Tour Overview

Experience the best of East Africa on this unforgettable 10-Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari from Kigali, a cross-border adventure that combines spectacular wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural experiences. Designed for travelers seeking an immersive safari, this flexible itinerary can begin and end in Kigali or conclude in Entebbe/Kampala, depending on your travel plans.

Your journey starts in Rwanda’s scenic Volcanoes National Park, where you’ll embark on an exciting golden monkey trekking experience before crossing into Uganda’s renowned Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to trek endangered mountain gorillas. Continue to Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of East Africa, for an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking adventure through lush tropical rainforest.

The safari also takes you to two of Uganda’s premier wildlife destinations. Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its abundant wildlife, diverse ecosystems, and the scenic Kazinga Channel, before heading to Murchison Falls National Park, home to the world’s most powerful waterfall and an impressive variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species.

From close encounters with Africa’s great apes to thrilling game drives, boat cruises, and stunning scenery, this 10-day safari offers the perfect combination of primate adventures, wildlife viewing, and cultural discovery across two of Africa’s most remarkable safari destinations.

Tour Summary

  • Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes national park
  • Day 2: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Bwindi
  • Day 3: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
  • Day 5: Game drive and boat cruise
  • Day 6: morning game drive and afternoon transfer to Kibale national park
  • DAY 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi
  • Day 8: Transfer to Murchison falls national park
  • Day 9: Game drive and boat cruise
  • Day 10: Departure to Entebbe international airport.

Detailed Itineraray

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional safari guide who will brief you about your upcoming adventure before departing for Volcanoes National Park. If your flight arrives early, you may enjoy an optional Kigali city tour, visiting some of the city’s most iconic attractions, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, the Presidential Museum, or local art galleries.

After the city tour, continue on the scenic 2–3-hour drive to Volcanoes National Park, passing through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside of rolling hills, terraced farms, and traditional villages. Upon arrival, check in to your lodge and spend the rest of the evening relaxing while enjoying spectacular views of the Virunga Volcanoes.

Accommodation Options

  • Budget: Kinigi Guest House, La Palme Hotel
  • Mid-range: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
  • Luxury: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early breakfast, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing by park rangers before setting off on an exciting golden monkey trekking adventure. Accompanied by experienced guides, hike through the bamboo forests in search of these rare and endangered primates, found only in the Virunga Mountains. Although less strenuous than gorilla trekking, the hike offers an exciting opportunity to observe the playful golden monkeys as they leap through the trees, forage for food, and interact within their troops. Once located, you will spend one memorable hour watching and photographing them in their natural habitat.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch before checking out and crossing the Cyanika border into southwestern Uganda. Continue through the breathtaking landscapes of the Kigezi Highlands to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.

Upon arrival, check in to your lodge and relax as you prepare for the unforgettable gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Accommodation Options

  • Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Trekkers Tavern Cottages
  • Mid-range: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Bweza Lodge
  • Luxury: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers on the rules and guidelines for gorilla trekking. You will then be assigned to a habituated gorilla family in groups of up to eight trekkers before setting off into the dense rainforest with experienced ranger guides.

The trek can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. Once you find the family, you’ll spend one unforgettable hour observing these magnificent primates as they feed, groom, play, and interact in their natural habitat. This is one of Africa’s most rewarding wildlife experiences.

After trekking, return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation. Later in the afternoon, visit the Batwa Community, the original forest inhabitants of Bwindi. Enjoy traditional music and dance performances, learn about their ancient forest lifestyle, and discover their rich cultural heritage through storytelling, crafts, and demonstrations.

Accommodation: Same as Day 2

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Enjoy breakfast before departing Bwindi for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular savannah wildlife reserve. The scenic drive takes you through rolling hills, tea plantations, and rural communities, with beautiful views of the Albertine Rift Valley along the way.

Arrive at the park in time for lunch before checking into your lodge. Spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the spectacular surroundings in preparation for the following day’s wildlife adventures.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Simba Safari Camp, Irungu Safari Lodge

Mid-range: Elephant Hab Lodge, Twin Lakes Lodge

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge

High-end: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Rise early for a sunrise game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, when wildlife is most active. Accompanied by your guide, search for elephants, buffaloes, lions, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas, and, with luck, elusive leopards. Queen Elizabeth National Park is also home to over 600 bird species, making it one of Africa’s premier birdwatching destinations.

Return to the lodge for lunch before heading out for an afternoon boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The cruise offers excellent opportunities to observe large schools of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and an abundance of water birds along the shoreline.

Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Same as Day 4

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive as you exit Queen Elizabeth National Park, offering another chance to spot wildlife you may have missed the previous day.

Continue to Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda’s primate capital and home to the country’s largest population of chimpanzees. The drive passes through beautiful crater lakes, tea estates, and scenic countryside.

Arrive in the afternoon, check into your lodge, and spend the evening relaxing.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

Mid-range: Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Kibale Forest Camp, Isunga Lodge

Luxury: Primate Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge

High-end: Kibale Lodge, Ndali Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Walk

After an early breakfast, head to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a briefing before beginning your chimpanzee trekking adventure in Kibale Forest. Accompanied by experienced park rangers, walk through the tropical rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzees while also spotting other primates such as black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Once the chimpanzees are located, you’ll spend one hour observing their fascinating social behavior, playful interactions, and communication.

After lunch, visit the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk. This community-managed reserve is famous for its rich biodiversity, including numerous bird species, butterflies, and several primates, making it an excellent destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Same as Day 6

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Following breakfast, depart Kibale and journey north to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area. Enjoy scenic views of rural Uganda with a lunch stop en route.

Upon arrival, visit the spectacular Top of Murchison Falls, where the mighty River Nile forces its way through a narrow 7-meter gorge before plunging over 40 meters below. The thunderous falls provide one of the most breathtaking natural spectacles in East Africa.

Proceed to your lodge for check-in, dinner, and overnight stay.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Parkside Safari Lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp

Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Twiga Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge, Entiko Safari Lodge

High-end: Nile Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9: Morning Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise

Start the day with an early morning game drive across the northern savannah of Murchison Falls National Park. This is the best time to spot predators returning from their nightly hunts, as well as elephants, buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda kobs, oribis, and numerous bird species.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and some relaxation before enjoying lunch.

In the afternoon, embark on a boat safari along the Victoria Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. This unforgettable cruise offers close-up views of enormous pods of hippos, massive Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and a remarkable variety of water birds including the African fish eagle, kingfishers, bee-eaters, and, if lucky, the rare shoebill stork.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Same as Day 8

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Departure

After breakfast, check out of the lodge and enjoy a final game drive as you leave Murchison Falls National Park, giving you one last opportunity to spot wildlife.

Drive back to Entebbe with a stop at the Uganda Equator for photographs, souvenir shopping, and the famous water experiment demonstrating the Coriolis effect. Continue to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or be dropped off at your hotel, marking the end of your unforgettable Uganda and Rwanda safari.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch