Yes, it can be a strategic and economical choice to start your trip in Kigali, Rwanda, and fly out from Entebbe, Uganda, especially if you want to experience both countries’ wildlife and save on travel time and costs. Starting in Kigali reduces the drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking (4-5 hours vs. 8-9 hours from Entebbe) and offers more cultural experiences and a potentially better acclimation point than Entebbe. This strategy allows you to access Uganda’s diverse safaris and then conclude your trip with a convenient flight out of Entebbe.
Why is it Beneficial to Start from Kigali Ends in Entebbe?
The drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, its shorter than from Entebbe where from Kigali takes 4-5 hours while from Entebbe takes 8-9 hours. You can spend the day in city tour in Kigali where you will experience the museums, cafes and cultural sights as it provide you a good start of your trip and a climate to the region.
It can be economical option, allowing you to enjoy both countries their primates and wildlife attraction, moving from Rwanda to Uganda for the Gorilla treks, its potential allowing for an East Africa Multi-entry Visa and helps maximizing your overall experience. It is small, but with a little planning three days in Kigali is ample time to develop a refined appreciation for the city, its history, and its landscapes.
You will be going to Mgahinga National Park is the primary destination in Uganda for golden monkey trekking, offering a chance to see these unique primates in their bamboo forest habitat, Visitors can observe the monkeys’ playful behavior and golden-orange fur, contributing to conservation efforts by purchasing a permit for the activity. The experience allows for one hour of observation after a trek through the forest, which can take 30 minutes to three hours depending on the monkeys’ location.
You will also go for Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda, costs US$800 per person for a permit compared to that of Rwanda and involves hiking through the dense rainforest to observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The activity requires a gorilla permit which should be booked in advance. The trek duration varies from 30 minutes to 7 hours, and permits allow a group of up to 8 people to spend one hour with a habituated gorilla family. You’ll need sturdy hiking boots, long trousers and sleeves for protection, and a moderate level of fitness.
You will also go for game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park the most popular park in Uganda and a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel are popular activities in southwestern Uganda that offer close encounters with diverse wildlife like hippos, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, and numerous bird species.
The boat cruise, in particular, is a highlight, providing a unique vantage point to observe animals and plenty of birds species like pelicans, fish eagles, pied king fisher’s African dater and many more gathered along the 32 km water stretch connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. Game drives explore the park’s savannah, bush land, and forests to spot animals like lions, leopards, and antelopes, which may not be visible from the channel.
You will also experience Kibale National Park is renowned for its extraordinary primate diversity, and the Kanyanchu Primate Walk stands as the park’s flagship experience. This immersive trek offers visitors a rare chance to encounter 13 different primate species, with diurnal monkeys such as red colobus, black-and-white colobus, Lhotse’s monkey, and grey-cheeked mangabey frequently spotted in the forest canopy. However, the undisputed highlight of this walk is the Kibale chimpanzee’s one of Uganda’s greatest wildlife spectacles.
Since 1993, the Kanyanchu chimpanzee community has been intensively monitored and habituated to human presence, significantly improving the chances of sightings. With a sighting success rate of over 90%, visitors are almost guaranteed an unforgettable encounter with these intelligent primates in their natural habitat.
Over 1,500 Chimpanzee populations have been recorded in Kibale National Park. The park holds 4 Chimpanzee communities I Chimp tracking in Uganda is one of the most remarkable wildlife experiences available on the continent.
There are 5 major chimp trekking destinations in Uganda: Kibale Forest National Park, Bugoma forest, Kalinzu forest, Murchison Falls National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
You will also explore Murchison Falls National Park is best known, though, for the most powerful waterfall in the world. Every second, the equivalent of 200 bathtubs full of water is forced through a gorge less than seven paces wide. The pressure is so great that the ground trembles around it
This is a very beautiful sight. Murchison Falls is a natural wonder and Uganda’s most popular safari waterfall. It is in Uganda’s biggest national park, which is in the northwest, between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert. The best ways to see Murchison Falls are to go on a boat cruises or a guided walk.
Buffalo and elephant are particularly common. A healthy lion population preys on the abundant Uganda kob. Despite being more secretive, leopards are seen with increasing frequency. Other antelope include oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, Defassa waterbuck, common duiker and bushbuck.
This national park is considered as best destination for one to choose to go to while on their safari in Uganda because it gives a chance to tourists to explore through the beautiful natures as they create a beautiful moment which makes their tour worth it.
You will also visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has you connecting to Entebbe airport fir your flight back, Ziwa is home to a growing population of Southern White Rhinos, with a total number of 48 rhinos as of July 2025 census. The sanctuary was established in 2005 to reintroduce rhinos to Uganda and has since seen successful births and growth from an initial group of six individuals.
After rhinos were poached to extinction in Uganda by the mid-1980s, six Southern White Rhinos were brought to Ziwa in 2005, marking their return to the country. The population has steadily increased with new births, growing from the initial six to 48 by July 2025.
It is optional to visit Mabamba Swamp for elusive shoebill tracking, easily accessible location near Entebbe, Uganda, for spotting the elusive shoebill stork, which feeds on the lungfish found there. The best times for viewing are the dry seasons (December-February and June-August) and early mornings, when lower water levels push the birds to shallower areas for feeding. Tourists can take dugout canoe tours with local guides to see the shoebill and other threatened bird species, like the blue swallow and papyrus gonolek, white-faced whistling duck, Egyptian goose, African black duck, African Darter, African Jacana, purple heron, Sacred ibis, Glossy ibis, Little Egret, Squacco heron, Goliath heron and many other bird species .
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