9-Day Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Rwanda Golden Monkey/Bisoke Safari

Entebbe (Uganda) → Kigali (Rwanda)

This page is a detailed itinerary for a 9-Day Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Rwanda Golden Monkey/Bisoke Safari, offered by Adventure Gorilla Safaris, running from Entebbe, Uganda to Kigali, Rwanda.

What it covers:

• Day-by-day itinerary: game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, tree-climbing lion viewing in Ishasha, a mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, an optional second trek/Batwa cultural visit, crossing into Rwanda, golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park, a full-day hike up Mount Bisoke volcano, and a closing Kigali city tour (including the Genocide Memorial) before departure.
• Lodging suggestions at midrange properties for each stage of the route (Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi, the Kisoro border area, Volcanoes NP, and Kigali).
• Packing lists tailored separately for gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, and the Bisoke hike.
• Practical logistics: permit costs and booking advice, yellow fever/visa requirements, minimum age rules, and border-crossing details.
• A bonus section outlining alternative Bwindi-from-Kigali itinerary options (2–8 days) with routes, border crossings, and seasonal timing advice.

Day 1: Arrival Entebbe – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and meet your driver-guide. Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park (approx. 6–7 hours by road via Mbarara, or a 1.5-hour scenic flight). En route, stop at the Equator line in Kayabwe for photos. Arrive in the late afternoon and check in to your lodge, with time to relax before dinner.

• Meals: Lunch (en route), Dinner
• Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park area

Day 2: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Cruise

Early morning game drive through the Kasenyi plains in search of lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, and varied plains game. After breakfast back at the lodge, take an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa’s best wildlife-viewing waterways, connecting Lake Edward and Lake George, known for its huge hippo pods, buffalo herds, and abundant birdlife including African fish eagles and pelicans.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Overnight: Queen Elizabeth National Park area

Day 3: Ishasha Sector – Tree-Climbing Lions & Transfer to Bwindi

Head south to the remote Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions that rest in the branches of fig trees during the day. After a game drive here, continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving in the afternoon/evening. Settle into your lodge and get a briefing on the next day’s gorilla trekking.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Overnight: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 4: Bwindi – Gorilla Trekking Day

After an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a briefing by the ranger team. Trekking through dense montane forest can take anywhere from 1 to 6 hours each way depending on where the gorilla family has moved. Once located, you spend a magical hour observing the mountain gorillas at close range before trekking back. This is the highlight of the trip and one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences on the continent. The afternoon is free to rest, or you can opt for an optional community/Batwa cultural visit.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (packed), Dinner
• Overnight: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 5: Bwindi – Second Trek or Nature Walk, then Transfer Towards the Rwanda Border

Choose between a second gorilla trek (an additional permit), a guided nature walk to waterfalls, or a Batwa Trail cultural experience learning about the forest’s original inhabitants. In the afternoon, transfer towards the Uganda–Rwanda border, overnighting near Kisoro or at a lodge close to the crossing point to shorten the next day’s travel.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Overnight: Kisoro area (Uganda side)

Day 6: Cross into Rwanda – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park (Kinigi)

After breakfast, drive to the Cyanika or Katuna border post and cross into Rwanda (straightforward process; keep your passport and yellow fever certificate handy). Continue to Kinigi, the base for Volcanoes National Park, home to the Virunga chain of volcanoes. Afternoon at leisure to settle in and rest ahead of the following day’s activity.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Overnight: Volcanoes National Park area (Kinigi/Musanze)

Day 7: Golden Monkey Trekking

Head to park headquarters for briefing, then trek into the bamboo forest on the lower slopes of the volcanoes to track a habituated troop of golden monkeys. These energetic, endangered primates are found only in the Virunga and Gishwati-Mukura ecosystems, and this is a lighter, faster trek (usually 1–3 hours round trip) compared to gorilla trekking, offering playful, close encounters as the monkeys leap through the bamboo canopy. Afternoon free, or optional visit to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund exhibit or local cultural village.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Overnight: Volcanoes National Park area

