Opening
This 15-day private Rwanda and Uganda safari begins in Kigali and ends in Entebbe. After exploring Akagera National Park and Lake Kivu, you cross into Uganda for gorilla trekking in Bwindi, golden monkeys in Mgahinga, chimpanzees in Kibale and wildlife experiences in Lake Mburo and Murchison Falls National Parks.
This 15 day Uganda safari gives you a practical route through Uganda after three nights in Rwanda. It suits travellers who want both countries in one trip and have time for the long western and northern Uganda circuit.
It suits travellers who want both countries in one trip and have time for the long western and northern Uganda circuit: gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, game drives, boat safaris and wetland birding.
Because it runs from Kigali to Entebbe, it pairs naturally with a Rwanda arrival and a Uganda departure: fly into Kigali, the shorter approach to the Bwindi gorilla sectors, and home from Entebbe.
Who This 15-Day Safari Suits
This is a long itinerary with several full travel days, not a relaxed safari. Uganda is bigger than the map suggests, and the western and northern circuits involve significant road travel.
You need a reasonable level of general fitness. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi involves hours of walking on uneven forest slopes, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale means moving through forest at the pace of the chimps, and non-trekking days still involve walks on rough ground.
Fifteen days is a big commitment of time and budget. The length is justified by two countries, several protected areas, three primate experiences and Uganda’s distances. This shape fits if you want the full circuit, not a short gorilla visit.
About This Itinerary
This is a private, tailor-made itinerary, not a fixed group departure, and a mixed upper-mid-range and luxury private safari, subject to verification of the selected lodges. Individual nights vary in category, and we confirm the category per property in your quotation. The days below show the shape of the trip; the pace, accommodation and activity mix can be adjusted around your dates, fitness and interests.
This is a Rwanda and Uganda safari: three nights are spent in Rwanda, and eleven nights in Uganda. The named destinations and their order are the structure: Akagera, Lake Kivu, Bwindi, Mgahinga, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo, Kibale, Murchison Falls and Entebbe. What sits inside each day can change: a second gorilla trek, a longer boat safari or a domestic flight over a long road leg.
Read more about how we build custom Uganda safaris and what changes in practice.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
The properties named below are the lodges we normally use on this route. Where one is unavailable for your dates, we substitute a property of the same standard, and the final accommodation list for your trip is confirmed in your booking quotation.
Day 1 — Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Akagera
You land at Kigali International Airport, where your driver-guide meets you. What day one includes depends on your flight: if you land in the morning, the city tour and the Kigali Genocide Memorial fit in before the drive east to Akagera; if you land in the afternoon or evening, the city visit and the Genocide Memorial are dropped, and you transfer to Akagera directly. We advise on the day based on your confirmed flight times.
Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge, or a comparable property of the same standard — a comfortable lodge in Akagera National Park, positioned for the early game drive the next morning.
Day 2 — Akagera Game Drives and Lake Ihema Boat Safari
Akagera is Rwanda’s only savannah park. The morning game drive follows the lake-edge tracks where elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras and, since recent reintroductions, lions and rhinos are found. After lunch, the boat safari on Lake Ihema puts you at water level with hippos, crocodiles and many waterbirds. Carry a light rain layer.
Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge, or a comparable property of the same standard — keeping you close to the Akagera game-drive network for a second morning.
Day 3 — Lake Kivu, Karongi: Coffee, a Fishing Village and a Sunset Cruise
Today is a long cross-country drive from Akagera to Lake Kivu–Karongi, on the shore of Lake Kivu and ringed by steep green hills; the drive takes most of the day. The afternoon activities in Karongi depend on your arrival time: a boat onto the water, a visit to a coffee washing station to see how Rwandan coffee is processed, and a stop at a fishing village. If only one fits, the sunset cruise is the priority.
Accommodation: Cormoran Lodge, or a comparable property of the same standard — a lakeside hotel at Lake Kivu–Karongi, positioned for the boat cruise and the lakeshore.
