8 Days Combined Uganda Rwanda Primate Tracking Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe, Uganda

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by a professional representative from Verdant Safaris, who will assist you with your luggage and introduce you to your safari guide. You will transfer to your hotel in Entebbe, where you can freshen up after your journey and enjoy some time to relax. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, a peaceful setting on the shores of Lake Victoria with opportunities to spot colourful birds, vervet monkeys and other wildlife. Alternatively, enjoy a leisurely walk along the lakeside and experience the welcoming atmosphere of this Ugandan town. Your guide will brief you about the upcoming safari, including the chimpanzee tracking experience, mountain gorilla trekking and cross-border journey into Rwanda. If you arrive late in the evening, you can simply settle into your accommodation and rest before the adventure begins.

Accommodation options: 2 Friends Beach Hotel, Best Western Premier Garden Hotel Entebbe, Protea Hotel Entebbe.

Meals: (Dinner)

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, depart Entebbe for Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda, one of East Africa’s most renowned destinations for chimpanzee tracking. The journey takes you through changing landscapes, from busy towns and rural settlements to rolling green hills, tea plantations and picturesque countryside. You will make suitable stops along the way to stretch your legs, take photographs and enjoy refreshments while learning about daily life in Uganda. As you approach Fort Portal, the scenery becomes increasingly beautiful, with lush vegetation, distant mountain views and volcanic crater lakes scattered across the landscape. Your guide will introduce you to the region’s natural heritage and explain why Kibale is an important habitat for chimpanzees and other forest primates. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge, enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing or taking in the surroundings. If time permits, you may enjoy a short guided nature walk near your accommodation before dinner and preparations for the following day’s chimpanzee tracking excursion.

Accommodation options: Turaco Treetops, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Kibale Forest Camp.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

Begin your morning with an early breakfast before travelling to the designated visitor centre in Kibale Forest National Park for a briefing by the park authorities. Accompanied by an experienced guide and forest trackers, you will enter the tropical rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzees. As you follow forest trails beneath towering trees, listen for their calls and watch for movements in the canopy, you may encounter other primates, colourful birds, butterflies and interesting plant species. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will have a regulated period to observe their behaviour, including feeding, grooming, playing and communicating with members of their community. Chimpanzee tracking can involve several hours of walking through uneven, sometimes muddy terrain, so suitable footwear and a reasonable level of fitness are recommended.

After returning from the forest and enjoying lunch, continue to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk through its rich wetland ecosystem. The sanctuary is known for its birdlife, including the great blue turaco, as well as opportunities to see monkeys and learn about community-led conservation. Your guide will explain how local communities benefit from protecting the wetland and its surrounding environment. Return to your lodge in the late afternoon to relax and reflect on the day’s wildlife encounters.

Accommodation options: Turaco Treetops, Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, Kibale Forest Camp.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, leave the Kibale region and travel south-west towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its extraordinary biodiversity and endangered mountain gorillas. The drive takes you through the scenic countryside of western Uganda, passing traditional homesteads, cultivated hillsides, small trading centres and panoramic landscapes. Depending on the selected route and road conditions, you may pass through the wider Queen Elizabeth region or the rolling highlands around the southern districts of Uganda. There will be opportunities to stop for photographs, refreshments and lunch along the way. Your guide will share information about Uganda’s conservation efforts and the importance of protecting mountain gorillas and their forest habitat. As you approach Bwindi, the landscape changes into steep, forest-covered hills often wrapped in mist, creating a dramatic introduction to the gorilla trekking destination. On arrival, check into your lodge in the appropriate trekking sector, where your guide will confirm the following day’s arrangements and explain what to expect during the gorilla trekking briefing. Enjoy dinner and an early night in preparation for one of the highlights of your safari.

Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge. The final choice will depend on your allocated trekking sector.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Rise early for breakfast before proceeding to the designated park headquarters for registration and a briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority guides. You will receive instructions on trekking etiquette, safety precautions and responsible wildlife viewing before being assigned to a habituated gorilla family. Accompanied by trained trackers and park personnel, you will venture into Bwindi’s dense rainforest, navigating forest paths, steep slopes and vegetation in search of the gorillas. The trek can take several hours, depending on the location and movements of the assigned family, so patience, physical preparation and appropriate hiking gear are essential. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend up to one hour observing them at the distance instructed by your guides, watching adults feed and groom one another while younger gorillas play and explore their surroundings. This intimate encounter offers a remarkable opportunity to appreciate their social behaviour and the importance of conservation.

After the trek, return to the starting point and receive your gorilla trekking certificate where provided. Depending on the timing and your energy levels, you may return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation or enjoy a short community visit if arrangements and daylight permit. Your evening will be spent at the lodge, surrounded by the forested hills of Bwindi, before the next stage of your journey into Rwanda.

Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, subject to your trekking sector and lodge availability.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Cross into Rwanda and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, depart Bwindi and travel towards Rwanda through one of the designated Uganda-Rwanda border crossings, selected according to your trekking sector, road conditions and immigration requirements. Your guide will help coordinate the transfer, while you should keep your passport and any required travel documents accessible for border formalities. During the journey, enjoy views of the highlands, cultivated hills and rural communities that characterise this part of East Africa. Once you enter Rwanda, continue towards the Musanze region, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park and one of Africa’s most celebrated mountain gorilla destinations. The countryside is renowned for its green terraced hills, traditional settlements and spectacular views of the Virunga volcanic chain. Upon arrival, check into your accommodation and enjoy lunch or refreshments, depending on your arrival time. The afternoon can be spent relaxing at the lodge or visiting a nearby community tourism project, where available, to learn about Rwandan traditions, local livelihoods and the role of community participation in conservation. Your guide will discuss the following day’s options, helping you prepare for golden monkey tracking or another suitable primate experience before dinner.

Accommodation options: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Golden Monkey Tracking and Rwandan Cultural Experience

After an early breakfast, travel to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters at Kinigi for a briefing before beginning your golden monkey tracking excursion. Accompanied by experienced park guides, you will walk into the bamboo forests on the lower slopes of the Virunga volcanoes in search of these striking primates. Golden monkeys are recognised by their distinctive golden-orange markings and lively social behaviour, often moving quickly through the bamboo as they feed, leap between branches and interact with one another. The walk provides an excellent opportunity to observe a different primate species from the chimpanzees and mountain gorillas encountered earlier in the safari. Your guide will explain the ecology of the forest, the importance of protecting the monkeys’ habitat and the conservation work taking place in Volcanoes National Park. After the tracking experience, return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest.

In the afternoon, visit a community cultural centre such as the Gorilla Guardians Village, subject to opening hours and advance arrangements. Here, you can learn about Rwandan traditions through music, dance, storytelling, demonstrations of traditional practices and discussions about the relationship between local communities and wildlife conservation. You will gain a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s cultural heritage and the importance of community-based tourism. Return to your lodge in the late afternoon for dinner and relaxation before your final transfer to Kigali the following day.

Accommodation options: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Optional alternative: If you prefer to experience mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda instead of golden monkey tracking, Verdant Safaris can arrange a Rwanda gorilla permit and adjust the itinerary, subject to availability and additional costs.

Day 8: Departure from Kigali, Rwanda

Enjoy breakfast at your lodge before checking out and beginning the journey from Musanze to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city. The drive takes you through Rwanda’s characteristic rolling hills, rural settlements and cultivated countryside, offering a final opportunity to appreciate the country’s scenery. Depending on your international flight schedule, you may enjoy a short Kigali city excursion, with possible stops at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a local craft market or another attraction of interest, subject to opening hours and available time. These visits offer insight into Rwanda’s history, resilience, culture and development. If you have sufficient time, you may also stop for lunch or purchase locally made crafts and souvenirs before proceeding to Kigali International Airport. Your safari guide will assist with your transfer and help ensure you arrive with adequate time for check-in and departure formalities. This marks the end of your 8 Days Combined Uganda Rwanda Primate Tracking Safari with Verdant Safaris, leaving you with memorable experiences of chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and the beautiful landscapes of both countries.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch)