A Luxury Uganda and Rwanda Primates Safari (Apes of Africa)

11-Day Ultimate Uganda and Rwanda Primates Itinerary

11-Day Uganda and Rwanda safari: The Great Apes of Africa Tour Package, gorilla trekking, chimps, and guided treks. Uganda and Rwanda Apes expedition adventure.

A Luxury Uganda and Rwanda Primates Safari (Apes of Africa) is an 11-day, expertly tailored expedition that pairs intimate, once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters with five-star comfort. You’ll trek to see mountain gorillas in their misty volcanic homes and track chimpanzees through ancient rainforest trails, guided by seasoned local trackers and naturalists who put safety and respect for the animals first. Luxury safari lodges and boutique camps, carefully chosen for comfort, atmosphere, and proximity to the parks, provide plush rooms, exceptional cuisine, and attentive service after each day’s adventure. Private 4×4 transfers, scenic drives, and optional helicopter upgrades smooth logistics so you spend your time relxing in nature, not paperwork.

This Uganda and Rwanda Apes expedition adventure is built for travelers who want conservation-minded experiences without sacrificing style. Beyond gorilla trekking and chimp tracking, expect tailored cultural visits with local communities, expert wildlife photography opportunities, and enriching briefings on conservation and research initiatives that your visit helps support. Ideal for small groups, couples, and families seeking meaningful travel, the package includes experienced guides, park permits, premium accommodations, and thoughtfully timed travel days to maximize sightings and minimize fatigue. Ready for the ultimate primate encounter? Let us tailor the Apes of Africa 11-day Uganda and Rwanda luxury tour to your dates and preferences.

Detailed Itinerary: 11-Day Luxury Uganda and Rwanda Primates Safari

Day 1 — Arrival: Entebbe, welcome & briefing

Touch down at Entebbe International Airport where a private transfer meets you and whisks you to a luxury lake-view hotel for a restful afternoon. After time to refresh, enjoy a relaxed welcome briefing with your private guide and driver: overview of the route, permit confirmations, packing tips for rainforest treks, and a bespoke tailoring of the coming days to your pace. If time allows there’s an easy late-afternoon visit to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre to get a taste of East African wildlife and birdlife, or simply a spa treatment to rebalance after travel. Dinner is a carefully curated welcome meal at the lodge, local flavors prepared to a fine-dining standard, and an early night so you’re rested for the driving day ahead. (Logistics: private 4×4, porter service and luxury accommodation included.)

Day 2 — Drive to Kibale National Park; evening orientation

After breakfast you depart Entebbe and drive southwest through scenic tea-covered hills toward Kibale National Park. The drive is a full-day scenic transfer with comfort stops at curated viewpoints and a farm-to-table lunch en route. Arrive at a luxury lodge nestled near the forest edge in the late afternoon, followed by an orientation with your local primate guide who will explain chimp-tracking etiquette, what to expect on the trail, and camera/health rules. Kibale’s rainforest hosts one of Uganda’s densest chimp populations and excellent primate diversity, so the following morning’s trek is usually one of the trip highlights. Spend the evening on the lodge veranda with locally inspired cuisine and a short talk by a resident naturalist to prime you for tomorrow’s trekking.

Day 3 — Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale; Bigodi wetland walk

Rise early for a guided chimpanzee trek in the prime forest of Kibale. The morning trek lasts 2–5 hours depending on where the chimps are that day; trackers and guides use radio information and decades of knowledge to maximize sightings while maintaining ethical distances. After an exhilarating encounter and a respectful one-hour observation period, return to the lodge for a leisurely lunch. In the afternoon take a guided walk through the Bigodi Swamp Sanctuary for an up-close look at forest birds, butterflies and smaller primates, and a chance to meet community conservation projects that support local livelihoods. Dinner back at the lodge, with a photography slideshow and optional stargazing on clear nights. (Notes: wear sturdy trekking shoes, long sleeves, and bring insect repellent.)

Day 4 — Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park; afternoon game drive

A scenic morning transfer brings you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, famed for its varied ecosystems and prolific wildlife. After checking into a high-end safari lodge overlooking the savanna, enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Ishasha or Kasenyi sectors where you’ll search for elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, and if timing and luck align, the famed tree-climbing lions. Your private guide will focus on relaxed, unhurried sightings and photography, tailoring the drive to your interests (big cats, birds, or landscapes). Return to the lodge for sundowners and a gourmet dinner prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The lodge’s evening program often includes conservation talks or a short cinema-style presentation about park ecology.