Day 4 — Into Uganda and on to Bwindi (Nkuringo Sector)
You cross the Rwanda–Uganda border in the morning; your driver-guide manages the formalities, so keep your passport and documentation to hand. The road then climbs through the Kigezi highlands to Nkuringo. In the afternoon the Kahurire Trail, a guided forest-edge walk, previews the terrain before trekking day.
Accommodation: Orugano Bwindi Lodge, subject to availability and confirmation of the appropriate trekking sector. Guests stay in private ensuite cottages, with full-board meals and packed trekking lunches. Orugano Safaris and Orugano Bwindi Lodge are under common ownership, which means accommodation, permits, transfers and trekking logistics can be coordinated directly by one team.
Day 5 — Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi (Nkuringo Sector)
Breakfast is early, then the briefing at the Nkuringo trekking point, approximately a 10–15 minute walk from the lodge. Rangers allocate you to one of the four Nkuringo gorilla families and the trek follows the trackers until the family is located. You spend one hour with the gorillas, then walk back. Sightings are never guaranteed; the team works from fresh nest sites each morning. More on Orugano Bwindi Lodge.
Accommodation: Orugano Bwindi Lodge, in the Nkuringo sector. Private ensuite cottages, meals as specified in the itinerary and packed trekking lunches.
Day 6 — Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga
You travel to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a separate park from the Bwindi trekking sector, so transfer times need confirming when we build your itinerary. The golden monkey trek moves through bamboo forest, the monkeys’ preferred habitat, and the troops are quick, so keep your camera ready. The park sits at altitude, so take the morning steadily. The community visit, often with a Batwa component, runs if the trek finishes in good time.
Accommodation: Orugano Bwindi Lodge, keeping the same base for both trekking days. Private ensuite cottages, meals as specified in the itinerary and packed lunches.
Day 7 — Lake Bunyonyi
You leave the Nkuringo highlands and travel to Lake Bunyonyi, a long, deep lake scattered with small islands and ringed by terraced hills. The day is unscheduled: take a boat, walk between the terraces, or swim, subject to current local health and safety advice, which we confirm locally. Use it as a rest day.
Accommodation: Arcadia Cottages, or a comparable property of the same standard — a lakeside lodge on Lake Bunyonyi, positioned on the shore for the boat excursion and the calm water.
Day 8 — Lake Mburo National Park, Evening Game Drive
You continue north-east to Lake Mburo National Park, the closest park to Kampala and a compact savannah of acacia woodland, lakes and papyrus swamps. You arrive in time for an evening game drive, when zebra, impala, eland and buffalo are most active. The park is small enough to cover thoroughly in an evening and a morning.
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge, or a comparable property of the same standard — a safari lodge in or near Lake Mburo National Park, positioned for the evening game drive and the next morning’s walk.
Day 9 — Morning Nature Walk and Transfer to Kibale
The morning starts with a guided nature walk in Lake Mburo, one of the few Ugandan parks where walking is permitted: on foot among zebras and giraffes with an armed ranger. The walk is kept short and the departure is early, because the drive west to Kibale National Park is long and the next morning’s chimpanzee briefing is fixed.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge Kibale, or a comparable property of the same standard — a lodge with ensuite accommodation inside Kibale National Park, positioned for the scheduled chimpanzee tracking activity.
Day 10 — Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
In Kibale National Park, home to one of the highest primate densities in Africa, chimpanzee tracking starts with a morning briefing, then follows the trails at the pace of the troop; the chimps are heard long before they are seen. Sightings are never guaranteed, though Kibale’s habituated troops are among the most reliable to find. In the afternoon, walk the Bigodi boardwalk with a community guide, watching for turacos, hornbills and red colobus.
Accommodation: Primate Lodge Kibale, or a comparable property of the same standard — keeping you close to the Kibale park gate for the second activity day.
