7 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari

Pick up Entebbe/Kampala, drive west via Mityana and Fort Portal (approx. 5–6 hours). Afternoon Bigodi Wetland community walk — red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, hornbills and papyrus specialists.

Lodge check-in near Kibale National Park Kanyanchu headquarters. Evening briefing on tomorrow's chimpanzee trek.

07:00 briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre, then chimpanzee trek through Kibale's mature rainforest (Kanyanchu or Kalinzu alternative). Kibale hosts 1,500+ chimps — encounter probability is the highest in East Africa.

Safari activity | Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale

Track a habituated chimp community through mature rainforest with UWA rangers — one hour with the group once located, with excellent chances of loud pant-hoots and close-up social behaviour.

Once found, spend one hour observing grooming, feeding and social calls. Afternoon crater-lake viewpoint drive or rest at lodge before tomorrow's transfer to Queen Elizabeth.

Morning transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (approx. 2.5 hours) via Kasese, skirting the Rwenzori range. Check in near Mweya or Katwe with lunch at the lodge.

Safari activity | Kazinga Channel boat safari

Two-hour boat cruise on the channel linking Lakes George and Edward — dense hippo pods, elephant and buffalo on the banks, and outstanding birding including skimmers and kingfishers.

Afternoon 2-hour boat safari on the Kazinga Channel — hippos, buffalo, elephant, pied kingfishers and occasional leopard drinking at the shore. Evening game drive on Kasenyi plains optional.

Full-day exploration: dawn game drive on Kasenyi Plains — Queen Elizabeth's prime predator territory. Lion prides stalk Uganda kob at first light; leopard, spotted hyena, elephant and warthog are regular.

Safari activity | Ishasha tree-climbing lion tracking

Afternoon drive to Ishasha sector scanning fig trees for tree-climbing lions — a behaviour seen in only two places in Africa, before continuing toward Bwindi approach roads.

Afternoon Ishasha sector for tree-climbing lions if road conditions allow (2-hour transfer each way from Mweya). Packed lunch in the park. Overnight Queen Elizabeth or Buhoma approach lodge.

Drive south through the scenic Kigezi highlands — terraced hillsides known as the Switzerland of Africa — to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (4–5 hours from QENP). Lodge check-in on the forest edge.

Evening gorilla-trek briefing; porters can be arranged in advance. Tomorrow is permit day — pack rain gear, gloves and sturdy boots.

07:00 UWA gorilla trek with rangers and trackers — one hour with mountain gorillas on contact, then certificate ceremony and lodge lunch.

Safari activity | Mountain gorilla trekking & Cyanika border crossing

Morning gorilla trek in Bwindi, then afternoon transfer through Cyanika or Katuna border into Rwanda — your guide manages both immigration posts en route to Kigali.

After lunch, transfer to Cyanika or Katuna border and continue to Kigali (4–5 hours from Bwindi including border formalities). Optional evening city walk along the clean, hilltop streets.

Morning Kigali Genocide Memorial — a dignified, essential stop. Continue to craft markets and coffee lunch at a local roastery. Transfer to Kigali airport for departure.

Safari activity | Kigali cultural tour

Explore Rwanda's capital — memorial, Kimironko market crafts and single-origin coffee — a polished finish to the Pearl of Africa meets Land of a Thousand Hills circuit.

Alternatively extend to Volcanoes for a second gorilla trek (supplement). Airport drop-off for afternoon or evening flights.