Rwanda & Uganda Safari | 10 Days / 9 Nights | Kigali to Entebbe

Discover the remarkable wildlife and natural beauty of Rwanda and Uganda on this exciting 10-day East African safari. This cross-border adventure combines golden monkey trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and exceptional wildlife experiences in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls national parks.

Your journey also takes you into the ancient rainforests of Kibale National Park, renowned for its large population of chimpanzees, before continuing to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an unforgettable encounter with Uganda’s southern white rhinos.

From Rwanda’s breathtaking volcanic landscapes to Uganda’s diverse savannah ecosystems, tropical forests, rivers, and spectacular waterfalls, this safari offers an excellent opportunity to experience some of East Africa’s most treasured natural attractions.

Safari highlights

• Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

• Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

• Scenic cross-border journey from Rwanda into Uganda.

• Wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

• Game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise.

• Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park.

• Visit to the spectacular Murchison Falls.

• Morning game drive and Victoria Nile boat cruise.

• Rhino tracking on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

• Scenic countryside drives through Uganda’s beautiful landscapes.

Detailed 10-day safari itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda – Airport Pickup and Optional Kigali City Tour

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative of Raptors Africa Safaris. After a brief introduction, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kigali for check-in and relaxation following your international flight.

Depending on your arrival time and energy levels, you may opt for an introductory Kigali city tour. This optional excursion offers an opportunity to explore Rwanda’s capital, one of Africa’s cleanest and most beautifully organised cities.

Your city tour may include a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an important historical site dedicated to remembering the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. You may also explore a local craft market, where you can discover traditional Rwandan artwork, handmade souvenirs, and cultural products.

After the tour, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Heaven Boutique Hotel
Meal plan: Bed and breakfast

Day 2: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park – Optional Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village Visit

After breakfast, depart Kigali and travel northwards towards Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.

The journey takes you through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside, characterised by rolling hills, terraced farms, traditional villages, and spectacular views of the Virunga volcanic mountain range.

Upon arrival in the Musanze area, you will check in at your lodge and enjoy some time to relax.

Depending on your arrival time and interest, you may visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, also known as the Gorilla Guardians Village. This cultural experience introduces visitors to traditional Rwandan lifestyles, music, dance, local cuisine, and community heritage. You will have an opportunity to interact with local residents and learn about Rwanda’s cultural traditions and community-based conservation initiatives.

Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park – Transfer to Bwindi, Uganda

Rise early and enjoy breakfast before heading to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for your golden monkey trekking briefing.

During the briefing, park rangers will introduce you to the golden monkeys, explain the trekking guidelines, and provide information about the conservation of these endangered primates.

You will then enter the bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountains, accompanied by an experienced ranger guide, in search of the golden monkeys.

Golden monkeys are lively and fascinating primates, easily recognised by their distinctive golden-orange patches of fur. As you follow them through the forest, you will observe their playful behaviour, feeding habits, social interactions, and movements among the bamboo vegetation.

Once you locate the golden monkey troop, you will be allowed to spend one hour observing and photographing these beautiful primates.

After completing your trekking experience, return to your lodge area, meet your safari driver-guide, and begin the cross-border journey into Uganda.

You will travel towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, crossing from Rwanda into Uganda through the designated border post. The drive offers beautiful views of the southwestern Ugandan countryside, with terraced hills, rural settlements, and green landscapes.

Upon arrival in the Bwindi area, check in at your lodge, enjoy dinner, and relax in preparation for the following day’s mountain gorilla trekking adventure.

Accommodation: Bweza Gorilla Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today is one of the major highlights of your Uganda safari: an unforgettable encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the designated park headquarters for registration and a pre-trekking briefing conducted by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers.

During the briefing, you will learn about gorilla trekking regulations, forest safety, responsible wildlife viewing, and the importance of mountain gorilla conservation.

You will then be allocated a gorilla family and begin your forest adventure under the guidance of experienced park rangers and trackers.

Bwindi’s dense tropical rainforest provides habitat for several habituated mountain gorilla families. Trekking conditions vary depending on the location and daily movements of the gorillas. The experience may take a few hours or extend into much of the day, depending on where your assigned gorilla family is found.

When you finally encounter the gorillas, you will have one precious hour to observe them in their natural habitat. Watch the silverback as he protects his family, mothers caring for their young, and playful juveniles interacting with one another.

This extraordinary wildlife encounter offers an opportunity to appreciate the importance of mountain gorilla conservation and the protection of Uganda’s natural heritage.

After the trek, return to the park headquarters and receive your gorilla trekking certificate before heading back to your lodge.

Enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening.

Accommodation: Bweza Gorilla Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Wildlife Viewing in Ishasha

After breakfast, leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and travel towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse and wildlife-rich protected areas.

Your journey takes you through the beautiful landscapes of southwestern Uganda, passing rural communities, traditional homesteads, cultivated hillsides, and scenic countryside.

You will enter Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector, a region particularly famous for its unusual population of tree-climbing lions.

Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a game drive through the Ishasha plains in search of these remarkable lions, which are occasionally spotted resting on large fig trees.

