17 Day Uganda, Rwanda and Pemba Island Safari and Sea
Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Volcanoes, then five nights on Pemba Island.
Go beyond the expected.
Seventeen days: the best of Uganda, a gorilla country crossing into Rwanda and a long beach rest on Pemba, including a night in an underwater room.
- Murchison Falls and the Nile cruise
- Kibale chimpanzees
- Tree-climbing lions at Ishasha
- Gorilla trek in Bwindi
- Hike to Dian Fossey's grave
- Five nights on Pemba Island
What's included
Included
- Airport transfers
- Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
- Mountain gorilla and chimpanzee permits
- Flights Kigali to Pemba and Pemba to Dar es Salaam
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Entebbe
Entebbe
Arrive, transfer to your hotel and have a trip briefing.
Day 2 To Murchison via Ziwa
Murchison Falls National Park
Drive northwest, with an optional rhino trek on the way and lunch in Masindi.
Day 3 Murchison game drive and cruise
Murchison Falls National Park
A game drive on the north bank at dawn, then an afternoon launch cruise to the base of the falls and an optional walk to the top.
Day 4 To Kibale
Hoima and Fort Portal
Drive south via Hoima through farmland and tea estates.
Day 5 Chimpanzees and Bigodi
Kibale Forest
Track chimpanzees in the morning, then walk the Bigodi Wetland.
Day 6 To Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive beside the Rwenzori Mountains and take an afternoon Kazinga Channel cruise.
Day 7 Game drive and Ishasha
Queen Elizabeth National Park
A dawn game drive with the Rwenzori behind you, then to Ishasha for tree-climbing lions.
Day 8 To Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
A last game drive, then the Kigezi Highlands to Bwindi.
Day 9 Gorilla trekking
Bwindi
Trek to a gorilla family and spend an hour with them.
Day 10 Across the border to Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Transfer to the Rwandan side of the Virungas, with an optional cultural village visit or golden monkey trek on the way.
Day 11 Dian Fossey's grave and Kigali
Volcanoes National Park and Kigali
Hike to the grave site of Dian Fossey, lunch at the lodge, then drive to Kigali.
Day 12 Fly to Pemba
Pemba Island
Fly via Dar es Salaam to Pemba and transfer to your beach resort.
Day 13 Beach day
Pemba Island
A full day on the beach.
Day 14 Beach day
Pemba Island
Swim, snorkel or relax. Pemba has mangroves, forests, dive sites and 11th-century ruins to explore.
Day 15 Beach day
Pemba Island
Another day by the sea.
Day 16 Underwater room
Pemba Island
Spend a night in the resort's private floating room four metres below the surface, with a sunbathing deck above.
Day 17 Departure
Pemba Island and Dar es Salaam
Transfer to Pemba airport and fly to Dar es Salaam for your flight home.
On this safari
Places you will visit
Pemba IslandExplore place →
EntebbeExplore place →
Murchison FallsExplore place →
Murchison Falls National ParkExplore place →
Kibale National ParkExplore place →
Queen Elizabeth National ParkExplore place →
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkExplore place →
Volcanoes National ParkExplore place →
KigaliExplore place →
HoimaExplore place →
Fort PortalExplore place →
Dar es SalaamExplore place →Travel Guide
Knowledge connected to this page
Read planning and destination stories connected to this Offmap entity.
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Ready to plan this Safari?
Start with the places and experiences that matter to you. We will shape the Safari around them.
Plan This Safari →Need to know?
Questions about 17 Day Uganda, Rwanda and Pemba Island Safari and Sea
Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?
Yes, this is one of the most popular East African combinations; a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari followed by several days on Zanzibar’s beaches, connected by a short flight.
Can I combine Rwanda and Uganda in one safari?
Yes, this is a popular combination. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda sits close to Uganda’s southwest, so gorilla trekking in one country and chimpanzee tracking or savannah game drives in the other can be combined without excessive travel time.
Can I combine Rwanda and Uganda in one trip?
Yes, this is a popular combination. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda sits close to Uganda’s southwest, so gorilla trekking in one country and chimpanzee tracking or savannah game drives in the other can be combined without excessive travel time.
Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
Most nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?
Most nationalities need a visa for Uganda, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so check the current official guidance for your passport well ahead of your safari.
How many days do I need in Uganda?
A focused gorilla trekking safari can work in as few as 4–5 days, but 8–12 days lets you combine gorilla trekking with chimpanzee tracking, a savannah park such as Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls, and some rest time. We shape the exact length around what you want to include.
How many national parks does Rwanda have?
Rwanda protects its landscapes across four national parks: Volcanoes National Park (mountain gorillas and golden monkeys), Nyungwe (one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, chimpanzees and a canopy walkway), Akagera (Rwanda’s savanna park, restored to hold the full Big Five) and the smaller Gishwati-Mukura.
How many national parks does Tanzania have?
Tanzania protects its landscapes across more than twenty national parks, alongside conservation areas and game reserves that together cover roughly a third of the country’s total area; one of the highest proportions of protected land of any country in the world.