The 8-Day Rwanda & Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari combines the savannah wildlife of Rwanda and Uganda with an unforgettable mountain gorilla experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Starting in Kigali, this journey takes you through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside and Akagera region before crossing into southwestern Uganda for gorilla trekking in the Rushaga or another selected Bwindi sector, followed by wildlife experiences in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The safari is designed for travellers who want to experience more than gorillas alone. You will have opportunities to see African wildlife on game drives, explore Rwanda and Uganda’s contrasting landscapes, travel through the scenic highlands of the Great Lakes region and spend time in the ancient Bwindi rainforest. Uganda Wildlife Authority confirms that gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, with Bwindi divided into the four main sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
For travellers who want a cross-border East African adventure without committing to a two-week safari, these eight days provide a balanced combination of Rwanda wildlife, Uganda gorillas and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
If you would like us to customise the route around your preferred accommodation, gorilla trekking sector, travel dates, or international flight schedule, Native Africa Tours can arrange the safari as a private journey.
Safari Overview
| Safari Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 Days / 7 Nights |
| Countries | Rwanda & Uganda |
| Main Experiences | Wildlife safaris, mountain gorilla trekking and scenic cross-border travel |
| Starting Point | Kigali, Rwanda |
| Ending Point | Entebbe or Kampala, Uganda |
| Main Wildlife Areas | Akagera National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| Gorilla Destination | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Gorilla Activity | Mountain Gorilla Trekking |
| Accommodation | Budget, Midrange or Luxury |
| Transport | Private 4×4 safari vehicle |
| Best For | First-time East Africa visitors, couples, families, photographers and wildlife enthusiasts |
| Border Crossing | Rwanda–Uganda land border, subject to route and immigration requirements |
| Optional Additions | Kigali city tour, Lake Bunyonyi, cultural experiences and extended wildlife activities |
Why Choose This Rwanda and Uganda Safari?
What makes this 8-Day Rwanda & Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari different is the contrast between the destinations. The safari begins in Rwanda, where the journey can include Kigali and Akagera National Park. Akagera provides a completely different environment from the mountain forests of southwestern Uganda. Its landscapes include open savannah, woodland, wetlands and lakes, creating opportunities for traditional game drives and boat-based wildlife viewing. Visit Rwanda describes Akagera as a 100,000-hectare protected area in eastern Rwanda bordering Tanzania, with a mixture of plains, woodlands, lakes, swamps and low mountains.
From Rwanda, the safari continues towards Uganda. As you approach southwestern Uganda, the landscape changes dramatically. Rolling hills give way to highland terrain, cultivated slopes and eventually the dense rainforest of Bwindi. The gorilla experience then becomes the centrepiece of the journey. Instead of ending the safari immediately after gorilla trekking, the itinerary continues north towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. This gives you another opportunity to experience Uganda’s wildlife before completing the journey towards Entebbe.
The result is a safari that combines two countries, two very different wildlife environments and one of Africa’s most remarkable primate experiences.
Your 8-Day Rwanda & Uganda Safari at a Glance
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Kigali city experience
Day 2: Kigali – Akagera National Park – Wildlife safari
Day 3: Akagera – Morning wildlife experience – Transfer towards southwestern Rwanda
Day 4: Rwanda to Bwindi – Cross the Rwanda–Uganda border
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 6: Bwindi – Ishasha sector – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game drive and Kazinga Channel cruise
Day 8: Queen Elizabeth – Entebbe/Kampala – Departure
This route can be adjusted depending on flight schedules, gorilla permit availability, and whether you want to stay in Akagera for one or two nights.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, Airport Pickup and Kigali City Experience
Your 8-Day Rwanda & Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari begins with your arrival at Kigali International Airport. Our representative meets you at the airport and welcomes you to Rwanda before transferring you to your hotel.
