30-Day Uganda and Rwanda Safari-Gorillas, Chimps & Beyond
Imagine locking eyes with a mountain gorilla in a misty rainforest, watching a shoebill glide silently through papyrus swamps, or hearing lions roar across golden savannah at sunset. This 30-day Uganda and Rwanda expedition is built around moments like these.
Often overshadowed by Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda offer something rarer: raw wilderness, extraordinary biodiversity, and deeply immersive cultural experiences. Together, they form one of Africa’s most rewarding safari circuits-from the source of the Nile to volcanic mountain ranges, from dense primate forests to wildlife-rich plains.
This is not just a safari. It’s a journey into the landscapes, wildlife, and cultures that define East Africa. In 30 days, you’ll track gorillas in Bwindi, search for chimpanzees in ancient forests, raft the Nile, hike volcanoes, and unwind beside some of Africa’s most beautiful lakes.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Shoebill Tracking
Your extraordinary Uganda & Rwanda adventure officially begins upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport. A safari guide will meet you warmly and transfer you to a hotel for a brief rest and welcome briefing. In the afternoon, you will head to the famous Mabamba Swamp, widely considered one of the world’s premier shoebill viewing sites. Boarding a traditional dugout canoe, you will glide quietly through dense papyrus reeds in search of this prehistoric bird. The shoebill stork stands nearly five feet tall and possesses a truly remarkable shoe-shaped bill. Local guides expertly navigate the swamp’s winding channels, carefully positioning the canoe for incredible sightings. As evening falls, furthermore, you will return to Entebbe feeling both thrilled and deeply inspired by your first encounter with Uganda’s remarkable wildlife.
Accommodation Options: Airport View Guest House (Budget) | Papyrus Guest House (Mid-Range) | Hotel No.5 (Luxury)
Day 2: Entebbe to Jinja – Source of the Nile
After a relaxed breakfast, you will depart Entebbe and drive approximately 2-3 hours east to the bustling town of Jinja. This charming riverside town sits, notably at the precise point where the mighty Nile River begins its epic 6,700-kilometer journey north toward the Mediterranean Sea. Upon arrival, you will visit the celebrated Source of the Nile, a site of enormous historical, geographical and emotional significance. Explorers once, in fact, spent decades searching the African continent to discover this exact location. You can take a scenic boat ride to the marker positioned in the river where the Nile officially originates. In the evening, furthermore, you will settle comfortably into riverside accommodation and enjoy dinner with beautiful Nile views stretching to the horizon.
Accommodation Options: The Nile Porch (Budget) | Haven Eco River Lodge (Mid-Range) | Lemala Wildwaters (Luxury)
Day 3: Jinja Adventure Activities
Jinja is widely and deservedly regarded as the adventure capital of East Africa. Consequently, this day is entirely dedicated to exciting outdoor activities centered on the powerful Nile River. You can choose from white-water rafting on spectacular Grade 5 rapids, which is, without doubt one of Africa’s greatest adrenaline experiences. Alternatively, you might prefer horseback riding through the scenic Nile Valley countryside, quad biking through nearby village paths, or peaceful tubing on the river’s calmer stretches. As the sun sets magnificently over the water, moreover, a Nile sunset cruise provides a serene and beautifully atmospheric end to an action-packed day. Each activity, furthermore, reveals a completely different and equally rewarding perspective on this legendary river. Whatever you choose, Jinja will leave you genuinely wanting more.
Day 4: Jinja to Sipi Falls
Departing Jinja after breakfast, you will travel northeast toward the fertile slopes of Mount Elgon, Uganda’s second-highest peak. The scenic drive passes through rural countryside, offering wonderful glimpses of everyday Ugandan village life along the way. Upon reaching Sipi Falls, you will immediately understand why this highland destination captivates so many visitors each year. Three spectacular waterfalls cascade dramatically down a volcanic rock face, creating a breathtakingly beautiful and powerfully atmospheric scene. In the afternoon, moreover, you will join a guided coffee tour through surrounding plantations, where Uganda’s finest Arabica coffee is grown at high altitude. Learning the entire journey from coffee cherry to finished cup is, indeed, both endlessly fascinating and thoroughly delicious. A gentle evening walk to viewpoints near the falls rounds off a wonderfully scenic and memorable day.
