This 7-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali covers the best of Kigali city, taking in local culture, historical museums, and lively neighborhoods, before crossing into Uganda for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, along with time on the Kazinga Channel and Lake Bunyonyi.
Below is the detailed itinerary for this Uganda safari tour.
7-Day Uganda Primate Trekking and Wildlife Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
- Day 2: Walking safari and afternoon boat cruise
- Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and afternoon boat cruise
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest and transfer to Ishasha sector
- Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 6: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 7: Transfer to Kigali
Detailed 7-Day Uganda Primate Trekking and Wildlife Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Spend the morning on a city tour of Kigali, then in the afternoon, transfer to the Uganda border and continue to Lake Mburo National Park via Mbarara, in western Uganda, for an overnight stay.
Day 2: Walking Safari and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Nature walks in Lake Mburo National Park offer a close-up way to experience the park’s wildlife, bringing you into contact with details a game drive often misses.
Expect to see buffalo, giraffe, Uganda kobs, impala, waterbuck, crocodiles, and, with some luck, rare cat species. At 2:00 pm, head to Lake Mburo for a boat trip.
The boat cruise on Lake Mburo is a good chance to spot and photograph a range of birds, large mammals, and reptiles. Return to the lodge in the afternoon for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Check out from your lodge at Lake Mburo and drive southwest to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive with time to spare for a 2-hour afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward.
The cruise brings sightings of resident and migratory birds, large mammals, big cats, and reptiles. Afterward, return to the lodge to rest.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kalinzu Forest and Transfer to Ishasha Sector
After breakfast, take a forest walk in search of chimpanzees. Kalinzu Forest also holds at least 5 or 6 other primate species, including the grey-cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys, alongside the chimpanzees.
The Kalinzu trek is relatively easy, with well-maintained trails and mostly flat terrain. Afterward, continue to the Ishasha sector, in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
An optional evening game drive in Ishasha gives you a chance to look for the area’s tree-climbing lions. Overnight stay in Ishasha.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have an early breakfast, then head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a drive of about 4 to 6 hours. Bwindi holds a wide range of wildlife, including about half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, along with endemic birds and dense montane forest. Arrive in the evening, check in, and stay overnight.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, leave the lodge for the briefing session at Rushaga ranger station. The head ranger covers the guidelines to follow during the gorilla trek.
Head into the forest with a porter, hired at park headquarters if needed. Each gorilla family is visited by no more than 8 people per day, to limit the risk of disease transmission to the gorillas.
Bwindi’s forest can be wet and muddy, reaching altitudes of almost 2,000 meters above sea level.
The terrain isn’t easy and can be tiring for less experienced hikers, but meeting a habituated gorilla family, led by its dominant silverback, makes the effort worthwhile.
After an hour with the gorillas, trek back to the starting point for a picnic lunch, then exit the park for Lake Bunyonyi, arriving in the late afternoon. Take a sunset boat trip on the lake and visit some of its well-known islands.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, take an optional activity such as a cultural visit, sightseeing, a community walk, or canoeing. Afterward, transfer to the Rwanda border and continue to Kigali airport for your onward flight.
End of 7-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
