This 10 day Uganda safari from Kigali runs west through Uganda’s classic safari circuit: chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, game drives and the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Ishasha sector’s tree-climbing lions, and the Buhoma-to-Nkuringo forest walk through Bwindi, with the gorilla trekking saved for the second half of the journey.
The route closes with four nights at Orugano Bwindi Lodge in Nkuringo, the base for the cultural day, the gorilla trekking and the golden monkeys. Four nights in one place, right beside the forest, gives the second half of the safari a settled rhythm, and the lodge is owned and operated by the same team behind Orugano Safaris, so the guiding, the food and the local knowledge carry through the whole stay. You travel the whole way in a private 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with an experienced driver-guide.
The itinerary is private and tailor-made. It is designed around a small group travelling together in one safari vehicle with an experienced driver-guide, and every day below can be adjusted to your interests, your fitness and the permits that are available for your dates.
Safari at a Glance
| Duration | 10 days, 9 nights |
| Start and end point | Kigali, Rwanda (arrival and departure) |
| Gorilla experiences | A standard gorilla trek and the gorilla habituation experience are bookable options on this safari, subject to permit availability |
| Key parks and areas | Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park including the Ishasha sector, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Nkuringo), Mgahinga Gorilla National Park |
| Travel style | Private tailor-made safari with an experienced driver-guide and a private 4×4 safari Land Cruiser |
Practical travel note
One point matters before booking: Day 1 is a long transfer for an international arrival day, crossing into Uganda at the Katuna border, generally the more logical crossing when travelling directly from Kigali towards Mbarara. This itinerary works best for guests arriving in Kigali early in the morning; guests arriving later in the day can add a pre-safari night in Kigali, with the 10-day programme starting the following morning. The final day is likewise a substantial road journey from Nkuringo to Kigali via the Cyanika border, which makes sense for the return from the southern side of the park, so departures are best scheduled for the evening, subject to confirmed driving and border-crossing times.
Day-by-day itinerary
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive at Kigali International Airport early in the morning, meet your driver-guide and cross into Uganda at the Katuna border | Continue to a cultural centre near Mbarara; visit the Ankole cultural museum if time permits. Guests arriving later in the day can add a pre-safari night in Kigali (see the practical travel note) | A suitable lodge in Mbarara |
| 2 | Transfer north to Kibale National Park | Bigodi Wetland walk, about three hours with a community guide | A suitable lodge near Kibale Forest |
| 3 | Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park | Transfer south to the Kichwamba escarpment above Queen Elizabeth National Park | A suitable lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park (nights 3 and 4) |
| 4 | Morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park | Evening boat safari on the Kazinga Channel | (continues) |
| 5 | Visit Katwe Salt Lake, where traditional salt production continues today, then drive south | Transfer into the Ishasha sector; afternoon game drive, subject to arrival time | A suitable lodge near the Ishasha sector |
| 6 | Early departure from Ishasha and transfer to Buhoma | Buhoma-to-Nkuringo forest crossing after reaching Buhoma, subject to trail arrangements and daylight, luggage travelling separately by vehicle | Orugano Bwindi Lodge in Nkuringo (nights 6 to 9) |
| 7 | Rest day in Nkuringo | Cultural day: visit the Batwa with the community as hosts | (continues) |
| 8 | Standard gorilla trekking, with the habituation experience as an option for group members who prefer it | Return to the lodge for a late lunch and a quiet afternoon | (continues) |
| 9 | Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park | Visit Kisoro town on the way back to the lodge | (continues) |
| 10 | Breakfast at the lodge | Departure via the Cyanika border to Kigali for your onward flight | Not applicable |
Days 1 and 2: from Kigali to the forest
Day 1 is a long travelling day and works best with a morning arrival in Kigali. Your driver-guide meets you at Kigali International Airport, and the route crosses into Uganda at the Katuna border, generally the more logical crossing when travelling directly from Kigali towards Mbarara, before the day ends with a visit to a cultural centre near Mbarara, where the Ankole cultural museum traces the cattle-keeping heritage of western Uganda; the museum visit stays optional if time permits. Guests arriving later in the day can add a pre-safari night in Kigali, with the 10-day programme starting the following morning; the extension sits outside the 10-day itinerary.
Day 2 continues north to Kibale National Park, and the afternoon belongs to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk. The walk is community-run and takes about three hours on boardwalks and footpaths, with birds and several monkey species along the way. The night is spent at a suitable lodge near Kibale Forest, close to the forest edge.