Accommodation Options: Home of Friends Guesthouse (Budget) | Rafiki Lodge Sipi (Mid-Range) | Sipi Heritage Lodge (Upper Mid-Range)
Day 5: Sipi Falls Exploration
This day is fully dedicated to exploring the dramatic landscape and rich culture surrounding Sipi Falls. Guided hikes lead you directly behind and beneath the thundering waterfalls, offering a refreshing and genuinely exhilarating physical experience. Additionally, for the more adventurous traveler, abseiling down the sheer volcanic rock face beside the falls presents an unforgettable physical challenge. Hidden caves tucked behind the curtains of falling water, furthermore, add a wonderful sense of mystery and discovery to the morning exploration. In the afternoon, you will engage respectfully with local Sebei communities, learning about their traditional customs, ceremonial dances, and agricultural way of life. This cultural dimension, indeed, enriches the entire Sipi experience far beyond ordinary sightseeing. By evening, you will return to your lodge with tired legs and a wonderfully full memory card.
Day 6: Drive to Moroto – Karamajong Cultural Experience
Leaving the cool, lush highland air of Sipi behind, you will drive north into the dramatically arid Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda. This remote and rugged landscape feels, noticeably, like an entirely different country from the fertile greenery of Mount Elgon’s slopes. Upon arriving in the town of Moroto, you will be warmly welcomed by the semi-nomadic Karamajong people, one of Uganda’s most traditional and culturally distinctive communities. In the afternoon, furthermore, you will experience their remarkable culture firsthand through village visits, warrior dances, traditional songs, and compelling storytelling sessions around an evening fire. The Karamajong have historically been cattle herders, and as a result, cattle remain absolutely central to their identity, social structure, and economy. Their elaborate beadwork, warrior traditions, and deeply rooted oral histories are, indeed, profoundly captivating and unlike anything encountered earlier on this journey.
Accommodation Options: Kara-Tunga Safari Camp (Budget) | Moroto Resort Hotel (Mid-Range) | DNA Lodge Moroto (Upper Mid-Range)
Day 7: Moroto to Kidepo Valley National Park
This day’s drive continues further north to one of Africa’s most remote and genuinely rewarding wildlife destinations. Kidepo Valley National Park sits, impressively, in the far northeastern corner of Uganda, close to the borders of both South Sudan and Kenya. The park’s dramatic landscape of sweeping golden savannah, ancient rocky outcrops, and dry seasonal riverbeds creates a rugged, cinematic, and utterly unforgettable backdrop. Upon arrival, you will check in to your lodge and enjoy an optional evening game drive across the open plains. The park receives, notably, far fewer visitors than Uganda’s more accessible southern parks, meaning you will often experience the African bush entirely to yourself. This profound sense of solitude furthermore, makes every wildlife sighting feel deeply personal, unhurried, and genuinely intimate. Kidepo is, without question, Uganda’s greatest secret.
Accommodation Options: Apoka Rest Camp (Budget) | Kidepo Savannah Lodge (Mid-Range) | Apoka Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 8: Full Day Kidepo Safari
A full day dedicated to Kidepo Valley promises some of the most thrilling and authentic game viewing anywhere in Uganda. In March 2026, rhinos were successfully reintroduced to the park, making Kidepo the latest Ugandan park to host the Big Five. Morning game drives reveal lions basking confidently on ancient rocky outcrops, cheetahs scanning open plains for prey, and leopards resting elegantly in acacia branches. Elephants, meanwhile, move in impressive family groups through dry riverbeds, while enormous buffalo herds create raw and powerful scenes across the golden grasslands. Giraffes, zebras, warthogs, hyenas, and Uganda kobs complete the spectacular cast of wildlife. The park’s birdlife, furthermore, is equally remarkable, with over 475 recorded species including the striking ostrich and secretary bird. An afternoon drive explores different sections of the park, often delivering even more extraordinary encounters as wildlife becomes increasingly active in the cooler evening hours.
