Semu Gorilla Safaris and Tours

5.0/5 – 6 Reviews

$3,500 pp (USD)

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Age at the end of the tour
*This tour does not accept children under 16.
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Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

  • You'll be collected from the airport.
  • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

Arrive at Kigali Airport, pick up and transfer to the booked Hotel

Arrive at Kigali Airport, pick up and transfer to the booked Hotel

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, a Semu Gorilla Safaris and Tours assigned English-speaking Professional Tour Driver-guide will receive and welcome you to Rwanda – the Land of a thousand Hills. Thereafter, you will transfer to the booked accommodation. You will check in and take your rest – recovering from jet lag, adjusting to time difference.

Accommodation: (Eagle View Hotel-Midrange Level) | Meals: Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 22 minutes.

Main Destination:
Kigali (Rwanda)
Accommodation:
Eagle View Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located in Kigali (Rwanda)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2

Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

You will be picked up by your safari guide who will give you a short briefing about your safari tour. You will start your 6-hour drive to Lake Mburo National Park from Kigali and across the Rwanda-Uganda land border. Upon arrival, you will have lunch and get prepared for a brief evening game drive where you'll encounter the true zebra magnet alongside other animals like buffalos, giraffes, and elands. From there, you will check in at the lodge, for relaxation and dinner. Immediately after dinner, you will go for the nocturnal game drive which starts at 6:00 p.m. in the evening till late. On this game drive, you may encounter various nocturnal animals such as leopards, hyenas, jackals, civets, genet cats, and serval cats.

Accommodation: (Eagles Nest Lodge-Midrange Level) | Meals: Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 6 hours.

Main Destination:
Lake Mburo National Park (Uganda)
Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June, July and January to February (Little rainfall)

Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP

BuffaloCommon
ZebraCommon
HippoCommon
GiraffeOccasional
LeopardOccasional
HyenaOccasional
Show more
LionRare
Accommodation:
Eagle's Nest Camp
  • Budget tented bush camp bordering Lake Mburo NP (Uganda) without fences
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3

Nature/Community Walks and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Nature/Community Walks and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After your breakfast, you will head out for the morning game drive through Lake Mburo National Park and feed your eyes as you spot amazing wildlife species and bird species alongside the scenic savannah grasslands. After the game drive, you will drive out of the park with a stopover along the way for lunch. The meal plan includes breakfast and lunch in Mbarara Town. Later, you will proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodation: (The Bush Lodge-Midrange Level) | Meals: Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 3 hours.

Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Best Time To Visit January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP

ChimpanzeeOccasional
ElephantCommon
LionCommon
BuffaloCommon
HippoAbundant
LeopardOccasional
Show more
ZebraNone
Accommodation:
The Bush Lodge (Banda)
  • Mid-range banda located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP (Uganda)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4

Chimpanzee Trekking and Afternoon Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Chimpanzee Trekking and Afternoon Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park

On this day after breakfast, your guide will take you to track man’s closest cousins the chimpanzees. This is an obviously amazing experience to mark done on your bucket list. After chimpanzee tracking, you will transfer to your lodge for relaxation as you enjoy the scenic landscape views. After lunch, you will embark on an amazing launch cruise on Kazinga Channel where you will have an exciting and memorable adventure. This water sail provides a magnificent platform for photographing and 360-degree game viewing. After the boat cruise, you will drive back to the hotel for your dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: (The Bush Lodge-Midrange Level) | Meals: Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. n/a.

Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
Accommodation:
The Bush Lodge (Banda)
  • Mid-range banda located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP (Uganda)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 5

Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early breakfast, your driver will take you for the morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth NP. This is an amazing experience with a great opportunity to spot a wide range of wildlife such as cape buffalos, Uganda kobs, African elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, waterbucks, warthogs, and antelopes. After the successful game-viewing adventure, you will transfer to the lodge for lunch and then kick-start your journey to the famous Bwindi NP. The drive to the park is incredibly scenic, going through the remote and hilly plains covered by lush green. Upon arrival at Bwindi, it is visible that the park has the most appreciative ecosystems in Africa and the diversity of the wildlife species is also portrayed on sight. The park is home to about 120 species of mammals and 348 species of birds. Later on, you will check in at the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: (Buhoma Community Haven-Midrange Level) | Meals: Dinner | Transfer Time: Approx. 4 hr 46 min.

Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February
High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)
Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi NP

Accommodation:
Haven Lodge Buhoma Community
  • Mid-range lodgejust outside Bwindi NP (Gorillas, Uganda)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 6

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, proceed to the rangers’ post. You will receive a briefing on the do's and don’ts during the trekking. You will then enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The area offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense. It is crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Later, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. The drive is through a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’ for its unique cool weather despite being near the Equator. Dinner and your overnight stay are at the resort

Accommodation: Keije Resort Bunyonyi (Budget) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner | Drive time: Approx. 2 Hours.

