11 days · Uganda and Rwanda
11-day Uganda and Rwanda gorilla safari
Two countries, two gorilla treks and one chimpanzee trek on a single road route. You start in Uganda, cross the border by road and finish in Kigali.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Our driver-guide meets you at Entebbe airport and takes you to a lodge close to the airport, usually about 20 to 40 minutes away. Rest after your flight, then use the evening for a short briefing on the route, your permits and what to pack for the forest. If you land early, you can visit the Entebbe botanical gardens, where black-and-white colobus monkeys and many birds live along the lakeshore.
Day 2
Leave after breakfast and drive west through Mubende to the Fort Portal area, about five to six hours with a lunch stop. The road climbs through tea estates, banana groves and crater lakes. Reach your lodge near Kibale Forest in the late afternoon and settle in for dinner.
Day 3
Attend the ranger briefing at the park headquarters, then trek into the forest to find a chimpanzee community. You spend one hour with the animals once you reach them. In the afternoon you can walk the Bigodi wetland, a community-run trail with monkeys and many birds. Chimpanzees are active and noisy, so this is a lively contrast to the quiet of a gorilla visit.
Day 4
Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, about two to three hours depending on your route and stops. After lunch, take a late afternoon game drive across the Kasenyi plains for elephants, buffaloes, kob and sometimes lions. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in the park.
Day 5
Begin with the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, where hippos, buffaloes and water birds gather along the banks. Then drive south through the Ishasha sector, where lions are sometimes seen resting in fig trees, and continue to your lodge near Bwindi. Allow about four to five hours of driving in total, with stops.
Day 6
Eat an early breakfast, then attend the ranger briefing at the trailhead for your sector. The trek can last from about an hour to most of a day, because the rangers lead you to wherever your gorilla family slept. Once you find them, you stay for one hour at a distance of 10 metres. Return to the lodge for a late lunch and a long rest.
Day 7
After breakfast, drive south to the Uganda and Rwanda border. Our team arranges the paperwork steps with you, and you cross on foot with your luggage while the vehicle changes over. Continue to Musanze, close to Volcanoes National Park. Plan for about five to six hours in total, including time at the frontier. Your Rwandan driver-guide meets you on the other side.
Day 8
Gather at the park headquarters in Kinigi for the morning briefing and the assignment of your gorilla family. The walk crosses farmland, then a stone wall, then bamboo and montane forest on the volcano slopes. You spend one hour with the gorillas at a distance of 7 metres. Return to Musanze for lunch and a relaxed afternoon.
Day 9
Choose one extra activity today. Golden monkey tracking is a shorter and gentler outing among the bamboo. The Dian Fossey hike is a longer walk to the research site and grave of the primatologist. Tell us your preference when you request your quote, and we plan around it.
Day 10
Drive to Kigali, about two to two and a half hours. In the afternoon, visit one or two of the city's sights, such as the memorial museum and a craft market, with your guide. Spend the night in a Kigali hotel.
Day 11
Transfer to Kigali airport for your flight home, or extend the trip with Akagera National Park or a few days by Lake Kivu.
What is included
- Gorilla permits for your chosen dates in Uganda and Rwanda
- Chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale
- Lodging and meals as set out in your quote
- Private vehicle with driver-guide in both countries
- Border crossing support at the Uganda to Rwanda frontier
- Park briefings and ranger guides
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Bottled water on the road
Not included
- International flights
- Extra nights before or after the trip
- Travel insurance and visa fees
- Personal items and tips
Your quote lists every inclusion for your dates and group size.
How to book this trip
- Send your dates. Use the request form or WhatsApp.
- We check for you. Our office confirms your permit date with the park, normally within 24 hours.
- You receive one quote. Then we secure your permit and plan the rest.
Why the route runs from Uganda to Rwanda
This route moves from the biggest forest to the shortest road. Uganda comes first because most long-haul flights land at Entebbe, and Uganda has more to see on the way. Rwanda comes last because Kigali is a small, easy city to end in and a good place to catch an onward flight.
The order also helps your body. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale is a warm-up, with a shorter and flatter walk than most gorilla treks. By the time you reach Bwindi on day six, you have already walked forest trails on two days. That makes the longest walk of the trip feel more manageable.
For a wider view of how the two countries compare, read our guide to Uganda and Rwanda trekking side by side. For the thinking behind a two-country plan, see combining both treks in one trip.
The border day, step by step
Day seven is the one that needs the most care. You leave Bwindi after breakfast and drive towards the southern border, passing hill farms and the town of Kisoro. At the frontier, you complete exit formalities for Uganda and entry formalities for Rwanda. Then you meet your new driver-guide and continue to Musanze.
