10 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari Gorillas and Wildlife
Overview
This 10 Days Rwanda and Uganda Safari Gorillas and Wildlife will take you to Rwanda and Uganda to experience the region’s best wildlife encounters, nature, and culture. You will do gorilla trekking in one of the best spots in the whole world, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Other unique wildlife encounters to look out for on this tour will be golden monkeys and chimpanzees!
The comprehensive Rwanda and Uganda safari continues through Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse ecosystems with opportunities to spot tree-climbing lions, hippos along the Kazinga Channel, and abundant plains game. As your Rwanda and Uganda safari expedition progresses to Murchison Falls National Park, you’ll witness Uganda’s most powerful waterfall while enjoying game drives and boat safaris in landscapes teeming with elephants, giraffes, and crocodiles.
This carefully crafted Rwanda and Uganda safari concludes with rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, completing your experience of encountering all of Uganda’s “Big Five” wildlife. Throughout your Rwanda and Uganda safari adventure, comfortable accommodations, expert guides, and seamless transportation ensure an unforgettable East African experience that balances wildlife viewing with cultural insights and natural wonders.
Price Includes
Chimpanzee tracking permit
Gorilla trekking permit
Golden monkey Chimpanzee tracking permit
Park fees
All activities
Ground transport
Bottled water in the safari vehicle
Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
Service of an English-speaking driver-guide
Driver allowances
All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Price excludes
Uganda Visa
Rwanda Visa
International and Internal Flights
Personal needs such as gratitude, beverages, etc.
Air ticket
Optional Activities
Laundry fees
Tips
Life insurance
Other drinks apart from water
Itineraries
Day 1Arrival and Transfer to Booked Hotel- Optional City Tour
Your Rwanda and Uganda safari begins as you land at Kigali International Airport, where our representative will welcome you to the "Land of a Thousand Hills." The Rwanda and Uganda safari experience starts with a comfortable 20-minute (10 km) transfer to Chez Lando Hotel, allowing you to recover from your journey while preparing for the adventures ahead. If you arrive early, your Rwanda and Uganda safari guide can take you on an optional city tour, including the poignant Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Presidential Museum (Kanombe), providing insight into Rwanda's complex history. As evening approaches, enjoy dinner at your hotel while your guide briefs you on the remarkable Rwanda and Uganda safari itinerary that awaits.
Day 2Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Evening Ibyiwacu Cultural Experience
After breakfast, your Rwanda and Uganda safari continues with a scenic 2.5-hour drive (116 km) northwest to Musanze, gateway to Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans). This Rwanda and Uganda safari day takes you through Rwanda's stunning terraced hillsides and rural communities before reaching your accommodation near the park entrance. In the afternoon, your Rwanda and Uganda safari itinerary includes an optional visit to Ibyiwacu Cultural Village (additional $20), where you'll experience traditional Rwandan dance, music, and lifestyle demonstrations from the local community. Alternatively, adventurous travelers on this Rwanda and Uganda safari can opt for a canoe excursion (additional $60) on Lake Burera or Lake Ruhondo, offering breathtaking views of the Virunga volcanoes as the sun sets.
Day 3Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Your Rwanda and Uganda safari adventure continues with an early breakfast before the short 15-minute drive to Kinigi park headquarters for a 7:00 AM briefing on golden monkey tracking. This fascinating Rwanda and Uganda safari activity takes you through bamboo forests at the base of Mt. Sabyinyo to find these playful, endangered primates, spending an hour observing their natural behaviors. After this memorable Rwanda and Uganda safari experience, return to your lodge for lunch before embarking on a 3–4-hour cross-border journey (approximately 120 km) through the Cyanika border post to Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive through Kisoro District offers spectacular views of the Virunga volcanoes before arriving at your accommodation in Rushaga, one of Bwindi's four gorilla trekking sectors.
Day 4Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The highlight of your Rwanda and Uganda safari arrives as you gather at Rushaga headquarters at 7:30 AM for a comprehensive briefing before entering Bwindi's ancient forest. Your Rwanda and Uganda safari guide will lead you through dense vegetation and challenging terrain for 1-5 hours until you encounter one of the park's habituated mountain gorilla families. This pinnacle Rwanda and Uganda safari moment allows you a precious hour with these gentle giants, observing their fascinating social interactions and human-like behaviors. After returning from your trek, your Rwanda and Uganda safari itinerary offers an optional afternoon visit to a local Batwa community (additional $20), where these indigenous forest people share their traditional hunting techniques, medicinal plant knowledge, and cultural performances that have sustained them for millennia.