Day 5 — Morning game drive + Kazinga Channel boat cruise

Begin with an early-morning game drive when predators are most active and wildlife is abundant in the soft light. Midday, relax at your lodge before boarding a private boat for a late-afternoon Kazinga Channel cruise, the channel famously concentrates hippos and waterbirds and offers excellent close-up wildlife viewing from the water. The cruise is a highlight for photographers and lovers of river ecosystems; expect to see large hippo schools, crocodiles, and shorebirds congregating on the banks. After the boat cruise you’ll return for a decadent dinner at the lodge and a night drive option with spotlights to seek nocturnal species (available as an add-on).

Day 6 — Scenic transfer toward Bwindi; relaxation at luxury forest lodge

Depart Queen Elizabeth after breakfast and travel south toward the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest region, with optional stops at local markets, an agricultural cooperative, or viewpoints over the Rift Valley. Arrive at a premium eco-lodge on the forest edge in the late afternoon. Enjoy a gentle nature walk, an optional spa treatment, or time on your private balcony watching forest life. Your guide reviews gorilla-trek logistics and safety rules, ensures your gorilla permit is confirmed, and discusses porter arrangements and physical difficulty levels so there are no surprises the next morning. Dinner is a quiet, conservation-minded meal; the lodge team will also coordinate wake-up calls and trekking groups for Day 7.

Day 7 — Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

This is the pinnacle day of the expedition: after an early breakfast you’ll head to the park headquarters for a final briefing, be assigned to a gorilla family, and begin the guided trek into Bwindi’s emerald slopes. Trek lengths vary from short walks to full-day climbs depending on where the gorilla family is feeding. Guides and rangers maintain strict protocols to avoid disturbing the gorillas; once you locate the family you’ll have the allocated observation hour to watch, photograph (respectfully), and learn from the guide about gorilla social behaviour, family dynamics, and conservation challenges. After the trek, return to the lodge for a celebratory lunch and an afternoon of gentle recovery, perhaps a massage or a cultural visit to a Batwa community to learn about local forest traditions.

Day 8 — Cultural experience & gentle morning, then cross toward Rwanda

Spend a relaxed morning enjoying lodge amenities or take an early cultural visit to nearby communities (Batwa experiences, village walks and community-run conservation projects). After lunch begin the scenic overland transfer toward the Rwanda border; your private driver will handle immigration formalities and escort you into northern Rwanda, where rolling green hills and volcano silhouettes welcome you. Arrive in Musanze (formerly Ruhengeri) late afternoon and check into a refined boutique hotel or high-end lodge near Volcanoes National Park. Tonight’s briefing focuses on the Volcanoes itinerary, gorilla trekking in Rwanda, and any further permit confirmations; enjoy a refined Rwandan dinner and early night to prepare for the trek. (Travel note: cross-border logistics and vehicle permits are handled by your tour operator for a smooth transfer.)

Day 9 — Volcanoes National Park: orientation + optional nature activity

Enjoy a leisurely morning with an orientation at the Volcanoes National Park visitor centre followed by a gentle cultural option: visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village or a local community project that supports conservation. If you prefer more nature, choose a guided nature walk on the lower slopes or a birding session led by a specialist naturalist. In the afternoon your guide will reconfirm trekking times for the following morning and help you prepare dry layers and camera gear. Evening at the lodge offers a conservation talk or a chance to meet staff from Gorilla Doctors / Dian Fossey-related conservation initiatives operating in the region. (Rwanda’s Volcanoes park is the iconic gorilla-tracking destination in the Virunga range.)

Day 10 — Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park; celebratory dinner

Rise very early for your gorilla-trek briefing and transfer to the park headquarters. After ranger assignments you’ll head into the forest with experienced local guides and trackers, trekking times depend on the gorilla family’s location and can range from short to strenuous. Rwanda’s gorilla treks follow strict health and distance rules; once you find the gorillas you’ll share the prescribed observation time in the presence of these magnificent animals. Return to your lodge in the afternoon to relax, process photographs, and then enjoy a special celebratory dinner, a private, locally sourced menu paired with permitted Rwandan wines or craft drinks to mark the expedition’s highlight. (Optional: book a professional wildlife photographer to join the trek for pro images.)

Day 11 — Golden monkey tracking or Dian Fossey memorial hike; Kigali departure

On your Uganda and Rwanda Safari final morning, choose between golden monkey tracking on the Volcanoes slopes (a lively, shorter trek that visits habituated golden monkey troops) or a sobering but inspiring visit to the Dian Fossey memorial site and Karisoke research centre to learn about primate conservation history in the region. After your morning activity enjoy a leisurely lunch, then transfer to Kigali for a short city tour (Kigali Genocide Memorial, art galleries and craft markets) before your private transfer to Kigali International Airport for onward flights. If your schedule allows, end with a final private dinner in a top Kigali restaurant to toast the Apes of Africa expedition and the conservation impact of your visit.

End 11-Day Luxury Uganda and Rwanda Primates Safari