back occupying the space or filling the left space to form Lake Bunyonyi. It is one the best place where you can relax and the Lake features different Islands which you will tour on this day. Visit the so-called punishment island where a girl who would get pregnant out of the legitimate traditional marriage would be taken damped on the island and then left to die and this is whole day activity that you can explore on Lake Bunyonyi. There are different activities, you can do canoeing to visit the island, cultural walks and then return to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight

Point of stop:  Lake Bunyonyi

Journey time: Approximately six to seven hours (6-7)

Accommodation /lodging options: Birder nest (Luxury), Bunyonyi Arcadia Lodge (midrange), and Bunyonyi Rock Resort (budget)

Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 8: Optional Hiking activities around Lake Bunyonyi and Transfer back to Rwanda

After breakfast, in the morning, you can decide to hike around areas around the lake and drive back to Kigali International Airport to catch your departing flight and this marks the final moments of your 8 days Uganda safaris from Kigali-Rwanda.

The price for the 8 Days Uganda safaris from Kigali (game drives, gorilla and chimpanzee safaris from Kigali) will include;

• The gorilla permits
• Park entrance fees
• Our professional guide
• Accommodation for 7 nights
• Ground transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle

The price for the 8 Days Uganda safaris from Kigali (game drives, gorilla and chimpanzee safaris from Kigali) will exclude;

• Soda sodas and alcoholic drinks
• Air ticket and Visa extra activities outside the itinerary
• Laundry services, personal items, or expenses