Days 3 and 4: chimpanzees and the Kazinga Channel
Day 3 starts with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, where a tracking permit places you with a ranger team for up to one hour with a habituated chimpanzee community; the minimum age is 15. Masks are required to track the chimpanzees. In the afternoon the route moves south to the Kichwamba escarpment above Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 4 is the park’s classic pairing: a morning game drive across the Kasenyi plains, then an evening boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, about two hours on the water among hippos, elephants, crocodiles and a long list of waterbirds.
Day 5: the salt lakes and the Ishasha sector
On Day 5 the route visits Katwe Salt Lake, where traditional salt production continues today on the shallow pans inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, before the drive turns south into the Ishasha sector of the same park. Subject to arrival time, the afternoon is given to a game drive here, so the tree-climbing lions get a proper opportunity rather than a drive-through. This is the section known for lions that rest in the branches of fig trees. Sightings are never guaranteed, and your guide will read the day and the grass lengths accordingly.
Day 6: the Buhoma-to-Nkuringo walk
Day 6 starts with an early departure from Ishasha and the transfer to Buhoma in the north of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; the game drive opportunity in the Ishasha sector is prioritised on Day 5 instead, leaving the day clear for the crossing. From Buhoma, the trail crosses the forest to Nkuringo in the south with a local guide: a significant activity that generally takes several hours and depends on the chosen route, the conditions and daylight, so the day is planned around it. You cross the forest on foot while your luggage is transferred separately by vehicle to Orugano Bwindi Lodge.
Terrain and difficulty vary with the route and conditions, and many reasonably fit guests can enjoy the crossing; porters can be arranged in Buhoma. You arrive at Orugano Bwindi Lodge in Nkuringo, your base for the final four nights, as introduced above. For nights away from Nkuringo, a suitable lodge is arranged near each stop on the route and confirmed with your booking. For guidance on accommodation across the Bwindi sectors, see our overview of where to stay in Bwindi. For a closer look at the route, read our guide to the Nkuringo-to-Buhoma walk.
Days 7 and 8: the Batwa and the gorillas
Day 7 is a cultural day in Nkuringo. The visit to the Batwa is arranged with the community as hosts, and what is shared reflects what the families themselves choose to present, from forest traditions to everyday life on the forest edge.
Day 8 is the gorilla day. Standard gorilla trekking takes up to one hour with a habituated family, with a maximum of eight visitors per family and a minimum age of 15, as set out in our Uganda gorilla trekking guide. The reporting arrangements differ between the two experiences, and both are confirmed per booking: standard gorilla trekking briefs at the Nkuringo briefing point, while the gorilla habituation experience meets at the separate Nyabaremura meeting point, signposted via Rubuguli and about 25 minutes from Orugano Bwindi Lodge, starting at 6:30 am under the Uganda Wildlife Authority‘s current tracking guidelines.
The habituation experience allows up to four hours with a semi-habituated family for a maximum of four visitors per day, and researcher participation cannot be guaranteed. Day 8 can combine the gorilla habituation experience and a standard gorilla trek for different members of the group, subject to permit availability. Masks are required to track the gorillas and are provided at Orugano Bwindi Lodge as guests leave for tracking. Whatever the permit type, keep your distance from the gorillas and follow your park ranger’s instructions. Do not approach or touch them.
Days 9 and 10: golden monkeys and the journey home
Day 9 turns to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for golden monkey trekking, with a stop in Kisoro town on the way back to the lodge. On Day 10, breakfast is included, and the departure runs from Nkuringo via the Cyanika border back to Kigali. Allow adequate time for the road journey, border procedures and airport check-in; as with all our itineraries, evening departures work best, subject to confirmed driving and border-crossing times.
What is included
- Park entrance fees for the parks and reserves in the itinerary
- Gorilla permits as booked, whether the standard trek, the habituation experience or both for different group members, subject to availability
- Chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey trekking, boat safari, game drives, the Bigodi walk and the forest walk as listed
- The services of a professional driver-guide throughout
- Accommodation as listed
- Transportation in a private 4×4 safari Land Cruiser, including airport transfers in Kigali
- Full board during the safari, with breakfast also included on the final morning
- Drinking water in the vehicle
What is not included
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari
- Personal items, including travel insurance and visas
- Meals not specified in the itinerary
Plan your safari
This route is a starting point. The length, the border crossings and the order of the days can be tailored: the outward journey uses the Katuna border, the return from Nkuringo uses Cyanika, and timings are adaptable to your flight times. A suitable lodge is arranged near each stop on the route; Orugano Bwindi Lodge in Nkuringo is the named property on this itinerary. Where alternatives are used, they will be of a comparable agreed standard, and final accommodation details are provided before booking confirmation. Permits are limited and availability varies by date, so early planning makes a real difference. To start building this itinerary around your dates, visit our plan your safari page.