15-Day Uganda & Rwanda Safari: Gorillas, Big Game & Volcanoes

Entebbe → Kigali | Primates, Big Game & Volcanoes

Trip Overview

Day 1 — Arrive Entebbe, Uganda

Land at Entebbe International Airport. Transfer to your hotel, relax by Lake Victoria, and recover from your flight. Optional sunset boat trip on the lake.

Stay: Boma Guesthouse or Karibu Guest House (midrange, garden setting near the airport)

Day 2 — Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park

Early departure, driving north (~5–6 hours) through the Ugandan countryside, possibly stopping at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a rhino-tracking walk en route. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive in Uganda’s largest national park.

Stay: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Twiga Safari Lodge (midrange, inside/near the park)

Day 3 — Murchison Falls National Park

Morning game drive on the park’s northern savanna (lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo). Afternoon boat cruise on the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls, where the entire river forces through a 7-meter gorge.

Stay: Pakuba Safari Lodge / Twiga Safari Lodge (same as Day 2)

Day 4 — Murchison Falls to Kibale Forest National Park

Long scenic drive south (~6–7 hours) through Hoima and Fort Portal to Kibale Forest, Uganda’s premier primate-trekking destination, home to 13 primate species including chimpanzees.

Stay: Primate Lodge Kibale or Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (midrange, forest-edge)

Day 5 — Kibale Forest to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Morning chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest. After lunch, drive (~2 hours) to Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its dramatic landscapes and the Kazinga Channel.

Stay: Bush Lodge or Enganzi Game Lodge (midrange, near Mweya/Kazinga area)

Day 6 — Queen Elizabeth National Park

Morning game drive on the Kasenyi plains (lions, elephants, hippos, Uganda kob). Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel — one of Africa’s best wildlife-viewing waterways, with huge hippo and buffalo concentrations and prolific birdlife.

Stay: Bush Lodge / Enganzi Game Lodge

Day 7 — Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Drive south via the Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions that rest in the branches of fig trees — a quick game drive here en route. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (~5–6 hours total), home to roughly half the world’s mountain gorillas.

Stay: Buhoma Lodge or Engagi Lodge (midrange, Buhoma sector)

Day 8 — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: Gorilla Trekking

The trip’s signature activity. Trek through dense rainforest, sometimes for several hours, to spend a magical hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family. Permit required (book well in advance).

Stay: Buhoma Lodge / Engagi Lodge

Day 9 — Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi

Short drive (~2–3 hours) to Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa’s most scenic lakes, dotted with 29 islands and surrounded by terraced hills. A relaxed day — canoeing, swimming (it’s bilharzia-free), or a nature walk.

Stay: Arcadia Cottages or Birdnest Resort (midrange, lakeside)

Day 10 — Lake Bunyonyi to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Drive to the Cyanika/Katuna border crossing and into Rwanda, continuing to Musanze (Ruhengeri), gateway to Volcanoes National Park and the Virunga volcano chain.

Stay: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (midrange, Musanze)

Day 11 — Volcanoes National Park: Gorilla Trekking

Trek the Virunga foothills to track a habituated mountain gorilla family — Rwanda’s trekking is generally shorter and the terrain gentler than Bwindi’s. An unforgettable second gorilla encounter, this time against a volcanic backdrop.

Stay: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Day 12 — Volcanoes National Park: Golden Monkeys & Culture

Morning golden monkey tracking — a livelier, easier trek to see these playful, endangered primates. Afternoon options: the Dian Fossey hike to her tomb and former research site, or the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for traditional dance, music, and local life.

Stay: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Day 13 — Volcanoes National Park to Lake Kivu

Drive (~1.5–2 hours) to Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, for a slower-paced day — swimming, kayaking, or simply relaxing along the shoreline at Gisenyi/Rubavu.

Stay: Paradis Malahide or Inzu Lodge (midrange, lakeside Gisenyi)

Day 14 — Lake Kivu to Kigali

Drive south to Kigali (~3 hours). Afternoon city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the vibrant Kimironko Market, and the leafy Kiyovu and Nyamirambo neighbourhoods.

Stay: Discover Rwanda Boutique Hotel or Ubumwe Grande Hotel (midrange, central Kigali)

Day 15 — Depart Kigali

Free morning for last-minute shopping (Inema Arts Center is worth a visit) before transferring to Kigali International Airport for departure.

Practical Notes

• Gorilla permits: Uganda permits run around $700 USD; Rwanda permits are significantly higher, around $1,500 USD. Book several months ahead, as availability is limited.
• Border crossing: Cyanika or Katuna/Gatuna are the standard Uganda–Rwanda land crossings; bring your passport and any required visas (East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda and Rwanda together, plus Kenya).
• Driving distances: Several days involve 4–7 hour drives on a mix of paved and unpaved roads — a 4×4 with an experienced driver-guide is strongly recommended. Internal flights (e.g., Entebbe–Kihihi) can shorten the trip if preferred.
• Health: Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry to both countries; antimalarials are recommended throughout.
• Best time to go: June–September and December–February (drier seasons) are ideal for trekking and game viewing.
• Packing: Sturdy hiking boots, gardening gloves, and long sleeves for gorilla/chimp trekking; warm layers for cool highland evenings at Bwindi and Volcanoes NP.

This itinerary balances Uganda’s “big game + primates” strengths with Rwanda’s more polished, efficient gorilla-trekking infrastructure, while keeping accommodations at a consistent midrange comfort level throughout.