Day 11 — Transfer to Murchison Falls, Late Afternoon Game Drive
Today is the longest travel day of the safari, heading north-west from Kibale to Murchison Falls National Park. The road climbs out of the forest belt, crosses the Rift Valley escarpment and drops towards the Nile delta; this transfer can consume most of the day. If it runs late, the late afternoon game drive on the northern bank moves to the following morning instead, so it is not presented as a given.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge, or a comparable property of the same standard — an upper-mid-range lodge in or near the park, selected for practical access to game drives and the Nile boat cruise.
Day 12 — Murchison Falls: Game Drive, Nile Boat Cruise and Top of the Falls
The full day belongs to Murchison Falls National Park. A morning game drive covers the Buligi tracks on the northern bank. In the afternoon the boat cruise runs up the Victoria Nile to the base of the falls, past hippos, crocodiles, elephants and dense concentrations of waterbirds. Depending on current operating arrangements, it may be possible to continue to the Top of the Falls viewpoint, where the Nile is forced through a gap less than eight metres wide. Access and the arrangement with the boat operator are confirmed at the time of booking.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge, or a comparable property of the same standard — keeping you positioned for the boat cruise and the second morning’s drive.
Day 13 — Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Transfer to Entebbe
You leave Murchison Falls and head south towards Entebbe. En route you stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, an established destination for guided rhino tracking on foot with a ranger. You continue to Entebbe for your final two nights, arriving in the evening.
Accommodation: The Boma Entebbe, or a comparable property of the same standard — a guesthouse-style hotel in Entebbe, positioned for the Mabamba excursion and the airport.
Day 14 — Mabamba Swamp Canoe Excursion
You leave early for Mabamba Swamp on the shore of Lake Victoria, one of the most reliable places in Uganda to look for the shoebill. You take a canoe through the papyrus channels with a community wetland guide, scanning the marshes quietly. Mabamba is also excellent for lesser jacanas, pygmy geese, papyrus gonolek and many other wetland birds. The afternoon is free for rest or craft shopping.
Accommodation: The Boma Entebbe, or a comparable property of the same standard — positioned for the final morning and the airport.
Day 15 — Departure from Entebbe
After a final breakfast you are transferred to Entebbe International Airport in good time for your flight. If you fly out in the evening, the hotel can store your luggage and the day can be used for a final excursion.
Accommodation: Not applicable, departure day.
Gorilla Permits and Trekking Sectors
The Uganda gorilla permit costs US$800 per person at the standard foreign non-resident rate. Tariffs can change, and current prices are confirmed when we quote. A permit is issued for a specific date and trekking sector, which is why the lodge must match the permit: Nkuringo has four gorilla families, and permits are allocated among them.
Our approach is permit-first planning: we check permit availability for your date and preferred sector first, agree the sector second, then build accommodation and transport around it. Changes are not automatic; they depend on Uganda Wildlife Authority rules and availability.
The lodge also sits approximately 40 minutes by road from the Rushaga briefing area, so a Rushaga-sector permit can be operated from the same base. The gorilla habituation experience is a separate product at a higher rate, in the Nyabaremura area at Rubuguli between Rushaga and Nkuringo. It is not part of this itinerary, but can be added as an optional extension.
Golden monkey tracking at Mgahinga and chimpanzee tracking at Kibale require their own lower-cost permits, confirmed when we quote. Read more in our guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda and our comparison of where to stay in Bwindi.
Visas, Crossing the Border and Payments
The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda in a single visa. It does not cover Tanzania, and the country that issues it must be your first point of entry. Because this itinerary starts in Rwanda and ends in Uganda, most travellers obtain the East Africa Tourist Visa with Rwanda as the issuing country, provided they arrive in Kigali. Rules do change, so confirm current requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Crossing from Rwanda into Uganda at the Cyanika border involves passport checks on both sides, and the process takes time. Have your passport and documentation to hand. Your driver-guide manages the formalities and stays with you through the crossing.
Clients in the United States can pay by ACH or wire transfer to our US business account; we confirm payment details directly once the quotation is agreed.
What This Safari Costs
This is a 15-day private safari across two countries, and the cost depends on your dates, group size, accommodation category and how much of the route is driven rather than flown. We prepare a personalised quotation for your dates rather than publishing a package rate.
