7-Day Rwanda & Uganda Budget Safari

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Kigali – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Arrive at Kigali International Airport where your guide will meet you. Depending on arrival time, enjoy a short Kigali city tour, including the Genocide Memorial and local craft markets. In the afternoon, drive north (2.5–3 hours) through Rwanda’s beautiful rolling hills to Volcanoes National Park, home of the Virunga volcanoes. Check in to your luxury lodge with views of the forest and mountains.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August (It is drier and hiking is easier)

High Season June to September (Permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Volcanoes NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeNone

ElephantRare

BuffaloRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LionNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas, Rwanda)

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+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Golden Monkey Trekking Experience

After breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing before embarking on a trek to see the endangered golden monkeys. These lively primates are unique to the Virungas and are often seen leaping through the bamboo forest in large groups. In the afternoon, you may visit the twin lakes (Burera & Ruhondo) or explore a cultural village for a glimpse into Rwandan traditions.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas, Rwanda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable park

Today you’ll drive across the Cyanika border into Uganda, heading towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to nearly half the world’s mountain gorillas. The scenic journey passes terraced farms, small villages, and misty highlands. Arrive at your lodge on the forest’s edge in time to relax and prepare for the gorilla adventure ahead.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February (Gorilla trekking is easiest)

High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeRare

ElephantRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Uganda)

+41 Photos

+40 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Rise early for a briefing at the park headquarters before setting off with expert rangers to track a gorilla family. Trekking may take 2–6 hours depending on their movements, but the reward is unforgettable an hour in the company of gorillas as they feed, play, and interact in their natural habitat. In the evening, relax at the lodge or take a guided community walk.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Uganda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector, known for its rare tree-climbing lions. Game drive en route, with chances to see elephants, buffalo, antelope, and birdlife. Continue to your lodge overlooking the Kazinga Channel.

Main Destination:

Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)

Best Time To Visit January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)

High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best Weather June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP

ChimpanzeeOccasional

ElephantCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloCommon

HippoAbundant

LeopardOccasional

Show more

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

The Bush Lodge (Banda)

• Mid-range banda located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP (Uganda)

+8 Photos

+7 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full Day Game drive and a boat cruise

Start the day with a sunrise game drive on the Kasenyi plains, a hotspot for lions and large herds of Uganda kob. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where hippos, crocodiles, and elephants gather at the water’s edge. This experience also offers some of the best birdwatching in Africa.

Main Destination:

Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)

Accommodation:

The Bush Lodge (Banda)

• Mid-range banda located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP (Uganda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer To Kigali

After breakfast, begin your journey back to Kigali (approx. 6–7 hours). Enjoy scenic countryside views and a lunch stop en route. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for a quick stop at local craft shops in Kigali before your airport transfer for departure.

Main Destination:

Kigali International Airport (Kigali, Rwanda)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.