Highlights
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, home to one of Africa's highest primate densities
- A boat trip on the Kazinga Channel and a chance at Ishasha's tree-climbing lions
- Two gorilla treks in two countries, in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park
- A cultural finish in Kigali, with the memorial and some of East Africa's best coffee
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe
Your driver meets you at Entebbe International Airport and takes you to a lakeside hotel. Entebbe is a quiet, green town on Lake Victoria’s shore, and it’s easier for a first night than Kampala. Our Kampala guide explains the difference.
Day 2: Entebbe to Kibale
A long drive west, about five to six hours, via Fort Portal. The road passes tea estates and crater lakes. Arrive at your lodge near Kibale National Park by late afternoon.
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking
Start early with a briefing at the park office. Guides lead groups into the forest to find a habituated chimp community, and you spend an hour with the animals once you find them. Sightings are rarely guaranteed but are very good. In the afternoon, walk the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for monkeys, birds and, with luck, a sitatunga.
Day 4: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth
Drive south to Kasese and Queen Elizabeth National Park, about two to three hours. In the afternoon, take a boat on the Kazinga Channel, where hippos, buffalo and elephants come to the water and bird life is dense.
Day 5: Ishasha and Bwindi
Drive through the southern Ishasha sector, where lions sometimes rest in fig trees. Continue to Bwindi, a further two to three hours on winding roads, and settle into your lodge in the forest.
Day 6: Gorilla trek in Bwindi
Your permit assigns you to a family in a specific sector. After a briefing, you follow trackers on a hike that can take from an hour to half a day. Once you reach the group, you get up to an hour with them. Rest in the afternoon, or visit a Batwa cultural trail.
Day 7: Bwindi to Musanze, Rwanda
Drive to Kisoro, then to the Cyanika border crossing, a journey of about three to four hours including formalities. You’ll change vehicles and drive on to Musanze and your lodge near Volcanoes National Park. The scenery around the border is spectacular, with several volcanoes in view.
Day 8: Gorilla trek in Rwanda
Trek in Volcanoes National Park. The terrain is steeper and higher, at about 2,500 to 3,000 m, and often muddy. Some travellers swap this day for a golden monkey trek or the Dian Fossey hike, which costs much less. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 9: Musanze to Kigali
Drive back to Kigali, about two to two and a half hours. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial in the afternoon, then have dinner in the city. See the Kigali guide for more.
Day 10: Depart Kigali
Transfer to the airport for your flight. Leave at least three hours before departure.
What’s included and what isn’t
Included: accommodation, meals, permits (gorilla, chimp), park fees, a 4x4 and driver-guide in each country, and boat trips as described. Excluded: international flights, visas, tips, travel insurance and drinks. Both countries require yellow fever vaccination certificates for some travellers, so check your route.
Making it yours
To shorten the trip, fly from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro and skip the drive. For a different mix, see the seven-day Uganda itinerary or the four-day Rwanda trip. Not sure which country suits you? Read Uganda vs Rwanda gorilla trekking.
Parks on this route
Kibale National Park
The world's best-known place to see wild chimpanzees, with 12 other primate species in the same forest.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda's most varied park: a boat trip among hippos, tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and chimps in a gorge.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Home to nearly half the world's mountain gorillas, in ancient forest on steep green hills.
Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda's gorilla park, just two hours from Kigali, with twelve habituated families and five volcanoes.
Request this trip
Pricing: Quoted per person or group. The two gorilla permits alone cost US$800 in Uganda and US$1,500 in Rwanda as of September 2026, plus roughly US$250 to US$300 for chimps at Kibale. Expect about US$5,500 to US$9,000 per person on the ground, depending on lodges and vehicle.
Questions about this trip
Do I need two visas for Uganda and Rwanda?
Not necessarily. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda and costs US$100, and it must be applied for through the country you enter first. Otherwise you'd buy a separate visa for each country. Check the current rules for your nationality before you book. Our visa guide explains the options.
Is it worth doing two gorilla treks?
Many people say yes, because the two forests feel different and each family behaves differently. Others prefer one gorilla trek and a golden monkey trek or the Dian Fossey hike in Rwanda, which saves US$700 or more. Ask your operator to price both options.
How does the border crossing work?
Most travellers cross at Cyanika, between Kisoro in Uganda and Musanze in Rwanda. You clear immigration on each side, and the operator typically swaps to a Rwandan vehicle and driver at the border. Keep your yellow fever certificate and passports handy, and check that your vehicle arrangements are confirmed in writing.
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Last updated 20 September 2026. Itineraries are starting points. Routes, lodges and prices are adjusted to your dates, group size and budget. Rift & Reef quotes are valid for the dates stated on the quote.