Day 9: Kidepo to Murchison Falls National Park
This day involves a long but genuinely scenic transfer southwest to Uganda’s largest protected area, Murchison Falls National Park. The remarkable journey takes you across dramatically varied Ugandan landscapes, transitioning from the arid north through increasingly lush and green central regions. Along the way, you will pass through small market towns, rolling green hills, and expansive agricultural areas filled with tea and sugarcane plantations. Upon arrival at Murchison Falls, the sheer scale of the landscape immediately impresses even the most well-traveled visitors. The park straddles the powerful Victoria Nile, and consequently, spectacular river scenery dominates much of the experience throughout the park. After checking in to your lodge, you can enjoy a stunning sundowner on the riverbank as hippos grunt loudly in the darkening water below. The constant thundering roar of the falls, furthermore, can be heard from several kilometers away.
Accommodation Options: Hornbill Bush Lodge (Budget) | Tilenga Safari Lodge (Mid-Range) | Paara Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 10: Murchison Safari & Top of the Falls
A dawn game drive opens an exceptional day with outstanding wildlife viewing across Murchison’s famous northern bank. Lions are commonly spotted hunting in the early morning light, and additionally, large herds of elephants frequently cross the open grasslands in impressive numbers. Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, leopards, Jackson’s hartebeest, and warthogs all contribute richly to an exceptionally diverse game viewing experience. In the afternoon, furthermore, a classic boat cruise along the Victoria Nile delivers you directly to the dramatic base of Murchison Falls itself. Hundreds of hippos lounge contentedly on wide sandbanks as enormous Nile crocodiles bask motionlessly nearby. African fish eagles, goliath herons, pied kingfishers, and sacred ibis line every section of the riverbank in breathtaking numbers. As evening approaches, moreover, a short hike takes you to the very summit of the falls, where the entire Nile squeezes dramatically through a seven-meter gap in thundering, mist-filled spectacle.
Day 11: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Departing Murchison Falls after breakfast, you will travel steadily south through Uganda’s fertile green heartland toward Kibale Forest National Park. The pleasant drive passes through Fort Portal, a charming highland town widely known as the Tourism City of Uganda. Along the way, furthermore, breathtaking views of the Rwenzori Mountains – romantically named the Mountains of the Moon by ancient cartographers — emerge majestically on the western horizon. Kibale Forest is, notably, recognized by scientists as the primate capital of the world, hosting an extraordinary 13 different primate species within its boundaries. After checking in to your comfortable forest lodge, you will attend an essential evening briefing about the following day’s chimpanzee tracking experience. The forest’s night sounds — including the eerie calls of tree hyraxes and distant chimpanzee hoots — create a wonderfully atmospheric and immersive introduction to this remarkable ancient ecosystem.
Accommodation Options: Chimpanzee Forest (Budget) | Turaco Treetops (Mid-Range) | Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)
Day 12: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland
An early morning briefing at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) office precedes your highly anticipated chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest. The forest hosts approximately 1,500 chimpanzees, making rewarding encounters consistently likely and genuinely extraordinary. Following experienced ranger guides through the dense, dripping forest, you will search for habituated chimpanzee communities as they forage, groom, vocalize, and play overhead. The experience is, without doubt, one of the most emotionally powerful and intellectually moving wildlife encounters found anywhere in East Africa. In the afternoon, furthermore, a guided community walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary offers a completely different but equally rewarding experience. Red colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, black-and-white colobus, and red-tailed monkeys inhabit the wetland papyrus. Spectacular birds including the great blue turaco, African grey parrot, and papyrus gonolek are, additionally, commonly spotted among the reeds and trees.
Day 13: Crater Lakes & Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Departing Kibale after breakfast, you will travel south through Uganda’s justly famous crater lakes region near Fort Portal. This extraordinary volcanic landscape contains dozens of perfectly circular lakes nestled in ancient explosion craters, creating a scenically dramatic and endlessly photogenic drive. You will stop at carefully selected viewpoints to admire lakes including Nkuruba, Nyinambuga, and the striking green-hued Lake Katwe, which has been mined for salt for thousands of years. The journey continues south toward Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest and most accessible savannah reserve. Upon arrival in the early evening, furthermore, you will have time for a brief introductory game drive. Lake Mburo is, notably, another national park in Uganda where visitors can reliably spot zebras and impalas, making it a wonderfully unique and complementary addition to the broader Ugandan safari experience.
