Duration
10-Day
Accra, Botswana
This 10-day Rwanda and Uganda tour is an unforgettable adventure that takes you to some of the most stunning and biodiverse destinations in East Africa. It will start in Kigali and ends in Kampala. You will have the chance to visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus, trek through lush rainforests to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Bwindi forest and Kibale National park, go on game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park and hike to the summit of Mount Rwenzori.
Plan snapshot
Duration
10-Day
Route
Kigali to Kampala
Via Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas), Queen Elizabeth NP, Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range)
Country & park
Botswana
Style
Safari
Group size
1-12 travelers
Starts
Any day if available
Minimum age
18 years
Activities
game drives, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, nature hikes/walks & boat trip
Accommodation
Lebanon Hotel - Mid-range hotel in Kigali – Dinner Included
Meals
Dinner Included; All Meals Included
Pickup
Airport transfer included
Booking
Request quote
Currency
USD
Rates
USD
Before booking
Quote flow
This budget tour includes camping and lodges. Guests must assist with camp chores.
This tour will be organized exclusively for you and won't be shared with others.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.
Solo travelers can book this private tour.
The minimum age for this tour is 18 years.
Day 1
Mid-range hotel in Kigali – Dinner Included
Dinner Included
Day 2
Budget lodge bordering Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas) without fences – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 3-4
Budget lodge just outside Buhoma (Bwindi Impenetrable NP) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 5-6
Budget lodge bordering Queen Elizabeth NP without fences – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 7-8
Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 9
Mid-range guest house just outside Kibale NP (Chimps) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 10
(No accommodation)
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Tour step
You'll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will meet one of our hospitable guide who is ready to welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. If you arrive in the morning time, we will proceed with a short Kigali city tour with genocide memorial. Mid-range hotel located in Kigali Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included) Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 2
After your breakfast, we will drive toward Musanze, which is a 2-hour car drive. We will then go to visit Ellen Degenes Campus of Dian Fossey Gorilla fund. The multi-acre, eco-friendly facility adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park includes three main buildings – the Sandy and Harold Price Research Center, the Rob and Melani Walton Education Center and the Cindy Broder Conservation Gallery – as well as housing for visiting students and researchers. The Ellen Campus is designed to serve as a gateway to conservation for the visitors from around the world, helping to create the next generation of conservationists. Upon the visit, we will learn about the Gorilla conservation by Dian fossey with some videos and picture at the campus. Here will be also the Gorilla virtual reality, which will give you a real experience with Gorillas before you trek them in their natural habitat. Later after, we will continue our way to Uganda passing via cyanika border until Bwindi. Budget lodge bordering Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas) without fences All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 3
After your breakfast, we will go to trek the Golden monkey in Bwindi national park. The Golden Monkeys are so friendly. You will see them coming to you, touching you…You will spend the allocated time with them and then go for a lunch. Later after your lunch, we will proceed with a visit to Batwa (Pygmy). A pygmy guide who will pass you through their journey from before and after they have been evicted from the Bwindi impenetrable forest and how they have survived will guide you. Budget lodge located just outside Buhoma (Bwindi Impenetrable NP) All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 4
After your breakfast, we will be heading to Bwindi impenetrable for forest headquarters for the pre-trekking brief. The ranger guides will guide on what to expect during the trek and the code of conduct while in the forest. The mountain Gorilla trek will take from 2-4hours depending on where the gorillas are located in the forest. Once you get across the gorilla family of the day, you will be allowed to stay with them one hour taking pictures for your memory. After this experience, you drive back to your hotel for a late lunch and relax as you wait for the next day to come. Budget lodge located just outside Buhoma (Bwindi Impenetrable NP) All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 5
You will wake up very early to go for a morning game drive at the Kasenyi sector of Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda. This morning game drive allows visitors to spot nocturnal animals retreating back to their dens and also the early risers. Expect to spot leopards, hippos, lions, buffaloes, hartebeests, resident and migratory birds. After your game drive, you will return to have lunch and a rest at your lodge. At 2:00 pm, you will be transferred to the Kazinga Channel for a launch cruise. The Kazinga Channel is a collection point for most of the parks animals and birds. You will be very impressed with the sheer number of game found drinking and grazing along the banks. Budget lodge bordering Queen Elizabeth NP without fences All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 6
Wake up early for a sumptuous breakfast and prepare for your second game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park. This time, you will be driven to the Ishasha sector of the park, which is famous for Tree Climbing Lions. You will see many other park mammals that you might not have sighted during your visit to other sections of the park. Later after, you will get transferred to your hotel and relax while prepare yourself for the next day hike. Budget lodge bordering Queen Elizabeth NP without fences All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 7
After your breakfast, we will drive a little bit to Mihunga park entrance and attend the briefing for this tour. Later, we will embark on the trip into the park into the part taking the trail which follows a thick forest along the Mubuku River, crossing its Mahoma River tributary before starting a long, steep climb into a massive ridge to reach Nyabitaba hut. During this part of trip, you may hear chimpanzees and see Black and white colabus Monkey, Blue Monkey and brilliantly the colored Rwenzori Turacco. The hike may take 6-7 hours depending on how fit you are. All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 8
After your breakfast, you will be passing through Bamboo forest, traverse through a long and stretching slippery moss-covered rock. From Nyamuleju shelter, mount Stanley and mount Speke can be seen before passing into the zone of giant heather, lobelia and groundsel. Finally you will reach John Matte hut after passing through the tiring bog, for dinner and overnight at the hut. All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 9
After your breakfast, you will start climb down. This will take approximately 5hours to reach to the park gate. From here, you will meet our guide who will drive you back to your hotel to wait for the next day activities, the chimpanzee trek and Bigodi wetland. Mid-range guest house located just outside Kibale NP (Chimps) All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 10
After a breakfast, the driver will take you to the Kibale national park offices for the briefing on chimpanzee tracking. The guides/Rangers will let you know of all there is to know about tracking chimpanzee. Kibale National Park is the best place to track chimpanzees in the world. The chances of spotting them is very high and there are 4 communities that are habituated. Chimps love to stay on top of trees compared to mountain gorillas. They are also more vocal hence allowing them to be located from kilometers away. Chimpanzee trekking takes between 3 to 5 hours after which, you will head back to your lodge for lunch. Later after, we will go visit Bigodi wetland, which is an area with great biodiversity. The dominant plant is Egyptian Papyrus but the swamp is a favorite feeding ground for 8 species of primates, which you may have chance to see. Later, we will transfer you to Kampala to fly back to your home. Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Non-alcoholic drinks
Tour step
Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. You'll be dropped off at the airport.
Park fees (For non-residents)
Gorilla permits(One per person, non-resident)
Chimp permits(One per person, non-resident)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
Camping equipment
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Sleeping bag
Bath towels
International flights (From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Offered by
Empirical Tour and Travel is a sustainable and responsible tour company that offers unforgettable travel experiences in Dr. Congo and the East African Region. We cater to travelers who are interested in safaris, gorilla trekking, cultural tours, sightseeing tours and hiking adventures.
Office In
Rwanda
Size
1-5 employees (Founded in 2018)
Member Of
Rwanda Tours & Travel Association
Tour Types
Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
Destinations
Burundi, Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda
Traveler feedback
Overall
5.0/5Communication
5.0/5Accuracy
5.0/5Value
5.0/5Safety clarity
5.0/5Cultural value
5.0/5My wife and I travelled with Eraste to DRC, Burundi and Rwanda for 13 days during August,2023.Pre tour communication with him was great and any issues quickly answered.He took care of all transport, accommodation ,visas and tickets (including Gorilla permits) without fuss which made our trip so enjoyable.Already we have recommended Eraste and Empirical Tour and travel, to traveler friends of ours as ours was an unforgettable experience.
Jim and Marcia Bowater · New Zealand
Exciting and full of impressions and adventures trip through 3 countries. A great experience of meeting gorillas and chimpanzees, but also an amazing experience from a boat on the Nile. Photos with crocodiles and hippos near the waterfalls will remain in our memory for the rest of our lives. Thank you Erast for taking care of us and for the wonderful time together on the island near the volcano in DRC. Good luck.
Ania i Szymon · Poland
I very much enjoyed my visit to see the Red Monkeys at Musanze even if there were so many people at the same venue going off to see the Gorillas. The Diane Fossey centre is well worth the time for a visit. The Genocide museum in Kigali although it is harrowing it should not be missed. The highlight of my whole trip was going into the Congo to see the Gorillas, for me it was a life time memory. The boat trip on the slow boat to Goma in the Congo was a really enjoyable day too, not much to see in the town except the wooden bicycles. Burundi was a good experience too as not many make the effort to visit as such many locals are please to meet and chat.
Richard W B · New Zealand
I did an 8-day game safari tour with Empirical Tour and Travel across the amazing land of Rwanda. As a white female solo traveller I was very pleased with the way this travel agency handled all the little details of my travel. Accommodations were nice and transportations between destinations were smooth. Eraste and Joseph made me feel safe and comfortable the whole journey. With their travel plan I was able to experience Rwanda as a local, which added priceless value for this trip!
Elina · Finland
Practical answers
Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour is offered in US dollars (USD).
This tour is unavailable for children.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.
Lebanon Hotel - Mid-range hotel in Kigali – Dinner Included. Meals: Dinner Included
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
We advise requesting quotes from 3 operators () Requests are sent directly to the tour operator If preferred, you can contact the tour operator directly
Operator policy
This tour is offered by Empirical Tour and Travel, not SafariBookings.
This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
Gorilla tracking permits are subject to availability.
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