14-Day Uganda & Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Safari

Welcome to Uganda.

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet your driver guide and transfer to your hotel.

The remainder of the day is at leisure, allowing you time to rest after your international flight and prepare for the journey ahead.

Depending on your arrival time, optional activities in Entebbe can be arranged separately, or you can simply relax at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, leave Entebbe and travel north towards Murchison Falls National Park.

The journey takes you through Uganda’s countryside, passing farmland, towns and rural communities along the route. Lunch will be arranged during the transfer.

As you approach the park, the scenery changes to savannah and woodland, with the possibility of seeing wildlife after entering the protected area.

Arrive at your lodge later in the day and spend the evening relaxing.

The source itinerary describes Murchison Falls as Uganda’s largest and most dramatic park and references the Nile passing through a narrow gorge. 

Begin the day with an early morning game drive through Murchison Falls National Park.

Explore the savannah with your driver-guide, looking for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, hartebeests and other wildlife. Lions may also be encountered, depending on the day’s sightings.

Return for lunch and some time to rest.

In the afternoon, head to the Nile for a boat safari towards the base of Murchison Falls.

Watch the riverbanks for hippos, Nile crocodiles and waterbirds. Elephants, buffaloes and other animals may also be seen close to the water.

As the boat approaches the falls, enjoy views towards the point where the Nile narrows before passing through the rocky gorge.

Return to your lodge after the cruise.

After breakfast, leave Murchison Falls and begin the long journey southwest towards the Kibale region.

Travel through western Uganda with stops for lunch, refreshments and comfort breaks along the way.

As you approach Fort Portal and Kibale, the landscape becomes greener, with tea growing areas, farmland and forested scenery.

Arrive later in the day and check in at your lodge.

Spend the evening at leisure in preparation for the following morning’s chimpanzee trek.

After an early breakfast, transfer to the designated chimpanzee tracking briefing point.

Meet your ranger guides and receive an introduction to the tracking procedures before entering Kibale’s tropical forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community.

Listen for chimpanzee calls and watch for movement through the canopy as your guides follow signs of the group’s location.

Once the chimpanzees are located, observe their behaviour during the regulated viewing period while following your ranger’s instructions.

Other primates, birds and forest wildlife may also be encountered during the walk.

Later in the day, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided walk. The community run conservation area offers opportunities to see birds, monkeys and wetland vegetation while learning more about local conservation initiatives.

Return to your lodge afterwards.

After breakfast, leave Kibale and travel south towards Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The route takes you through western Uganda’s varied countryside, with views of crater lake and highland landscapes depending on weather and routing.

Arrive around midday and stop for lunch before heading to the Kazinga Channel for an afternoon boat safari.

The natural channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and provides excellent opportunities to observe wildlife around the water.

Look for hippos, Nile crocodiles and numerous waterbirds. Elephants, buffaloes and other animals may also be seen along the shoreline.

Return to your lodge afterwards.

Begin early with a morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains and surrounding wildlife areas.

Search for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and other savannah species while your guide also looks for predators such as lions and, with some luck, leopards.

Return to your lodge after the game drive.

The afternoon is intentionally flexible. You may relax at the lodge or arrange an optional community, nature or crater lake experience depending on your interests and the available programme.

After breakfast, travel south towards the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Explore the area with your driver guide while searching for the tree climbing lions for which Ishasha is particularly known. They may sometimes be found resting in large trees, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Other wildlife may include elephants, buffaloes, and additional savannah species.

Continue towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where the landscape changes from open savannah to increasingly hilly and forested terrain.

Arrive later in the day and check in at your lodge.

After an early breakfast, transfer to your designated gorilla trekking briefing point.

Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers will explain the trekking procedures, safety guidelines and appropriate behaviour around the gorillas before you enter the forest.

Accompanied by ranger guides and trackers, begin the trek in search of your assigned habituated mountain gorilla family.

The duration and difficulty vary according to the gorillas’ location, weather and forest conditions.

Once the gorillas are located, observe the family for the regulated viewing period while following your ranger’s instructions.

Return to the lodge after completing the trek and spend the remainder of the day resting.

After breakfast, leave Bwindi and travel towards the Rwanda border.

Complete the necessary immigration formalities before continuing towards Musanze and Volcanoes National Park.

Arrive later in the day and check in at your lodge.

Depending on timing and confirmed arrangements, take part in a guided cultural experience with local community hosts. The experience can introduce travellers to aspects of Rwandan cultural traditions, music, dance and community history.

Return to your lodge afterwards.

After an early breakfast, transfer to the designated briefing point for golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park.

Meet your ranger guides before entering the forest in search of a habituated golden monkey group.

Follow your guides through bamboo rich habitat and observe the monkeys during the permitted viewing period once they are located.

After completing the activity, return for lunch before beginning the transfer towards Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda.

This is a substantial cross country transfer day, so arrival time will depend on traffic, road conditions and activity finish time.

Check in at your lodge on arrival and spend the evening at leisure.

Begin the day with a game drive through Akagera National Park.

Explore its mix of savannah, woodland and wetland habitats while searching for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, antelopes and predators. Rhinos may also be encountered, depending on wildlife movements and the areas visited.

Return for lunch and some time to rest.

In the afternoon, take a boat safari on Lake Ihema.

Look for hippos, crocodiles, waterbirds and other wildlife around the lake and shoreline.

Return to your lodge afterwards.

After breakfast, leave Akagera and travel towards Kigali.

On arrival, begin a guided city tour focusing on selected historical, cultural and contemporary sites.

After the tour, check in at your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Kigali International Airport according to your flight schedule.

Your Uganda, Rwanda safari ends on arrival at the airport.