What is it like to combine Uganda and Rwanda safari

A combination of Uganda and Rwanda safari is sealed by gorilla safaris as the foremost activities of both countries. Mountain gorillas of Uganda and Rwanda are amongst the highly endangered primates in Africa with a population of about 1000 mountain gorillas as of the last census.

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 Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking 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

In Rwanda gorilla trekking is the only activity that gets you closer to the fully habituated mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation is a process through which a wild gorilla family is helped by researchers to get accustomed to human presence without altering their traits. Currently Rwanda has about 12 gorilla families open to the public.

Uganda offers gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. For gorilla habituation experience maximum four tourists accompany a team of researcher to spend four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family. Currently Uganda has 4 gorilla habituation experience families and more than 20 gorilla trekking families.

More activities to include in the Uganda and Rwanda safari combo include game safaris, chimpanzee safaris, water activities, mountaineering, birding and more. Below are some of the activities one can choose from to combine in the Uganda and Rwanda safari. Contact our team.

What To Do As Rwanda Safari Activities

Gorilla trekking Rwanda

The primary Rwanda safari activity is gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park. All gorilla safaris in Rwanda start with briefing at the ORTPN then each tourists is allocated a gorilla family to trek. Some of the gorilla families of Rwanda include Karisimbi, Amahoro, Umubano, Agashya, Hirwa, Susa and more.

The Rwanda development Board has the mandate to sell and regulate Rwanda gorilla permit and maximum 8 gorilla permits are open to the public per day.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is quite steep because of the various highlands around Volcanoes National Park including Mountain Karisimbi, Muhavura, Bisoke, Sabyinyo and Gahinga. Other than these outstanding highlands, Volcanoes National Park topography is influenced by other highlands too.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park is the only chimpanzee sanctuary in Rwanda with another chimpanzee community living in Cyamudondo on the outskirts of the park. Nyungwe National Park can be explored using several trails including Usamo trail, Igishigishigi trail and more. On the walk via these trails you may get to see other primates, birds, butterflies and more.

Two chimpanzee trekking sessions are available that is morning and afternoon and all start with briefing at Uwinka the headquarters of Nyungwe National Park.

Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda

Golden monkeys are amongst the endangered primates in the world. These outstanding primates have a larger body and golden brown hairs at the lower back. Even though golden monkey communities are habituated, they still bare their natural traits so expect to remain on your toes most of the time.

The charming golden monkeys are residents to Volcanoes National park a home they share with the mountain gorillas. To participate in golden monkey trekking in Rwanda, one must secure a golden monkey permit from Rwanda Development Board.

Rwanda cultural experience

The rich culture of the Rwandese cannot be missed during the visit to the country. The Rwandese are proud of their heritage and not afraid to share it with those interested, Some of the outstanding Rwandese performances include Intore dance moves, folk songs, orchestra of local drums and more.

A visit to the ethnological museum gives you a glimpse into the past life of the Rwandese people as some the tools they used are preserved in this museum.

A visit to craft centers like Nyakarimbi is an opportunity to see more of what the hands of the people of Rwanda can make including pottery, ceramics, baskets, mats, the famous cow dung paint called Imigongo and more. Carry some hard cash to use when purchasing souvenirs.

Kigali city tour

The life blood of Rwanda is Kigali and a city tour in this city gives you chance to see how business, social life, political life of the Rwandese people is. During the Kigali city tour, you may get to see the business centers, have a taste of local cuisines and more.

Canopy walk in Nyungwe national Park

The canopy walk in Nyungwe National park is a moment to test one’s fear of heights. The Canopy walk is a suspension bridge of about 160 meters long and 70 meters high. From the suspension bridge tourists get to enjoy the stunning cathedral like canopy of Nyungwe forest, amazing features and more.

Several birds emerge from the forest and you can see them flying out of it, towering highlands stand around and more.

Birding in Rwanda

Rwanda is home to more that 700 bird species living in different parts of the country. Some of the birds in Rwanda include Rwenzori Turaco, Shelley’s crimsonwing, Handsome Francolin and more.

Some of the Rwanda birding destinations include Nyungwe National Park, Volcanoes forest and more.

Game Safaris in Rwanda

Akagera National Park is the game safari destination in Rwanda but currently recovering from the tremor of civil unrest in the country. The African parks together with Rwanda Development Board are working hard to revive the glory of Akagera National Park.  

Some of the resident animals of Akagera national Park include zebras, giraffes, elands, waterbucks, elephants, bushbucks, leopards, lions, hyenas, rhinos and more. Carnivores are still rare to find in Akagera National Park.

Uganda safari Activities

Gorilla safaris

During Uganda safari, you can do gorilla trekking where one hour is allowed with fully habituated gorilla family or gorilla habituation experience where four hours are allowed with a semi-habituated mountain gorilla family.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the only homes to the mountain gorillas in Uganda.

