10-Day Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your West Tours Uganda guide. After a short briefing about your upcoming adventure, you will be transferred to your hotel near the shores of Lake Victoria. Depending on your arrival time, the remainder of the day is free to relax and recover from your international journey.

West Tours Tip: If you arrive early, consider a sunset walk along the shores of Lake Victoria or visit the nearby Entebbe Botanical Gardens.

After breakfast, depart Kampala and begin your scenic drive westward toward Kibale National Park. The journey takes you through one of Uganda’s most beautiful regions—rolling hills carpeted in tea plantations, traditional villages, lush countryside, and panoramic crater lakes.

Arrive at your forest lodge near Kibale in the afternoon. After lunch, set off on a scenic walk in the crater lakes area, enjoying beautiful views of the forests, plantations, and mountains. You may spot monkeys and other wildlife along the way. The walk also includes a visit to a local village for a unique cultural experience in the evening.

West Tours Tip: The crater lakes area is a hidden gem—the views are breathtaking and the walking is gentle, perfect for stretching your legs after the long drive.

Today is your first primate encounter. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking rules and safety. You’ll then enter the rainforest with expert ranger guides to track habituated chimpanzee families.

Kibale National Park is home to the highest density of chimpanzees in East Africa—over 1,500 individuals. Once a chimp family is located, you’ll spend one unforgettable hour observing their natural behavior—grooming, feeding, calling loudly through the forest, and moving swiftly through the canopy. Alongside chimps, keep your eyes open for Colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, bush babies, and over 350 species of birds.

West Tours Tip: Wear long sleeves, sturdy boots, and bring your camera—but remember, no flash photography!

After breakfast, depart Kibale and journey south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes you past the mystical Rwenzori Mountains—often veiled in clouds.

Today, you’ll head to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions. Arrive in the afternoon and enjoy a game drive across the Ishasha plains, scanning the fig trees for lions lounging on branches—a rare and spectacular sight found in only a few places in Africa.

West Tours Tip: The tree-climbing lions of Ishasha are one of Uganda’s most iconic wildlife experiences. Patience is key—they often rest in the trees during the heat of the day.

Morning Game Drive: Set off at dawn for a thrilling game drive across the Kasenyi Plains. This is one of Uganda’s premier wildlife destinations—home to an incredible variety of animals including lions, elephants, buffaloes, and elusive leopards often seen lounging in the shade.

Afternoon Boat Cruise: After lunch, prepare for a magical boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This natural channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is home to one of the world’s largest hippo populations. Glide past massive pods of hippos jostling and yawning, crocodiles basking on the banks, and large herds of elephants and buffaloes coming to drink. Few places in Africa offer such consistent and close-up encounters with wildlife.

West Tours Tip: Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts over 600 bird species—the highest of any national park in East Africa. Bring your binoculars!

Today, leave the open savannah landscapes behind and journey toward Uganda’s ancient montane forests—a dramatic change in scenery and atmosphere. As you travel deeper into the highlands, the environment becomes cooler, greener, and more densely forested.

Arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the afternoon. Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring dense, ancient rainforest and is home to roughly half the world’s mountain gorilla population.

Optional Afternoon Activity:

• Guided walk through the Batwa community—the indigenous forest people. This experience includes visits to basket weavers, a local school, and storytelling about Batwa history and present-day life

West Tours Tip: Rest well tonight—tomorrow is your first gorilla trek!

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for—your first gorilla trek. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking rules. You’ll be assigned to one of the habituated gorilla families and grouped with up to seven other trekkers.

Then, set off with your expert guide and trackers into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The trek can take anywhere from two to six hours, depending on where the gorilla family has moved. You’ll hike through thick rainforest, across steep slopes, and through dense vegetation—physically demanding, but absolutely worth every step.

Once the gorilla family is located, you’ll have one unforgettable hour observing them up close—playing, moving through the trees, and interacting with each other in their natural environment. Watch a silverback protect his family, observe a mother gently groom her infant, and lock eyes with one of our closest living relatives.

West Tours Tip: Hire a local porter at the trailhead—it supports the community and makes your trek significantly easier!

After breakfast, depart Bwindi and drive to the Cyanika border crossing—the most common and best-organised border post between Uganda and Rwanda. Your driver-guide will handle all paperwork, making the crossing smooth and hassle-free.

Continue to Kinigi, at the base of the Virunga volcanoes, near Volcanoes National Park. The drive from Bwindi to Volcanoes National Park typically takes 3 to 4 hours.

Settle into your lodge and prepare for your second gorilla trek tomorrow—this time on the Rwandan side of the Virungas.

West Tours Tip: The landscape changes dramatically as you cross into Rwanda—the volcanic peaks are stunning, and the lodges here offer some of the best views in Africa.

Today is your second gorilla trek—this time in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing. Volcanoes National Park is perhaps the most famous gorilla trekking destination in the world, thanks in large part to the legacy of Dian Fossey, who studied gorillas here for decades.

The trekking experience here is different from Bwindi—the terrain is more open, with bamboo and afro-alpine vegetation, offering a distinct character and breathtaking views of the volcanic peaks. Once the gorilla family is located, you’ll have one hour observing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Optional Afternoon Activity:

• Golden monkey trekking in the bamboo zone of Volcanoes National Park. These lively, playful primates are a joy to watch and offer a completely different experience from gorilla trekking

West Tours Tip: Rwanda’s gorilla permits cost $1,500 per person—significantly more than Uganda, but the experience is known for its efficiency, luxury lodges, and ease of access

After breakfast, depart Volcanoes National Park and drive to Kigali, Rwanda’s vibrant capital city.

Enjoy a Kigali city tour, including:

• A visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre—a moving and educational experience that provides insight into Rwanda’s history and remarkable recovery
• A drive through the city’s clean, hilly streets
• Optional shopping for local crafts and souvenirs

After lunch, you will be transferred to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.

West Tours Tip: Rwanda is one of Africa’s cleanest and most organised countries—take time to appreciate the transformation and resilience of this remarkable nation.