8 Days Rwanda and Uganda Tour Budget Primate Safari
Overview
Our 8 Days Rwanda and Uganda Tour Budget Primate Safari combines primate and wildlife adventures in Uganda. It takes you to Volcanoes National Park for a golden monkey trekking experience, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a gorilla trekking adventure, Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife encounters, and to the “Primate Capital of the world”; Kibale National Park for chimpanzee trekking. The tour can start and end in Kigali or Entebbe, depending on your preference. Also, if you need an upgrade, feel free to inform us.
Your Rwanda and Uganda tour journey will take you from the mist-covered slopes of Volcanoes National Park to the ancient rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale Forest, while also including spectacular savannah game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The itinerary perfectly balances intensive wildlife tracking with relaxing moments at scenic locations like Lake Bunyonyi, nicknamed the “Switzerland of Africa” for its terraced landscapes and island-dotted waters.
Throughout your Rwanda and Uganda tour, professional guides will provide valuable insights into the complex ecosystems and conservation efforts that protect these magnificent creatures. From the iconic tree-climbing lions of Ishasha to the highest concentration of hippos in Africa along the Kazinga Channel, this safari showcases the extraordinary biodiversity of both countries while supporting sustainable tourism initiatives that benefit local communities and wildlife preservation.
Price Includes
Chimpanzee tracking permit
Gorilla trekking permit
Golden Monkey trekking permit
Park fees
All activities
Ground transport per 4WD custom
Bottled water in the safari vehicle
Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
Service of an English-speaking driver-guide
Driver allowances
All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Price excludes
Rwanda and Uganda Visa
International and Internal Flights
Personal needs such as gratitude, beverages, etc.
Visa
Air ticket
Optional Activities
Laundry fees
Tips
Life insurance
Other drinks apart from water
Itineraries
Day 1Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Your Rwanda and Uganda tour adventure begins with a warm welcome from your experienced driver-guide at Kigali International Airport or your hotel in Rwanda's capital city. This Rwanda and Uganda tour immediately immerses you in local culture with an optional Kigali city tour, including the moving Kigali Genocide Memorial and vibrant Kimironko Market, where local craftspeople showcase traditional Rwandan art. The Rwanda and Uganda tour then continues with a scenic 2–3-hour drive (approximately 107 km) northward through Rwanda's verdant countryside, known as "The Land of a Thousand Hills," until you reach Kinigi, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, where you'll check into your accommodation for dinner and overnight rest.
Day 2Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day two of your Rwanda and Uganda tour begins with an early breakfast before heading to Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi for a 7:00 AM briefing ahead of your golden monkey trekking expedition. During this Rwanda and Uganda tour highlight, expert trackers will lead you through bamboo forests to find these playful, endangered primates, recognizable by their bright orange-gold body, cheeks, and tail contrasting with their black limbs, crown, and tail end. After spending a magical hour with these agile creatures, your Rwanda and Uganda tour continues with lunch before embarking on a 3–4-hour journey (approximately 120 km) crossing into Uganda via the Cyanika border post and proceeding to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving at your lodge in either the Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija or Nkuringo sector by evening.
Day 3Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
The pinnacle of your Rwanda and Uganda tour arrives as you gather at the Bwindi Park headquarters at 7:30 AM for a comprehensive briefing before embarking on the unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure. Your Rwanda and Uganda tour experience includes hiking through dense forest undergrowth with specialized guides who track a specific habituated gorilla family, a journey that may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the gorillas' location within Uganda's oldest and most biologically diverse protected area. After an awe-inspiring hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat, your Rwanda and Uganda tour continues with a 1–2-hour drive (approximately 55 km) to the spectacular Lake Bunyonyi, Africa's second-deepest lake with 29 islands, where you'll spend the night at a lakeside lodge enjoying panoramic views of this stunning crater lake landscape.
Day 4Morning canoe cruise and transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP via Ishasha sector
Begin your day on this Rwanda and Uganda tour with a tranquil morning dugout canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi, exploring some of its fascinating islands, including Punishment Island (Akampene), where unmarried pregnant girls were historically abandoned, and Bwama Island, home to a former leprosy treatment center. Your Rwanda and Uganda tour then continues with a 4–5-hour journey (approximately 215 km) northwestward to Queen Elizabeth National Park, with a special detour through the Ishasha sector, famous for its unique tree-climbing lions that drape themselves across fig tree branches. This Rwanda and Uganda tour day culminates with arrival at your lodge in the northern Mweya or Kasenyi plains area of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where elephants, buffalo and other wildlife often roam freely around the accommodations.
Day 5Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Today's Rwanda and Uganda tour activities showcase the incredible savannah ecosystem of Queen Elizabeth National Park, beginning with an early morning game drive through the Kasenyi plains, departing around 6:30 AM to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities. Your Rwanda and Uganda tour guide will navigate the network of park tracks in search of lion prides, herds of elephant, the endemic Uganda kob antelope, and if you're fortunate, leopards concealed in the scattered acacia trees. After lunch, your Rwanda and Uganda tour experience continues with a highlight of any Ugandan safari – the 2-hour boat cruise along the 40km Kazinga Channel connecting Lakes Edward and George, where you'll witness extraordinary concentrations of hippos (the highest in Africa), enormous Nile crocodiles, and countless waterbirds while elephants, buffalo and other wildlife come to drink along the shores.
Day 6Morning game drive and transfer to Kibale National Park
The sixth day of your Rwanda and Uganda tour begins with a final game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, offering another chance to spot elusive predators and abundant herbivores across the savannah landscape. Your Rwanda and Uganda tour then continues with a picturesque 3–4-hour journey (approximately 150 km) northward, stopping for lunch in the town of Kasese near the dramatic Rwenzori Mountains before proceeding to Kibale National Park, home to the highest concentration and diversity of primates in Africa. This Rwanda and Uganda tour day concludes with arrival at your accommodation near Fort Portal or Bigodi, where you might spot olive baboons and vervet monkeys around the lodge grounds as a preview of tomorrow's primate adventures.
Day 7Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
Experience the highlight of this portion of your Rwanda and Uganda tour with an early morning departure to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing before entering Kibale Forest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities. During this exciting Rwanda and Uganda tour activity, you'll trek through the 795 km² ancient rainforest with specialized guides to find our closest living relatives, spending a treasured hour observing their remarkably human-like behaviors, including tool use, complex social interactions, and distinctive vocalizations. After lunch, your Rwanda and Uganda tour continues with an afternoon visit to the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, where a 4.5 km guided trail takes you through papyrus swamps and riverine forest to spot additional primate species, including black-and-white colobus, red colobus, and grey-cheeked mangabeys, plus the spectacular great blue turaco among over 200 bird species.
Day 8Transfer to Entebbe Airport
The final day of your Rwanda and Uganda tour begins with breakfast before commencing the 5–6-hour journey (approximately 300 km) back to Entebbe via Fort Portal and Mityana. Your Rwanda and Uganda tour route passes through central Uganda's scenic countryside of rolling hills, tea plantations, and traditional villages, with a lunch stop in Mubende or at the equator crossing in Kayabwe, where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere. As this memorable Rwanda and Uganda tour draws to a close, your guide will transfer you directly to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or to your selected accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala, bringing an end to your extraordinary East African primate adventure.