Main Destination:
Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)
Accommodation:
Keije Resort Bunyonyi
  • Mid-range lodge located at Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 7

Explore the Magnificent Lake Bunyonyi

Explore the Magnificent Lake Bunyonyi

You will have a relaxed breakfast with a spectacular view of lake Bunyonyi in front of you. Thereafter you will have a canoe ride through the lake where you will visit various islands and learn about their traditional significance. You will see multiple bird species and other wildlife species. The island consists of 29 islands and is the most scenic place in Uganda and Rwanda. You will spend your evening at the resort enjoying the beauty of the area.

Accommodation: Keije Resort Bunyonyi (Budget) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner | Drive time: Approx. n/a.

Main Destination:
Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)
Accommodation:
Keije Resort Bunyonyi
  • Mid-range lodge located at Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 8

Transfer to Kigali Volcanoes National Park

Transfer to Kigali Volcanoes National Park

The day starts with breakfast shortly after sunrise and then a road trip to the Volcanoes begins. Upon arrival, you will have a cultural tour at Ibiwachu culture village where you will experience and learn about the historical and present day’s livelihood of the Rwandan citizens through cultural performances, village walks, and museum visits.

Accommodation: La palme Hotel (Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner | Drive time: Approx. 2 hours.

Main Destination:
Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
Best Time To Visit June to August (It is drier and hiking is easier)
High Season June to September (Permits are scarce)
Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Volcanoes NP

Accommodation:
La Palme Hotel
  • Mid-range hotelless than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas, Rwanda)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 9

Mount Bisoke Hiking

Mount Bisoke Hiking

You will set off by 7:30 a.m. for the briefing at the head offices after breakfast. It takes between 4 to 6 hours to hike Mount Bisoke. The actual hike starts at 8:00 a.m. After the briefing, you will be taken by car to the starting point. It’s advisable to get yourself a porter to carry any heavy backpack or camera. The park authorities will provide you with a hiking stick. On reaching the summit, expect to view the magnificent crater lake on top of the volcano. From the summit, one can spot beautiful views of the other Virunga ranges of mountains, the Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and the Rwenzori Mountains. Once done with enjoying the beautiful views from the mountain top, you will descend down and head back to the starting point.

Accommodation: La palme Hotel (Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner | Drive time: Approx. n/a.

Main Destination:
Mount Bisoke (Virunga Mountains, Rwanda)
Accommodation:
La Palme Hotel
  • Mid-range hotelin Ruhengeri (City, Rwanda)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 10

Golden Monkey Tracking and Twin Lakes Visit

Golden Monkey Tracking and Twin Lakes Visit

After the briefing, you will embark on the golden monkey tracking. The encounter starts at 7:00 a.m. at the park headquarters where you'll head to the forest in unlimited numbers in search of these endangered species. You'll take about 4 hours on the golden monkey tracking experience inclusive of an hour-long encounter with them where you see them roll themselves on the bamboo stems. They are not shy as it has been reduced through habituation. You will enjoy the sights of their silver patch. After the adventure with the rare monkeys, you will transfer to the Twin Lakes or Musanze caves in the evening for a more adventurous experience. You will drive to the lodge for relaxation as you wait for the next day’s adventure with dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: La palme Hotel (Midrange) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner | Drive time: Approx. n/a.

Main Destination:
Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
La Palme Hotel
  • Mid-range hotelless than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas, Rwanda)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 11

Tour of Kigali City – Airport Transfer

Tour of Kigali City – Airport Transfer

Early in the morning, you will transfer to Kigali for the city tour especially the renowned Kigali Genocide Memorial Center where you will learn about what happened during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. After visiting the genocide site, you will visit the local markets, the presidential palace museum, and a few artisan shops. Once done with the city tour, you will be taken for lunch at a suitable hotel. After some relaxation, you will embark on the transfer to the airport or your hotel of stay hence the end of your safari to Rwanda.

Accommodation: Recommended on request | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Transfer Time: Approx. 2 hours.

Main Destination:
Kigali (Rwanda)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • You'll be dropped off at the airport.

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  • Requests are sent directly to the tour operator
  • If preferred, you can contact the tour operator directly
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Your request will be sent directly to the operator

If preferred, you can contact the operator directly

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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Semu Gorilla Safaris and Tours, 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.
  • This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of Semu Gorilla Safaris and Tours.