10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari

DESTINATION

Uganda & Rwanda

DURATION

10 Days | 9 Nights

COST

From $4,300 Per Person

DESCRIPTION

This 10-day itinerary is the complete primate-and-wildlife circuit across two countries, starting at Entebbe and ending in Kigali. It moves from chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, through the Big Five landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park, to gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, before crossing into Rwanda for golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park and a final day exploring Kigali City.

Trip Overview


Duration	10 Days / 9 Nights
Starting Point	Entebbe, Uganda
Ending Point	Kigali, Rwanda
Route	Entebbe → Kibale → Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi → Volcanoes → Kigali
Activities	Chimpanzee tracking, game drives, boat cruise, gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, city tour
Best Time to Visit	June – September & mid-December – mid-February (dry season)
Accommodation	Budget, mid-range, or luxury (your choice)

TRAVEL PLAN

Day 1: Entebbe – Kibale Forest National Park

After meeting your driver-guide at Entebbe International Airport or your hotel, set off west towards Kibale Forest, a journey of around 6 to 7 hours. The drive crosses the equator at Kayabwe, where a roadside monument marks the spot for photos, before continuing through Mubende and the rolling hills of western Uganda to Fort Portal. Dinner and overnight at your lodge near Kibale Forest.

Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest

Head to Kanyanchu park headquarters for an early briefing before setting out on foot through Kibale’s dense, humid forest in search of one of the park’s habituated chimpanzee communities. Kibale holds the highest density of primates in East Africa, so beyond the chimps themselves, expect sightings of red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and other forest primates along the trail. In the afternoon, take a guided nature walk around the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run reserve known for its birdlife and the chance of spotting the elusive great blue turaco. Dinner and overnight near Kibale.

Day 3: Kibale – Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, around 2 hours through scenic crater lake country. Check in at your lodge, then head out for an afternoon game drive on the Kasenyi Plains, known for large herds of Uganda kob, buffalo, and elephant, with good chances of lion. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in the park.

Day 4: Full Day in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Start with a morning game drive, taking advantage of the cooler hours for the best wildlife activity. In the afternoon, board a boat for a Kazinga Channel cruise, the park’s signature activity, drifting along the 40-kilometre waterway linking Lakes Edward and George past some of Africa’s densest hippo concentrations, basking crocodiles, and elephants drinking at the shore. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Depart Queen Elizabeth and head south towards Bwindi, around 4 to 5 hours depending on your trekking sector. The route passes through the park’s Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, which rest in the branches of fig trees during the heat of the day — a worthwhile stop if timing allows. Continue on to Bwindi, arriving in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at your lodge near the park.

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Rise early for the briefing at park headquarters, where you’ll be grouped with a maximum of eight trekkers and assigned a habituated gorilla family for the day. The trek through Bwindi’s steep, dense rainforest can take anywhere from two to seven hours depending on where the family is feeding, but the reward is the same: a full hour in the presence of a wild mountain gorilla family, often within a few metres of a resting silverback. Return to your lodge in the afternoon to rest and reflect. Dinner and overnight near Bwindi.

Day 7: Bwindi – Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)

After breakfast, cross the border into Rwanda via the Cyanika border post, a journey of roughly 3 to 4 hours that takes you from Uganda’s southwest into Rwanda’s Musanze region at the foot of the Virunga Mountains. Border formalities are straightforward with your guide’s assistance. Depending on arrival time, the afternoon is free to settle into your lodge or visit the nearby Gorilla Guardians’ Village. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Musanze.

Day 8: Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

Spend the morning tracking Volcanoes National Park’s playful golden monkeys through the bamboo forest, a shorter and more energetic activity than gorilla trekking and a fitting way to round out your primate experience in the Virunga Mountains. Travelers who would like a second gorilla trek in Rwanda can arrange this as an optional add-on, at the additional cost of a Rwanda gorilla permit. The rest of the day is free to rest at your lodge. Dinner and overnight in Musanze.

Day 9: Volcanoes National Park – Kigali City Tour

After breakfast, drive south to Kigali, around 2 to 3 hours on good tarmac roads. Spend the afternoon exploring Rwanda’s capital, beginning at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, a sobering and essential stop for understanding the country’s recent history, followed by lighter stops at Inema Arts Center and a local craft market for last-minute souvenirs. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Kigali.

Day 10: Departure from Kigali

Enjoy a relaxed final breakfast before your driver-guide transfers you to Kigali International Airport for your departing flight, bringing your 10-day Uganda Rwanda safari to a close.

COST INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS

- - What’s Included
    - Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide throughout
    - Border crossing assistance from Uganda to Rwanda
    - Kibale chimpanzee tracking permit
    - Queen Elizabeth National Park entrance fees and Kazinga Channel boat cruise
    - Bwindi gorilla trekking permit (Uganda)
    - Volcanoes National Park golden monkey tracking permit
    - Kigali city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial
    - 9 nights’ accommodation (budget, mid-range, or luxury — based on your preference)
    - Meals as specified (full board while in the parks)
    - Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
    What’s Not Included
    - International flights and visa fees for Uganda and Rwanda
    - Travel insurance
    - Tips and gratuities for guides, trackers, and lodge staff
    - Porter fees during gorilla and chimpanzee trekking (optional, typically USD 15–20)
    - An optional second gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
    - Personal expenses and items of a personal nature
    Permit Costs to Know
    This itinerary involves several permits set by Uganda and Rwanda’s respective wildlife authorities, and accurate budgeting matters here more than on most trips. A Uganda chimpanzee tracking permit in Kibale, a Uganda gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi (set at USD 800 per person by the Uganda Wildlife Authority), and a Rwanda golden monkey tracking permit are all included in this package. Travelers who want to add a second gorilla trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park should budget an additional USD 1,500 per person for the Rwanda Development Board permit, on top of the included activities. All permits are subject to change by the respective authorities, so we always confirm current rates at the time of booking.
    When to Go
    The dry seasons (June–September and mid-December–mid-February) offer the most comfortable trekking conditions across all four parks, with drier trails and easier wildlife viewing. The wetter months bring lush scenery, excellent birdwatching, and quieter parks, though trekking becomes muddier and a 4×4 remains essential throughout. For more detail on each stop, see our destination guides for Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Volcanoes National Park.
    Extend Your Trip
    This itinerary already covers Uganda and Rwanda’s primate and Big Five highlights in a single circuit, but it can be extended with extra time in Akagera National Park or Nyungwe Forest National Park before your departure from Kigali, or with additional days at Murchison Falls if you’d prefer to start the Uganda leg further north. Browse our Uganda Rwanda safaris, long safaris, or full destinations page to build on this itinerary.
    Useful Official Resources
    - Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) — the official body managing Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi, with current park fees and gorilla/chimp permit information
    - Visit Rwanda – Gorilla Tracking, the Rwanda Development Board’s official page on permits and what to expect in Volcanoes National Park
    - Kigali Genocide Memorial – official website for visiting hours and background on the memorial
    Ready to Book?
    Gorilla and chimpanzee permits across both countries are limited and book out months in advance, especially in peak season, so early planning matters on this itinerary. Contact our travel experts to secure your dates and customize this 10-day Uganda Rwanda safari, or browse our full range of safaris for shorter or longer alternatives.