8 Days Budget Uganda Rwanda Safari (Gorilla Trekking Tours 2022)
8 Days Budget Uganda Rwanda Safari takes you Budget Gorilla Trekking Safari at Bwindi Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park. 8 Days Budget Uganda Rwanda Safari is the Best Safari to do in Uganda and Rwanda.
Trip Overview of the 8 Days Budget Uganda Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Hike to Bisoke volcano or Visit Dian Fossey center
Day 4: Batwa cultural trail and travel to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 5: Boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest
Day 7: Drive back to Kigali
Day 8: Visit memorial sites in Kigali
Detailed Itinerary of the 8 Days Budget Uganda Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
You will start your 8 day Uganda Rwanda Tour Holiday by traveling to the Gorilla haven in the Volcanoes National Park, 116km away from Kigali. The drive is approximately 3 hours through the lush green country side of undulating hills many of which have been cultivated with skill.
You will have lunch upon arrival and after a short rest go for a sightseeing of the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
You will have an early breakfast and join other tourists at the Kinigi Park headquarters at 08:00am for a briefing on the gorilla tracking rules. You will be allocated a Gorilla family to track and guides to lead you to the Gorillas. The trekking is a strenuous exercise through thick jungle on steep terrain that is uneven, wet and often muddy for as many as 2-5 hours, depending on the location of the Gorillas. Once sighted, you will spend a maximum of one hour with the Gorillas.
The Rwanda Culture Dance Rwandees Dancers Enjoying a Traditional Dance
You will return to the lodge to refresh and later go out to visit the Iby’iwachu cultural village for a Kinyarwanda cultural gala. You will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Hike to Bisoke volcano or Visit Dian Fossey center
After an early breakfast, you will be taken either to hike Mount Bisoke 3,711m above sea level or visit the Dian Fossey Centre to pay tribute to the famous American Primatologist (Dian Fossey) who pioneered the initiatives to protect and conserve the endgered Mountain Gorillas.
The Bisoke Volcano has two stunning cones that were formed after the volcano eruption of 1957 and contains an amazing crater Lake (Ngezi) about 11km from the summit.
A walk around the volcanic cones gives you a stunning view of the Virunga ranges in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The hike takes about 7 hours after which you will cross over to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
Day 4: Batwa cultural trail and travel to Lake Bunyonyi
You will have your breakfast and afterwards go for the Batwa cultural experience. The Batwa trail exposes you to the interesting demonstration of the hunting techniques of these forest people; the honey gathering, the preparation of medicinal herbs for treatment of diseases and the technology of making Bamboo cups.
The trail also involves a visit to the sacred Garama cave which used to be a place of refuge (hiding) for the Batwa after invading and stealing from the neighbouring communities. You will be moved by the sorrowful songs of women echoed by the walls of this light deprived cave that is a reminder of their ancient heritage.
After the Batwa trail the Uganda Rwanda Tour Holiday guide will drive you 94km to Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 5: Boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi
After your breakfast you will be taken for the memorable boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi. This beautiful lake has 26 islands surrounded by great scenic hills covered a lush green flora which is a perfect habitat for many unique species of birds. In the afternoon you will be driven to Uganda’s gorilla trekking haven of Bwindi.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
You will have an early rich Uganda Rwanda Tour Holiday breakfast and be driven to the Park Headquarters in Rushaga for a briefing about the Gorilla tracking rules. After the briefing, you will set off with trained guides to search for the gorillas. Tracking gorillas in Bwindi is quite challenging as it involves moving over rugged terrain of steep slopes and valleys which in the rainy season can be very slippery. The tracking can take 2 – 8 hours before you come across a gorilla family and you have a maximum of one hour to stay with them.
In the evening you can opt for a community walk among the Bakiga people that live near the park or simply relax at the lodge till dinner time and overnight.
Day 7: Drive back to Kigali
After breakfast you will transfer to Kigali about 4 hours’ drive from Bwindi. This part of the Uganda Rwanda Tour Holiday journey is quite charming with scenic views of Kigezi highlands, Virunga Volcanoes and undulating hills of Rwanda. You will have lunch in Kigali and after a short rest be taken to the Genocide memorial at Gisozi to pay tribute to the victims of Rwandan genocide.
Day 8: Visit memorial sites in Kigali
You will after breakfast visit the Genocide memorial sites where thousands of innocent people lost their lives during the genocide of the mid 1990s in Rwanda and listen to the horrendous narratives of how people were cruelly put to death.
You will have lunch and later visit the Presidential Palace Museum before retiring for dinner and overnight.