12-Day Gorilla Tour and Safari Vacation in Rwanda, Uganda

Your guide meets you at the arranged starting point before travelling towards Kigali. The day is planned around the main stops on the route. The plan follows the route agreed with your driver-guide and leaves time for appropriate short breaks. The planned night is at Hotel Chez Lando. Confirm room availability before booking.

Begin with a water excursion before continuing from Kigali towards Volcanoes National Park. Leave enough time for the onward transfer. Watch the banks and nearby shallows for wildlife and birdlife. Weather and local boat arrangements determine the safe route. Keep drinking water, any personal medicine and a lightweight layer in the vehicle rather than packed deep in your main bag.

Begin with golden monkey tracking before continuing from Volcanoes National Park towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Leave enough time for the onward transfer. Follow trained guides through highland forest and bamboo habitat. The monkeys move quickly, so stay with the group and listen to instructions. The order of short stops may change, but the principal destination and overnight base stay the focus of this stage.

Remain in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park area, where the schedule allows another opportunity for gorilla trekking. After the ranger briefing, enter the forest on foot. The distance to the gorilla group changes with its movements, and the terrain can be steep. Follow ranger instructions throughout the permitted observation period and keep noise low.

The route continues from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park towards Ishasha. Keep the main stops realistic for the distance involved. The plan follows the route agreed with your driver-guide and leaves time for appropriate short breaks. The journey on day 5 forms part of a 12-day programme, so avoid adding unplanned detours that would reduce time at Ishasha.

Begin with a wildlife drive before continuing from Ishasha towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. Leave enough time for the onward transfer. Your guide looks for mammals and birds along permitted tracks, changing the route as light, road conditions and sightings allow. Predators may be present, although sightings depend on weather and animal movements.

Remain in the Queen Elizabeth National Park area, where the schedule allows another opportunity for a wildlife drive. Your guide looks for mammals and birds along permitted tracks, changing the route as light, road conditions and sightings allow. When watching wildlife, remain inside the vehicle unless your guide confirms that a supervised exit is permitted.

Begin with a wildlife drive before continuing from Queen Elizabeth National Park towards Kibale National Park. Leave enough time for the onward transfer. Your guide looks for mammals and birds along permitted tracks, changing the route as light, road conditions and sightings allow. Keep drinking water, any personal medicine and a lightweight layer in the vehicle rather than packed deep in your main bag.

The route continues from Kibale National Park towards Murchison Falls National Park. Keep the main stops realistic for the distance involved. The plan follows the route agreed with your driver-guide and leaves time for appropriate short breaks. Your driver-guide can advise on sensible photography stops and the amount of daylight remaining before check-in.

Remain in the Murchison Falls National Park area, where the schedule allows another opportunity for a wildlife drive. Your guide looks for mammals and birds along permitted tracks, changing the route as light, road conditions and sightings allow. Giraffes, elephants, antelopes and buffaloes may appear on the game-drive tracks.

Begin with a wildlife drive before continuing from Murchison Falls National Park towards Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Leave enough time for the onward transfer. Your guide looks for mammals and birds along permitted tracks, changing the route as light, road conditions and sightings allow. The planned night is at Zziwa Guesthouse. Confirm room availability before booking.

Remain in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary area, where the schedule allows another opportunity for rhino tracking. Trackers guide the walk towards rhinos on the sanctuary. Keep the recommended distance and let the ranger decide how close the group approaches.