Accommodation Options: Rwakobo Rock Lodge (Budget) | Eagle’s Nest Lodge (Mid-Range) | Kigambira Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 14: Lake Mburo – Nature Walk & Boat Cruise
A guided morning nature walk through Lake Mburo’s open acacia woodlands and golden grasslands reveals wildlife at a wonderfully intimate and completely unhurried pace. On foot, you can approach zebras, impalas, elands, topis, and warthogs at remarkably close and exciting range. Buffaloes and occasional leopards are, furthermore, also regularly encountered on these informative walking safaris led by highly experienced armed rangers. The park’s remarkable birdlife includes the rare African finfoot, the endangered papyrus yellow warbler, and numerous spectacular kingfisher species lining every waterway. In the afternoon, moreover, a peaceful boat cruise on Lake Mburo itself delivers a completely different and equally rewarding perspective on this compact park. Hippos surface lazily around the slow-moving boat while Nile crocodiles watch passively from muddy banks. Water birds, including dancing jacanas and plunging fish eagles, provide endlessly entertaining natural theater as the sun descends.
Day 15: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a leisurely breakfast, you will depart Lake Mburo and drive west toward Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most visited and diverse wildlife reserve. The scenic journey carries you through picturesque Ugandan countryside before the vast, open landscape of the park gradually and dramatically reveals itself ahead. Queen Elizabeth sits, impressively, directly on the Equator and encompasses a stunning diversity of habitats including savannah, tropical forest, wetlands, and volcanic craters. Upon arrival, you will check in to a well-positioned lodge with sweeping views over the park. An evening game drive, furthermore, provides an excellent introduction to Queen Elizabeth’s remarkable biodiversity and abundance of wildlife. Elephants are particularly numerous here, and herds of over 100 individuals are regularly and spectacularly encountered moving across the open plains. The park is, indeed, home to an extraordinary 95 mammal species.
Accommodation Options: Kazinga Wilderness Camp (Budget) | Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-Range Cottages) | Buffalo Safari Lodge (Luxury Cottages)
Day 16: Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
A pre-dawn game drive explores Queen Elizabeth’s famous Kasenyi Plains, renowned worldwide for large lion prides and exceptional elephant encounters. Uganda kobs perform elaborate and fascinating mating rituals on open leks throughout the morning hours. Hyenas, leopards, buffaloes, warthogs, and various mongoose species are, furthermore, also regularly spotted during these productive early morning drives. After lunch at the lodge, moreover, the iconic Kazinga Channel boat cruise delivers one of Africa’s most breathtaking and concentrated wildlife spectacles. This 32-kilometer natural channel connects Lakes George and Edward, drawing enormous and diverse concentrations of wildlife to both banks throughout the day. Hundreds of hippos jostle noisily for space in the shallower sections while massive crocodiles sprawl on sunny sandy shores. Cape buffaloes, elephants bathing, and an astonishing variety of water birds line every kilometer of this extraordinary and justifiably famous waterway.
Day 17: Ishasha Sector – Tree-Climbing Lions & Bwindi Transfer
Departing Queen Elizabeth’s main wildlife area, you will drive south to the remote and wild Ishasha sector, globally renowned for its extraordinary tree-climbing lions. These remarkable lions have uniquely developed the unusual and photogenic habit of resting high in the broad branches of ancient fig trees, a behavior documented in very few lion populations across all of Africa. Spotting an entire pride draped lazily across the upper branches is, undoubtedly, one of Uganda’s most spectacular and most photographed wildlife moments. After exploring the Ishasha sector thoroughly, you will continue the increasingly scenic drive up into the mist-covered highlands toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The mountainous scenery along this route is, furthermore, absolutely breathtaking with terraced hillsides and dramatic valleys. By evening, you will arrive at your forest lodge surrounded by the atmospheric sounds of one of Africa’s most biodiverse ecosystems.
