18-Day Best of Uganda and Rwanda Adventure

The 18-Day Best of Uganda and Rwanda Adventure starts from $7,800 per person sharing, but the net cost depends on your group size, the season you travel in, and your chosen level of accommodation. That price covers the permits and activities listed in the itinerary, including gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey trekking, the Mt.Bisoke hike, park entrance fees, boat cruises, private 4×4 transport with an experienced driver-guide, fuel, meals and accommodation as listed, bottled drinking water, and government taxes. International flights, extra nights before or after the trip, optional activities, souvenirs, tips, and porter hire are not included. Your final quotation confirms exactly what applies to your chosen accommodation level.

Yes. The safari can be customized to match your arrival airport, preferred pace, fitness level, interests, and budget. You can add or remove experiences such as white-water rafting in Jinja, rhino tracking at Ziwa, a second gorilla trek in Rwanda, the Batwa cultural experience, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Kivu, the Nyungwe canopy walk, or additional game drives in Akagera. Tell us your preferred travel dates, number of travellers, and accommodation level, and we will prepare a tailored itinerary and quotation.

The safari combines Uganda’s best savannah, primate, and adventure experiences with Rwanda’s volcanoes, lakes, and forests. Highlights include the Source of the Nile and Jinja, white rhino tracking at Ziwa, Murchison Falls game drives and Nile boat cruise, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Kazinga Channel, Ishasha tree-climbing lions, mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, golden monkeys and Mt.Bisoke in Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest, and Akagera National Park.

This is an extensive 18-day itinerary, so several transfer days involve a good amount of road time. Entebbe to Jinja takes roughly two to three hours, while the drive to Murchison Falls via Ziwa can take most of a day. Kibale to Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi, Bwindi to Volcanoes National Park, Volcanoes to Lake Kivu, Lake Kivu to Nyungwe, and Nyungwe to Akagera each require several hours depending on road conditions, traffic, and border formalities. Your driver-guide plans comfort stops and schedules each day around the main activity and your flight arrangements.

When travelling from southwestern Uganda to Rwanda, your guide will assist with immigration formalities at the applicable border post, commonly Cyanika when routing through Kisoro towards Musanze. Keep your passport, visa, and any required health documents in your hand luggage, and expect possible waiting time on both sides. Border procedures can change, so we confirm the latest requirements before travel. Pack light and keep valuables with you, as the crossing may involve a short walk between the two border posts.

Murchison Falls National Park offers elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife along the Nile. Kibale is renowned for chimpanzees and other primates, while Queen Elizabeth National Park offers lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, hippos, and more than 600 bird species. In the Ishasha sector, you may see the famous tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but early morning and late afternoon game drives offer the best chances.

Yes, this itinerary is designed to include mountain gorilla trekking in both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Each trek begins with a ranger briefing, followed by a guided walk to a habituated gorilla family. Once the family is located, you spend one hour observing and photographing the gorillas. Trek duration can range from one to six hours or more, depending on where the gorillas moved overnight.

You are allowed one hour with each habituated gorilla family once the trackers locate them. The briefing usually starts early in the morning, and the trek begins shortly afterwards. Visitors are placed in small groups, generally with a maximum of eight people per gorilla family per day, which helps protect the animals and keeps the encounter calm. The total experience, including briefing, hiking, and the one-hour visit, can take most of the morning or the full day.

Gorilla families are assigned by park rangers at the morning briefing rather than chosen in advance. Rangers consider the fitness levels and preferences of the group, so travellers who prefer a gentler hike can request an easier family, while those seeking a longer trek can ask for a more distant one. Assignments depend on the day and on where each family is located. Mention any mobility or fitness concerns to your driver-guide early so they can raise them with the rangers.

Yes. Visitors must be at least 15 years old to track mountain gorillas in Uganda, and this rule is strictly enforced by park authorities. Rwanda also applies age limits to gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, and volcano hikes. Chimpanzee tracking minimum ages can differ by park and activity, so confirm the requirements for Kibale and Nyungwe before booking. If you are travelling as a family, tell us the ages of everyone in your group so we can recommend suitable alternatives for younger travellers.