Day 8: Mount Bisoke Volcano Hike

A full-day hike up Mount Bisoke (3,711m), one of the more accessible Virunga volcanoes. The trail winds through montane and bamboo forest before opening onto moorland, reaching a stunning crater lake at the summit. The round trip typically takes 6–7 hours, and while steep and sometimes muddy, it rewards hikers with panoramic views over the Virunga range and, on clear days, into DR Congo. Return to your lodge in the evening for a well-earned rest.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (packed), Dinner
• Overnight: Volcanoes National Park area

Day 9: Transfer to Kigali – City Tour & Departure

Morning drive to Kigali (approx. 2–2.5 hours), a scenic route through Rwanda’s terraced hills. Depending on your flight time, enjoy a short city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial and a stop at a local craft market or Inema Arts Center. Transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Tour ends

Midrange Safari Lodge Options

Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Bush Lodge Ishasha Wilderness Camp – tented camp in the Ishasha sector, ideal for tree-climbing lion viewing
• Enganzi Game Lodge – comfortable cottages overlooking the park with good value for money
• Buffalo Safari Lodge – located near Mweya, close to the Kazinga Channel launch site
• Simba Safari Camp – budget-to-midrange option near park headquarters

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Buhoma Lodge or Engagi Lodge (Buhoma sector) – cozy cottages with forest views
• Bwindi View Bandas / Ride 4 a Woman Lodge – comfortable and community-supportive
• Lake Kitandara Bwindi Bird Nest Lodge or Rushaga Gorilla Camp (if trekking from Rushaga sector)

Kisoro/Border Area (Uganda)

• Amajambere Iwacu Camp or Kisoro Tourist Hotel – practical stopover options

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda (Kinigi/Musanze)

• Volcanoes Virunga Lodge alternatives: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge – midrange lodge with volcano views
• Fatilia Volcanoes View Lodge – comfortable rooms close to park headquarters
• Da Vinci Volcanoes Lodge – good value with mountain views and warm service
• Ihamba Lake Lake Ruhondo Resort – scenic alternative slightly further from the park

Kigali

• Ubumwe Grande Hotel, Discover Rwanda Boutique Hotel, or Manor Hotel – comfortable midrange stays close to the city center

Packing List: Gorilla Trekking

• Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support
• Waterproof rain jacket (weather changes quickly in the forest)
• Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers (neutral/earth tones, not bright colors)
• Gardening-style gloves (protect hands from stinging nettles and thorns)
• Gaiters (optional but useful against safari ants and mud)
• Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
• Insect repellent (with DEET)
• Small daypack for water, snacks, and camera gear
• 2–3 liters of drinking water
• Energy snacks/packed lunch (usually provided by lodge)
• Camera with extra batteries/memory card (no flash allowed near gorillas)
• Trekking poles (can often be hired locally from porters)
• Cash for tipping porters, guides, and trackers
• Personal first-aid kit and any personal medication
• Passport and gorilla permit (originals required)

Packing List: Golden Monkey Trekking

• Comfortable waterproof hiking shoes
• Long trousers and long-sleeved top (bamboo forest can be scratchy)
• Light rain jacket
• Gloves for gripping bamboo/vegetation
• Sun hat and sunglasses
• Insect repellent
• Camera with a good zoom lens (monkeys move quickly)
• Small backpack with water and snacks
• Permit and passport

Packing List: Mount Bisoke Hike

• Sturdy waterproof hiking boots (broken in beforehand)
• Waterproof rain jacket and rain pants
• Layered clothing – base layer, fleece/warm mid-layer, and outer shell (it gets cold and windy at the summit)
• Gloves and a warm hat
• Trekking poles (recommended for the steep, sometimes muddy sections)
• Gaiters to keep mud and water out of boots
• 2–3 liters of water and high-energy snacks
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Waterproof backpack cover or dry bag for cameras/electronics
• Basic first-aid kit and any altitude-related medication if needed
• Cash for porter hire (highly recommended and supports the local community)

General Notes:

• Gorilla and golden monkey permits should be booked several months in advance, as availability is limited.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for entry into both Uganda and Rwanda.
• A valid East Africa Tourist Visa can cover both Uganda and Rwanda if travel dates align.
• Minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years in both countries.