Experience an extraordinary 18-day adventure through Uganda and Rwanda, combining classic African safari, chimpanzee and gorilla trekking, beautiful lakes, community experiences and some of East Africa's most spectacular landscapes.

From the vibrant streets of Kampala to the mighty Murchison Falls, the forests of Kibale and Bwindi, and Rwanda's volcanic mountains, this itinerary offers an immersive journey through wildlife, nature and culture across two incredible countries.

 

Highlights

 

🌆 Discover Kampala

🌊 Experience Murchison Falls & the River Nile

🦁 Game drives through Uganda's spectacular national parks

🚤 Boat cruises on the Nile and Kazinga Channel

🐒 Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest

🪘 Bigodi community experience

🦍 Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

🪘 Batwa community & cultural experience

🇷🇼 Cross into Rwanda

⛰️ Explore Volcanoes National Park

🌊 Visit Lake Kivu

🇷🇼 Discover Kigal

📸 Incredible opportunities for wildlife, nature and cultural photography

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Your Journey

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Day 1 – Arrival in Uganda
Arrive in Uganda and meet your guide before transferring to your accommodation. Relax and settle in, or depending on your arrival time, begin discovering the local area.

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Day 2 – Explore Kampala
Spend time exploring Kampala, Uganda's lively capital. Experience the city's bustling streets, markets, culture and everyday life before heading into the country's spectacular national parks.

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Day 3 – Kampala → Murchison Falls
Begin your journey north towards Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest national park. Travel through rural countryside and communities before arriving in the Murchison Falls region.

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Day 4 – Murchison Falls Game Drive
Enjoy your first major safari experience with a game drive through Murchison Falls National Park.

Explore the park's open savannah in search of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, antelope, warthogs and abundant birdlife.

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Day 5 – Murchison Falls Boat Cruise
Take a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile, travelling towards the base of the spectacular Murchison Falls.

Look out for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and birds along the riverbanks while enjoying a completely different perspective of the park.

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Day 6 – Murchison Falls → Kibale Forest

Leave Murchison Falls behind and travel south towards Kibale Forest National Park.

Enjoy Uganda's changing landscapes as you move from open savannah towards the lush forests and rolling countryside of western Uganda.

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Day 7 – Chimpanzee Trekking
Venture into Kibale Forest for an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experience.

With experienced guides and trackers, explore the forest in search of wild chimpanzees while keeping an eye out for other primates, birds and forest wildlife.

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Day 8 – Bigodi Community Experience
Discover the community surrounding Kibale Forest with a visit to Bigodi.

Enjoy a community-led experience offering an insight into local culture, traditions and everyday life. Depending on the experience, activities may include local crafts, food, storytelling, nature walks and meeting members of the community.

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Day 9 – Kibale → Queen Elizabeth National Park
Travel onwards to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through beautiful western Ugandan landscapes.

As the scenery changes from tropical forest to savannah and wetlands, keep an eye out for wildlife along the route.

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Day 10 – Queen Elizabeth Game Drive
Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park on a game drive, searching for elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, warthogs and other wildlife.

The park's varied landscapes provide excellent opportunities to experience Uganda's classic safari scenery.

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Day 11 – Queen Elizabeth Boat Cruise
Take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, connecting Lakes Edward and George.

The channel is famous for its large concentrations of hippos and offers opportunities to see crocodiles, elephants and numerous bird species along the shoreline.

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Day 12 – Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi
Continue south towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, travelling through the spectacular hills and countryside of southwest Uganda.

Arrive in the Bwindi region and prepare for one of the biggest highlights of your journey.

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Day 13 – Gorilla Trekking
Enter Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for an unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking experience.

With experienced guides and trackers, trek through the ancient forest in search of one of Bwindi's habituated gorilla families and spend time observing these remarkable animals in their natural environment.

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Day 14 – Batwa Community Experience
Learn more about the Batwa people, an Indigenous people of the Great Lakes region with a long history and deep connection to the forests of southwest Uganda.

A community-led experience provides an opportunity to learn about Batwa history, culture, traditions and contemporary life. Activities may include storytelling, traditional music and dance, demonstrations of traditional skills and conversations with community members.

Where possible, these experiences provide direct economic benefits to Batwa participants and support local community initiatives.

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Day 15 – Bwindi → Rwanda
Cross the border from Uganda into Rwanda, travelling through the spectacular mountainous landscapes of the region.

Continue towards Rwanda's volcanic north, experiencing the changing scenery and rural communities along the way.

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Day 16 – Volcanoes National Park
Explore the dramatic landscapes of Volcanoes National Park, dominated by Rwanda's magnificent volcanic mountains.

Enjoy the scenery and discover more about this remarkable region, home to some of Africa's most iconic mountain wildlife.

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Day 17 – Lake Kivu → Kigali
Travel towards beautiful Lake Kivu, one of Africa's Great Lakes. Enjoy the scenery and lakeside atmosphere before continuing towards Kigali, Rwanda's vibrant capital.

Depending on your schedule, there may be opportunities to explore parts of Kigali on arrival.

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Day 18 – Kigali → Departure
Spend your final time in Kigali, with opportunities to experience the city's culture, markets and landmarks before transferring to the airport for your departure.

 

An epic two-country adventure combining Uganda's incredible wildlife and primates with Rwanda's volcanic landscapes and beautiful Lake Kivu — a journey packed with safari, culture, community and unforgettable encounters.