This 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda bridges two distinct East African countries to deliver a complete wildlife and primate experience. Your journey begins in Uganda, where you will explore diverse savannah ecosystems, navigate natural channels, and search for unique tree-climbing predators. The route then leads across the border into Rwanda, focusing on the volcanic highlands and ancient rainforests that shelter rare primates. By choosing this 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda, you secure an organized path through Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi, Volcanoes National Park, and Nyungwe Forest. You will watch changing landscapes move from open plains to dense canopy forests, while local guides manage all border logistics and park entry permits. The expedition concludes in the capital city of Kigali, offering a balanced mix of heavy wildlife tracking, community cultural interactions, and historical insights that define this equatorial region.
Tour highlights for 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda
Queen Elizabeth arrival
Savannah game drive
Kazinga channel cruise
Ishasha lion search
Bwindi forest transfer
Mountain gorilla tracking
Uganda border crossing
Volcanoes Park arrival
Second gorilla trek
Cultural village experience
Golden monkey tracking
Lake Kivu cruise
Nyungwe forest transfer
Chimpanzee tracking walk
High canopy walkway
Kigali memorial tour
Day by day 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda
Day 1: Arrival & Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda begins with an early morning pickup from your location in Zana, Kampala, or Entebbe. Your driver guide will welcome you, assist with your luggage, and provide a briefing on the upcoming route. You will drive west through central Uganda, passing small towns, farms, and rolling hills. A stop at the Equator crossing allows time for photos and lunch. Afterward, you will continue your journey toward the western rift valley arm. You will notice the landscape shifting into savannah plains as you approach Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival in the evening, you will check into your selected safari lodge, enjoy a freshly prepared dinner, and rest in preparation for the upcoming wildlife viewing activities scheduled for the following morning.
Day 2: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
The second day of your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda focuses on the diverse wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will start with an early morning game drive along the Kasenyi tracks, where you will look for elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and lions returning from their night hunts. A specialized park ranger will help track these mammals across the plains. In the afternoon, you will transition to a water-based safari on the Kazinga Channel. This natural waterway connects Lake George and Lake Edward. During the two-hour boat cruise, you will observe large numbers of hippos and Nile crocodiles along the banks, alongside various waterbirds like pelicans and kingfishers. You will return to your lodge at sunset for dinner and your overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
On this stage of the 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda, you will travel south toward the forest country. The route takes you through the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This specific area is recognized for its tree-climbing lions, which often rest on the low branches of fig trees during the heat of the day. You will scan the branches during a scheduled drive through this sector. After looking for these predators, you will stop for lunch before leaving the savannah behind. The road climbs into the Kigezi highlands, characterized by terraced hillsides and banana plantations. By late afternoon, you will arrive at the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you will check in and prepare your gear for trekking.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
This day of your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda brings you into the dense rainforest of Bwindi. After an early breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a mandatory safety briefing by the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You will be assigned to a specific habituated gorilla family based on your physical fitness levels. Accompanied by armed rangers and trackers, you will walk into the thick vegetation, navigating steep ridges and muddy paths. The search time varies depending on where the primates nested the previous night. Once you locate the gorilla group, you will spend exactly one hour observing their social behaviors, feeding habits, and interactions from a safe distance. Afterward, you will walk back to the start point to receive your tracking certificate.
Day 5: Cross Border to Volcanoes National Park
Your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda transitions into its second country today. You will leave Bwindi after breakfast and drive toward the Cyanika or Katuna border post. Your guide will facilitate the immigration and customs clearance processes as you cross from Uganda into Rwanda. Once through the border, you will immediately notice the dramatic volcanic peaks of the Virunga Massif. The drive takes you through well-maintained roads surrounded by steep, cultivated hillsides. You will head directly toward Musanze, the gateway town to Volcanoes National Park. You will check into your new lodge, where you can unpack, relax, and enjoy the cooler mountain temperatures. The evening will be spent preparing your documentation for the second phase of your mountain primate tracking experience.
Day 6: Second Gorilla Trek & Cultural Village
The Rwandan segment of your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda intensifies with a second gorilla tracking experience. You will head to the Kinigi park headquarters at dawn for registration and a briefing on Rwanda’s conservation policies. You will track a completely different family group today, allowing you to compare family dynamics and behaviors between the Ugandan and Rwandan gorilla populations. The terrain here consists of bamboo zones and open volcanic slopes. Following your one-hour observation period, you will return to the base. In the afternoon, you will visit the nearby Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village. Here, local residents, including reformed poachers, will demonstrate traditional Rwandan drumming, historical king rituals, archery skills, and traditional medicine practices, offering insight into local heritage.
Day 7: Golden Monkey Trek & Lake Kivu
On day seven of your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda, you will return to the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park to seek out a different primate species. You will track the golden monkeys, which are endemic to the Virunga volcano region. These primates live in large social groups and are highly active, jumping through the bamboo canopy to feed on shoots and leaves. This walk is generally less strenuous than gorilla tracking. After spending an hour with the golden monkeys, you will return to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will drive west to Rubavu, a town located on the shores of Lake Kivu. You will take a relaxing evening boat ride on the lake, observing local fishermen setting up their night nets.
Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda continues south today along the scenic Congo Nile Trail. You will spend the day traveling alongside the irregular shoreline of Lake Kivu, driving past tea plantations, terraced hills, and rural Rwandan villages. This journey provides excellent opportunities to view the everyday countryside life of the local population. You will stop at regular intervals for photography and a midday lunch. By afternoon, the lakeside scenery will give way to the dense, ancient canopy of Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is one of the oldest remaining high-altitude rainforests on the African continent. You will arrive at your accommodation near the forest boundary in time for dinner and an early night ahead of morning chimpanzee activities.
Day 9: Chimpanzee Trek & Canopy Walkway
An early start marks this active day of your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda. You will head into Nyungwe Forest at dawn to track wild chimpanzees. Rangers will guide you through the forest trails, listening for the loud hoots and screams that indicate the location of the chimpanzee community. You will observe them as they swing through branches, forage for fruits, and groom one another on the forest floor. After lunch, you will return to the park headquarters at Uwinka to participate in the canopy walkway experience. You will walk along a 160-meter-long suspension bridge hanging 70 meters above the forest floor. This walkway gives you a view of the forest canopy, various bird species, and upper-level tree inhabitants.
Day 10: Kigali City Tour & Departure
The final day of your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda begins with a morning drive from Nyungwe Forest back to the capital city of Kigali. The route takes you through Huye, where you will stop to see historical sites. Upon reaching Kigali, you will conduct a structured city tour. The main highlight is a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi, which provides important historical context regarding the 1994 events and honors the victims. You will also visit local craft markets or a contemporary cafe to sample Rwandan coffee. Finally, your driver guide will transfer you to Kigali International Airport, arriving in time for your check-in procedures for your scheduled evening international departure flight home.
When is the best time for 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda
The optimal period to book this 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda falls within the region's two distinct dry seasons. The primary dry window spans from June to September, followed by a shorter dry spell from December to February. During these months, rainfall reduces significantly across both nations. In Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, thin vegetation and receding water holes force elephants, buffaloes, and lions to gather around predictable water sources, improving your tracking success during game drives and the Kazinga Channel boat cruise. In the rainforests of Bwindi, Volcanoes, and Nyungwe, dry ground makes the forest floors less muddy and easier to navigate during your primate tracking excursions. While mountain gorillas and chimpanzees remain active year-round, traveling in the dry season reduces the physical difficulty of hiking steep volcanic ridges. Conversely, traveling during the rainy seasons (March to May and October to November) brings heavier downpours but features lush green scenery.
What kind of visa do I need for 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda
To execute this cross-border 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda legally and efficiently, you must obtain an East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV). This specific joint visa allows international tourists multiple entries to move freely between Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya for up to 90 days. Because your international flight lands in Uganda first, you are legally required to apply for this visa through the official Uganda Electronic Visa Portal before your arrival. Applying through the wrong country's portal will invalidate the document at your first point of entry. The East Africa Tourist Visa costs a flat fee of $100 USD, presenting a substantial financial saving compared to buying single-entry visas for each country individually. To complete your online application, you will need to upload a copy of your passport valid for at least six months, a passport-sized photo, your safari itinerary, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Where to stay on 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda
Your accommodations during the 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda are selected based on your preferred tier of comfort, ranging from mid-range to luxury lodges situated near the park boundaries. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, options like Mweya Safari Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp position you directly near the breeding grounds of the savannah wildlife. As you transfer to Bwindi, lodges such as Buhoma Lodge or Mahogany Springs offer comfortable cabins overlooking the ancient forest canopy. Crossing into Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, you will check into mountain properties like Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, which provide fireplaces to counter the cool high-altitude evening temperatures. At Lake Kivu, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel offers lakeside relaxation. Finally, your nights at Nyungwe Forest are spent at places like Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, ensuring you are positioned near the park headquarters for your early morning chimpanzee walk.
What to pack for 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda
Packing for a 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda requires careful preparation for both hot savannah plains and cold, damp tropical rainforests. For your primate treks in Bwindi, Volcanoes, and Nyungwe, you must pack sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with excellent traction to handle slippery mountain trails. Pair these with long-sleeved shirts and durable long trousers to shield your skin from stinging nettles and sharp branches. Tough gardening gloves are essential for gripping vegetation along the steep ridges. A lightweight, breathable rain jacket must remain in your daypack, as equatorial weather changes rapidly. For the savannah game drives, pack lightweight, neutral-colored clothing, avoiding bright colors or dark blue and black fabrics which attract tsetse flies. Do not forget to pack a wide-brimmed sun hat, high-factor sunscreen, insect repellent containing DEET, a pair of binoculars for wildlife viewing, and a waterproof cover for your camera gear.
Booking 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda with us Roads of Adventure safaris
Booking your 10 Days Rwanda safari from Uganda with Roads of Adventure Safaris secures an expertly managed, cross-border expedition. As an experienced regional tour operator, we handle the entire logistical structure of your journey, eliminating the stress of coordinating separate services. Our team directly secures your essential Ugandan and Rwandan gorilla permits, chimpanzee tracking passes, and national park entries well in advance of your arrival. We provide a customized, well-maintained 4x4 safari vehicle equipped with a popup roof for unobstructed wildlife viewing, driven by a professional guide who possesses deep knowledge of local tracking paths and border customs protocols. From managing your entry clearances at the land borders to selecting verified partner lodges, Roads of Adventure Safaris ensures a smooth transition between Uganda and Rwanda. Contact our travel planners to customize this itinerary according to your specific dates, budgetary preferences, and physical fitness levels.