If your international flight arrives early enough, the first day can include a relaxed introduction to Kigali. Rwanda’s capital is spread across a series of hills and valleys, and the city provides an interesting contrast to the wildlife destinations that follow. You can visit selected attractions depending on your arrival time. A Kigali city experience may include local markets, viewpoints, craft centres or the Kigali Genocide Memorial, subject to opening hours and your interests.
We deliberately avoid overcrowding the first day with too many activities. After an international flight, having time to settle into the hotel can make the following days considerably more enjoyable. During the evening, your guide will brief you about the safari, including the upcoming wildlife drives, border crossing, and gorilla trekking experience.
Day 2: Kigali to Akagera National Park – Game Drive and Wildlife Experience
After breakfast, you leave Kigali and travel east towards Akagera National Park. The journey takes you away from the urban environment and into Rwanda’s eastern countryside. The scenery gradually changes as you approach the park, with agricultural land giving way to savannah, woodland and wetland landscapes. Akagera is a diverse landscape of open plains, woodland, lakes, swamps, and grassy low mountains. The park has undergone major conservation changes, including the reintroduction of lions and black rhinoceros.
Depending on your arrival time, you can enter the park and begin your first game drive. The exact wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed because animals move freely through the park. However, Akagera offers the opportunity to search for species such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos and numerous bird species, with predator sightings depending on conditions and animal movements.
Your guide will adjust the route according to recent wildlife activity and the amount of time available. As the afternoon progresses, you continue towards your lodge. The evening is spent relaxing and enjoying the surroundings.
Day 3: Akagera Wildlife Experience and Transfer Towards Southwestern Rwanda
Wake up early for another wildlife experience in Akagera. Early mornings are particularly valuable on safari because many animals are active before the heat of the day becomes intense. Your guide will take you through sections of the park while searching for wildlife and birds.
Rather than rushing through the park simply to tick off animal sightings, this game drive allows you to appreciate the landscape itself. Akagera is not only about individual animals; it is a combination of grasslands, wetlands, woodland and lakes that supports a diverse ecosystem.
After the morning wildlife experience, you return to the lodge for breakfast and prepare for the next stage of the journey. The safari then heads west towards the highland regions of Rwanda. This is an important transition day because the landscape changes significantly as you travel towards the Virunga and southwestern region. Depending on your final route and accommodation arrangements, you may overnight in a convenient location for the following day’s journey into Uganda.
Day 4: Rwanda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Cross into Uganda
After breakfast, you begin the journey from Rwanda towards southwestern Uganda. This is one of the most scenic sections of the safari. The road passes through the hilly landscapes of the region before reaching the Rwanda–Uganda border.
The exact border post used will depend on the itinerary and final gorilla trekking sector. For a southern Bwindi itinerary, a crossing such as Cyanika can be incorporated when operationally appropriate. Border procedures require travellers to have the appropriate travel documents and satisfy the entry requirements of both countries. We recommend checking your individual nationality requirements before travelling. Once immigration formalities are complete, you continue into Uganda.
The landscape around Kisoro and southwestern Uganda is spectacular. Cultivated hills, volcanic scenery and mountain forests dominate the region. If your gorilla trek is in Rushaga, the journey continues towards southern Bwindi. The southern sectors of Bwindi, including Rushaga and Nkuringo, can be accessed from Kisoro, with Kisoro to the southern sectors approximately 35 kilometres and about 1–1.5 hours by road, depending on conditions.
You arrive at your lodge later in the day. The remainder of the evening is for relaxation and preparation for your gorilla trek. Your guide will explain what to expect, what to pack, and how to prepare physically for the following morning.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today is the highlight of your 8-Day Rwanda & Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari. You wake early, have breakfast, and proceed to the relevant gorilla trekking briefing point. Gorilla trekking can last approximately 2–7 hours, depending on the location and movement of the gorilla family allocated to the visitors. Once the gorillas are located, standard trekking provides up to one hour of observation. The morning begins with a briefing from the park authorities. You are introduced to the trekking rules and safety procedures before setting out with your guide and tracking team.
