Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks & Safari Drives — Self-Launched
8 days · Uganda & Rwanda
G Adventures charges £3,100
No-markup version: ~£1,105 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 8-day Kampala-to-Kigali primate adventure. You'll book the two big permits yourself (chimpanzee trek in Kibale ~£115, mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi ~£580–£600), take public buses and share 4x4s for the long road legs, and stay in budget guesthouses and bandas near the park gates. All the same highlights — chimps, Queen Elizabeth NP game drives, the Kazinga Channel boat, Bwindi gorillas and Kigali's Genocide Memorial — but booked direct with Uganda Wildlife Authority and local operators. Note: gorilla permits are the single biggest cost and cannot be avoided; book 3–6 months ahead through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a licensed local agent. This itinerary assumes you move briskly between parks; allow extra buffer days if you can.
Day-by-day
Arrive Kampala
Kampala, Uganda
Land at Entebbe and take the local 14-seater taxi-van or Airport Taxi to Kampala (~£6–£10 shared, ~1hr). Settle into a hostel or budget guesthouse in Kololo or Ntinda. Spend the afternoon sorting logistics: buy a Ugandan SIM (MTN/Airtel, ~£2), confirm your chimp and gorilla permits, and pre-buy your bus ticket to Fort Portal for tomorrow. Optional: day-trip to Jinja for white-water rafting (~£100 bookable direct with Nile River Explorers or Adrift) if you add a day.
🚌Shared airport taxi-van Entebbe–Kampala ~£8
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Kampala (~£15)
- →Kampala city wander
- →SIM card and permit logistics
Kampala to Fort Portal
Fort Portal, Uganda
Take the morning Link Bus or Oxygen Bus from Kampala to Fort Portal (4–5hrs, ~£8). From Fort Portal, a boda-boda or shared taxi takes you the last 30–40 mins to the Kibale area. Check into a community-run guest farm or eco-lodge near the park edge — night sounds of monkeys and birds included free. Confirm your chimp trek time for tomorrow and arrange a packed breakfast.
🚌Link Bus Kampala–Fort Portal ~£8 + boda ~£2
🛏Guest farm near Kibale NP (~£18)
- →Scenic drive through tea country
- →Guest farm evening
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale
Kibale National Park, Uganda
Morning chimp trek in Kibale's evergreen rainforest — book your permit directly with Uganda Wildlife Authority (~£115–£130, cheaper in low season) or via a local Kibale operator. Trek usually 2–4hrs. Afterwards walk to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for the community swamp walk (~£15, guided by village guides) and a traditional lunch at the Bigodi community centre. Afternoon at leisure or birdwatching.
🚌Walking / boda-boda locally ~£3
🛏Guest farm near Kibale NP (~£18)
- →Chimpanzee trek (UWA permit ~£120)
- →Bigodi Swamp Walk ~£15
- →Bigodi community lunch ~£6
Kibale to Queen Elizabeth NP
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Long road day south via Kasese, crossing the equator near Kayabwe (photo stop). Public transport is slow here — the most practical budget option is a shared 4x4 taxi or joining a seat-in-vehicle transfer arranged by your lodge (~£20–£30 per person). Arrive at a budget banda or tented camp outside the park in the afternoon, then head out on an afternoon game drive in your own hired 4x4 with driver-guide (~£60–£80 per vehicle, split between 3–4 people). Look for warthogs, elephants, buffalo and hippos.
🚌Shared 4x4 transfer ~£25 + hire vehicle share for game drive ~£20
🛏Budget banda/tented camp near QENP (~£20)
- →Equator crossing stop
- →Afternoon game drive
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Early morning game drive (vehicle ~£60–£80 split, park entry ~£30) — best chance of lions in the Kasenyi plains. Lunch back at camp. In the afternoon, book the Kazinga Channel boat cruise direct at the Mweya jetty (~£25) for hippos, buffalo and huge birdlife. Evening at the lodge.
🚌Shared game-drive vehicle ~£20
🛏Budget banda/tented camp near QENP (~£20)
- →Morning game drive
- →Kazinga Channel boat cruise ~£25
- →Park entry fees ~£30
Queen Elizabeth NP to Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
Scenic drive south through Ishasha (tree-climbing lions territory) toward Bwindi. Use a shared 4x4 or a seat-in-vehicle transfer booked through your Bwindi lodge (~£30–£40). Check into a budget community guesthouse near your trekking sector (Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo or Ruhija — the sector depends on your permit). Confirm your gorilla permit, hire gaiters and a porter for tomorrow (~£5–£10), and get an early night.
🚌Shared 4x4 transfer ~£35
🛏Community guesthouse near Bwindi (~£20)
- →Ishasha sector drive
- →Gorilla permit confirmation and gear prep
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
The big one. Early start with a briefing at the park headquarters, then trek into the forest with UWA trackers and armed rangers to spend one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family. Permit ~£580–£600 (S$800 for foreign non-residents) — book direct with UWA or via a licensed local operator 3–6 months ahead. Trek can take 2–8hrs depending on where the family is. Hire a porter (~£8) — worth every penny. Afternoon rest and a celebratory dinner.
🚌Walking / short boda to trailhead ~£3
🛏Community guesthouse near Bwindi (~£20)
- →Mountain gorilla trek (permit ~£590)
- →Porter hire ~£8
Bwindi to Kigali
Kigali, Rwanda
Cross at the Gatuna/Katuna border post — a shared taxi or boda-boda to Kabale, then a bus or shared 4x4 to the Rwandan side (~£15–£25 total). From the border, a bus to Kigali takes ~2–3hrs. Drop bags and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial (free entry, donation appreciated). Lunch at the Nyamirambo Women's Centre (~£6) for a community-run meal. If departing today, book a late flight — allow 4hrs minimum from arrival in Kigali.
🚌Shared taxi + bus Bwindi–Kigali ~£22
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Kigali (~£20) if extending
- →Gatuna border crossing
- →Kigali Genocide Memorial
- →Nyamirambo Women's Centre lunch ~£6
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,105 | £3,100 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,995 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,105
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks & Safari Drives — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,105 per person for 8 days in Uganda & Rwanda. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,105 — a saving of roughly £1,995 (64%) per person.
How long is the Uganda & Rwanda trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Uganda & Rwanda.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, hiking trip through Uganda & Rwanda, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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