Self-Launched Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Discovery

Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL). Budget guesthouses and mid-range hotels are plentiful in the Kimihurura and Nyamirambo neighbourhoods. Take a moto-taxi or shared taxi from the airport to your accommodation — cheap and iconic. Spend the evening settling in, grabbing a local Primus beer, and trying Rwandan cuisine at a local restaurant near your guesthouse.

🚌Moto-taxi or shared taxi from Kigali International Airport to central Kigali (~£3-5)

🛏Heaven Boutique Guesthouse or similar budget-friendly guesthouse in Kimihurura (~£25-35/night)

• →Arrive and settle into guesthouse in Kigali
• →Take a moto-taxi or shared taxi from the airport (~£3-5)
• →Explore the local neighbourhood on foot
• →Try local Rwandan food at a neighbourhood restaurant

Start the morning with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial — entrance is free (donations welcome) and it is one of the most important and moving sites in Africa. Afterward, take a community walk in the Nyamirambo township — self-guided walking is easy, or book a guided walk directly with the Nyamirambo Women's Centre (a G Adventures–supported social enterprise) for around £10-12 per person, which includes a local lunch. In the afternoon, catch a public minibus (matatu) from Nyabugogo Bus Station to Musanze/Ruhengeri — the main gateway town for Volcanoes National Park. Journey takes around 2–2.5 hours and costs under £3.

🚌Public minibus (matatu) from Kigali Nyabugogo Bus Station to Musanze/Ruhengeri (~£2.50)

🛏La Palme Guesthouse or Gorilla's Nest area budget lodge in Musanze (~£20-30/night)

• →Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial (free, donations welcome)
• →Self-guided or guided community walk in Nyamirambo township (~£10-12 with Nyamirambo Women's Centre, includes lunch)
• →Take a public matatu from Nyabugogo Bus Station to Musanze (~£2.50, ~2 hrs)

Head to Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi (a short moto-taxi or hired car ride from Musanze) to join your pre-booked golden monkey trekking permit. Golden monkey permits must be booked in advance directly through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) website — currently USD 100 per person (~£80). A park ranger guides all treks. After the trek, visit the Karisoke Research Centre, founded by Dian Fossey and supported by National Geographic — open for guided visits. Return to Musanze for the evening.

🚌Moto-taxi from Musanze to Kinigi park HQ (~£2-3 each way)

🛏La Palme Guesthouse or budget lodge in Musanze (~£20-30/night)

• →Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park — book permit directly via Rwanda Development Board (USD 100/~£80)
• →Park ranger-guided trek through jungle-covered hills (included with permit)
• →Visit Karisoke Research Centre (small entry fee ~USD 10/~£8)
• →Attend an optional evening warden talk at park HQ

The highlight of the entire trip. Mountain gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda must be booked well in advance directly through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) — currently USD 1,500 per person (~£1,185). This price includes your ranger-guided trek and one hour with a gorilla family. Treks depart from Kinigi park HQ at 7am. The trek can range from 1 to 8 hours depending on gorilla group location — bring good waterproof hiking boots, rain gear, and plenty of water. In the afternoon, visit a nearby local village on a self-arranged walk — homestay hosts in the area often welcome visitors informally.

🚌Moto-taxi from Musanze to Kinigi park HQ (~£2-3 each way)

🛏La Palme Guesthouse or budget lodge in Musanze (~£20-30/night)

• →Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park — book permit directly via Rwanda Development Board (USD 1,500/~£1,185)
• →Ranger-guided trek through dense jungle (included with permit)
• →One hour observing mountain gorilla family in the wild
• →Afternoon self-guided walk to a local village near the park (~free)

After breakfast, arrange a shared hire car or private taxi transfer to the Cyanika border crossing into Uganda (around 30–45 mins from Musanze, ~£15-20 shared). Cross into Uganda on foot, then take a boda-boda or pre-arranged shared taxi onward. The drive to the Queen Elizabeth National Park area (Kasese/Mweya) takes around 4–5 hours on Ugandan roads. Shared minibuses run from Kabale or Kisoro toward Kasese; alternatively, a private hire car makes the journey more comfortable (~£30-45 shared between travellers). Arrive at your lodge near Mweya Peninsula in time for sunset over the park.