Accommodation Options: Gorilla Valley Lodge (Budget) | Ichumbi Safari Lodge (Mid-Range) | Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Day 18: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Cultural Experience
This day delivers one of the most profound and unforgettable wildlife encounters available anywhere on earth 1 mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. After an early briefing, experienced ranger guides lead your carefully limited group into the dense, dripping forest in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek can take anywhere from 1 to 6 hours depending on gorilla movements and consequently, fitness and patient determination are equally important. Upon finally locating the gorillas, you will spend 1 magical and strictly regulated hour observing silverbacks, attentive mothers and endlessly playful youngsters in their natural mountain habitat. The experience is, without any question whatsoever, utterly life-changing and deeply humbling.
In the evening, furthermore, an authentic Batwa cultural encounter introduces you to the forest’s original hunter-gatherer inhabitants. The Batwa people share their ancient forest knowledge, traditional hunting skills and beautiful musical performances in a deeply respectful and moving cultural exchange.
Day 19: Lake Bunyonyi Relaxation
After the emotional and physical intensity of gorilla trekking, today offers a wonderfully peaceful and restorative day at beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. Frequently described by travelers as Africa’s most scenic lake, Bunyonyi occupies a deep volcanic valley surrounded by dramatically terraced green hillsides and 29 small islands of varying size. You can explore the lake at leisure by traditional dugout canoe, visiting fascinating nearby islands including Punishment Island, which carries a deeply poignant and historically significant story from Uganda’s precolonial past.
Alternatively, moreover, simply relaxing along the peaceful lakeshore, swimming in the bilharzia-free waters, or enjoying a tranquil sunset paddle are equally rewarding and restorative ways to spend the day. The surrounding hills also offer scenic walking trails with panoramic views extending across the shimmering lake and deep into neighboring Rwanda. Lake Bunyonyi is, indeed, one of East Africa’s most serene and genuinely beautiful destinations.
Accommodation Options: Itambira Lodge (Budget) | Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort (Mid-Range) | Arcadia Cottages (Luxury)
Day 20: Cross to Rwanda – Akagera National Park
Departing Lake Bunyonyi, you will cross the Uganda-Rwanda border at the Katuna-Gatuna crossing and enter the remarkable Land of a Thousand Hills. The Rwandan countryside unfolds dramatically and beautifully ahead, with meticulously terraced green hillsides stretching as far as the eye can see in every direction. After completing border formalities efficiently, your guide will transfer you to Kigali for lunch and relaxation. Later in the afternoon you will head to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only Big Five savannah reserve. Akagera underwent a genuinely remarkable and internationally celebrated conservation transformation over the past decade, and as a direct result, lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffaloes all thrive within its recovered borders.
Accommodation Options: Rutete Eco Lodge (Budget) | Akagera Game Lodge (Mid-Range) | Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Luxury)
Day 21: Akagera Safari & Lake Ihema Boat Cruise
A full day within Akagera’s boundaries delivers outstanding game viewing across the park’s wonderfully diverse habitats. Morning drives through the northern savannah are, notably, the optimal time to track lions and critically endangered rhinos with the skillful assistance of expert rangers using radio collar data. Elephant herds frequently and unpredictably cross the main game viewing roads. Topis, zebras, giraffes, olive baboons, warthogs, and numerous antelope species are commonly encountered throughout the park’s open grasslands and acacia woodland zones.
In the afternoon, an exhilarating boat cruise on Lake Ihema, Rwanda’s largest freshwater lake, provides a truly spectacular and densely packed wildlife experience. Enormous hippo pods numbering in the hundreds completely dominate the shallows, while Nile crocodiles patrol deeper waters with ancient and unhurried menace. The lake’s extraordinary birdlife, moreover, includes occasional shoebill stork sightings, making this a particularly exciting stop for dedicated birders. Over 500 species have been recorded within Akagera’s boundaries.
Day 22: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will depart Akagera and undertake the long but scenically rewarding drive west and south to Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda. The journey crosses Rwanda’s spectacular central highlands, providing continuously breathtaking views of rolling hills, tea estates, and traditional terraced agriculture carved into every available hillside. Nyungwe is, impressively, one of Africa’s oldest, largest, and most biodiverse montane rainforests, covering over 1,000 square kilometers of pristine ancient forest.
