14 Day Nyungwe, Volcanoes, Bwindi and Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

Rwanda and Uganda are slightly connected by some of the habitat mostly the south of Uganda and Northern Rwanda are hilly mountainous areas famous for mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, Volcanoes national park which sits north of the main capital Kigali is home to Mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys and Nyungwe forest is a home to Chimpanzees likewise Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park is home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Uganda and Kibale forest far southwest is home to the chimpanzees and perhaps one of the best places to see chimpanzees in Africa.

Our 14 Day Nyungwe, Volcanoes, Bwindi, and Kibale chimpanzee trekking safari will take you on a journey of primate trekking across the two east African countries.

Safari highlights

• Kigali city tour
• Canopy walk and tropical waterfalls
• Chimpanzee trekking
• Golden monkey trekking
• Lake Mutanda boat cruise
• Gorilla trekking
• Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
• Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale
• Kampala city tour
• Shoebill trip in Mabamba wetland

Detailed safari itinerary

Day 1: pick up from your Kigali for a city tour and later drive to Butale for overnight

After morning breakfast at your lodge, you will start your safari with a city tour of Kigali, on this tour, you will visit the Kigali genocide memorial and the Belgian peace center, after you will have lunch and then start your drive to Butare, en route you will visit the King’s Place in Nyanza and later continue to your lodge in Butare for overnight.

Day 2: Drive to Nyungwe forest national park with canopy walks en route

After morning breakfast you will visit the ethnographic Museum and after continue to Nyungwe forest, this classic drive will take you to one of the most diverse rainforests in East Africa, upon reaching Uwinka park office you will enjoy the canopy walk and later drive to Gisakura for overnight.

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe forest

Early morning start is usually required, you will get up early and depart the lodge at 4:30 and transfer to the park station to meet the guides and depart by 5 am from the Gisekura park office to Cyamudongo forest and the drive takes about 1:30 minutes and then you can start your trekking and this can take between 2-3 hours depending on how long it will take to find the chimpanzees, after locating them you will spend 1 hour with them and later return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 4: Tropical waterfall walk and transfer to Lake Kivu

After morning breakfast you will meet with the ranger guides and start your dream exploration of Nyungwe forest, this unique walking trail will offer you chances to see some primates and birds before encountering the magnificent waterfalls, and later you will return to the lodge for refreshment and lunch after you will then start your 2-3 hour drive to Lake Kivu in Karongi tourism zone.

Day 5: Drive to Volcanoes national park with canoeing on the twin lakes in the evening

After morning breakfast you will depart Lake Kivu for volcanoes national park, this is Rwanda’s most popular safari destination home to the endangered Mountain gorillas, upon arrival, you will check-in for relaxation, and later in the afternoon, you will drive to the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo for canoeing experience and later return to the lodge for overnight.

Day 6: Golden Monkey trekking experience in volcanoes national park

After morning breakfast you will transfer Kinigi park headquarters for your golden monkey briefing by the ranger guides, you will drive to the trailhead where you will start your trek on foot depending on how long it takes to find the golden monkeys the trek is usually 3-4 hours and after locating them you will spend 1 hour with the golden monkeys and later return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 7: Optional gorilla trekking experience or Mount Bisoke volcano hike

On this day clients have the option to either try to find gorilla trekking permits or maybe choose to hike mount Bisoke volcano, this package is specially designed for gorilla trekking in Uganda but we can still arrange for you Rwanda gorilla trekking permits in advance if you would wish to trek the gorillas too in Rwanda.

Day 8: Drive to Lake Mutanda in Uganda via Cyanika border

After morning breakfast you will start your drive to Uganda referred to as the pearl of Africa by Winston Churchill, the drive from Volcanoes national park to Cyanika border is about an hour and upon arrival, you will clear up with immigration and continue to Lake Mutanda, this beautiful volcanic lake is located underneath the volcanoes offering breathtaking views of the volcanoes and the terraces of the farmlands on the surrounding areas, upon arrival, you will check in to your lodge for overnight.

Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi forest

After morning breakfast you will drive to Rushaga gorilla trekking point where you will meet other travelers heading for the same activity, you will all be taken through a gorilla trekking briefing by the park rangers before splitting you into smaller gorilla family groups of 8 people after depending on the starting point of your gorilla trek you may drive or start walking right from the briefing point, upon locating the gorillas you will spend 1 hour with them and later return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 10: Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park

After morning breakfast you will drive to the south of Queen Elizabeth national park popularly known as Ishasha sector which is one of the best places to see tree climbing lions alongside Lake Manyara in Tanzania, upon arrival, you will check in to the lodge and head out for an afternoon game drive in the park in search of wildlife and birds.

Day 11: Drive to Kibale forest national park

You will wake up so early and head to the park for an early morning sunrise game drive; this will give you opportunities to see semi nocturnal wildlife like hyenas, serval cats and later return to the lodge for full breakfast, after breakfast, you will then drive to the Mweya peninsula for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel and after the boat cruise you will then continue to Kibale for overnight.

Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale forest

After morning breakfast you will transfer to Kanyanchu Park station for a briefing about chimpanzee trekking, after the briefing, you will be divided into groups of 5 people and you will enter the forest to start tracking the chimpanzees using calls, previous nests, and sometimes food droppings, after locating the chimps you will spend 1 hour with them and later you will transfer to the lodge for lunch and relaxation and later in the evening you will enjoy the primate walk in Bigodi wetlands.

Day 13: Drive to Kampala for a city tour and transfer to Entebbe for overnight

After morning breakfast you will drive to Kampala for a city tour, on this tour you will visit the Idi Amin torture chambers and Gadhafi’s Mosque after you will be transferred to Entebbe overnight.

Day 14: Visit Mabamba swamp in the morning and transfer to Entebbe for your departure flight

After morning breakfast you will transfer to Mabamba wetland where you will take a canoe ride in the marsh to search for the endangered shoebill stork that is one of the rear birds to see in Uganda, after the excursion you will be transferred to your lodge for refreshment and later you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

Trip includes

• Vehicle, guide, and Fuel
• Accommodation
• All activities indicated on the final travel plan send to you after confirming the safari
• All gorilla, chimpanzee, and golden monkey permits
• Enroute meals and drinking water
• free airport transfers

Trip excludes

• International flights
• East African tourist Visa
• Travel insurance
• Tips for guides and hotels
• Rwanda gorilla permits
• Personal expenses like shopping and alcoholic drinks
• Pre safari accommodation

When to book this safari package

We recommend booking this safari package 1 year in advance to allow us to secure all the tracking permits and necessary travel plans to give you a memorable travel experience with Wilderness Explorers Africa your exclusive journeys by a design travel partner.

Best time to visit Uganda and Rwanda for a safari

The best time to visit Uganda and Rwanda is at the end of May and early June when the rainy season is closing and the dry season is beginning here you will see green scenery and enjoy endless views of the two countries.