10 Day Uganda Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
10 day Uganda Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari is for travellers who want one complete cross-border route covering Uganda’s best wildlife parks and Rwanda’s leading gorilla trekking destination. The safari starts in Uganda and ends in Kigali, making it practical for visitors who want to combine big game, chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, lakes, forest scenery and cultural history in one journey. The route takes you to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. You also finish with a Kigali city visit, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial if time allows. This safari works well for you who want more than one gorilla trek. You track gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi forest and again in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, giving you two different gorilla trekking experiences in two countries. You also track chimpanzees in Kibale, take a Nile boat cruise in Murchison Falls, enjoy game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth, visit Bigodi Wetland, relax at Lake Bunyonyi and cross into Rwanda through the scenic highland route.
Safari Highlights
- 10-day Uganda and Rwanda safari starting in Uganda and ending in Kigali
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Murchison Falls National Park game drive and Nile boat cruise
- Visit to the top of Murchison Falls
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk near Kibale
- Queen Elizabeth National Park game drive
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and birds
- Search for tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, depending on the routing
- Scenic rest stop at Lake Bunyonyi
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
- Optional golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park, if time and budget allow
- Kigali city tour and Kigali Genocide Memorial visit
- Private safari vehicle, driver guide and cross-border support
Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1, Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to Kampala or Entebbe Hotel
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your driver guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. This is a light arrival day, especially useful after a long flight. Depending on your arrival time, you may relax at the hotel or take a short visit around Entebbe or Kampala. Your guide will also brief you about the route, driving times, border crossing, trekking days and what to expect on the safari. Dinner and overnight stay at your selected hotel.
Day 2, Ziwa Rhino Tracking and Transfer to Murchison Falls
After breakfast, start the journey north towards Murchison Falls National Park. The route passes through Luweero and Nakasongola before reaching Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is the only place in Uganda where rhinos can be tracked on foot in a protected wild setting. At Ziwa, you will join a ranger for a guided rhino tracking experience. Tracking usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on where the rhinos are feeding or resting. After the activity, continue for lunch, then drive to Murchison Falls National Park. On arrival, visit the top of Murchison Falls if time allows. This is where the Nile forces through a narrow rocky gorge before dropping into the river below. Continue to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Budget option: Red Chilli’s Camp or Bush Lodge, mid-range option Sambiya River Lodge Cottages or Pakuba Lodge, Luxury optio: Paraa safari Lodge or Chobe Lodge
Day 3, Murchison Falls Game Drive and Nile Boat Cruise
Start early with a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. Your guide will search for wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, Uganda kob, hartebeest, lions and, with luck, leopards. The morning hours give better chances because animals are more active before the day becomes hot. Return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, take a Nile boat cruise towards the base of Murchison Falls. The riverbanks are good for viewing hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and water birds. The boat stops at a safe distance from the falls, where you can see the power of the Nile as it pushes through the gorge. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4, Transfer from Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest
After breakfast, leave Murchison Falls and begin the long drive towards Kibale Forest National Park. This is mainly a scenic transfer day, passing through western Uganda’s rural landscapes, roadside towns, tea-growing areas and views towards the Fort Portal region. Lunch is arranged en route, around Hoima, Kagadi or Fort Portal, depending on the day’s routing. Arrive in the Kibale area in the evening and check in at your lodge. This evening is for rest before the chimpanzee trekking experience the next morning. overnight stay at Primate Lodge or Crater Safari Lodge [luxury], Chimps Nest [mid-range], or Rwenzori View Guesthouse [budget]
Day 5, Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
