7 Day Rwanda Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Safari
This 7-day Rwanda Uganda gorilla and chimp safari is designed for travellers who want the region’s leading primate experiences in one shorter cross-border journey. The route begins in Kigali and combines golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park before ending in Entebbe. Along the way, the safari also includes a Batwa cultural visit and a guided walk in Bigodi Swamp, giving the itinerary more depth than a simple primates-only package. It is ideal for travellers who want to experience both Rwanda and Uganda without committing to a longer safari, while still covering the most sought-after forest encounters in the region. With a practical start in Rwanda and a finish in Uganda, this itinerary works especially well for visitors who want a well-paced route with strong wildlife value, manageable travel time, and a clear primate focus.
Safari highlights
Kigali city tour on arrival
Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Cultural visit to Ibya Iwacu village
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Batwa community experience
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
Bigodi Swamp guided walk
Cross-border route from Kigali to Entebbe.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1, Kigali Arrival and Volcanoes National Park Transfer
Upon arrival at Kigali airport/depending on your location in Kigali, meet your driver and connect to Kigali city for a brief Kigali city tour visiting the Kandt Museum, Kimironko market, or the Kigali Genocide memorial site, or all places, depending on your time of arrival in Kigali. Late afternoon, transfer to Volcanoes National Park. It is a 3-hour drive from Kigali. Upon arrival, check in at the booked lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay at 5 Volcanoes Gorilla Lodge for luxury/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge for mid-range/Hotel Muhabura for budget
Day 2, Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
After early morning breakfast, drive back to the park headquarters for a briefing about the endangered golden monkeys and be allocated a group. Connect to the tracking starting point and enter the forest to search for the rare golden monkey. This activity can take about 1-5 hours and is done at a closer view of the other primates in the park, like the red-tailed monkeys and Vervet monkeys, among others. After 
viewing the rare golden monkeys for an hour while taking pictures and studying their behaviours, return to the base and meet your driver back at the lodge.
Later afternoon, visit the Dian Fossey Museum in Musanze, then drive to visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village, a non-profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through the provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development, and livelihood-based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions, including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies, and a guided community walk. Connect to your booked accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge above
Day 3, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Transfer via Cyanika Border
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on your journey to cross to Uganda via Cyanika border to connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with en-route lunch and visit Lake Bunyonyi for a boat trip to explore some of the 29 islands on the lake. Thereafter, proceed to your booked lodge in Bwindi for check-in, dinner, and overnight stay at Broadbill Forest Camp for budget/Gorilla Mist Lodge for mid-range /Kiho Gorilla Lodge for luxury
Day 4, Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for a briefing by the ranger guides, and later head into the forest for your trek. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes 2 to 8 hours, depending on the movement of the gorillas. These primates roam the park freely, and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular day. On finding them, you will be allowed 1 
hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates, enjoy your lunch packs, meet your driver/guide, and transfer back to your lodge.
The time after trekking, connect to visit the Batwa community that stays close to the park. The Batwa people are the indigenous people of Uganda who stayed in the Park Forest before it was gazetted as a national park. Learn more about the Batwa, from their way of life to enjoying the songs and dance of the Batwa. Later evening drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay at the lodge as above
Day 5, Kibale National Park Transfer from Bwindi
After breakfast, check out and embark on your journey to Kibale National Park, which is about a 6-7-hour drive with an en-route stop for lunch and Queen Elizabeth National Park for a chance of spotting the tree-climbing lions. Proceed to Kibale National Park, about a 3-hour drive from Queen park. Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Forest lodge for mid-ranger/ Rubarika Safari Lodge for budget/Ndali Lodge for luxury
Day 6, Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Swamp Walk
Wake up early and drive to Kibale Forest to the briefing point before you head in the forest in search of the exuberant chimpanzee groups in the Kibale Forest. Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor is a thrilling experience. Though they can be difficult to spot, you will be in no doubt of their presence as the forest is alive with their noisy calls. Spend an hour in their presence. After trekking, go for a swamp walk in Bigodi swamp – one of the richest swamps with birds and primates like Baboons, red-tailed monkey, Black and white monkey, among others. Diner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 7, Entebbe Departure Transfer from Kibale
You will enjoy breakfast and transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe with an en-route lunch. Proceed to Kampala/Entebbe, arriving in the late afternoon. You will be dropped off at the hotel in either Entebbe or at Entebbe airport for your onward flight, marking the end of the safari
Inclusions and exclusions
Inclusions
Private 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
English-speaking driver-guide
Accommodation as per the selected category
Meals as specified in the itinerary
Golden monkey permit in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi
Chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale
Bottled water in the vehicle
Exclusions
International flights
Uganda and Rwanda visa fees
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Drinks not included with meals
Tips and gratuities
Optional activities not clearly listed in the itinerary