Follow your ranger’s instructions at all times. Keep the distance the rangers specify, speak quietly, and avoid sudden movements. Do not use flash photography, and never touch or feed the animals. Do not eat, drink, or smoke near them. If a gorilla or chimpanzee comes close, stay calm and allow it to pass. Primates are vulnerable to human illnesses, so rangers may require face masks and strict hygiene practices during primate encounters.

Tell your driver-guide and park staff immediately if you have a cold, flu symptoms, diarrhoea, or any other contagious illness. Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys can catch human diseases, so rangers may stop unwell visitors from trekking. Whether you can reschedule or receive a refund depends on the permit conditions set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rwanda Development Board. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers medical issues and trip interruption.

Sightings of habituated gorilla families, chimpanzee communities, and golden monkey groups are highly likely because trackers follow the animals daily and guide visitors to them. However, these are wild animals, so no operator can offer an absolute guarantee. The length and difficulty of each trek depend on where the animals have moved overnight. We secure permits in advance and plan the itinerary to give you the best practical chance of a successful and comfortable encounter.

Mt.Bisoke is one of the most demanding days of the safari. You climb to 3,711 metres through bamboo forest, heather moorland, and alpine vegetation, with a round trip of roughly 12 to 15 kilometres over about four to six hours of steady walking. At the summit, you reach a crater lake with views across the Virunga volcanoes. The trail can be muddy and cold at altitude, so sturdy hiking boots, warm layers, rain gear, and gloves are essential.

Nyungwe is one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and a major primate destination. Depending on your confirmed itinerary, activities may include chimpanzee tracking, the famous canopy walk, guided forest walks, and the Isumo Waterfall Trail. The canopy walk offers views over the treetops and is a highlight for birdwatchers and photographers. Nyungwe is also home to several other primate species, making it an excellent complement to the gorilla and golden monkey experiences.

Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s savannah park and offers a contrasting experience to the country’s volcanoes and rainforests. Game drives may reveal elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and numerous antelope species. A boat trip on Lake Ihema provides excellent opportunities to see hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but early morning game drives generally offer the best viewing conditions.

Entry requirements depend on your nationality, so check the current rules before you travel. Because this trip visits two countries, you must be able to enter both Uganda and Rwanda. Some travellers qualify for the East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers multiple East African countries, while others may need separate national visas. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months and has enough blank pages for entry stamps. Ask your doctor about recommended vaccinations and any yellow fever certificate requirements for your route.

Yes, especially if you want to balance wildlife with culture. The Batwa community shares stories, songs, dance, and traditional knowledge about their former life in the forest around Bwindi. The experience can usually fit into the evening after gorilla trekking or be arranged as part of the transfer day, depending on your final itinerary. If it is not included in your starting price, let us know and we will add it to your quotation.

You can choose from budget, mid-range, and luxury lodges at each stop. Accommodation is selected according to availability, your preferred comfort level, and the locations included in your final itinerary. Options typically include safari lodges near Murchison Falls, forest lodges around Kibale, properties near Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, lodges close to Volcanoes National Park, lakeside stays at Lake Kivu or Lake Bunyonyi, forest lodges near Nyungwe, and safari lodges in or near Akagera. Your final quotation lists the confirmed lodges before payment.

Tips are not included in the safari price, but they are a customary way to thank the people who look after you. Many travellers tip their driver-guide at the end of the trip and give separate tips to rangers, trackers, and porters after gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking, and the Mt.Bisoke hike. Porter hire is optional and carries its own fee, while also supporting families living around the parks. There is no fixed amount, so tip according to the service you receive and what feels comfortable.

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical care, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, and interruption. Carry some US dollars in recent, undamaged notes, and bring a card for lodge extras where accepted. Local currency in both Uganda and Rwanda is useful for small purchases such as souvenirs and tips, and small denominations make tipping easier. Uganda and Rwanda both restrict single-use plastic bags, so do not pack them in your luggage, as officials may confiscate them at the airport.

Send us your preferred travel dates, number of travellers, and accommodation level. We first check availability for gorilla permits, chimpanzee permits, golden monkey permits, and the Mt.Bisoke hiking permit, then prepare a detailed quotation with your lodges, inclusions, and total cost. Once you approve the itinerary and agree the payment terms, we purchase the permits and confirm lodge and transport reservations. Because permits are limited, we recommend booking at least four to six months ahead, and up to ten months ahead for the busy December to February and June to September periods.