The forest is home to 13 distinct primate species, including chimpanzees, Ruwenzori black-and-white colobus, and the rarely seen L’Hoest’s monkey. Upon arrival, furthermore, you will check into your forest-edge lodge with cool mountain air replacing the lowland heat. Evening walks along the forest boundary often reveal nocturnal species as darkness descends over the canopy. The forest’s extraordinary dawn chorus, with hundreds of bird species calling simultaneously, is one of nature’s most overwhelming symphonies.
Accommodation Options: Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge (Budget) | Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-Range) | One&Only Nyungwe House (Luxury)
Day 23: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk
Nyungwe’s celebrated chimpanzee trekking experience begins with an early morning briefing at the national park visitor center. Experienced rangers lead you along forest trails in search of the park’s habituated chimpanzee community, estimated at around 500 individuals spread across several family groups. Finding and spending time observing these highly intelligent great apes foraging in the ancient montane forest is, undeniably, a profoundly emotional and intellectually humbling experience.
In the afternoon, furthermore, Nyungwe’s famous suspended canopy walkway offers a breathtakingly different forest perspective unavailable anywhere else in Rwanda. Suspended 50 meters above the ancient forest floor, the 160-meter bridge sways gently among the treetops, where colobus monkey troops frequently leap dramatically overhead. The panoramic views of the surrounding forest canopy stretching unbroken toward the horizon are, indeed, completely magnificent. This combination of intimate primate encounters and exhilarating elevated forest perspectives makes today one of the expedition’s most memorable and distinctive days.
Day 24: Tea Plantations & Drive to Lake Kivu
Departing Nyungwe, you will wind gradually down through Rwanda’s western highlands toward the famous tea-growing country surrounding the forest. Rwanda is, notably, one of East Africa’s premier specialty tea producers, and the immaculately maintained rolling green plantations blanketing these hillsides are both visually stunning and economically vital to local communities.
A guided tea plantation walk reveals the meticulous and labor-intensive process of growing, hand-picking, and carefully processing some of East Africa’s most prized teas. After the enriching plantation experience, furthermore, you will drive north along the dramatically scenic shores of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s celebrated Great Lakes and one of the world’s deepest. The views as you descend the escarpment toward the lake are, quite simply, breathtaking and unlike anything encountered elsewhere on this journey. By afternoon, you will settle into a beautiful lakeside hotel as the sun sets spectacularly over the Congolese horizon.
Accommodation Options: Inzu Lodge (Budget) | Cormoran Lodge (Mid-Range) | Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (Luxury)
Day 25: Lake Kivu Relaxation & Water Activities
Lake Kivu offers a wonderfully varied range of activities for a full, enjoyable, and deeply restorative day on and around the water. The morning begins beautifully with a peaceful boat ride to nearby islands, including Napoleon Island, where thousands of fruit bats roost dramatically in shoreline trees. Alternatively, kayaking along the lake’s remarkably calm blue waters provides excellent views of the surrounding volcanic hills and the hazy Democratic Republic of Congo shoreline across the water. Coffee tours at local cooperatives, furthermore, reveal Rwanda’s rapidly growing specialty coffee industry, which produces award-winning single-origin beans increasingly sought after by international roasters and specialty cafés worldwide. In the afternoon, beach relaxation along Kivu’s sandy shores offers a wonderfully welcome chance to unwind, reflect, and appreciate the extraordinary journey already accomplished. The lake’s unique volcanic setting makes every activity feel effortlessly and dramatically picturesque throughout the day.
Day 26: Lake Kivu to Volcanoes National Park
Departing Lake Kivu after a leisurely breakfast, you will drive north through western Rwanda toward Volcanoes National Park, protected home to the last remaining wild mountain gorillas on earth. The road passes through beautiful and varied rural landscapes of banana plantations, bright green terraced hillsides, and bustling small market towns alive with color and activity.
As you approach the town of Musanze, the dramatic conical peaks of the Virunga volcanic chain rise majestically and unmistakably on the northern horizon. These ancient volcanoes – including majestic Karisimbi, spectacular Bisoke, and towering Muhabura – form the dramatic natural backdrop to one of conservation science’s greatest modern success stories. Upon arriving at your lodge, furthermore, an evening briefing comprehensively prepares you for tomorrow’s gorilla trekking adventure. The atmosphere around Volcanoes National Park is, notably, uniquely charged with quiet excitement as visitors gather from across the world.
