Not every Uganda-Rwanda trip needs two separate gorilla treks. This itinerary is built for travelers who want the fullest possible taste of Uganda’s wildlife and primates — including a single, unhurried gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park — before finishing with a couple of easier, more reflective days across the border in Rwanda, without a second costly permit or a second demanding trek.

The trip opens with Uganda’s classic wildlife circuit: game drives and a boat cruise on the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, and game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, including a stop at Ishasha in search of the sector’s famous tree-climbing lions. The safari then arrives at its primate highlight in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park — the only gorilla trek on this itinerary — before crossing the border into Rwanda for a final couple of days built around Kigali: a city tour, the Genocide Memorial, and time to reflect on the trip before flying home.

It’s an efficient way to see far more of Uganda’s flagship parks than a gorillas-only trip allows, while still getting a taste of Rwanda, without the expense and physical demand of trekking gorillas twice. If you’d like a second gorilla trek in Rwanda as well, our 5-Day Uganda Rwanda Double Gorilla Safari covers that; if you’d rather add more depth to the Rwanda side of the trip, our 10-Days Fantastic Tour in Rwanda & Uganda takes a different route through both countries. Or get in touch and we’ll tailor the pace, dates, or accommodation level to suit you.

Trip Highlights

• Sunrise game drive and a Nile boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls
• Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, the “primate capital of the world”
• Game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• A search for the famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector
• A single, unhurried morning of mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• A cross-border transfer into Rwanda via Cyanika
• A Kigali city tour, including the Genocide Memorial and local markets

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Your Kenlink Tours guide will meet you on arrival, assist with all arrival formalities, and transfer you to your hotel to rest and settle in ahead of the safari. Overnight: Entebbe

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Drive north to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest protected area, arriving in the evening in time to relax at your lodge overlooking the Nile. Overnight: Murchison Falls

Day 3: Game Drive & Boat Cruise, Murchison Falls National Park

An early game drive along the northern bank of the Nile offers good chances of elephant, lion, Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, and hartebeest. After lunch, take a boat cruise upstream to the base of the falls, where the entire Nile is forced through a narrow gorge in a thunderous, rainbow-lit spray, with hippo, crocodile, and abundant birdlife along the way. Overnight: Murchison Falls

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Drive south via Hoima and Fort Portal, through rolling countryside and tea plantations, arriving at Kibale Forest in the late afternoon. Overnight: Kibale

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Walk

Set off into the forest with experienced guides in search of Kibale’s chimpanzees, Uganda’s largest population of this endangered ape. In the afternoon, take a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, known for its birdlife, primates, and bush babies. Overnight: Kibale

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, with an evening game drive or Kazinga Channel boat cruise depending on your arrival time. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth NP

Day 7: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

A morning game drive through the Kasenyi plains, with the Rwenzori Mountains rising in the distance, offers good chances of lion, elephant, buffalo, and Uganda kob. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, home to one of Africa’s densest hippo populations. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth NP

Day 8: Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions & Transfer to Bwindi

Head to the Ishasha sector for a game drive in search of the region’s famous tree-climbing lions, before continuing on to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the terraced Kigezi Highlands. Overnight: Bwindi

Day 9: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience

The primate highlight of this safari — and the only gorilla trek on the itinerary. After a briefing at park headquarters, trek into the forest with experienced rangers in search of a habituated gorilla family. Once located, you’ll spend a full hour in their presence, an experience most travelers describe as one of the most moving of their lives. Overnight: Bwindi

Day 10: Cross into Rwanda & Kigali City Tour

After breakfast, cross the Cyanika border into Rwanda and continue to Kigali. On arrival, enjoy a city tour, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local markets, and craft centers, before your transfer to the airport for your onward flight — the end of a 10-day journey spanning Uganda’s flagship parks, a single unforgettable gorilla trek, and a reflective final stretch in Rwanda’s capital.

What’s Included

• Gorilla trekking permit, Uganda (one per person, non-resident rate)
• All park entrance fees
• All listed activities (unless marked optional)
• All accommodation
• Professional English-speaking driver/guide
• All ground transportation
• Cyanika border crossing assistance
• All applicable taxes/VAT
• Meals and drinks as specified in the day-by-day itinerary

Not Included

• International flights
• Tips (guideline: US$10 per person per day)
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Optional activities such as an Entebbe or Kampala city tour on Day 1
• Meals not specified in the day-by-day itinerary

Good to Know

Gorilla permits: Uganda’s gorilla trekking permit currently costs USD 800 per person and is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Permits are limited daily and should be secured well ahead of your travel dates — we handle this as part of your booking.

Visas for a combined trip: Since this itinerary crosses both countries, we generally recommend the East African Tourist Visa, valid for Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. Uganda’s visa can also be applied for individually through the Uganda e-Visa portal, and Rwanda’s through the Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration.

Best time to go: This trip can be done year-round, but the driest months (December–February and June–August) are best for gorilla trekking and general game viewing.

Fitness level: Game drives and boat cruises are easy and suitable for all fitness levels. Gorilla trekking involves uneven, sometimes steep and muddy forest terrain, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.

Entry requirements: Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into both Uganda and Rwanda.

Related Tours You May Also Like

• 5-Day Uganda Rwanda Double Gorilla Safari — for a second gorilla trek in Rwanda as well
• 10-Days Fantastic Tour in Rwanda & Uganda – Safari in East Africa
• 7-Day Wildlife, Gorillas and Chimpanzees Safari
• 3 Days Chimpanzee Tracking Safari
• 3 Days Wildlife Encounter to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari
• Rwanda Safaris

Useful External Resources

• Uganda Wildlife Authority — official body managing Uganda’s national parks and gorilla trekking permits
• Rwanda Development Board — official Rwanda tourism authority
• Uganda e-Visa & Immigration Portal — for Uganda visa applications
• Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration — for Rwanda visa applications

Ready to book, or want us to tailor the pace, dates, or accommodation level? Request a quote and our team — Africa safari experts since 2010 — will build your 10-day Uganda-Rwanda safari around you.