Included Extras
- Gorilla Tracking in Uganda (included)
- Airport transfers
- BAR Flying Doctors
- Water
10
Days
Uganda & Rwanda Explored
June to October- December to February
- November, March to May
- Private Safari
- Land Cruiser Pop-Up Roof
- Private Guide/Driver
Tour Overview
Two countries, one unforgettable journey. This 10-day private safari threads through the misty volcanoes of Rwanda and into Uganda's lush, primate-rich wilds — an intimate, up-close adventure with some of the planet's rarest creatures.
It begins in Kigali, a city of hills, heart and hard-won hope. Walk its streets, reflect at the Genocide Memorial and visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund campus before winding your way toward the Virunga volcanoes. From here, the wild takes over.
The centrepiece? Gorilla tracking — hours spent scrambling through tangled forest to stand quietly among mountain gorillas. It's raw, humbling and utterly life-changing. Then it's on to shimmering Lake Mutanda for a sundowner cruise beneath those iconic peaks.
Uganda keeps the magic coming. Track chimpanzees in the dramatic Kyambura Gorge, glide along the wildlife-packed Kazinga Channel, and rumble across the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The finale unfolds at Lake Mburo, with bush walks, game drives and golden-hour sundowners at a viewpoint made for lingering.
Throughout, you'll travel by private 4x4 with your own guide, resting easy in characterful lodges — from lakeside cottages to hilltop hideaways.
Gorillas, chimps, sweeping plains and two countries brimming with soul. Ten days. A lifetime of stories. This is East Africa at its wildest and most intimate.
- Walk Kigali's Story - a moving city tour
- Track Mountain Gorillas on Foot in Uganda
- Cruise Lake Mutanda at Golden Hour
- Seek Out Chimpanzees
- Glide the Kazinga Channel
- Walk with zebra on a Lake Mburo bush walk
Good To Know
Karibu — welcome to Rwanda! Touch down at Kigali Airport, where your hotel's airport pickup is waiting to greet you. Settle into the Onomo Hotel, kick off your shoes and let the journey melt away. Kigali is famously clean, green and full of quiet energy — the perfect gentle landing before the adventure ramps up. Rest easy tonight; the wild is just around the corner.
Accommodation
Onomo Hotel, Kigali
Meals
Dinner
Day 2 :
Kigali to Five Volcanoes
Meet your Matoke guide at 07h00 and dive into Kigali's story. A city walking tour takes in the moving Genocide Memorial — a powerful, humbling reminder of resilience — before a visit to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund campus, where conservation legends are made. Then it's off toward the Virunga volcanoes, their green peaks rising dramatically on the horizon. Settle in at Five Volcanoes, with tomorrow's possibilities calling.
Included Activities
Kigali City Walking Tour incl. Genocide Memorial; Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Campus
Accommodation
Five Volcanoes
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 :
Rwanda to Lake Mutanda
Today, the choice is yours. Add a Rwanda gorilla trek, hike to Dian Fossey's tomb, or seek out the endearing golden monkeys of the Virungas (all optional). Whatever you choose, the afternoon carries you across the border into Uganda, to the serene shores of Lake Mutanda. Check in to your luxury cottage and drink in the views — volcanoes reflected in still water, a scene straight from a dream.
Optional Extra Info: Gorilla Tracking Rwanda US$1,500 + US$200 handling fee; Dian Fossey Tomb Hike US$100; Golden Monkey Tracking US$100 pp
Optional Activities
Gorilla Trekking & Golden Monkey Experience
Accommodation
Mutanda Lake Resort
Meals
Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 :
Gorilla Tracking in Uganda
The big one. Drive to the tracking point and set off on foot into dense, ancient forest, following expert guides through vines and undergrowth until you reach them: a family of mountain gorillas, going about their day. Watching a silverback stand guard or an infant tumble and play is a moment that rearranges something inside you. Return to Lake Mutanda that evening, buzzing and forever changed.
Included Activities
Gorilla Tracking in Uganda (included)
Accommodation
Mutanda Lake Resort
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5 :
Lake Mutanda at Leisure
Time to slow right down. Spend the day soaking up the peace of Lake Mutanda — read, relax, or simply watch the world drift by. As the light softens, step aboard for the included sundowner boat cruise, gliding across glassy water with a drink in hand and the Virunga volcanoes glowing on the horizon. Pure, unhurried bliss.
Included Activities
Boat Cruise on Lake Mutanda incl. Sundowner
Accommodation
Mutanda Lake Resort
Meals
Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Back on the road, swapping lakeside calm for classic safari country. The drive north brings you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda's most diverse wildlife havens — a patchwork of savannah, crater lakes and shimmering channels. Check in at Mweya Lodge, perched above the water, and settle in for sundowners with a view. Tomorrow, the wildlife takes centre stage.
Included Activities
Drive to Queen Elizabeth NP
Accommodation
Mweya Lodge
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
A double-header of a day! Morning takes you into the dramatic Kyambura Gorge, a sunken forest world, to track wild chimpanzees swinging through the canopy. Come afternoon, trade land for water on a private boat safari along the Kazinga Channel — a wildlife magnet where elephants, hippos, buffalo and a riot of birds gather at the shore. Camera ready; this one delivers.
