How to book Uganda and Rwanda safaris in 2024-25

How to book Uganda and Rwanda safaris in 2024-25. When your Africa safari destination is Uganda and Rwanda in 2024 or 2025, you must select which activities you hope to engage in. For both Uganda and Rwanda, gorilla safaris are the foremost activities. Knowing the days you wish to be on Uganda and Rwanda safaris helps with all plans.

Most Popular Safaris

4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Safari

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

5 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari

5 Day Low season Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Safari

5 Day Uganda Gorillas & Game Safari via Kigali

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

Uganda is a hot African safari destination with different activities to offer. While on Uganda safari, you can do game drives in destinations like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park; birding in Uganda is exceptional as the country's extensive bird list of over 1000 species is unrivaled, and others Uganda safari activities.

Rwanda safari activities include chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, game drives in Akagera National Park, birding in Rwanda, visiting the genocide memorials, Rwandese cultural experience, Kigali city tour, and others.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can assist you in planning the Uganda and Rwanda safari through our team of tour consultants. They are professional and experienced with most Uganda and Rwanda safari destinations, offer reliable information about what to see, and are often updated with news about these destinations. We lift the burden of planning and organizing the Uganda and Rwanda safari activities off our client's shoulders. We aim to create everlasting memories for our clients on Uganda and Rwanda safaris. 

What to do on Uganda Safari 2024 to 2025

Gorilla safaris in Uganda 

In Uganda, you can do gorilla trekking, which allows one hour with a fully habituated gorilla family, or gorilla habituation experience, where four hours are allowed with a semi-habituated gorilla family. Uganda has two gorilla safari destinations: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. 

To access the gorilla safari destinations, one must book a gorilla trekking or habituation permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can assist you in securing the gorilla permit, but you need to book it in advance, especially if you plan to do this safari in the peak season. The peak tourism season in Uganda is June, July, August, September, and December and January.

Demand for gorilla permits for this season is high, creating scarcity at the last minute. 

 Currently, Uganda opens 156 gorilla trekking permits, and two gorilla habituation experience permits per day.

Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda

Chimpanzees are the closest human cousins in the animal kingdom, but Uganda offers more chances to see them in their natural habitats. Some Uganda chimpanzee safari destinations include Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Kalinzu Forest, and others.

You need a chimpanzee safari permit to be allowed to visit these primates. The cost of chimpanzee safari permits in Uganda varies with destination.

Game safaris in Uganda

Uganda game parks are distributed throughout the country. Some include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park. 

The best times for game drives in Uganda are the morning and afternoons, when you have chances to see animals like lions, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, Impalas, Elands, Hyenas, Cheetahs, aardvarks, Jackals, herds of buffaloes, herds of elephants, Uganda kobs, zebras and others.

 Although Uganda's wild animals are not found in all the game parks, some are best seen in particular parks, so if you wish to have a chance to see particular animals, seek advice from our safari consultants.

Launch trips and boat trips

You can relax on a launch trip within the National Parks of Uganda. At Murchison Falls National Park, you can take the stunning launch trip to the strongest falls in the World, the Murchison Falls. As you sail, look for several wild animals that often grace the shores to quench thirst. The electrifying force of River Nile as it squeezes through a 6-meter-wide gorge to burst out vigorously and form a cloudy appearance is exceptional.

A launch trip on the Kazinga channel on the Rift Valley floor relaxes. When you look out to the shores of the Kazinga channel, you may see several animals that love to quench their thirst, take a bath, and relax by the beach. The banks of the Kazinga channel act as a magnet to many local and foreign birds.

Lake Mburo National Park's boat trip on Lake Mburo is exceptional as you get to see several water birds, enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the lake, and may get to see fishermen casting their nets. Still, these are first accredited by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Golden monkey safaris

Golden monkeys are some of the most endangered primates in the World. Uganda has these golden monkeys as residents of Mgahinga National Park. They have a larger body than other primates, and their lower bottom is covered with golden brown hairs. They are charming primates to follow, and although they are first habituated, they still possess their natural characteristics.

 Birding in Uganda

Uganda has an unrivaled bird list with over 1000 species living in different habitats. It would help if you had a well-planned Uganda birding itinerary and a professional and knowledgeable birding guide to get the best out of your safari. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can help you tailor a great birding itinerary and use our professional birding guides with great experience.

Some of the Uganda birding destinations include Bwindi forest, Mabira forest, Mpanga forest, Mabamba swamp, Lake Bunyonyi, Musambwa Island, Botanical Gardens Entebbe, Lutembe Beach, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and others.

Visit the source of the River Nile.

Uganda is the only source of River Nile in Jinja. You need a boat to where River Nile water dramatically separates from Lake Victoria. It is hard to explain what occurs beneath that point of parting as Lake Victoria water is calm while River Nile water tends to have a force pushing it.

White water rafting on River Nile

You can get on the white water rafting boats in Jinja or Murchison Falls National Park. There is no need to have any experience, as professional instructors are in place to take you through all the necessary training in the shortest time possible. Wear the safety gear as advised by the instructors and keep peddling in to keep moving. There are different levels of white water rafting, but you can end where you feel comfortable.