Currently about 20 gorilla trekking families are open in Uganda and four gorilla habituation experience families. For gorilla trekking in Bwindi, permits are reserved according to the four areas under which the park is divided that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Game Safaris in Uganda

Uganda is home to a number of animals and those hoping not to share their safari experience with few people can take chance in Uganda. Some of the game safari destinations in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.

Some animals you may find during the game safaris in Uganda include lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, zebras, cheetahs, aardwolf, giraffes and more. Even though not all these animals are residents in Uganda, in case your wish is to see a specific animal, as for advise from our tours consultant on the best destination where to find it.

Having a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle is an added advantage because of the nature of the terrain of most Uganda game parks.

Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda

Uganda has over 5000 chimpanzees living in different forests around the country. Kibale National Park is the prime chimpanzee sanctuary with more than 1500 chimpanzees. Other Uganda chimpanzee habitants include Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Kalinzu forest, Budongo forest, Kyambura gorge, Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary and more.

Two chimpanzee safari activities happen in Uganda that is chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation experience. For chimpanzee trekking only one hour is allowed with a chimpanzee troop while chimpanzee habituation experience four hours are allowed with semi-habituated chimpanzee community.

One can choose to do Uganda chimpanzee safari in the morning or afternoon session.

Water activities in Uganda

Uganda offers several water activities even though it has no ocean coastline. While on Uganda safari, you can do white water rafting to beat through the heavy rapids, boat cruise, Launch trips, beach activities and more.

Advance booking is required especially those Uganda water activities that require having a boat and captain.

Mountaineering on Uganda safari

Mountain climbing in Uganda is can be done in a day or more depending on your arrangements. Mountain Rwenzori is the highest mountain in Uganda with its highest peak being Magheritah at over 5109 meters above sea level. Every level up the mountain has varied plants and provides a mazing scenery that is hard to see when on ground level. Hiking mountain Rwenzori may take about 7 days.

Excursion mountaineering is open too and this you can do from mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, Sabyinyo and more.

Birding in Uganda

 Uganda is home to more than 1000 bird species a number that is unmatched in Africa. The long list of bird species is awed to the varied vegetation zones in the country. Some of the Uganda birding destinations include Mabamba swamp, Lake Mburo, Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Mpanga Swamp and more.

Having a professional birding guide gives you chance to spot a wide range of birds by their sounds, feathers, physical appearance and more.

Cultural experience in Uganda

Uganda has a rich culture with several tribes and no common local language. The different cultural institutions in Uganda are symbol of the conservative nature of the different tribes in Uganda.

A few of the cultural institutions in Uganda include Buganda kingdom, Busoga kingdom, Bunyoro kingdom, Rwenzururu kingdom, Tooro kingdom and more. Each of these institutions is a representation of the rich culture of the people in Uganda. On ground are some unique items that belong to these cultural institutions and can not be found elsewhere.

Golden monkey safaris in Uganda

For golden monkey safaris in Uganda, Mgahinga National Park is the only home and they share the forest with mountain gorillas. Golden monkey safaris in Uganda can be done by golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience.

No matter which activity you choose, the golden monkeys keep you on your toes even though they are habituated to tolerate humans for atleast an hour. One must have a golden monkey trekking permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority to get access to seeing these primates.

When is the best time to combine Uganda and Rwanda safari

In general, the dry season is the better timing to do Uganda and Rwanda safari. Most Uganda and Rwanda safari destinations are in the open so a good and dry day creates better memories. The environment in the jungles of both countries gives you chance to spot more that it contains including animals in the wilderness, birds, amazing sceneries and more.

The dry season that is normally June to October and December to January is characterized by bright sunshine and lower grass permitting better visibility. The roads in the game parks are quicker to navigate giving you chance to identify a wide range of animals in the dry season.

During both Uganda and Rwanda safaris, the dry season is normally the peak tourism season where more tourists are expected on ground.

The wet season that is March to May and late October to December is characterized by down pours but this doesn’t stop safari activities in either Uganda or Rwanda. One with a limited budget but wishing to do a safari in Uganda and Rwanda may take advantage of the low season when some discounts may be availed.

Since few tourists are expected to visit Uganda or Rwanda in the wet season, it creates a better environment to have less disturbance while on safari from other tourists.

Uganda or Rwanda which is the better tourist destination.

Uganda and Rwanda have some similarities in safari activities they offer but also have some out standing differences.

Uganda has more game safari destination options where are Rwanda has one game park called Akagera National Park

From Kigali airport time to take to get to most safari destinations is less than 6 hours while in Uganda, most safari destinations can be reached in over 6 hours from Kampala or Entebbe.

Uganda has more safari destination options while Rwanda offers less safari destinations.

It is possible to cross from either Uganda or Rwanda to do safari activities is either countries as long as you clear the necessary travel documents to present on arrival.

From Uganda, you can cross by road into Kenya or Tanzania to do activities such as great wildebeest migration viewing while in Rwanda, you have to cross into Uganda to get to either Kenya or Tanzania by road. Alternatively, air transport is a better option to connect both countries.

Contact our team for more information.