Included Activities
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura (AM); Private Boat Safari on Kazinga Channel (PM)
Accommodation
Mweya Lodge
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
One last sweep through Queen Elizabeth on a morning game drive, keeping an eye out for lions, elephants and antelope in the golden early light. Then it's a scenic drive south to Lake Mburo National Park — compact, characterful and brimming with zebra, impala and giant birdlife. Arrive at the wonderful Mihingo Lodge, tucked into the hills, and unwind in style.
Included Activities
Morning Game Drive
Accommodation
Mihingo Lodge
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 :
Lake Mburo NP
A day to explore Mburo on foot and by wheel. Start with a morning bush walk — the only Ugandan park where you can safely stroll among zebra and antelope — for a slower, closer connection to the wild. Later, a game drive with your guide leads to a sundowner at a viewpoint, where the plains stretch out beneath a blazing sky. Feeling adventurous? Add a cycling safari or night drive.
Optional Activities: Cycling / Mountain Bike Safari US$40 pp; Night Game Drive US$45 pp
Included Activities
Bush Walk (AM); Game Drive (PM); Sundowner at Viewpoint
Optional Activities
Cycling / Mountain Bike Safari; Night Game Drive
Accommodation
Mihingo Lodge
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 :
Departure - Lake Mburo to Entebbe
All good things must end. Enjoy a final morning before the drive to Entebbe, where a farewell dinner with your guide caps off the journey — a chance to raise a glass to the memories made. Your Matoke guide sees you off at the airport, and you'll leave with muddy boots, a full memory card and a heart brimming with East African magic. Until next time!
Included Activities
Farewell Dinner with Guide; Airport Drop-Off
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
No Fixed Departure Dates - Please Check Availability
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Yes, a gorilla permit is essential. It's your golden ticket into the forest, and no one — not a soul — can trek without one. Here's everything you need to know before you go.
Why permits exist
Mountain gorillas are one of the planet's great conservation success stories, with numbers climbing from around 620 in 1989 to over 1,000 today. Permits are the reason why. By strictly limiting how many people visit each gorilla family (a maximum of eight visitors per group, per day), the authorities keep the animals healthy, calm and protected — gorillas share roughly 98% of our DNA and can catch human illnesses, even a common cold. Your permit fee also funds ranger patrols, veterinary care, anti-poaching work and the communities living around the parks.
What a permit includes
Whether you trek in Uganda or Rwanda, your permit covers park entry, professional ranger guides and trackers, a pre-trek briefing and up to one hour in the presence of a habituated gorilla family. It does not cover transport, accommodation, porters or tips.
The cost (2026)
Prices are set by the national wildlife authorities and are non-negotiable:
- Uganda (standard trek): USD 800 per person
- Uganda (gorilla habituation — up to 4 hours in Rushaga): USD 1,500 per person, rising to USD 1,800 from January 2027
- Rwanda (standard trek): USD 1,500 per person
Rwanda's higher price reflects its high-value, low-impact model and the short, easy drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, while Uganda offers superb value and access to nearly half the world's mountain gorillas in Bwindi.
How to book
Permits are limited and peak seasons (June–September, December–February) sell out months ahead, so early booking is essential — and payment is now required in full at the time of booking. The good news? We handle all of this for you, securing your permits as part of your tour arrangements so there's nothing to organise yourself.
Please note: Depending on the itinerary, your gorilla permit may or may not be included in your quoted tour price — permits are sometimes built in and sometimes quoted separately. Always check your detailed itinerary to confirm exactly what's covered.
Most international travellers require a visa to visit Uganda. Tourist visas are generally obtained online before travel through Uganda’s official electronic visa system, while certain nationalities are visa-exempt. Travellers combining Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda may also be eligible for the East Africa Tourist Visa. Visa requirements can change, so we recommend checking the latest requirements for your nationality before travelling.
A valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is an important entry requirement for Uganda and should be arranged well before departure. Uganda is also a malaria-risk destination, and travellers should speak with their doctor or travel clinic about malaria prevention and any other recommended vaccinations based on their itinerary and personal health.
Most international visitors arrive through Entebbe International Airport, located near Entebbe and approximately 40 kilometres from Kampala. From here, journeys continue by road or domestic flight to Uganda’s national parks and wilderness areas. Depending on your itinerary, Uganda can also be combined overland with neighbouring destinations such as Kenya and Rwanda.
Pack lightweight, comfortable clothing for warm days, along with long trousers, sturdy walking shoes and a lightweight waterproof jacket, particularly if gorilla or chimpanzee trekking is part of your journey. A warmer layer is useful for cool mornings and evenings, especially in higher-altitude areas. Sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, binoculars and a small daypack are also useful additions.
The official currency is the Ugandan Shilling (UGX). Cash remains useful for smaller purchases, tips and more remote areas, while major hotels, lodges and larger establishments may accept international credit or debit cards. US Dollars are also widely used within the tourism industry, particularly for certain safari-related expenses. It is advisable to carry a combination of local currency, some US Dollars and a major payment card when travelling through Uganda.