13-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali – This classic route takes you on an unforgettable adventure through Uganda’s best parks and reserves, ending with an unforgettable gorilla trek.
It’s easy enough to conjure up images of Kenya or even the Serengeti in Tanzania – but what do you imagine when someone mentions Uganda?
Well, this classic route through the country’s highlights will certainly give you a few ideas. This Uganda safari tour includes 1 free gorilla permit worth $800.
13-Day Uganda Safari & Primate Trekking Tour
- Day 1: Kigali City to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking & Evening Batwa Cultural Tour
- Day 3: Mgahinga Gorilla N/P to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
- Day 5: Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 6: Game Drive & Boat Cruise
- Day 7: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 8: Kibale Forest N/Park: Chimpanzee Trek & Bigodi Wetland Walk
- Day 9: Transfer to Hoima Town, Bunyonyo Cultural Trail
- Day 10: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 11: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise
- Day 12: Ziwa Rhino Trekking & Overnight Stay in Kampala
- Day 13: Departure
Detailed 13-Day Uganda Safari & Primate Trekking Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali City to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Upon arrival (time dependent) for this 13-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali, opt for an optional city tour in Kigali city. Kigali, an ancient town established by former German colonialists as their administrative center, boasts many buildings dating back over half a century ago.
Kigali is a hub of bustling businesses, ancient monuments, African craft markets, genocide museums, and hospitable people. Leave Kigali and transfer to Uganda’s border in the Northern Province. Cross via Cyanika border and proceed to your lodge near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking & Evening Batwa Cultural Tour
Golden monkey trekking begins early morning, after breakfast and a briefing, both conducted between 7:00am and 7:30am respectively. The actual trek starts at 8:00am from the park headquarters at Ntebeko.
Gorilla trekking is a highlight not only in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park but in Uganda as a whole, as this is the only place where this activity can be undertaken. The golden monkeys are a native subspecies of the sykes monkeys, also known as “blue monkeys”, which are restricted to afro-montane forests of the Virunga region along the Rwanda, Uganda, and D.R.Congo border.
This park is home to only two habituated families of golden monkeys, each with over 80-100 members inhabiting the base of either Gahinga or Muhabura mountains.
Just like mountain gorilla treks, treks to visit golden monkeys take between 1-8 hours and are conducted in groups of no more than 8 individuals. Meeting the golden monkeys is purely magical, as these naturally shy beings are always playful and spend most of their time jumping between bamboo branches.
An eventual one hour spent with them allows you to learn more about their day-to-day lives, eating habits, genetics, and much more.
Trek back to the starting point after this adventure, join your guide and transfer to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the evening, visit nearby communities, primarily the Batwa, who are the original inhabitants of the Virunga forests. Learn about their history, traditional songs, culture, performances, and much more. Return to the lodge after this experience for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Mgahinga Gorilla N/P to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, depart from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, heading to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Lake Bunyonyi. Take a 3-hour boat trip along historic Lake Bunyonyi and visit 29 islands that are residents of this lake, as well as ancient communities that surround the lake.
Enjoy lunch at a resort along the shores of Lake Bunyonyi and later drive to your lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the lodge.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Have breakfast at 7:00am and a briefing at 7:30am from the park officials, then set off for gorilla tracking. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and an unforgettable adventure. Ranger guides will lead you into the impenetrable forest to begin your search for the endangered Mountain Gorillas. You will navigate rugged terrain until you finally encounter these harmonious creatures, which will entertain you with performances for about 1 hour.
The activity can take between 2-7 hours, as the gorillas move up and down and their movements cannot be predetermined. This is an awesome and exciting moment. En route, encounter lots of birds, reptiles, abundant flora, and several species of primates such as monkeys, baboons, and much more.
You will eventually meet them, maximize this moment while with them, take as many pictures, ask as many questions as possible, and acquaint yourself with their daily routine. Watch them feed, protect themselves, and most importantly, observe their family bonds, just like human beings. After 1 hour, retreat from the jungle and trek back to the lodge to rest for the night.
Day 5: Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, drive north to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha sector. Enjoy a 3-hour game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions, as well as many other bird and mammal species, such as elephants, antelopes including the elusive Topi, and hippos. Have a picnic lunch en-route to Queen Elizabeth National Park and proceed to your pre-booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Game Drive & Boat Cruise
Start with an early cup of warm coffee for a day of adventure in Uganda’s most popular park. The morning game drive offers you chances to spot early risers and nocturnal animals retiring to their hideouts before dawn.
As the sun rises, huge herds of elephants and buffaloes begin to graze in the rolling plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, alongside other smaller animals such as antelopes, warthogs, waterbucks, and big cats like leopards, lions, etc.
A game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park typically lasts for 3-4 hours. Return to the lodge for breakfast if not already had, relax, and enjoy lunch.
Later, drive to Mweya jetty, the starting point for a boat voyage along the Kazinga Channel. This boat trip lasts for about 2-3 hours and offers another opportunity to view mammals and reptiles resident in the park from a much closer range.
As they come closer to the shores to quench their thirst, be lucky to snap a selfie with an elephant, crocodile, hippo, monitor lizard, and amazing bird life. Kazinga Channel is one of the richest animal hubs in Africa and the world over.
Day 7: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park
Depart Queen Elizabeth National Park after breakfast and head to Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of Africa and home to more than 13 species of primates. Traverse the rugged Rwenzori ranges, stretching from Kasese to D.R.Congo.
The journey soon brings you to Uganda’s tourism capital – Fort Portal, nestled amidst tea plantations and scenic crater lakes on both sides. Enjoy lunch and a town tour through this legendary town, visiting neighboring crater lakes, local markets, the Toro Kingdom palace, etc. Continue to the lodge, have dinner, refresh, and overnight stay.
Day 8: Kibale Forest N/Park: Chimpanzee Trek & Bigodi Wetland Walk
Wake up early, have breakfast, and drive to Kanyanchu ranger station for a briefing ahead of the chimpanzee trekking adventure.
Off into the forest you go, equipped with bottled water, packed lunch/snacks, and all necessary gear. The trek takes you through well-maintained forest trails, where you may encounter other primate species including Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Dent’s Mona Monkey, Vervet Monkeys, Hamlyn’s Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Olive Baboons, and Silver Monkeys, among many others.
The trek soon brings you to a habituated troop of chimps, with only one hour allowed in their midst to watch them swing between trees, communicate, and perform their usual routines.
After this encounter, return to the starting point, have a boxed lunch, and proceed to Bigodi Swamp on the outskirts of Kibale Forest. This area is home to famous species, mammals, butterflies, and primates, and is a sanctuary to over 137 species including the Great Blue Turaco and Papyrus Gonolek.
Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 9: Transfer to Hoima Town, Bunyonyo Cultural Trail
After breakfast, depart from Kibale Forest National Park and embark on a 5-hour drive to Hoima town, traversing verdant landscapes and the rolling green hills of Fort Portal.
Arrive in Hoima town for an early lunch and immediately enjoy a short tour of Hoima’s cultural and historical attractions including the King’s palace, to learn about their rich traditions and heritage.
Move on to visit Royal tombs where fallen kings of Bunyoro are laid to rest, including famous ones like Omukama Kabalega, a fierce fighter known for rejecting colonial rule and clashing frequently with Buganda Kingdom.
The Hoima town walk is another interesting way to explore various monuments, meet local people, and taste their cuisine.
Day 10: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Leave Hoima town at leisure and embark on a drive towards Murchison Falls National Park. This is Uganda’s largest and most beautiful national park, located in the Northwest, perched astride the R. Nile and home to various mammals, birds, beautiful scenery, reptiles, and much more.
Along the way, stop for photo opportunities to view interesting scenery such as the Rift Valley escarpments, Lake Albert, tea plantations, etc.
Arrive at your lodge in Murchison Falls National Park in the evening to refresh, have dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 11: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise
Begin the game drive early in the morning to view early risers and nocturnal animals, as well as magnificent landscapes for picture opportunities as the sun rises.
Murchison Falls National Park has become one of the most sought-after destinations for wildlife safaris in Uganda, housing 4 out of the 5 big African mammals, and home to arguably the most powerful waterfalls in the world.
Traverse the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park before returning to the lodge later for breakfast. The 3,893 sq. km park is home to numerous species of animals, offering visitors countless chances to spot most of the park’s most common residents including elephants, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, antelopes, Jackson’s hartebeests, and many other animals.
Bird enthusiasts cannot leave Murchison Falls National Park without appreciating the numerous species of birds present. There is a cocktail of them, including endemics, elusive, and migratory species, such as the Shoebill stork, secretary bird, black-chested snake eagle, etc.
Embark on a leisurely boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls in the afternoon. Spot lots of bird diversity and numerous animals resting and drinking water along the banks of the Nile.
The most sighted ones are hippos, Nile crocodiles, Cape buffaloes, and abundant birdlife including the African fish eagle, Egyptian goose, Malachite kingfisher, Yellow-billed stork, egrets, among others.
The launch cruise will take you close to the falls’ base where you will see the spot where Ernest Hemingway’s plane crashed during a sightseeing tour to Murchison Falls in 1954. Remain on the boat and return to the jetty where your driver will be waiting to drive you back to the lodge.
Day 12: Ziwa Rhino Trekking & Overnight Stay in Kampala
Leave Murchison Falls National Park in the morning, exiting via Kachumbanyobo gate and Masindi town. Drive for two hours to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can meet the endangered black rhinos. Track rhinos, and look out for other resident animals such as Uganda kob, bushbuck, oribi, and several other cats present in the ranch like leopards.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has abundant birdlife, such as the rare Shoebill stork that can be viewed on a dugout canoe in Lugogo swamps. Return from the Rhino trek, have lunch at Amuka Safari lodge or any other camp at the ranger station, and proceed to Kampala or Entebbe for your departure flight.
Day 13: Departure
Have a leisurely breakfast overlooking magnificent Lake Victoria. Prepare to check out of your lodge and depart to Entebbe airport for your onward flight (depending on flight time).
End of 13-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