The Ishasha sector also supports a variety of wildlife, including African elephants, Uganda kobs, topis, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, and numerous savannah bird species. Leopards may also be encountered, although sightings are never guaranteed.

After your wildlife experience, proceed to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Game Drive in Kasenyi Plains and Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel

Start your day with an early breakfast before heading into the Kasenyi Plains for an exciting morning game drive.

Kasenyi is one of the most rewarding wildlife-viewing areas in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Its open grasslands and savannah vegetation provide excellent opportunities to spot several species of wildlife.

During your game drive, keep an eye out for African elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, lions, and other wildlife. The area is also an important habitat for numerous bird species.

Your safari guide will help you explore different sections of the plains while sharing interesting information about the park’s ecosystems, wildlife behaviour, and conservation efforts.

Return to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation.

In the afternoon, head to the Kazinga Channel for a memorable boat cruise along this natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George.

The Kazinga Channel is famous for its remarkable concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles. During the cruise, you may also see elephants, buffaloes, and other animals gathering along the shores to drink water or cool off.

The channel is also an excellent destination for birdwatching, with numerous waterbirds and other bird species frequently seen along its banks.

After the boat cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Tracking

After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and continue towards Kibale Forest National Park, one of Africa’s best destinations for observing wild chimpanzees.

Depending on your schedule and the previous day’s wildlife sightings, you may enjoy a short morning game drive before leaving Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The journey to Kibale takes you through beautiful landscapes, including rural villages, crater lakes, tea plantations, and the green foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Upon arrival, proceed to the park headquarters for your chimpanzee tracking briefing, subject to the confirmed trekking schedule.

Kibale Forest is widely recognised for its rich primate diversity and is home to one of Uganda’s most important wild chimpanzee populations.

Accompanied by an experienced park ranger, you will enter the tropical rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities.

During the trek, you may encounter chimpanzees feeding on fruits, grooming one another, communicating through vocalisations, moving through the forest canopy, and caring for their young.

Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will spend the permitted observation period watching their natural behaviour and photographing them.

After your experience, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Visit the Top of Murchison Falls

After breakfast, embark on a scenic journey from Kibale Forest National Park towards Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park.

The drive takes you through changing landscapes, rural communities, agricultural areas, and beautiful countryside as you make your way northwards.

Upon reaching Murchison Falls National Park, you will proceed to the spectacular top of Murchison Falls, one of Uganda’s most impressive natural attractions.

Here, the powerful Victoria Nile River forces its way through a narrow gorge approximately seven metres wide before plunging dramatically down the rocks to create the magnificent waterfall.

The tremendous pressure of the water creates a spectacular display of white foam, mist, and thunderous sounds. You will have time to explore the viewpoints, enjoy the scenery, and take photographs of this extraordinary natural wonder.

After visiting the falls, continue to your lodge for check-in, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Victoria Nile

Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before setting off for an exciting morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park.

The northern sector of the park is particularly rewarding for wildlife viewing, with open savannah plains, scattered woodland, and riverine vegetation supporting an impressive variety of wildlife.

During your game drive, you may encounter African elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Jackson’s hartebeests, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, and several other antelope species.

With some luck, you may also spot predators such as lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas.

Your safari guide will take you through different wildlife-viewing tracks, helping you identify animals and understand the park’s ecological diversity.

After the morning game drive, return to your lodge for lunch and a short relaxation break.

In the afternoon, head to the Victoria Nile for a memorable boat cruise towards the bottom of Murchison Falls.

This boat excursion offers a different perspective of the park, allowing you to observe aquatic wildlife and animals gathering along the riverbanks.

Look out for large groups of hippos, Nile crocodiles basking along the shoreline, and elephants and buffaloes coming down to drink water. The river is also an excellent habitat for birdlife, including the iconic African fish eagle and, with luck, the elusive shoebill in suitable habitats.

As the boat approaches the base of Murchison Falls, enjoy impressive views of the waterfall and the surrounding river landscape.

After the cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay in the national park.

Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Transfer to Entebbe

After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin your journey towards Entebbe, with an exciting stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary along the way.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is an important conservation area established to support the restoration of Uganda’s wild rhino population following the extinction of rhinos in the country.

The sanctuary offers visitors a unique opportunity to encounter southern white rhinos in their natural environment through guided walking safaris.

Upon arrival, you will receive a briefing from the sanctuary guides before setting off on foot in search of the rhinos.

Accompanied by trained rangers, you will walk through the sanctuary’s natural vegetation, observing these magnificent animals from a safe and responsible distance.

This experience provides an opportunity to learn about rhino behaviour, breeding programmes, habitat protection, and ongoing conservation efforts aimed at reintroducing rhinos into Uganda’s national parks.

In addition to rhino tracking, Ziwa is an excellent destination for birdwatching and nature walks. The sanctuary supports a variety of bird species and other wildlife.

After completing your rhino tracking experience, continue your journey to Entebbe.

Upon arrival, you will be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport or your preferred accommodation, depending on your onward travel arrangements.

Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch

End of your 10-day Rwanda and Uganda safari with Raptors Africa Safaris.