10 Days Rwanda Uganda safari

This 10 Days Rwanda Uganda Safari combines the best wildlife, primate, and cultural experiences that Rwanda and Uganda have to offer. The journey takes you through Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, and Lake Bunyonyi. Experience mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game drives, boat safaris, cultural encounters, and some of East Africa’s most spectacular scenery.

The safari is ideal for travellers seeking a complete East African adventure featuring primates, wildlife, landscapes, and authentic cultural experiences.

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver-guide and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a short Kigali City Tour, including visits to local markets, craft centres, and historical sites.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Eagle View Lodge Kigali

Mid-range: Hotel des Mille Collines

Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a guided city tour of Kigali before departing for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda.

Cross the Rwanda-Uganda border and continue through beautiful countryside characterized by terraced hills, valleys, and traditional villages.

Arrive at your lodge in the evening and prepare for the next day’s gorilla trekking adventure.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

Mid-range: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Luxury: Four Gorillas Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience

After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers.

Begin your trek through the forest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. The trek may take several hours depending on the gorillas’ movements.

Upon finding the gorillas, spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat.

After lunch, enjoy a Batwa cultural experience where you will learn about the traditions, history, music, dance, and forest survival skills of the indigenous Batwa people.

Accommodation

As above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, depart Bwindi and drive to Lake Bunyonyi, often referred to as one of Africa’s most beautiful lakes.

Spend the afternoon relaxing by the lakeshore, enjoying canoe rides, bird watching, or simply taking in the spectacular scenery of the surrounding hills and islands.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Bunyonyi Overland Resort

Mid-range: Arcadia Cottages Lake Bunyonyi

Luxury: BirdNest Resort Bunyonyi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha

After breakfast, travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the famous Ishasha Sector.

Enjoy a game drive in search of the region’s renowned tree-climbing lions. Other wildlife commonly seen includes elephants, buffaloes, topis, Uganda kobs, and various bird species.

Proceed to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Mid-range: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge

Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Begin the day with an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, waterbucks, and numerous antelope species.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, famous for its large concentration of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and water birds.

Accommodation

As above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, drive to Kibale Forest National Park through the scenic crater lakes region and tea-growing areas of western Uganda.

Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the surrounding area.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House

Mid-range: Turaco Treetops

Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Wetland Walk

After breakfast, transfer to the Kibale visitor centre for a briefing before beginning your chimpanzee tracking adventure.

Accompanied by experienced guides, enter the forest in search of habituated chimpanzees. Along the way, you may encounter several other primate species.

After lunch, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, one of Uganda’s best community tourism projects. The wetland is rich in birdlife, monkeys, and unique vegetation.

Accommodation

As above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, begin the journey north towards Murchison Falls National Park. Travel through rural towns, farmlands, and scenic landscapes as you head to Uganda’s largest national park.

Arrive in the evening and check into your lodge overlooking the Nile River or surrounding wilderness.

Accommodation Options

Budget: Fort Murchison

Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Murchison Falls Game Drive, Boat Cruise and Departure

Start the day with an early morning game drive on the northern banks of the Nile. Search for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hartebeests, oribis, and Uganda kobs.

After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge before plunging dramatically below.

After the cruise, begin the drive to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your Rwanda and Uganda safari.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Optional Activities

Kigali

• Kigali Genocide Memorial visit
• Inema Arts Centre tour
• Kimironko Market experience
• Rwanda Art Museum visit
• Coffee tasting experience

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Gorilla habituation experience
• Guided forest walks
• Waterfall hike
• Bird watching excursions
• Community village visits

Lake Bunyonyi

• Canoe excursion to the islands
• Ziplining experience
• Community cultural visits
• Bird watching tours
• Nature walks

Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Lion tracking experience
• Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge
• Night game drive
• Bird watching excursions
• Community visits

Kibale Forest National Park

• Chimpanzee habituation experience
• Crater lake tour
• Tea plantation visit
• Bird watching safari
• Community cultural walks

Murchison Falls National Park

• Top of the Falls hike
• Delta boat cruise
• Bird watching excursions
• Sport fishing on the Nile
• Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary