8 Days Rwanda and Uganda Budget Group Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda

You will be met by our guide driver on Arrival at Kigali International Airport and transfer to your accommodation near Volcanoes National Park. The rest of the day you will be relaxing or you can opt for a Kigali city orientation and visit the Genocide Memorial, convention centre or visit the kwibuka which is an annual event that happens in Rwanda for 100-day commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, starting April 7th, focusing on honouring over one million victims, supporting survivors, promoting unity, and renewing hope for a prosperous future through remembrance, education, and rebuilding efforts, emphasizing resilience and preventing future atrocities. 

Relax and prepare for the next day’s adventure

Day 2: Transfer To Musanze (Volcanoes Region)

After breakfast you will be picked from your lodge in Kigali by our guide driver and be taken to Musanze the most mountainous district in Rwanda. The largest part of the Volcanoes National Park and its head office at Kinigi are located 13 km away from Musanze town. Musanze also has Five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga mountains chain (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura) within its boundaries. The district is home to most of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes national park. This makes it the most popular tourist destination in the country.

Once you arrive in Musanze, you will indulge in activities like cultural visits, stop overs at local markets, visit the Musanze caves of Rwanda.  

Overnight in Musanze

Meals: Dinner and break fast

Day 3: Transfer from Musanze to Cyanika Border Uganda (Bwindi)

This day begins with an early breakfast at the lodge afterwards you will begin your journey to Cyanika border, the crossing point between Uganda and Rwanda. On this day you will cross from Rwanda to Uganda and head to Bwindi impenetrable national park for your gorilla trekking expedition day.

Cyanika border is located just a few kilometers from Kisoro town in southwestern Uganda and about 25 kilometers from Musanze in Rwanda. From Kigali, the drive to Cyanika border usually takes around 3 to 4 hours covering a distance of roughly 115 km. The road is well- paved and goes through lush Rwandan countryside, with beautiful views of the rolling hills, volcanic peaks, and agricultural terraces.

Dinner and overnight in one of Bwindi’s sectors (Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo)

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest (Uganda)

Have an early morning breakfast at 6:30am.

Proceed to the park headquarters by 7.30am for a briefing from the park Wardens.

Ensure to carry along rain jacket, drinking water, snacks, lunch box and ankle high jungle boots during gorilla trekking in Bwindi. The park wardens will allocate you different gorilla families which you will track. Gorilla trekking will take you about 2- 6 hour looking for the great apes and one hour of an up-close encounter with the gorilla family.

Bwindi impenetrable national park has other attractions besides gorillas which are the giant forest hogs, forest elephants, other primates like vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and over 350 bird species including some endemic to the Albertine rift.

After the long exhausting trek, descend back to the park head quarters to receive your certificate of participation. Head back to the lodge for a fresh warm shower and hot dinner.

Overnight and dinner at the lodge

Day 5: Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake up early in the morning at 5am and have your morning breakfast, prepare for a long drive to queen elizabeth national park for a wildlife safari to explore the big 4 ( lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo). After you have rested from that long journey and had lunch at your lodge, head to kasenyi plains for an evening game drive

Overnight at a Budget lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP

Day 6: Game viewing in Queen Elizabeth national park

Wake up early at 6am for some heavy breakfast, and head to kasenyi plains for an early game drive to track lions and view some other animals such as the elephants, antelopes, leopards if lucky and many other animals. In the afternoon head for a boat cruise along the kazinga channel which is a 40km long channel that connects two lakes which are lake George and lake Edward.

In the evening head back to your hotel to relax and prepare for the next activity

Dinner and overnight

Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge

Wake up early in the morning, take your breakfast and be ready to transfer to kyambura gorge for briefing by 7:00am before starting your chimpanzee tracking activity. After the briefingby the park rangers, you are split into groups of 8 pax to start your chimpanzee tracking.

Descend down the valley to track the chimpanzees, on your way you will spot other primates like the red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons and vervet monkeys. After finding the chimpanzees, You will spend one hour of an up-close interaction with the primates, take as much photos as you like and then head back to the viewing point for transfer to your hotel for lunch and relaxation.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Departure

On this day you will get ready to transfer to Entebbe airport or continue to your next destination in Uganda