Then the forest begins. Bwindi is not a conventional walking trail. The terrain can be steep, muddy and uneven, and the gorillas may be several hours into the forest depending on their movements. The tracking team uses signs such as footprints, vegetation disturbance, nests, and other evidence to determine where the gorillas have moved. When the gorilla family is located, the pace changes. The next hour is dedicated to observing the animals as they go about their natural lives. You may see adults feeding, young gorillas playing, individuals resting, or members of the family moving through the vegetation. The experience is deliberately controlled to protect both visitors and gorillas.
Gorilla tracking provides visitors with an opportunity to observe gorillas in their natural habitat, and visitors are allocated to specific gorilla families according to the approved tracking procedures. After the encounter, you begin the trek back to the starting point. Once you return, your vehicle takes you back to the lodge. The afternoon is intentionally free. You will likely want to rest after several hours in the forest.
Optional Alternative: Gorilla Habituation
If your priority is spending significantly more time with gorillas, this day can be redesigned around the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga instead of standard trekking. Gorilla Habituation Experience is an opportunity for visitors to accompany researchers and habituators as part of the process of habituating gorillas to human presence. This requires a different permit and should be planned well in advance.
Day 6: Bwindi – Ishasha Wildlife Experience – Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, you leave Bwindi and continue north towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. Rather than taking the most direct route, the itinerary can be designed through the Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
This gives the safari another wildlife component after your gorilla experience. The landscape changes once again as the dense forest and steep hills of Bwindi give way to the savannah environment of Queen Elizabeth.
If conditions and park access allow, you can enjoy a game drive through Ishasha while continuing towards the northern sections of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Ishasha region is particularly associated with its tree-climbing lions, although sightings are never guaranteed. Your guide will also search for elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs, hippos and other wildlife. The drive itself becomes part of the safari.
By afternoon, you continue towards your lodge in or around the northern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park. After check-in, you have time to relax.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise
Your final full safari day is dedicated to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You start with an early morning game drive when temperatures are cooler, and wildlife is generally more active. The park’s varied habitats support a wide range of species. Your guide will choose the most appropriate game-drive route according to your interests and recent wildlife activity. You may encounter elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs, waterbuck, antelopes and numerous bird species. Predator sightings are possible but cannot be guaranteed. After the morning game drive, return to your lodge for breakfast and some relaxation.
In the afternoon, you head to the Kazinga Channel for one of the most popular activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The boat cruise provides a completely different perspective from a conventional game drive. Instead of searching for animals from a safari vehicle, you observe wildlife from the water. The channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and attracts large numbers of hippos and other animals to the shoreline. As the boat moves along the channel, keep your camera ready for hippos in the water, buffaloes along the banks, elephants approaching the water, and numerous waterbirds. The cruise also provides time to appreciate the landscape and understand how the park’s waterways support its wildlife. After the cruise, return to your lodge for your final night of the safari.
Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park to Entebbe or Kampala – Departure
After breakfast, you begin your journey towards Kampala or Entebbe. The final day is primarily a transfer day, but the journey can include a few carefully selected stops depending on your flight time. One popular option is a stop at the Uganda Equator for photographs and a short break. If you have a late international flight, we can build in additional time for lunch and relaxation before continuing to Entebbe International Airport. For an international departure, we recommend allowing sufficient time between the end of the road journey and your flight because travel times can be affected by road conditions and traffic. Your driver-guide then drops you at the airport or your next accommodation, marking the end of your Rwanda and Uganda safari.
What Makes This an 8-Day Safari Rather Than Just a Gorilla Trip?
A gorilla trek can be the centrepiece of a Uganda safari without being the entire safari. This itinerary gives you time to experience Rwanda before entering Uganda and then continues into Queen Elizabeth National Park after Bwindi.
That progression is important. You begin with Rwanda’s capital and eastern savannah, move through the highlands towards Bwindi, experience mountain gorillas in the rainforest, and then descend towards Uganda’s savannah landscapes. Every few days, the environment changes. This gives the trip a stronger sense of discovery than an itinerary that simply transfers from an airport to a gorilla lodge and back.