The cost reflects what the trip contains: the Bwindi gorilla permit at the standard foreign non-resident rate; golden monkey and chimpanzee permits; national park entrance fees across Akagera, Bwindi, Mgahinga, Lake Mburo, Kibale and Murchison Falls; fourteen nights of accommodation with meals as specified in the itinerary; a private vehicle and driver-guide for the full 15 days; and the long distances involved.
The main factors that move the cost are permit dates and season, lodge or accommodation category, whether any leg is flown instead of driven, and group size. The price per person reduces as the group grows because vehicle and guide costs are shared. We confirm the full cost breakdown in your quotation.
What Is Included
- All park entrance fees.
- Gorilla permits as specified.
- Golden monkey and chimpanzee permits as specified.
- All activities listed in the itinerary.
- A professional English-speaking driver-guide.
- All accommodation as listed.
- Ground transport, including airport transfers.
- Meals as specified.
- Drinking water in the vehicle on all days.
What Is Not Included
- International flights.
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Personal items, including souvenirs, travel insurance and visa fees.
- Meals not specified.
- Any activity listed as optional.
Rates are based on shared double or twin rooms. Solo travellers should ask about single occupancy and any single supplement. Room-sharing arrangements and the final accommodation category are specified in the individual quotation.
Accommodation: This safari uses comfortable, well-located lodges selected according to the travel dates, itinerary and agreed accommodation category. Named properties are indicative unless specifically confirmed in the booking quotation. Any alternatives will be of a comparable agreed standard, and final accommodation details are provided before booking confirmation.
Practical Notes Before You Book
- Fitness. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale demand hours of walking on uneven ground, with daily walks on rough paths and forest trails. A reasonable level of general fitness is enough.
- Packing for trekking. Bring sturdy walking boots, long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, a light rain jacket, gloves for nettles and a small daypack. Drinking water is provided.
- Altitude. Bwindi and Mgahinga sit at elevation, with trekking starting points above 1,900 metres. Take the first days steadily.
- Early mornings. Trek days start with early breakfasts and morning briefings, so expect dawn starts on the gorilla, golden monkey and chimpanzee days.
- Road travel. The middle section involves significant road travel between parks on mixed roads. There are full travel days.
- Accommodation timing. Accommodation is booked only after your gorilla permit date and trekking sector are confirmed, because the lodge has to match the sector. Named properties are indicative until confirmed in your quotation.
- Support while travelling. Booked guests have a 24-hour emergency contact while travelling, so any issue on the road or with a permit is handled by a person.
- Mobility. If you have any mobility concerns, tell us in advance so the itinerary can be adjusted; sectors, trail choices and activity levels can be adapted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a private safari or a group departure?
It is a private, tailor-made safari. There is no fixed group or departure date; the itinerary is built around your dates and party.
Can the itinerary be shortened or extended?
Yes. Because it is tailor-made, the route can be trimmed or extended: some travellers drop the Akagera start and fly into Entebbe instead, others add a second gorilla trek.
Do I need both a Uganda and a Rwanda visa?
Most travellers use the East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda in one visa. It does not cover Tanzania, and the issuing country must be your first point of entry. Confirm current requirements before you travel.
Where do I trek gorillas on this safari?
In Bwindi, Nkuringo sector. Once a habituated family is located you spend one hour with the gorillas. Sightings are never guaranteed, though the tracking team works from fresh information every morning.
Is 15 days too long?
It is a long trip, and it suits travellers who want two countries and the full Uganda circuit rather than a short gorilla-focused visit. If your time is shorter, we can build a shorter version around the primate highlights.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as you can. Gorilla permits are issued for a specific date and sector, and peak dates sell out; we check live availability when you enquire.
Plan This Safari Around Your Dates
If this route is close to what you want, send your travel dates, group size, any flexible dates and your preferred accommodation category. Custom safari enquiries receive a direct response, and booked guests have a 24-hour emergency contact while travelling.
Start on the plan your safari page, or read more about how we build custom Uganda safaris.