Combining Rwanda and Uganda: Two Sample 10-Day Itineraries

Rwanda and Uganda sit side by side and share the Virunga and Bwindi mountain gorilla populations, so they pair well on one trip. Rwanda gives you polish, short transfers and easy logistics. Uganda gives you more variety: chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions, boat safaris, and a rawer, more adventurous feel. In ten days you can have the best of both without feeling rushed.

Before you plan: the essentials

Permits drive everything. A gorilla permit costs USD 1,500 in Rwanda and USD 800 in Uganda. Uganda has also introduced a cheaper low-season rate. The permit is $600 in April, May and November. Uganda’s tariff has been revised recently, so confirm the current figure with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or your operator. Permits sell out in the dry months, so book several months ahead. Rwanda guidance suggests booking three to six months in advance for the busy June to mid-September period. The minimum trekking age is 15 in both countries.

Visas. The East Africa Tourist Visa costs $100 and covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. It usually works out better value than separate visas. Check current rules for your nationality before you travel.

Borders. The two main crossings are Cyanika, in the south-west near Kisoro, and Gatuna/Katuna, on the Kigali–Kampala road. Plan for one to two hours of formalities. Use an operator that can legally take its vehicle across, or arrange a vehicle swap at the border.

Timing. The dry seasons (roughly June to September, and December to February) mean easier hiking and better roads. Gorillas can be trekked year-round, and the rainy months bring lower prices and fewer visitors but muddier trails.

Itinerary 1: Gorillas, golden monkeys and savanna (Kigali to Entebbe)

This route heads north-west from Kigali, crosses into Uganda at Cyanika, and finishes with a safari before an exit via Entebbe. It’s the best fit if gorillas are your priority.

Day 1: Arrive in Kigali. Rest, then visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial in the afternoon. It’s a sobering but essential introduction to modern Rwanda. Dinner in Kimihurura or Kiyovu.

Day 2: Kigali to Volcanoes National Park. The drive to Musanze takes about two to three hours on good tarmac. Visit a community project, such as a cultural village or a local craft cooperative, and settle into your lodge with views of the volcanoes.

Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. After a briefing at park headquarters, you’re assigned a gorilla family. The trek can last anywhere from about 90 minutes to six hours, followed by one magical hour with the gorillas. Rest in the afternoon.

Day 4: Golden monkeys and Lake Ruhondo. Track the endangered golden monkeys in the morning (a lighter hike and a much cheaper permit), then drive to the Cyanika border. Cross into Uganda and continue to Kisoro or Lake Mutanda. Mutanda is one of the prettiest lodge settings in the country.

Day 5: Lake Mutanda and Bwindi transfer. Take a dugout canoe ride in the morning, then drive on to the Bwindi region. The road is winding and dramatic, with terraced hills on every side.

Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi. A second gorilla trek is worth doing, because the experience differs noticeably. Bwindi’s “impenetrable” forest is steeper, denser and more atmospheric than Rwanda’s bamboo and volcanic slopes. If you want more time with the animals, Uganda also offers a longer habituation experience, though it costs considerably more.

Day 7: Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Drive through the Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions, and spend the night near the Kazinga Channel.

Day 8: Queen Elizabeth safari. Take a morning game drive for elephants, buffalo, kob and possibly leopard. In the afternoon take the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, where you’ll see hippos, crocodiles and large numbers of birds.

Day 9: Queen Elizabeth to Entebbe/Kampala. This is a long travel day of seven to nine hours, with a lunch stop at the Equator crossing. Alternatively, take a domestic flight from Kihihi or Kasese if the budget allows.

Day 10: Departure from Entebbe.

Itinerary 2: Primates, culture and Akagera (Entebbe to Kigali)

This reverse route suits travelers who want chimpanzees as well as gorillas, plus a Big Five-style safari in Rwanda to finish.

Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe. Overnight near the lake, or visit the Botanical Gardens if you land early.

Day 2: Entebbe to Kibale Forest. This is a long drive, so consider breaking it up with a stop at the Mabamba Swamp for a shoebill stork excursion if you arrive early enough.

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale. Kibale has one of the highest primate densities in Africa, and chimp sightings are very reliable. Spend the afternoon on the Bigodi Wetland walk, a community-run sanctuary for birds and monkeys.

Day 4: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth. Take an afternoon game drive, or visit the Kyambura Gorge for a second chance at chimps.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth boat cruise and Ishasha. Cruise the Kazinga Channel in the morning, then drive south towards Ishasha to look for the tree-climbing lions.

Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Trek one of the Uganda gorilla groups, then rest in the evening.

Day 7: Bwindi to Rwanda. Cross at Cyanika and spend the night near Volcanoes National Park. You may choose to do a short cultural visit, such as the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.

Day 8: Gorilla trekking or golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. The $1,500 gorilla permit is a real splurge. Doing two gorilla treks may not suit every budget, so some travelers swap the second trek for golden monkeys, a hike up to Dian Fossey’s tomb, or a day at Lake Burera.

Day 9: Volcanoes to Akagera National Park. This is a long but rewarding day. Akagera is Rwanda’s only savanna park and has lions, rhinos, elephants and giraffes, all reintroduced in recent years. Evening game drive.

Day 10: Akagera to Kigali. Morning game drive, then a roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive to Kigali for your onward flight.

Budgeting and practical tips

• Plan permits first, everything else second. Uganda’s lower permit price and Rwanda’s shorter road transfers pull in opposite directions, so compare the full costs, not only the permits. Operators put an all-in short Uganda trip at around $1,650 per person, against around $2,400 for the Rwanda equivalent. Treat these as indicative only.
• Don’t over-schedule. Uganda’s roads are slower than they look on a map. A 200 km drive can easily take five or six hours.
• Pack for variable weather. Waterproofs, sturdy boots, gaiters and gardening gloves make gorilla treks far more comfortable. Hiring a porter for around $20 to $25 is a good habit that supports local families.
• Consider health requirements. Yellow fever vaccination and malaria prophylaxis are standard recommendations. Check current rules with a travel clinic.
• Choose the right operator. Ask whether they handle the cross-border vehicle arrangements, and whether permits are bought directly from the Rwanda Development Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Which itinerary should you choose?

Choose Itinerary 1 if you want two gorilla treks, comfortable lodges and a classic safari finish, and are happy to fly out of Entebbe. Choose Itinerary 2 if chimpanzees and a savanna safari matter as much as gorillas, and you want to finish somewhere easy to fly out of, with Kigali’s compact airport and efficient transfers.

Either way, the combination gives you a trip that no single country can: high-altitude forests, wetlands, savanna, deep history and some of the most welcoming people in Africa.

Prices and rules change often, so verify permit costs, visa rules and border procedures with official sources before booking.