Accommodation for the 8-Day Rwanda & Uganda Safari
Accommodation can be selected according to your preferred travel style.
Budget
Budget accommodation focuses on clean, comfortable rooms in convenient locations while keeping the overall safari cost lower.
Midrange
Midrange lodges offer a balance between comfort, location, service, and price. This is often the preferred category for travellers who want a comfortable safari without moving into luxury pricing.
Luxury
Luxury accommodation can include high-end lodges with spacious rooms, scenic views, premium dining and additional services. Because accommodation availability changes according to travel dates, the final lodge selection should be confirmed when your safari is booked.
What Is Included?
A typical private package can include:
- Airport pickup in Kigali
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Fuel for the itinerary
- Accommodation for 7 nights
- Meals according to the selected accommodation and package
- Akagera National Park game drives
- Queen Elizabeth National Park game drives
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Uganda gorilla trekking permit
- Applicable park entry fees included in the quotation
- Rwanda–Uganda ground transfers
- Border-crossing assistance
- Bottled drinking water during road transfers
- Safari planning and booking assistance
- Airport transfer at the end of the safari
The exact inclusions depend on your selected accommodation and final itinerary.
What Is Not Included?
Unless specifically stated in your quotation, the following are generally excluded:
- International flights
- Rwanda or Uganda visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance
- Personal shopping
- Alcoholic beverages
- Laundry
- Tips
- Porter fees
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities
- Additional accommodation outside the itinerary
- Private charter flights
- Expenses caused by itinerary changes requested after booking
What to Pack for the Safari
Because this itinerary combines several different environments, you should pack for both wildlife drives and forest trekking. For the gorilla trek, sturdy hiking shoes are particularly important. Bwindi can be wet and muddy, and the terrain can become slippery.
Recommended items include:
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Lightweight trousers
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Lightweight waterproof jacket
- Fleece or warm layer
- Gardening or hiking gloves
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Small day backpack
- Reusable water bottle
- Camera and spare batteries
- Waterproof bag for electronics
- Binoculars
- Personal medication
- Lightweight luggage
A porter can also be hired for the gorilla trek if you would like assistance carrying your daypack or navigating difficult sections.
Best Time for the Rwanda and Uganda Safari
This safari can be arranged throughout the year. However, weather conditions can influence road travel, game drives, and gorilla trekking. Because Bwindi is a rainforest, rain is possible at any time. Wet conditions can make forest trails more challenging, but they also contribute to the lush environment that makes Bwindi so distinctive.
The wildlife experience in Akagera and Queen Elizabeth can also vary according to seasonal conditions. Rather than choosing travel dates based only on a simple “best month,” we recommend considering your priorities, available dates, accommodation preferences, gorilla permit availability, and tolerance for wet-weather trekking.
Can I Start This Safari in Uganda Instead?
Yes. Although this version starts in Kigali, the itinerary can be reversed or redesigned. For example, you could begin in Entebbe, visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, continue to Bwindi, cross into Rwanda, and finish in Kigali. This can be particularly useful if your international flight arrives in Uganda or if you want to combine the safari with another Uganda itinerary.
Book Your 8-Day Rwanda & Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari
The 8-Day Rwanda & Uganda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari brings together some of the most contrasting landscapes and wildlife experiences in the region. From the hills of Kigali and the savannah landscapes of Akagera to the ancient rainforest of Bwindi and the wildlife-rich plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the journey is designed for travellers who want to experience both countries rather than simply visit one gorilla destination.
The gorilla trek remains the highlight, but the surrounding wildlife experiences make the safari much more complete.
Native Africa Tours can organise this as a private safari based on your travel dates, preferred accommodation, number of travellers, and international flight schedule. We can also modify the route to include Gorilla Habituation in Rushaga, Lake Bunyonyi, additional wildlife days, or a Rwanda gorilla trek. Contact Native Africa Tours to check gorilla permit availability and receive a personalised quotation for your 8-day Rwanda and Uganda safari.