7 Days Rwanda-Uganda primate safari

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & Transfer to Volcanoes NP

• Morning: Arrive at Kigali International Airport and transfer to your hotel.
• Afternoon: Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi as well as other important cultural and historical contexts of Rwanda
• Evening: Drive to Musanze (2-3 hours), and check into your lodge near Volcanoes national park.

Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking & Cultural Village

• Morning: Attend a briefing at the park headquarters before heading for a trek to see the beautiful golden monkeys in the bamboo forests. These primates are endemic to the Albertine Rift and are known for their playful nature.
• Afternoon: Visit the Gorilla Guardian Village (formerly Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village) to learn about Rwandan traditions, archery, and medicine from former poachers turned conservationists.

Day 3: Crossing the border into Uganda

• Morning: Enjoy a scenic drive across the Cyanika or Katuna border into Uganda.
• Afternoon: Arrive in the southern or northern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to check into your booked lodge. En-route you will notice the landscape changing from volcanic peaks to ancient, misty rainforest.

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

This is one of your the trip’s highlights. After briefing at the park headquarters, you will be assigned a gorilla family and hike through dense vegetation to find them. The trek may take between 2-6 hours depending on the location and movement of your assigned gorilla group. Once located, you will spend one magical hour observing them.

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast, drive north through the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Look out for the unique tree-climbing lions often seen lounging in large fig trees during the heat of the day. Check into your lodge for dinner and over upon Arrival near Kibale Forest.

Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland

After briefing, head into Kibale Forest in search for these intelligent and highly active primates. Kibale has the highest density of primates in Africa with over 13 species present. In the afternoon, go for a guided nature walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run project excellent for spotting bird species like Great Blue Turacos and several monkey species such as Colobus, Red-tailed, and Grey-cheeked Mangabey.

Day 7: Transfer to Entebbe & Departure

After your breakfast, begin your drive toward Entebbe (5–6 hours). A stopover at the Equator gives you a chance for photos and souvenir shopping. Proceed with your journey to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.

Essential Planning Tips for the 7 Days Rwanda-Uganda primate safari

Gorilla Permits: These must be booked in advance, at least 6 months. Rwanda’s gorilla permit is sold at $1,500 per person while in Uganda at $800. Many travellers trek in Uganda for the lower cost while others prefer Rwanda for easier logistics

Chimp Permits: Kibale permits are roughly $250 person to foreign non-residents and $200 to foreign residents in East Africa.

Visa: We recommend applying for the East Africa Tourist Visa ($100). This single visa allows multiple entries between Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Best Time to Visit: The dry seasons (June to September and December to February) offer the best trekking conditions, as trails are less slippery.

Packing: Long waterproof trousers, sturdy hiking boots, gardening gloves (to protect against stinging nettles), and a rain poncho are essential.