18-Day Grand East African Gorillas, Wildlife, & Culture Expedition

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Overview Highlights Includes/Excludes Itinerary Faqs Services

Overview

Duration:18 days 17 nights
Travelers:1 - 16 guests
Tour Type:Combined Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Tours
Language:English

This 18-Day Grand East African Gorillas, Wildlife, & Culture Expedition is an ultimate multi-week safari expedition across East Africa. This comprehensive circuit connects every major national park, wildlife reserve, and cultural heritage landmark in both Uganda and Rwanda into one seamless travel itinerary.

Foot tracking rhinos at Ziwa and Murchison Falls River Nile boat safari.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest.
Savannah big game drives and Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth Park.
Mountain Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Lake Bunyonyi canoeing and Lake Kivu boat cruises.
Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk in Nyungwe National Park.
Big Five savannah safaris in Akagera National Park.
Comprehensive cultural tours in Kigali, Huye, and Nyanza.

Includes/Excludes

Uganda Gorilla Permit ($800 per person)
Kibale Chimp Permit ($250 per person)
Nyungwe Chimpanzee Permit ($150 per person)
17 nights full-board accommodation
All activities mentioned in itinerary
4x4 safari customised vehicle
Experienced English speaking driver guide
Park entry taxes.
Bottled drinking water in vehicle

International flights
Visa fees
Porter hiring fees
Tips for guides/rangers
Alcoholic beverages
Travel insurance

Itinerary

Day 1: Entebbe Arrival & Transfer to Hotel

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, meet your private guide, and transfer to your hotel.

Stay: Forest Cottages Kampala
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to Murchison Falls National Park

Drive north to Ziwa for foot-tracking rhinos. Continue to Murchison Falls and view the Nile forcing through the narrow gorge.

Stay: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Murchison Game Drive & Nile Boat Safari

Morning game drive across the northern savannah plains. Afternoon boat safari up the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls.

Stay: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Drive to Kibale Forest National Park

Scenic drive south along the rift valley escarpment to Fort Portal and Kibale Forest.

Stay: Ensiko Primates Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi Swamp Walk

Track habituated chimpanzees in Kibale Forest. Afternoon community walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

Stay: Ensiko Primates Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Crater Lakes Exploration & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth

Explore the Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes region. Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Stay: Enganzi Game Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Kasenyi Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Cruise

Morning savannah predator tracking in Kasenyi. Afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel.

Stay: Enganzi Game Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions & Transfer to Bwindi

Drive through Ishasha to spot tree-climbing lions in fig trees. Continue up to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Stay: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Bwindi Mountain Gorilla Trekking Expedition

Trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest with UWA ranger trackers. Spend 1 hour observing the family. Evening at leisure.

Stay: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Batwa Cultural Trail & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Participate in the Batwa Cultural Trail walk. Drive down to Lake Bunyonyi in the afternoon.

Stay: Bunyonyi Eco Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Lake Bunyonyi Canoeing & Cross Border to Rwanda

Morning dugout canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi. Cross the border into Rwanda via Cyanika/Katuna and drive to Musanze.

Stay: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Golden Monkey Trekking & Drive to Lake Kivu

Trek Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. Drive southwest to Rubavu on the shores of Lake Kivu.

Stay: Paradise Kivu Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Lake Kivu Boat Cruise & Transfer to Nyungwe Forest

Morning boat cruise on Lake Kivu. Drive south along the scenic lake trail to Nyungwe National Park.

Stay: Emeraude Kivu Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Nyungwe Chimpanzee Tracking & Canopy Walkway

Morning chimp tracking in Nyungwe Forest. Afternoon walk across the suspended Canopy Walkway.

Stay: Emeraude Kivu Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15: Kings Palace Museum & Transfer to Akagera National Park

Drive east to Akagera National Park, stopping at Nyanza to tour the King's Palace Museum and view the Inyambo cattle.

