Looking to explore Uganda in 10 days, starting and ending in Kigali, Rwanda? This 10-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali covers gorilla trekking in Bwindi, wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, wildlife at Lake Mburo, and rest at Lake Bunyonyi.
This 10-Day Best of Uganda safari starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. See the detailed itinerary for this Uganda safari below.
10-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 4: Game drive and boat cruise
- Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest
- Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
- Day 8: Whole day at Lake Mburo
- Day 9: Lake Mburo to Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi and transfer to Kigali for departure
Detailed 10-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kigali for a city tour, including the Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, Caplaki Craft Village, and the Hôtel des Mille Collines, before transferring you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. On arrival, check in to your lodge and rest.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Experience
After breakfast, drive to the trailhead for the pre-trek briefing before setting out on your trail to search for the gorillas.
Gorilla family assignments are made by the park, though trekkers with mobility needs are typically assigned to the more accessible groups. Trekking time varies, and once you find the gorillas, you spend an hour with them before returning to park headquarters to collect your gorilla trekking certificate. Return to your lodge afterward to rest.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast in Bwindi, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese.
Enter through the Ishasha area, known for its tree-climbing lions, and continue to the Mweya sector.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most visited park, home to a wide range of wildlife. On arrival in Mweya, check in to your lodge and rest. An optional night game drive is available at an extra cost.
Day 4: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Wake early for a morning game drive through the Kasenyi sector, known for its strong wildlife concentration, including elephants, giraffe, and lions.
The drive lasts about 3 to 4 hours. Afterward, return to your lodge for lunch and rest, then take an afternoon boat ride on the Kazinga Channel, with sightings of crocodiles, hippos, and other wildlife along the banks.
Return afterward to rest at your lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
This morning, take a chimpanzee trek in Kyambura Gorge, one of the best chimpanzee trekking spots in Uganda, in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Sightings vary by day. Afterward, return to your lodge to freshen up, then transfer to Kibale Forest National Park in Fort Portal.
Kibale Forest National Park is known as the primate capital of East Africa and one of the best places in the world for chimpanzee trekking, with the region’s highest concentration of primates.
On arrival, check in to your lodge and rest.
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest
Have an early breakfast, then attend the briefing at park headquarters before heading into the forest to track chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking allows closer viewing distances than gorilla trekking, and Kibale’s habituated troops are well accustomed to human visitors, making for good sightings.
After the trek, return to your lodge to freshen up, then head out for a swamp walk at the Bigodi wetlands, known for strong bird life. Return to your lodge afterward to rest.
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Early in the morning, transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, near Mbarara. This is Uganda’s smallest Savannah park and the only one where impala are found. Despite its size, it offers strong birding and wildlife viewing.
On arrival, check in to your lodge and take an afternoon boat ride on Lake Mburo. Return to your lodge afterward to rest.
Day 8: Whole Day at Lake Mburo
Have an early breakfast at Lake Mburo, then take a morning game drive to look for the park’s wildlife.
Common sightings include zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, topi, reedbuck, and hyena.
After the game drive, return to your lodge to rest. In the afternoon, take a horseback riding excursion around the park, accompanied by two armed Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers for safety. Return to your lodge afterward to rest.
Day 9: Lake Mburo to Lake Bunyonyi
Have breakfast, then take a walking safari around the park, again accompanied by two armed rangers.
A walking safari brings you closer to wildlife than a game drive, since there’s no vehicle noise to scare animals off. Afterward, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, in Kabale, arriving in the evening.
Lake Bunyonyi is one of Uganda’s most scenic lakes, with over 29 islands, each with its own history. Spend the evening resting at your lodge.
Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi and Transfer to Kigali for Departure
Spend the morning resting and taking in views of the lake’s islands. Take a boat ride to visit some of them, including Punishment Island.
After lunch, begin the journey to Kigali, where you’ll be dropped at the airport for departure, or at an accommodation of your choice.
End of 10-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
