Safari Overview
A primate-rich route beginning in Rwanda and finishing in Uganda with gorillas in both countries plus chimpanzees and wildlife.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Kigali
Spend time in Kigali with flexible options for city orientation, markets, local food or a reflective visit to key cultural and historical sites before continuing the safari.
Your guide will discuss the next stage of the journey, likely driving time, suitable stops and the best way to use the day. Meals and accommodation are arranged according to the safari category you choose, and the programme remains flexible where park rules and permit times allow.
Day 2 – Volcanoes National Park
Drive into the Virunga foothills near Volcanoes National Park, where cultivated slopes rise toward a chain of dramatic volcanoes.
Your guide will discuss the next stage of the journey, likely driving time, suitable stops and the best way to use the day. Meals and accommodation are arranged according to the safari category you choose, and the programme remains flexible where park rules and permit times allow.
Day 3 – Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
After an early park briefing, trek into the bamboo and montane forest with rangers to find a habituated mountain gorilla family. Terrain and trekking time vary, making good footwear and a steady pace important.
Your guide will discuss the next stage of the journey, likely driving time, suitable stops and the best way to use the day. Meals and accommodation are arranged according to the safari category you choose, and the programme remains flexible where park rules and permit times allow.
Day 4 – Cross to Uganda & Bwindi
Travel through the green highlands toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with changing views of farms, forested hills and small trading centres.
Your guide will discuss the next stage of the journey, likely driving time, suitable stops and the best way to use the day. Meals and accommodation are arranged according to the safari category you choose, and the programme remains flexible where park rules and permit times allow.
Day 5 – Uganda Gorilla Trekking
After the ranger briefing, enter the forest with trackers to search for a habituated mountain gorilla family. The walk can be short or demanding depending on the gorillas’ location. Once found, enjoy the permitted viewing time quietly observing behaviour and photographing the encounter before returning to the trailhead.
Your guide will discuss the next stage of the journey, likely driving time, suitable stops and the best way to use the day. Meals and accommodation are arranged according to the safari category you choose, and the programme remains flexible where park rules and permit times allow.
Day 6 – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Enter Queen Elizabeth National Park for savannah wildlife, crater scenery and the possibility of elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions and prolific birdlife.
Your guide will discuss the next stage of the journey, likely driving time, suitable stops and the best way to use the day. Meals and accommodation are arranged according to the safari category you choose, and the programme remains flexible where park rules and permit times allow.
Day 7 – Kibale Forest & Chimpanzees
Join a guided chimpanzee tracking walk in Kibale Forest. Listen for calls in the canopy, follow signs with your ranger and spend time with a habituated community when located. The forest also supports monkeys, birds and rich plant life.
Your guide will discuss the next stage of the journey, likely driving time, suitable stops and the best way to use the day. Meals and accommodation are arranged according to the safari category you choose, and the programme remains flexible where park rules and permit times allow.
Day 8 – Transfer to Entebbe
After breakfast, begin the final transfer to the airport or your agreed drop-off point. Stops can be arranged around flight timing, and your guide will help keep the final day comfortable and unhurried.
Your guide will discuss the next stage of the journey, likely driving time, suitable stops and the best way to use the day. Meals and accommodation are arranged according to the safari category you choose, and the programme remains flexible where park rules and permit times allow.
Customize This Safari
This itinerary is a strong starting point rather than a fixed formula. Bush Shrike Adventures can change the accommodation level, add or remove nights, include domestic flights, adjust the arrival city, add birding time, slow the pace for photography or combine the trip with more destinations in Uganda or Rwanda.
Safari Includes
Airport transfers where required
Private 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
Professional English-speaking safari guide
Accommodation and meals as stated in the confirmed quotation
Park entry and activities specifically listed in the confirmed itinerary
Bottled drinking water in the safari vehicle
Safari Excludes
International flights
Entry visas
Travel insurance
Optional activities not listed as included
Alcoholic and premium beverages
Tips, gratuities and personal expenses
Gorilla or chimpanzee permits unless specifically included in the quotation