After an early breakfast, transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for the chimpanzee trekking briefing. You will enter Kibale Forest with ranger guides and trackers to search for a habituated chimpanzee community. The trek can take about 2 to 4 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are moving or feeding. Once the chimpanzees are located, you spend one hour observing them. You may see them feeding, grooming, calling, climbing and moving through the forest canopy. Kibale is one of the best places in Uganda for chimpanzee trekking because of its strong primate population and reliable sightings. After lunch, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk. Bigodi is known for birds, monkeys, wetland vegetation and community tourism. You may see red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and several bird species. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 6, Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, leave Kibale and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive usually passes through Fort Portal, Crater Lake scenery and the foothills of the Rwenzori region before reaching the Queen Elizabeth area. On arrival, check in at your lodge and have lunch. In the afternoon, take the Kazinga Channel boat cruise if timing allows. The Kazinga Channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is one of the best wildlife viewing points in the park. Expect hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants and many water birds along the shores. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Budget – Bush lodge or Simba safari Camp, mid-range – Ihamba safari Lodge or Hippo Hill Camp or Marafiki Safari Lodge, Luxury – Mweya safari Lodge or Kyambura Game lodge / Elephant Plains Hotel
Day 7, Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Start early with a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Your guide will look for lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs and other savannah wildlife. If the route includes the Ishasha sector, you may also search for tree-climbing lions, although sightings depend on the day’s conditions and animal movement. After the game drive, continue to Lake Bunyonyi. This is a useful rest stop after several days of wildlife and primate activities. The lake is known for its steep hills, island views, canoeing, birdlife and cool highland atmosphere. Arrive at your lodge, check in and relax by the lake.
Day 8, Transfer to Bwindi and Gorilla Trekking Preparation
After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed morning around Lake Bunyonyi, depending on your schedule. Optional activities may include canoeing, island viewing or a short community walk. Later, transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The final lodge location depends on your confirmed gorilla permit sector, either Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo. On arrival, check in and prepare for the next day’s gorilla trekking. Your guide will brief you about trekking time, clothing, porter support, packed lunch and park reporting arrangements. Dinner and overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Camp for Budget, Gorilla Mist Camp for Mid-range, or Gorilla Safari Lodge for Luxury.
Day 9, Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After an early breakfast, transfer to the Bwindi park headquarters for the gorilla trekking briefing. Rangers will explain the trekking rules, group allocation, forest safety and gorilla viewing guidelines. You will then enter the forest with ranger guides and trackers to search for your assigned gorilla family. The trek can take 2 to 8 hours depending on the location of the gorillas, forest conditions and the pace of the group. Once the gorillas are located, you spend one hour observing them in their natural habitat. After the trek, return to the lodge or starting point, meet your driver guide and begin the cross-border journey to Rwanda. Depending on your trekking sector, you may cross through Cyanika or Katuna border before continuing to Musanze near Volcanoes National Park. Arrive at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Budget La Palme Hotel, mid-range: Mt Gorilla View Lodge, Luxury Volcanoes Lodge or One and Only Gorilla Nest or Bisate Lodge.
Day 10, Rwanda Gorilla Trekking, Kigali City Tour and Departure
After an early breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing. You will be assigned a gorilla family and ranger team before driving to the trailhead. The trek may pass through bamboo forest, farmland edges, thick vegetation and volcanic slopes, depending on the gorilla family location. Once the gorillas are found, you spend one hour with them. This second gorilla trek gives you a chance to compare the Bwindi forest experience with Rwanda’s Virunga landscape. After trekking, return to the starting point and begin the drive to Kigali. If time allows, take a Kigali city visit and stop at the Kigali Genocide Memorial before airport drop-off or hotel drop-off. This marks the end of your 10-day Uganda Rwanda safari.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Included
- Airport pickup in Entebbe
- Private safari vehicle and fuel
- English-speaking driver guide
- Accommodation for 9 nights
- Meals as stated in the final itinerary
- Park entrance fees
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Bwindi gorilla trekking permit
- Rwanda gorilla trekking permit
- Kigali city visit, depending on flight time
- Border crossing assistance
- Bottled drinking water during transfers
Excluded
- International flights
- East African Tourist Visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips for driver guides, rangers, trackers, porters and lodge staff
- Personal drinks, laundry and calls
- Optional activities not confirmed in the final quote
- Extra accommodation before or after the safari