Arrival in Kigali & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport, our professional 7-Day Rwanda Uganda Adventure Safari guide from All Budget Gorilla Safaris will warmly receive you and provide a comprehensive briefing about your upcoming journey. After a short orientation in Rwanda’s clean and bustling capital city—Kigali—you will embark on a scenic 2.5-hour road transfer to Volcanoes National Park, nestled in the Virunga Mountains of northwestern Rwanda.

As you traverse Rwanda’s terraced countryside, you’ll marvel at the patchwork hillsides, neatly cultivated farms, and warm village life that define this land of a thousand hills. En route, there’s an optional stop at the Kigali Genocide Memorial—a powerful tribute to the country’s past that also highlights its remarkable recovery. This educational and emotional experience provides deep cultural context to your trip.

Arriving at your midrange lodge near Volcanoes National Park in the late afternoon, you’ll settle in and enjoy the serene environment, with sweeping views of the volcano ranges and mist-laced rainforest. The lodge offers comfortable en-suite cottages, warm hospitality, and a great setting to unwind after your flight. Dinner is served as you enjoy the sounds of nature and prepare for the golden monkey trekking adventure the next morning.

• Overnight: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a pre-trekking briefing on golden monkey tracking. Volcanoes National Park is one of the few remaining habitats of the endangered golden monkeys, a rare primate species found only in the Albertine Rift. These playful and inquisitive creatures live in the bamboo forests at the base of the Virunga volcanoes, and tracking them is a delightful experience.

Led by experienced park rangers, you will venture into the bamboo jungle in search of golden monkeys. The trek typically lasts 2–3 hours depending on their location. Once located, you’ll spend an exhilarating hour observing their unique behaviors, snapping photographs, and learning about their ecology. Their acrobatics through the canopy and vibrant golden-orange fur make them a delight to watch.

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch before beginning your journey north across the Rwandan border into Uganda. You’ll drive through Cyanika or Katuna border posts with scenic transitions from Rwanda’s hilly landscapes to Uganda’s lush highlands. Your destination is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to nearly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Arrive in the evening and relax at your midrange lodge.

• Overnight: Rushaga Gorilla Leisure Lodge or Buhoma Gorilla Havens Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Afternoon Batwa Cultural Experience

Today is the highlight of your entire 7-Day Rwanda Uganda Adventure Safari —gorilla trekking in the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing on trekking etiquette and group allocation based on fitness levels. Each group is assigned to one of the habituated gorilla families and accompanied by professional rangers and trackers.

Trekking through the thick forest, expect steep climbs, muddy trails, and an unmatched sense of adventure. Once your group locates the gorillas, you’ll spend one precious hour observing them in their natural habitat. Watch as the dominant silverback oversees his family, juveniles tumble through the underbrush, and mothers nurse their young. This intimate encounter is both humbling and emotional—a memory that will stay with you forever.

After the trek, return to the lodge for a hot lunch and some rest. In the afternoon, you’ll participate in a Batwa Cultural Experience. The Batwa are the indigenous forest dwellers of Bwindi, and they share their traditional hunting techniques, music, and stories. This cultural interaction offers insight into the region’s heritage and reinforces the value of community conservation.

• Overnight: Rushaga Gorilla Leisure Lodge or Buhoma Gorilla Havens Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Early Morning Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, begin your early morning journey from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha sector—famous for its rare tree-climbing lions. The scenic drive takes you through beautiful countryside, tropical rainforests, banana plantations, and local communities. Arrive in Ishasha by midday and go on a game drive in search of these elusive lions that often lounge in fig and acacia trees.

Besides lions, the Ishasha plains are home to herds of Uganda kob, buffalo, warthogs, and elephants. This sector is less crowded than the northern areas of the park, giving you a more exclusive wildlife viewing experience. Your experienced guide will help track predators and provide insights into the park’s ecology.

After the game drive, continue to your midrange lodge in the northern part of the park, where you’ll relax with views of the savannah and perhaps even spot animals wandering near your accommodation. Enjoy a hearty dinner and prepare for the next day’s boat safari and game drive.

• Overnight: The Bush Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Safari on Kazinga Channel

Begin your day with a morning game drive through the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, a prime location for viewing lions, elephants, leopards, and herds of antelopes. The golden light of the morning offers ideal conditions for photography, and the open grasslands make wildlife sightings more frequent.

Later in the afternoon, take a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that connects Lake George to Lake Edward. This relaxing two-hour cruise brings you up close to hundreds of hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, and elephants that frequent the shores. The channel is also a haven for bird lovers, with sightings of pelicans, fish eagles, kingfishers, and more.

After the boat trip, embark on a scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park, often referred to as the primate capital of the world. Arrive in the early evening and check into your lodge nestled in the tropical forest zone. Enjoy dinner and prepare for chimpanzee tracking the next morning.

• Overnight: The Bush Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Swamp Walk in Kibale Forest

After an early breakfast, head to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a pre-tracking briefing. Led by expert trackers and Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, your chimpanzee trek will take you deep into Kibale Forest’s dense canopy in search of habituated chimpanzee families. Listen for their high-pitched hoots and rustling leaves as you move quietly through the forest.

Once you locate the chimps, you’ll spend a full hour watching their social interactions, grooming rituals, and playful behavior. Kibale Forest is also home to other primates like red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys, which you might encounter during your trek.

After lunch and some relaxation, take an afternoon guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run conservation project teeming with birds, monkeys, and swamp-dwelling creatures. Your 7-Day Rwanda Uganda Adventure Safari guide will introduce you to medicinal plants, traditional uses of the swamp, and the importance of local involvement in conservation.

• Overnight: Turaco Treetop Lodge or Kibale Forest Camp
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Departure

Enjoy your final breakfast in Uganda before starting your return journey to Kigali. This scenic road transfer takes you through Fort Portal, tea plantations, and rolling hills with several photo stops along the way. If time permits, you may visit local craft markets or take a brief tour of Kigali city before your drop-off at Kigali International Airport for your onward flight.

Reflect on the incredible experiences you’ve had—from the eyes of a mountain gorilla to the songs of the Batwa and the roars of lions in the savannah. This 7-Day Rwanda Uganda Adventure Safari journey has not only showcased East Africa’s unrivaled wildlife but has connected you to its people, cultures, and landscapes.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch (Depending on flight schedule)

End of 7-Day Rwanda Uganda Adventure Safari