Accommodation Options: Kinigi Guest House (Budget) | Ingagi Lodge (Mid-Range) | Amakoro Songa Lodge (Luxury)
Day 27: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
The expedition’s second mountain gorilla trekking experience takes place in the world-renowned Volcanoes National Park, where pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey conducted her legendary and ultimately life-costing research. After the morning allocation briefing, ranger-led groups ascend into the dense bamboo forests and steep volcanic slopes in search of entirely different habituated gorilla families from those encountered at Bwindi. Each family has its own entirely unique dynamics, relationships, and individual personalities, making this second trekking experience feel completely fresh and independently extraordinary.
In the afternoon, moreover, the optional Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village visit provides fascinating, entertaining, and genuinely insightful perspectives on traditional Rwandan life, including energetic warrior dances, beautifully crafted local artifacts, and warm community storytelling traditions. The evening, furthermore, is perfect for quiet reflection, sharing photographs, and celebrating the incredible human and gorilla encounters experienced throughout this remarkable expedition.
Day 28: Golden Monkey Trekking & Karisoke Research Center
This day offers two distinct, complementary, and equally remarkable experiences within the boundaries of Volcanoes National Park. Golden monkey trekking is, indeed, a genuinely delightful wildlife encounter that many visitors consider equally memorable and emotionally rewarding as gorilla trekking itself. These vibrantly colored and energetically social primates — distinguished by their striking golden-orange backs and contrasting black limbs – tumble, leap, and chase each other playfully through the dense bamboo forest in chaotic and photogenic troops.
Following the exhilarating golden monkey trek, furthermore, a meaningful visit to the Karisoke Research Center pays profound homage to Dian Fossey’s extraordinary and ultimately tragic personal legacy in these mountains. The center, established by Fossey in 1967 and named for the two volcanoes flanking it, continues her vital conservation and research work today. Fossey’s fierce, unwavering dedication to mountain gorilla protection remains, without question, one of conservation history’s most compelling and important stories.
Day 29: Mount Bisoke Hike
For the expedition’s memorable penultimate day, adventurous travelers are magnificently rewarded with a challenging and spectacular hike up the slopes of Mount Bisoke. This 3,711-meter active volcano is, remarkably, one of the most accessible and rewarding peaks in the entire Virunga volcanic chain for physically fit hikers. The ascent winds progressively upward through dense bamboo forest, beautiful hagenia woodland, and open volcanic moorland, where golden monkeys and various antelope species are frequently and delightfully encountered along the trail.
The summit, furthermore, dramatically reveals the breathtaking spectacle of Bisoke’s perfect crater lake, a strikingly circular emerald-green body of water resting serenely at the very top of the ancient volcano. On exceptionally clear days, moreover, twin crater lakes shimmer in the valleys below, and sweeping panoramic views extend simultaneously across both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The golden afternoon descent brings you back down as evening light turns warm and magnificent over the Virunga peaks.
Day 30: Kigali City Tour & Departure
The final day of this extraordinary 30-day East African journey begins with a scenic drive to Rwanda’s vibrant, modern capital city, Kigali. This remarkably clean, organized, and genuinely safe capital consistently surprises first-time visitors with its evident sophistication, civic pride, and youthful urban energy.
A thoughtfully guided city tour begins first at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a deeply moving and historically essential site that bears solemn witness to the tragic events of 1994. The memorial honors and preserves the memory of over 250,000 victims buried on the grounds, and accordingly, it is vital and respectful visiting for every traveler seeking to understand Rwanda’s extraordinary journey of healing, reconciliation, and national renewal. Afterward, furthermore, the colorful and bustling Kimironko Market immerses you in the sensory richness of everyday Kigali life. Local craft galleries and boutique souvenir shops, moreover, provide excellent final shopping opportunities before your transfer to Kigali International Airport and departure flight home.
NOTE: This safari itinerary can further be customized to accommodate all the travelers preferences. The tour cost which is shared upon request is dependent on the group size and the choice of the accommodation.
