Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks & Safari Drives

There’s a wealth of adventure to be had in both Uganda and Rwanda, especially now that tourists are beginning to rediscover...

Uganda, Rwanda

Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks & Safari Drives

DAY 1 Kampala

Arrive at anytime. Arriving early? Pre-book Nile River Whitewater Rafting in Jinja on Day 1, and be back in time for your evening welcome meeting. We strongly advise arriving one night earlier to facilitate the activity's early start.

Administrative

Welcome Meeting

Kampala

Meet your CEO and fellow group members and learn more about the upcoming itinerary. Fill out some paperwork and get ready for the adventure.

1

Optional Activities - Day 1Show

Accommodation

Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.

Canary Hotel

Hotel
DAY 2 Kampala/Fort Portal

Take the scenic route to Fort Portal at the edge of Kibale National Park. Spend the night on a guest farm listening to the sounds of monkeys and birds.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Kampala- Fort Portal4h-6h297km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Kluges Guest Farm

Lodge
DAY 3 Kibale National Park

Explore the evergreen rainforest and trek to spot chimps in the morning or afternoon. Enjoy a traditional lunch in the Bigodi Community. Opt to venture deep into the wetlands to spot more wildlife on a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary.

Animal

Chimpanzee Trek

Kibale National Park1h-2h

Embark on a chimp trek with a park ranger/guide. See more than just chimpanzees in their natural environment. Learn about the ecosystem and keep an eye out for other animals. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, visitors stand a good chance of hearing and seeing our distant cousins as they are not bothered by humans watching their daily behaviour.

Cuisine

Bigodi Community Lunch

Kibale National Park- Bigodi1h-1.5h

Sit down to a traditional buffet-style lunch prepared with fresh, organic local ingredients. Guests dine in a grass thatched hut and learn about Bigodi dining etiquette. Your local hosts describes how the ingredients used in the dishes are grown, harvested and prepared.

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Optional Activities - Day 3Show

Accommodation

Kluges Guest Farm

Lodge
DAY 4 Kibale NP/Queen Elizabeth NP

Continue on to Queen Elizabeth NP, stopping at the equator. Head out on a wildlife safari drive in the afternoon. Keep your eyes peeled for warthogs, elephants, buffalo, five different species of primates, and hippos. Queen Elizabeth National Park is characterized by open savannah, large areas of swamp around Lake George, the extensive Maramagambo Forest in the southeast, and the forested Kyambura Gorge along the border with Kyambura Game Reserve.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Kibale National Park- Queen Elizabeth National Park3h115km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Land Tour

Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife Safari Drive

Queen Elizabeth National ParkAFTERNOON

Enjoy a wildlife safari drive inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to Uganda's largest wildlife populations. Keep an eye out for buffalo, elephants, hippos, hyenas, lions, warthogs, and the elusive leopards.

Accommodation

Simba Safari Camp

Campground
DAY 5 Queen Elizabeth National Park

Take an early morning wildlife safari drive and enjoy lunch inside the park. Opt for an evening cruise along the Kazinga Channel. Enjoy a wildlife safari drive with possible sightings of buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, lions, leopards, hyenas, giant forest hogs, and elephants.

Land Tour

Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife Safari Drive

Queen Elizabeth National ParkMORNING

Enjoy a wildlife safari drive inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to Uganda's largest wildlife populations. Keep an eye out for buffalo, elephants, hippos, hyenas, lions, warthogs, and the elusive leopards.

Free Time

Queen Elizabeth National ParkAFTERNOON

Don't waste a minute— start exploring.

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Optional Activities - Day 5Show

Accommodation

Simba Safari Camp

Campground
DAY 6 Queen Elizabeth NP/Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Enjoy the scenic drive south, with views of forests, volcanoes and lakes. Spend the night on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Queen Elizabeth National Park- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park5h-6h200km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Rushaga Gorilla Camp

Campground
DAY 7 Gorilla Trekking

Rise early for the tour's main highlight – gorilla trekking! Head into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to meet the park ranger/guide for orientation. Embark on the trek, which can vary in length and difficulty, depending on the location of the gorilla family that's being visited. Spend 1 hr (max) observing these beautiful and endangered creatures, a truly privileged experience. Trek back and return to town. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.

Animal

Mountain Gorilla Trek

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park1h-6h

Take an unforgettable guided trek (1-6 hrs) deep into volcano forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a wildlife encounter of a lifetime, and meet a family of mountain gorillas. One of Africa's major highlights, a close encounter with these amazing animals is simply breathtaking. Get prepared before heading out: bring plenty of water and waterproof clothing (it can rain on only a few minutes’ notice), and be sure to bring protective bags for cameras and film. Dress in layers with long sleeves and long pants to protect against stinging nettles found in the forests. The trek’s often chilly, at first, until you start trekking. Note: Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure, and currently permit only a maximum of eight people, per day, to visit a given gorilla family. The group will be split into different sub-groups for the trek, and depending on the number of travellers, different sub-groups may do their trek on different days. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas; Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. Depending on permit availability your group could be tracking gorillas from different areas of the park, it is all still part of Bwindi.

Free Time

Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkAFTERNOON

Depending on when you get back from your gorilla trek, you may have some time to explore more of the area.

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Optional Activities - Day 7Show

Accommodation

Rushaga Gorilla Camp

Campground
DAY 8 Bwindi/Kigali

Cross the border into Rwanda, then head to the capital city, Kigali. Visit the genocide museum to learn more about the dark history of this fascinating country. Enjoy lunch at the G Adventures supported Nyamirambo Women's Centre.

Administrative

Border Crossing (Uganda - Rwanda)

Gatuna Border Post1h-1.5h

Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park- Kigali4.5h-5.5h175km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Landmark

Kigali Genocide Memorial Visit

Kigali2h

Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, which serves as a permanent memorial to those who fell victim to the genocide in 1994. The centre opened on the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, in April 2004, and was built on a site where more than 250,000 people are buried. Please note that content at the Memorial Centre shows the harsh reality of the genocide.

People

Your G for Good Moment: Nyamirambo Women's Centre, Local Lunch

Kigali

Located in Nyamirambo, the largest and most vibrant township in Rwanda, the centre provides women and girls from a diverse range of backgrounds, the opportunity to support each other and succeed, through education and training programs. Enjoy lunch prepared by women employed at the centre, allowing us to try local foods and popular dishes. After lunch, take some time to browse the centre's shop, which features handmade, high-quality crafts and clothes, made by some of the women at the shop, as well as other women's cooperatives throughout Rwanda. Proceeds from the meal and shop help support the centre’s education and training programs, including a community library.

Administrative

Departure Day

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

Day
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