Day 5Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park Via the Ishasha Sector in Search of Tree-Climbing Lions
Following breakfast, your Rwanda and Uganda safari continues with a 3-hour journey (approximately 150 km) north to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda's most popular wildlife reserve. Your Rwanda and Uganda safari experience includes a game drive through the park's southern Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions that drape themselves across fig tree branches during the heat of the day. As this Rwanda and Uganda safari day progresses, you'll continue to the northern Mweya Peninsula sector of the park, situated between Lake Edward and Lake George. If time permits, your Rwanda and Uganda safari guide will take you on an afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where you'll spot numerous hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and over 100 bird species before checking into your accommodation overlooking the channel.
Day 6Guided Game Drive and Boat Safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park
Dawn breaks on your Rwanda and Uganda safari with an early morning game drive through the Kasenyi plains, departing at 6:30 AM to maximize wildlife sightings. This prime Rwanda and Uganda safari experience offers opportunities to spot lion prides, hyenas, leopards, herds of Uganda kob, buffalo, and elephants against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains. After a midday rest at your lodge, your Rwanda and Uganda safari adventure continues with a 2-hour boat safari along the 40 km Kazinga Channel connecting Lakes Edward and George. This signature Rwanda and Uganda safari activity brings you close to the highest concentration of hippos in Africa, massive Nile crocodiles, and elephants bathing along the shoreline, while fish eagles and kingfishers soar overhead
Day 7Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Today, your Rwanda and Uganda safari includes a substantial journey north, covering approximately 400 km (7-8 hours) from Queen Elizabeth to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest protected area. The Rwanda and Uganda safari route takes you through the Albertine Rift Valley with stunning views of tea plantations, traditional villages, and the eastern edge of Kibale Forest. Your Rwanda and Uganda safari driver-guide will make comfort stops along the way, including lunch in Fort Portal town, before arriving at the southern entrance of Murchison Falls National Park in the late afternoon. If time permits on this Rwanda and Uganda safari day, enjoy a short evening game drive through the southern sector's forested habitat before settling into your accommodation, or opt for an exhilarating night game drive (additional $40) for rare nocturnal wildlife sightings.
Day 8Early Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Safari at Murchison Falls National Park
Your Rwanda and Uganda safari continues with a pre-dawn wake-up call for a 6:30 AM game drive across the savannah plains north of the Victoria Nile. This prime Rwanda and Uganda safari activity traverses the Buligi Peninsula where vast herds of Rothschild's giraffes, buffalo, and elephants roam, while lions and leopards hunt from the scattered acacia trees. After returning for lunch, your Rwanda and Uganda safari experience includes an unforgettable 3-hour boat safari departing from Paraa at 2:00 PM, cruising 17 km upstream to the base of Murchison Falls. During this highlight of your Rwanda and Uganda safari, you'll witness thousands of hippos, massive Nile crocodiles, and elephants cooling themselves along the riverbanks before approaching the spectacular falls where the Nile forces itself through a 7-meter gap, creating an unforgettable thunderous display.
Day 9Hike to the Top of Murchison Falls and Transfer to Entebbe Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino Tracking
The final full day of your Rwanda and Uganda safari begins with breakfast before a morning hike to the top of Murchison Falls, offering breathtaking views of the world's most powerful waterfall. This invigorating Rwanda and Uganda safari activity follows well-maintained trails with experienced rangers, allowing you to feel the spray and witness the Nile's raw power from various viewpoints. Your Rwanda and Uganda safari journey then continues south (approximately 100 km/2 hours) to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District, the only place to see rhinos in the wild in Uganda. During this special Rwanda and Uganda safari experience, trained rangers will guide you on foot to safely observe the sanctuary's southern white rhinos, completing your "Big Five" sightings before the final 3-hour (160 km) drive to Entebbe.
Day 10Departure from Entebbe
The conclusion of your remarkable Rwanda and Uganda safari allows for a leisurely breakfast at your Entebbe accommodation before preparing for your departure. Depending on your flight time, this Rwanda and Uganda safari day might include an optional visit to Entebbe Botanical Gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC). Your Rwanda and Uganda safari guide will arrange your transfer to Entebbe International Airport with ample time for check-in procedures. As you bid farewell to Uganda and Rwanda, your Rwanda and Uganda safari adventure leaves you with unforgettable memories of gorilla encounters, golden monkeys, tree-climbing lions, powerful waterfalls, and the warm hospitality of East Africa.
