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12-Day Rwanda Uganda Tanzania Primate & Safari Expedition

Offered by: USD Safari Tours

4.9/5 (1600 Reviews)

Journey Snapshot

🗺 Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda ⏱ 12 days 🚙 4x4 Pop-up Roof

Kigali Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas) Lake Bunyonyi Kibale NP (Chimps

Overview Day by Day Rates Inclusions Getting There Offered By

Discover the best of Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania on a thrilling twelve-day expedition combining unforgettable primate encounters with classic African safari adventures. Trek through lush forests to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys, then enjoy exciting game drives among Tanzania's iconic wildlife. Perfect for tourists seeking primates, Big Five wildlife, culture, nature, and adventure across East Africa.

Route

Start	Kigali (Day 1)
Day 2	Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)
Day 3	Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas)
Day 4	Lake Bunyonyi
End	Kibale NP (Chimps

Tour Features

Day 1:Kigali to Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Museum and Culture Day 2:Golden Monkey or Gorilla Trekking and Transfer to Uganda Day 3:Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi/Mgahinga National Park Day 4:Bwindi/Mgahinga to Lake Day 5:Lake Bunyonyi to Kibale National Park Day 6:Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Mbarara Day 7:Mbarara to Mwanza Tanzania Day 8:Mwanza to Serengeti National Park Day 9:Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park Day 10:Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area Day 11:Ngorongoro Crater Safari Day 12:Tarangire National Park and Evening Departure

Activities & Transportation

Route: Kigali, Volcanoes NP (Gorillas), Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Kibale NP (Chimps
Duration: 12 days
Getting around: 4x4 safari vehicle (pop-up roof)
Transfers: airport pick-up & drop-off can be included

Accommodation & Meals

Day

Accommodation

Meals

1

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

2

Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge Mid-range lodgeless than 1hr drive from Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas, Uganda)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

3

Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge Mid-range lodgeless than 1hr drive from Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas, Uganda)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

4

Arcadia Lodge Lake Bunyony>i Mid-range lodge located at Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

5

Kibale Forest Lodge> Mid-range lodge just outside Kibale NP (Chimps, Uganda)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

6

Emburara Farm Lodge >Mid-range lodgenear Mbarara (Town, Uganda)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

7

Malaika Beach Resort Mid-range lodge in Mwanza (City, Tanzania)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

8

Kontiki Kogatende Camp> Mid-range tented camp located inside Northern Serengeti NP (Tanzania)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

9

Kontiki Kogatende Camp Mid-range tented camp located inside Northern Serengeti NP (Tanzania)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

10

Embalakai Ngorongoro Camp Luxury tented camp located less than 1hr drive from Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

11

Marera Valley Lodge> Mid-range lodge in Karatu (Town, Tanzania)

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

12

No accommodation

Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day by Day

Day 1 Kigali to Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Museum and Culture

⏱Morning 🏨Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) 🍽Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast at your Kigali hotel, meet your driver-guide and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a moving tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and Rwanda's journey of reconciliation. Continue through Rwanda's scenic highlands toward Volcanoes National Park, home to the mountain gorillas and Dian Fossey's legacy. After lunch, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to learn about gorilla conservation. Later, enjoy traditional music, dance, and cultural experiences at the Gorilla Guardians Cultural Village. Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or similar.

Day 2 Golden Monkey or Gorilla Trekking and Transfer to Uganda

⏱Morning 🏨Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge Mid-range lodgeless than 1hr drive from Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas, Uganda) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast, head to Kinigi for your primate adventure. Undertake a golden monkey trek, included in the package, or upgrade to gorilla trekking with an additional gorilla permit cost of USD 1,500. The golden monkey experience offers an opportunity to observe these endangered and playful primates in their natural habitat, while gorilla trekking provides an extraordinary encounter with a mountain gorilla family. After lunch, cross into Uganda and continue to the Bwindi/Mgahinga area. Relax at the lodge while enjoying views of the Virunga ranges. Overnight: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge or similar.

Day 3 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi/Mgahinga National Park

⏱Morning 🏨Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge Mid-range lodgeless than 1hr drive from Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas, Uganda) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking briefing. Enter the dense montane forest accompanied by experienced trackers and park rangers in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek may take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas. Once you find them, spend an unforgettable hour observing their behavior as they feed, groom, play, and interact. After the trek, return to the lodge and relax. Overnight: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge or similar.

Day 4 Bwindi/Mgahinga to Lake

⏱Morning 🏨Arcadia Lodge Lake Bunyony>i Mid-range lodge located at Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast, leave the Bwindi/Mgahinga area and drive toward the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. Enjoy spectacular views of Uganda's terraced hills, rural communities, banana plantations, and green valleys along the way. Lake Bunyonyi is surrounded by rolling hills and dotted with numerous small islands, making it one of southwestern Uganda's most scenic destinations. Upon arrival, check into your lodge and spend the remainder of the day relaxing and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Overnight: Arcadia Cottages or similar.