🚌Shared taxi to Cyanika border (~£15); shared minibus/private hire across Uganda to Mweya (~£25-35)

🛏Simba Safari Camp or Mweya budget bandas/hostel accommodation (~£25-40/night)

• →Morning check-out and drive to Cyanika border crossing
• →Cross into Uganda — ensure Uganda e-visa obtained in advance (USD 50/~£40) via visas.immigration.go.ug
• →Overland shared transport or private hire from border to Queen Elizabeth National Park (~£20-35)
• →Evening arrival at lodge near Mweya, first views of the park

Drive or take a boda-boda to Kalinzu Forest Reserve (about 30 mins from Mweya) for chimpanzee trekking. Book chimp trekking permits directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in advance — currently USD 50–80 per person (~£40-63) for Kalinzu, which is cheaper than Kibale but equally rewarding. A ranger guides all chimp treks. In the afternoon, join a self-booked game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park — UWA gate entry is USD 40 per person (~£32), and you can hire a UWA ranger vehicle at the gate or self-drive if you have a 4x4. Look out for buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, and hyenas on the savanna.

🚌Boda-boda or shared hire car to Kalinzu Forest (~£5-8 each way)

🛏Simba Safari Camp or Mweya budget bandas (~£25-40/night)

• →Chimp trekking in Kalinzu Forest Reserve — book via Uganda Wildlife Authority (USD 50-80/~£40-63)
• →Ranger-guided trek to find chimpanzee families (included with permit)
• →Afternoon game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park (UWA gate entry USD 40/~£32)
• →Spot buffalo, elephants, hippos, lions, and leopards

Rise early for a dawn game drive through the park's open savanna — the best time to spot predators on the move. Self-drive or hire a UWA ranger vehicle at the gate. Mid-morning, join a Kazinga Channel boat safari — these run regularly from Mweya Safari Lodge jetty and can be booked directly on arrival or through UWA (~USD 30/~£24 per person, ~2 hours). The Kazinga Channel connects Lakes George and Edward and is packed with hippos, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species. Afternoon at leisure to relax or explore the Mweya Peninsula on foot.

🚌On foot or boda-boda within park (~£3-5)

🛏Simba Safari Camp or Mweya budget bandas (~£25-40/night)

• →Early morning game drive through Queen Elizabeth NP (UWA gate entry included from yesterday or USD 40/~£32)
• →Kazinga Channel boat safari — book directly at Mweya jetty or via UWA (~USD 30/~£24, 2 hrs)
• →Hippo, crocodile, and birdlife spotting along the channel
• →Afternoon self-guided walk around Mweya Peninsula (free)

After breakfast, begin the overland journey to Entebbe (~5–6 hours). The most cost-effective option is a combination of shared taxis and public minibuses via Kampala (~£8-12 total), though the journey involves a transfer in Kampala. For comfort, a private hire car from Kasese/Mweya to Entebbe can be arranged (~£50-70 shared, bookable through your lodge or local operators). Arrive in Entebbe in the late afternoon. Entebbe is a pleasant lakeside town on Lake Victoria — explore the waterfront, visit the Entebbe market, or simply relax before your final day.

🚌Shared taxis/minibuses from Kasese to Entebbe via Kampala (~£10-12) or private hire (~£50-70 shared)

🛏Entebbe Backpackers or Boma Guesthouse Entebbe (~£20-30/night)

• →Overland journey from Queen Elizabeth NP to Entebbe via shared taxi/minibus or private hire
• →Explore Entebbe waterfront and local market on arrival
• →Dinner at a lakeside restaurant in Entebbe (~£8-12)

Depart from Entebbe International Airport (EBB). Take a shared taxi or boda-boda to the airport (~£3-5, about 10 minutes from town). If you have time before your flight, visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) on the shores of Lake Victoria (~USD 15/~£12) for a final close-up encounter with rescued African wildlife including chimps, lions, and shoebill storks.

🚌Shared taxi or boda-boda from Entebbe town to EBB airport (~£3-5)

• →Optional morning visit to Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) (~USD 15/~£12)
• →Transfer to Entebbe International Airport by shared taxi or boda-boda (~£3-5)
• →Depart Entebbe