Practical Travel Logistics
Best Time for a 30-Day Uganda Rwanda Safari
The best seasons to visit Uganda and Rwanda fall within the two annual dry periods. Specifically, June through September and December through February offer the most reliable and comfortable conditions for gorilla trekking and game drives. However, the shorter rainy season from March to May brings lush green landscapes, dramatic light for photography, and significantly fewer tourist crowds. Furthermore, mountain gorilla trekking is possible and permitted year-round in both Uganda and Rwanda regardless of weather. Therefore, your personal travel style, preferred landscapes, and budget will together determine your ideal timing.
Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Permit Costs
Uganda gorilla permits currently cost USD 800 per person for a single trekking experience. Rwanda gorilla permits are priced at USD 1,500 per person per trek, reflecting the premium experience and conservation funding they support. Moreover, both permits require advance booking 12 weeks or 3 months ahead, particularly for peak-season travel between June and September. Additionally, this 30-day expedition includes two separate gorilla trekking experiences, one in each country. Therefore, budgeting USD 2,300 for gorilla permits alone as a fixed baseline cost is absolutely essential from the very start of your planning.
East African Tourist Visa Requirements
The East African Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda under a single convenient application costing USD 100. Moreover, this combined visa simplifies border crossings considerably and saves meaningful money compared to purchasing individual country visas. However, applications must be submitted in advance through the official respective national immigration portals online. Furthermore, your passport must carry at least six months of validity beyond your planned entry date into the region. Consequently, addressing all visa documentation thoroughly and well in advance prevents unnecessary delays and complications during your journey.
Essential Packing List
Packing correctly for this multifaceted expedition requires genuinely thoughtful preparation across very different environments and climates. Specifically, lightweight moisture-wicking long-sleeved shirts, waterproof ankle-supporting hiking boots, and a quality packable rain jacket are absolute non-negotiables. Additionally, long trousers and thick gardening gloves protect effectively against stinging nettles during gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in dense forest. Furthermore, neutral-colored earth-tone clothing is strongly recommended for all game drives to avoid unnecessarily startling or disturbing wildlife. A reliable headlamp, high-SPF sunscreen, strong insect repellent, and a refillable water bottle complete the essential kit admirably. Moreover, packing light remains critically important because smaller bush lodges and light aircraft transfers impose strict luggage weight restrictions.
Fitness Level Requirements
This itinerary thoughtfully accommodates a genuine range of fitness levels across its 30 diverse days. However, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, and especially the Mount Bisoke summit hike all require reasonable and consistent physical fitness. Specifically, gorilla trekking can involve steep, slippery, and heavily vegetated terrain for anywhere between two and six demanding hours. Furthermore, Mount Bisoke is a strenuous full-day volcanic hike suitable only for travelers in good cardiovascular and muscular condition. Therefore, preparing through regular cardio training, hill walks, and general conditioning in the three months before departure is strongly recommended. Additionally, mental determination and a positive attitude matter just as much as pure physical fitness throughout the entire journey.
Health Requirements: Malaria and Yellow Fever
Both Uganda and Rwanda legally require documented proof of yellow fever vaccination for all international visitors upon entry. Therefore, visiting a certified travel health clinic at least six to eight weeks before your departure date is absolutely essential. Additionally, antimalarial prophylaxis medication is strongly recommended for all destinations covered across this entire 30-day itinerary. Furthermore, packing a comprehensive basic first aid kit containing antihistamines, blister treatment, oral rehydration salts, and antidiarrheal medication is highly advisable. Consequently, staying healthy and energized throughout the expedition allows you to fully and joyfully experience every single extraordinary day. Your personal doctor or a qualified travel health specialist remains the best and most reliable source of individualized health advice before departure.
Conclusion
A 30-day Uganda and Rwanda safari is genuinely not simply another holiday or bucket-list tick. Instead, it is a profound and transformative journey that permanently changes the way you perceive Africa, wildlife, and humanity itself. From the papyrus swamps of Mabamba to the ancient volcanic summit of Mount Bisoke, every single day delivers something entirely new and extraordinary. Furthermore, the gorilla encounters at Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park consistently rank among the most deeply moving experiences available anywhere on Earth. Additionally, this expedition weaves wildlife, culture, adrenaline, conservation, and history into one seamless and unforgettable narrative.