Day 5 Lake Bunyonyi to Kibale National Park

⏱Morning 🏨Kibale Forest Lodge> Mid-range lodge just outside Kibale NP (Chimps, Uganda) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After a relaxed breakfast, begin your journey north toward Kibale National Park. The drive takes you through Uganda's beautiful countryside, with rolling hills, banana plantations, tea estates, and local communities along the route. Kibale is one of Africa's premier primate destinations and is home to chimpanzees and several other primate species. Arrive in the afternoon and settle into your accommodation surrounded by the sounds and serenity of the forest. Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or similar.

Day 6 Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer to Mbarara

⏱Morning 🏨Emburara Farm Lodge >Mid-range lodgenear Mbarara (Town, Uganda) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After an early breakfast, head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Center for your chimpanzee trekking briefing. Enter Kibale Forest with experienced guides and rangers to search for a habituated chimpanzee community. Observe these intelligent primates as they feed, groom, communicate, and move through the forest canopy. Other primates and forest species may also be encountered during the trek. After the experience, have lunch before beginning your journey toward Mbarara through Uganda's scenic countryside. Overnight: Emburara Farm Lodge or similar.

Day 7 Mbarara to Mwanza Tanzania

⏱Morning 🏨Malaika Beach Resort Mid-range lodge in Mwanza (City, Tanzania) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After an early breakfast, at 06:00am depart Mbarara and drive toward the Mutukula border between Uganda and Tanzania. Complete immigration formalities before continuing to Bukoba on the Tanzanian side of Lake Victoria. From Bukoba, take a domestic flight to Mwanza, where you will meet your representative and transfer to your lakefront resort. Spend the evening relaxing and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Lake Victoria, with an opportunity to experience a spectacular African sunset. Overnight: Malaika Beach Resort or similar.

Day 8 Mwanza to Serengeti National Park

⏱Morning 🏨Kontiki Kogatende Camp> Mid-range tented camp located inside Northern Serengeti NP (Tanzania) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After an early breakfast, depart Mwanza and drive toward Serengeti National Park. The entry point and safari route will be determined by the seasonal location of the Great Migration, allowing us to follow the wildebeest herds rather than follow a fixed route. Depending on the time of year and current herd movements, we may approach the Serengeti through the western or northern areas or proceed toward the Central Serengeti. Game viewing begins as soon as we enter the park, with the route adapted according to migration patterns, wildlife sightings, and prevailing park conditions. Overnight: Kon Tiki Tented Camp or similar.

Day 9 Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

⏱Morning 🏨Kontiki Kogatende Camp Mid-range tented camp located inside Northern Serengeti NP (Tanzania) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Spend a full day exploring the endless savannah plains of Serengeti National Park with morning and afternoon game drives. Search for the Big Five and other iconic wildlife, including cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, and various antelope species. Depending on the season and location of the herds, you may witness part of the spectacular Great Migration. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness before continuing your afternoon game drive and returning to camp around sunset. Overnight: Kon Tiki Tented Camp or similar.

Day 10 Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

⏱Morning 🏨Embalakai Ngorongoro Camp Luxury tented camp located less than 1hr drive from Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Rise early for a morning game drive through the Seronera Valley, one of the Serengeti's most productive wildlife areas and an excellent location for predator sightings. Continue exploring the plains before departing toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, enjoy spectacular highland scenery and additional wildlife viewing opportunities. Depending on your arrival time, you may stop at scenic viewpoints overlooking the surrounding landscapes before continuing to your lodge for dinner and relaxation. Overnight: Embalakai Ngorongoro Elerai or similar.

Day 11 Ngorongoro Crater Safari

⏱Morning 🏨Marera Valley Lodge> Mid-range lodge in Karatu (Town, Tanzania) 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast, descend into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day wildlife experience. The crater floor contains diverse ecosystems supporting an exceptional concentration of wildlife. Search for elephants, buffaloes, lions, hyenas, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, flamingos, and, with luck, the endangered black rhinoceros. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater while surrounded by spectacular scenery and wildlife. Later, ascend from the crater and transfer to Karatu for a relaxing evening. Overnight: Marera Valley Lodge or similar.

Day 12 Tarangire National Park and Evening Departure

⏱Morning 🏨No accommodation 🍽Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park for your final wildlife experience. The park is famous for its large elephant populations, ancient baobab trees, seasonal wildlife concentrations, and diverse birdlife. Enjoy a game drive searching for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, lions, and other species. After the game drive, continue to Arusha/Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight, marking the end of your Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania adventure. End of Tour.