Stay: Akagera Game Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16: Akagera Full-Day Big Five Game Drive

Full-day game drive through Akagera National Park, tracking lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes.

Stay: Akagera Game Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17: Drive to Kigali & City Cultural Tour

Drive to Kigali. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local art galleries, and Kimironko market.

Stay: Hotel Chez Lando
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18: Departure from Kigali

Relaxed morning breakfast, final souvenir shopping, and transfer to Kigali International Airport for your outbound flight.

Stay: N/A (End of Tour)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Frequently asked questions

Can this 18-day expedition be customized?

Yes, all itineraries are fully customizable to adjust pacing, lodge tiers, or add extra activities.

What health vaccinations are mandatory for this multi-week tour?

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry into both Uganda and Rwanda.

What luggage limits apply for this ground safari?

Soft-sided duffel bags are recommended for easy packing inside 4x4 safari land cruisers.

Are internet and Wi-Fi available throughout the 18 days?

Wi-Fi is available at almost all safari lodges, though connection speeds can vary in remote forest locations.

How much cash should I bring for personal expenses on an 18-day trip?

We recommend bringing around $300 to $1,000 in USD cash (printed 2013 or newer) per person for tips, souvenir shopping, and personal drinks.

Services

Cultural Experiences & Community Tourism

We integrate authentic cultural encounters alongside traditional game drives. Community Visits: We facilitate guided visits to local initiatives, such as the Batwa cultural trail in Mgahinga/Bwindi or homestead visits around Queen Elizabeth National Park. Experiential Tourism: We arrange lion-tracking research experiences with the Uganda Carnivore Program or boat safaris along the Kazinga Channel and Murchison Falls. Conservation Support: We ensure a portion of tourism revenue directly benefits community development and local wildlife conservation efforts.

Gorilla & Primate Trekking Management

The hallmark service of Gentle Giants Safaris is organizing primate encounters. Permit Acquisition: We secure high-demand Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Volcanoes National Park, along with chimpanzee tracking permits for Kibale Forest and Nyungwe Forest. Habituation Experiences: We arrange full-day habituation permits to spend extended time with wild gorilla families undergoing human habituation. Logistics & Briefings: We provide pre-trek orientation, gear advice, and coordinating localized ranger and porter arrangements.

Lodge & Accommodation Reservations

At Uganda Rwanda Tours we secure strategic accommodation options across all park networks. Strategic Location Booking: We handpick lodges that align with specific gorilla sector assignments (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo) to avoid early-morning driving delays. Contracted Rates: We utilize preferential B2B trade rates to secure luxury safari lodges, eco-lodges, or budget guest houses for clients. Dietary & Special Requests: We manage dietary needs, honeymoon arrangements, and room preferences directly with lodge management.

Safari Transportation & Flight Connections

We maintain specialized transport fleets to handle long-distance transfers and rough terrain. 4x4 Safari Vehicles: We provide customized, pop-up roof 4x4 Land Cruisers and safari minivans equipped with onboard charging points, fridges, and long-range radios. Fly-In Safaris: We book domestic charter or scheduled internal flights (e.g., Aerolink) connecting Entebbe/Kajjansi to airstrips like Kihihi, Kasese, or Pakuba to eliminate long road journeys. Driver-Guides: We have professional, English-speaking driver-guides trained in animal tracking, defensive driving, and local flora/fauna interpretation.

Tailor-Made & Multi-Country Itinerary Planning

We handle complete, customized routing across Uganda's national parks and neighboring regions. Bespoke Itineraries: We design travel packages matching specific budgets (luxury, mid-range, budget) and trip durations (from 1-day birding trips to 14-day grand safaris). Cross-Border Circuit Extensions: Structuring combined East African circuits, seamlessly integrating gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda. Specialized Safaris: We organize niche itineraries such as gorilla experiences, photography expeditions, birding tours, mountaineering (Rwenzori/Elgon), and white-water rafting excursions in Jinja.