10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari – Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys & Big Game

Join this meticulously planned 10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari with Silverback Gorilla Tour for the adventure of a lifetime. This cross-border itinerary combines the best of Uganda and Rwanda, delivering mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, golden monkey encounters in Volcanoes National Park, classic game drives, boat cruises, and rich cultural experiences.

Starting in Uganda and ending in Rwanda (or customisable), this 10-day East African wildlife safari takes you through Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Volcanoes National Park. It is one of the most efficient ways to experience the highlights of both the Pearl of Africa and the Land of a Thousand Hills.

Why Choose This 10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari?

This itinerary offers an outstanding balance of great-ape encounters and savannah wildlife. In Uganda you will track mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, encounter chimpanzees in the primate capital of Kibale Forest, search for the Big Five in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park, and enjoy the famous Kazinga Channel boat cruise.

Crossing into Rwanda, you will track the beautiful golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and enjoy a memorable Kigali city tour, including the Genocide Memorial. Cultural visits with the Batwa and local Rwandan communities add meaningful depth to the journey.

10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari – Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe & transfer to accommodation
• Day 2: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
• Day 3: Game drive & Nile boat cruise at Murchison Falls
• Day 4: Transfer to Kibale – Bigodi Wetland walk
• Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale & community experience
• Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Afternoon game drive
• Day 7: Morning game drive & transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha
• Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi – Cross border to Rwanda
• Day 9: Golden monkey trekking – Transfer to Kigali
• Day 10: Kigali city tour & departure

Detailed Itinerary of the 10 Days Uganda and Rwanda Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda

Your driving guide will be waiting for you at Entebbe International Airport to greet you with a smile and give you a rundown of Uganda. The next step is a transfer to your hotel, where you may rest for the night.Assuming there is time, you will go for a stroll around Lake Victoria’s shoreline at sunset.

Day 2: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa & Transfer to Murchison Falls

Transfer to Murchison Falls and Rhino Tracking at Ziwa on Day 2

Your journey to Ziwa Rhino Sactuary in northern Uganda will begin with an early breakfast, followed by a beautiful drive. You can only go here in Uganda if you want to go on foot to see the endangered white rhinos. Even before you step foot in a national park in Uganda, you can officially say that you’ve seen one of the Big Five on this rhino tracking adventure.

Murchison Falls National Park, the biggest national park in Uganda at 3,840 km2, is the next stop after that. Today, you will go on a short trek to the base of the falls, where the Nile River gushes out of a 7-meter chasm.

Day 3: Murchison Falls – Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise

In the northern sector of Murchison Fall National Park, set out on a game drive first thing in the morning. Elephants, giraffes, buffalo, Jackson’s hartebeest, and, if you’re lucky, leopards and lions will all be spotted here. Afternoon boat rides on the Victoria Nile are sure to be spectacular. Along the way, you may see crocodiles, hippos, and a variety of aquatic birds at the base of the breathtaking Murchison Falls.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest – Bigodi Wetland Walk

Approximately four hours of beautiful driving will take you through quaint Ugandan towns, plantations, and scenery.  Once you’ve checked into your prearranged lodge in Kibale National Park, take a guided walk through the Bigodi Swamp. Along the way, you might see over 200 different kinds of birds, as well as a variety of monkeys, including the black-and-white colobus, red colobus, and grey-cheeked mangabey.

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park

You will be taken to the Kanyanchu headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking after an early breakfast. Then, under the guidance of a park ranger who is both skilled and armed, you will embark on a trip through the tropical forest to find the habituated chimpanzee families. Spend a lovely hour watching them feed, play, and groom once you find them.  Spend the afternoon lounging about the lodge or, if you’d like, go for a late-night woodland stroll.

Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Afternoon Game Drive

Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park, the most visited savannah reserve in Uganda, first thing in the morning. The Kasenyi plains are home to lions, Uganda kobs, African elephants, and massive forest pigs; after lunch, go on a game drive across these famed plains.

Day 7: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha

The greatest time to watch wild animals grazing on the savannah plains is early in the morning, so after breakfast, go on a game drive.  Then, for something truly memorable, take a boat ride over the Kazinga Channel, home to some of the best birds and hippos in all of Africa. The next day, head south through the Ishasha sector in pursuit of the renowned tree-climbing lions, and then rise into the foggy slopes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park .

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – Cross to Rwanda

Here it is, the long-awaited day! Enter the ancient forest to hike one of the 19 habituated gorilla families after an early breakfast and orientation at the park headquarters. Depending on the weather and where the gorilla family is located in the bush, a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi might take anything from two to seven hours.

You have a lovely hour to watch these gentle giants as they go about their day once you discover them.Afterwards, get back to your lodgings to unwind. On the way to the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda, you’ll stop at the Cyanika or Katuna border in the late afternoon.

Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking – Transfer to Kigali

Early morning hike to observe the stunning golden monkeys, a species unique to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, who are both charming and quite active. If you’re looking for a simpler and quicker alternative to trekking gorillas in Rwanda, golden monkey tracking is a great choice.Embark on a picturesque 2.5-3 hour journey to the colorful capital of Rwanda, Kigali City, after the climb, lunch, and some downtime.

Day 10: Kigali City Tour & Departure

The highlight of this 10-day safari in Rwanda and Uganda is still going to be gorilla trekking. More gorilla families may be found in Uganda, where you can visit the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you can experience around 20 habituated gorilla groups. Gorilla trackers may get a more exciting experience with this.Gorilla hikes in Rwanda, on the other hand, tend to be less strenuous and shorter.

The price of a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is 1,500 USD, but in Uganda it is only 800 USD. Because of this, Uganda is a great place for anyone on a tight budget who nevertheless want to see amazing wildlife.