Uganda cultural experience 

Uganda is a multicultural destination with several tribes. Most cultures may have similarities, but there are so many differences. You may visit the different kingdoms in Uganda, like the Buganda kingdom in central Uganda, with Kabaka as their leader. Bunyoro kingdom is under Omukama, Tooro kingdom is under Omukama, Busoga Kingdom is under Kyabazinga and Rwenzururu kingdom is under Omumbere. 

You can immerse yourself in the running of their life and so much more that makes these Ugandan tribes unique. Others fishing in Uganda

Test your luck and enjoy the fun of sports fishing in Uganda. It would help if you had a fishing permit, carried your own fishing equipment, and hired a boat with a boat captain for the day or half a day. While on a sports fishing trip in Uganda, you may catch species like the giant Nile perch, tilapia, catfish, lungfish, and others.

Mountaineering Adventure in Uganda

For days, you can go mountaineering on Mountain Rwenzori to its snowcapped peak, Margherita. The return hike may take about seven days and over. You get to enjoy the stunning views as you hike and enjoy overnights at the stopover points along the way.

Excursion hiking is available on various highlands within Uganda, but the most prominent are the 8 hours of return hiking on mountains like Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Gahinga, and Mountain Sabyinyo. While on the summit of Mountain Sabyinyo, you get to Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R.Congo,simulD.R. Congo simultaneously.

What to Do on Rwanda Safari Activities in 2024 and 2025?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking is the top activity you can do in Rwanda. The Volcanoes National Park is the only gorilla tour destination in Rwanda. At the moment, Rwanda has 15 gorilla trekking families. Some include Hirwa, Susa, Amahoro, Umubano, Agashya, and others.

The Rwanda Developments Board is the only Rwanda gorilla permit selling body, but a maximum of 8 gorilla permits can be booked per family. Book the gorilla permit in advance if you want to visit Rwanda in the peak season of June to September and December to January. The demand for these permits tends to escalate as the high season gets closer, creating scarcity.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park is the only chimpanzee safari destination in Rwanda. One must have a chimpanzee trekking permit from the Rwanda Development Board. Two chimpanzee safari sessions are conducted in Nyungwe National Park with Uwinka as its principal office. Cyamudondo, on the outskirts of Nyungwe National Park, is another community of semi-habituated chimpanzees of Rwanda.

Chimpanzees in Cyamudondo are easier to find as the forest is less vast than the Nyungwe forest.

Game safaris in Akagera National Park in Rwanda

Akagera National Park is still recovering from the effects of the Rwanda genocide of 1994. So many animals were killed, and others fled to other locations.

 At the moment, the park is rejuvenating its wild animal glory, so during the game drive in Akagera National Park, you may spot Uganda kobs, elephants, cape buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, scarcely seen lions and leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, and others.

 Taking a boat ride on Lake Ihema is relaxing as you enjoy the stunning view of Akagera National Park.

Canopy walk over Nyungwe National Park.

 Walking on the suspension bridge over Nyungwe National Park is rewarding. It is the only one of its nature in East Africa. You can enjoy the stunning view of Nyungwe forest, composed of dense vegetation and unique landforms. 

Walking on this 90-meter-long suspension bridge is a moment to make memories.

Kigali city tour

How do you go for a safari in Rwanda and not do the Kigali city tour in one of the cleanest cities in Africa? You get to visit the Kandt house, genocide memorials like the Blue Beret memorial, Gisozi Genocide memorial, St Famille Church, and others. Visit the market areas in Kigali city and others.

Cultural experience in Rwanda

The unique culture of Rwanda, which they showcase in their dances and folk songs, is worth attending. With prior arrangement, you can be one of the spectators of Intore dance moves where women and men dance to the rhythms of hard-hit long drums. At the royal museum in Huye, you can witness these dance moves.

The Nyakarimbi is home to these unique crafts, including the Omigongo cow dung. You can also enjoy other Rwanda craft-making opportunities like basketry, wood carving, ceramics, and others.

When Is the best time to book Uganda and Rwanda safaris for 2024 to 2025?

The best time to book Rwanda or Uganda safaris is when you are ready because countries have all year-round activities. The most preferred season is the dry season, when most animals can easily be spotted. The game parks' vegetation is lower, creating better visibility, and even the precipitation of the forest is lower as more sunlight is allowed through the dense canopy.

The peak season is June, July, August, September, December, and January, typically the dry season, so the logistics cost is high. This is because of the overwhelming demand worldwide for these Uganda and Rwanda safari activities. We advise our clients to plan and organize these safaris in advance, and if you need a gorilla permit, golden monkey, and safari permits, it is better to book them upfront. 

The low season is usually the wet season, which is March, April, May, and November, and comes typically with discounted costs. If you have a limited budget but prefer an upgrade, chances are more open this season when fewer bookings are made. The chances of service providers in Uganda and Rwanda offering discounted prices are high as they try to break even.

Book your safari to Uganda and Rwanda with us today. Contact us for further information.