Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where your driver-guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Depending on arrival time, there’s an option for a relaxed stroll along Lake Victoria’s shoreline before your safari begins in earnest the next morning. This trip pairs well with our other Primate Tours if you’d like to compare shorter options before booking. Overnight: Entebbe

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, drive west toward Kibale Forest, passing through the Rift Valley escarpment and the crater lakes region near Fort Portal. Kibale is home to thirteen primate species and has one of the highest densities of chimpanzees in Africa. Overnight: Kibale area

Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Walk

Early morning briefing at Kibale headquarters before heading into the forest to track wild chimpanzees — an activity that typically lasts two to four hours. In the afternoon, a guided walk through the community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary offers excellent birding and a chance to see more primates without the early start. Overnight: Kibale area

Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most biologically diverse park. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of the best wildlife-viewing waterways in East Africa, with reliable sightings of hippos, buffalo, elephants, and a huge variety of water birds. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 5: Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha

An early game drive across the Kasenyi Plains, then a scenic drive south through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Overnight: Bwindi area

Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

The heart of the safari. After a briefing at the park headquarters, trek into the forest with your ranger guide in search of a habituated gorilla family — a hike that can take anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours depending on the family’s location, followed by an unforgettable hour in their presence. The afternoon is set aside for a Batwa cultural experience, learning about the forest’s original inhabitants. Shorter travelers on a tighter schedule sometimes take this single activity as our standalone 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari. Overnight: Bwindi area

Day 7: Cross into Rwanda via Cyanika Border

Drive south to the Cyanika border crossing, through some of the most scenic terracing and hillside farmland in the region. Once through immigration formalities on the Rwandan side, continue to Musanze, the gateway town for Volcanoes National Park. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes area

Day 8: Second Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park

A full day at Volcanoes National Park, once home to Dian Fossey’s research camp. Trek through open bamboo forest — a noticeably different habitat from Bwindi — for your second encounter with mountain gorillas. This region is also one of the best places in the world for gorilla trekking experiences more broadly, given the density of habituated families here. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes area

Day 9: Golden Monkey Tracking & Transfer to Kigali

Morning golden monkey tracking through the bamboo zone of Volcanoes National Park — a lighter, shorter activity than gorilla trekking but just as rewarding, thanks to the monkeys’ playful, acrobatic behavior. In the afternoon, drive to Kigali and check into your final hotel. Overnight: Kigali

Day 10: Kigali City Tour & Departure

A guided city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an essential and moving stop for understanding Rwanda’s history and remarkable recovery. Depending on your flight time, there may be room for a visit to a local craft market before your transfer to Kigali International Airport for departure.

What’s Included

• All ground transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with English-speaking driver-guide
• Accommodation on a full-board basis at listed lodges (or equivalent) for 9 nights
• Park entrance fees for all listed activities
• One gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and one in Rwanda
• Golden monkey tracking permit
• Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
• Bottled drinking water while on the road
• Airport transfers in Entebbe and Kigali

What’s Not Included

• International flights
• Uganda and Rwanda visas / East Africa Tourist Visa
• Tips for guides and lodge staff
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks not listed
• Travel insurance
• Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary (e.g. Batwa community add-ons beyond the standard visit)

Accommodation Options

This itinerary can be arranged at Luxury, Mid-Range, or Budget level, with lodges adjusted accordingly at each stop — Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Volcanoes National Park. Let us know your preferred style when enquiring and we’ll build the quote around it.

A Note on Gorilla Permits

Gorilla permits in both Uganda and Rwanda are limited and sell out months in advance, particularly during the June–September and December–February peak seasons. We strongly recommend booking this safari at least 3–6 months ahead to secure permit dates. For a wider look at how this trip fits alongside other multi-country options, see our East Africa Safaris and Combining Trips pages.

Ready to Book?

Every itinerary we run is tailored to your dates, budget, and fitness level. Contact our team to check gorilla permit availability and get a full quote for this 10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari, or browse our blog for more on planning your trip.