Bring your passport, your visa documents and a printed copy of your permits. Keep small amounts of local cash for incidental costs. Border queues can be short or long, so we plan a relaxed schedule with no tight deadlines on that day.
Our guide to the Katuna and Cyanika crossings describes what officers usually ask. Entry rules change, so confirm yours on the official sites, such as the Uganda immigration service and the Rwanda migration service. For one visa that covers both countries, read about the East Africa Tourist Visa.
Who this route suits
This trip suits travellers who want both gorilla experiences and have at least ten days. It works well for couples, friends and small families with teenagers who meet the age rule. It also suits repeat visitors who have trekked once and want to see how the other country differs.
It is a good fit if you enjoy a mix of forest and savannah. The Queen Elizabeth days give you game drives and a boat cruise as a break from walking. If you prefer a quieter pace, ask us to add an extra night in one place, and we adjust the route.
It is less suited to travellers who dislike long drives. Days two, five and seven each include a few hours on the road. The scenery helps, and the stops break up each leg, but you should expect to spend time in the vehicle.
Months that work for this route
Gorilla trekking runs all year, so you can choose by weather and crowds. The drier months, usually December to February and June to September, give firmer trails and clearer views. The wetter months bring greener forest and quieter trails, and they can make steep sections muddy.
Because the route crosses two countries, it is worth planning around your permits first. Permits for both gorilla treks are tied to specific days. When you send us your dates, we ask the parks to confirm them before we build the rest of the plan.
Our month-by-month guide explains what each part of the year feels like. If you are travelling in the wetter months, read about trekking in the rainy season as well.
Preparing your body and your bag
You walk on uneven, sometimes steep ground, at altitude, on at least three trek days. A few weeks of regular walking before you travel makes a real difference. Hills, stairs and a loaded daypack are the best practice.
Pack light, waterproof layers, sturdy boots, gloves for gripping vegetation and a hat. Our packing guide lists everything. If you are worried about the walk, read how hard the treks really are in our difficulty guide, and ask us about porters, who carry your bag and steady you on steep sections.
See a travel clinic or your doctor several weeks before you fly. Our vaccine guide and travel documents page explain what to check.
Two permits, one team
Each gorilla trek needs a permit issued by the national park authority of that country. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues Uganda permits. The Rwanda Development Board issues Rwanda permits. Our team handles both, so you deal with one office from first message to departure.
Permits are limited and tied to dates. That is why we confirm them with the parks before we confirm lodges and drivers. You never need to contact the parks yourself. Read how the process works in our permit booking guide.
Plans sometimes change, so ask about our rescheduling approach early. Our rescheduling guide explains what to expect, and good travel insurance covers many of the risks that remain.
Ways to shorten or stretch the trip
If eleven days is too long, we can build a shorter version. A gorilla-only route could drop Kibale and Queen Elizabeth and run for around seven days. Our 5-day Uganda gorilla safari and our fly-in option show how compact a trip can be.
If you want more time, add a night at each forest, an extra day in Queen Elizabeth for the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, or a few days in Akagera National Park after Kigali. You can also add Lake Bunyonyi as a restful stop before the border. Tell us your dates and your interests, and we shape the route to fit.
Ready to start? Use the request form or send us a WhatsApp message with your dates, and a named member of our team will reply.
Frequently asked questions
Why does this route start in Uganda and end in Rwanda?
Entebbe is the main arrival airport for Uganda, and Kigali has good onward flights. Running the trip in this direction avoids a long return drive and keeps the border day in the middle, when you have already rested.
Can I cross the border by road with my luggage?
Yes. Travellers usually cross on foot with their bags while the vehicle changes over. Entry rules differ by nationality, so confirm yours on the official immigration sites. Our team talks you through each step.
Do I need a separate visa for each country?
Many travellers use the single East Africa Tourist Visa, but your eligibility depends on your passport. Read our visa guide and confirm on the official sites before you buy.
Can I skip the chimpanzee trek?
Yes. You can replace Kibale with a longer stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park, or shorten the trip to a gorilla-only route. We adapt the days to your plan.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 in both countries. For chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, the rule is 12. We confirm the current rules when we prepare your quote.
Is the gorilla permit included?
Yes. We buy your permit for your chosen date once we have confirmed it with the park.
Can the dates and lodges be changed?
Yes. Every trip is a starting point, and we adapt it to your dates, group and comfort level.
Ready to trek? Ask for your quote.
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