A Rwanda-Uganda self-drive road trip is one of the best value wildlife experiences in East Africa. In 7 days you can trek mountain gorillas in Rwanda, cross into Uganda, track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, and do a Big Five game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park — ending with a one-way drop-off near Entebbe airport. Here’s how to plan it with a one-way cross-border car rental.
What you need before you leave Kigali: Rwanda Uganda Road Trip
- Rwanda gorilla trekking permit — $1,500/person, book via rdb.rw. Book months ahead for peak season.
- Uganda chimp or gorilla permit — $200 (chimpanzees, Kibale) or $800 (gorillas, Bwindi) per person, book via ugandawildlife.org.
- Cross-border car rental with COMESA insurance — we arrange the cross-border permit and COMESA Yellow Card in advance. You need to request this at least 5-7 days before pickup.
- Valid passport — East African Tourist Visa ($100) covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya and is valid for 90 days. Apply online before travel.
7-day Rwanda-Uganda road trip itinerary
Day 1 — Kigali arrival and city orientation
Collect your vehicle at Kigali International Airport. Drive to your Kigali accommodation (20-40 minutes depending on hotel location). Afternoon visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Evening in the Kiyovu or Kimihurura restaurant district. See Kigali city car rental guide for what to do in the capital.
Day 2 — Kigali to Musanze (Volcanoes NP gateway)
Drive north on RN2 to Musanze (~2 hours). Afternoon: visit the twin Burera and Ruhondo lakes. Check in to accommodation in Musanze. Early night — trek day tomorrow starts at 5:30 AM.
Day 3 — Gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park
Report to Volcanoes NP headquarters at 7:00 AM. Gorilla trek: 2-8 hours. One incredible hour with a wild gorilla family. Return to Musanze for lunch. Afternoon rest or golden monkey tracking (separate $100 permit). Overnight Musanze.
Day 4 — Cross into Uganda, drive to Kibale Forest
Drive north from Musanze to the Cyanika border crossing (~45 minutes). Border crossing: allow 1-2 hours. Drive through Kabale, Uganda, heading northwest to Kibale Forest National Park (~3.5 hours from the border). Total driving: 4-5 hours. Check in near Kibale.
Day 5 — Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest
Kibale is home to the largest population of chimpanzees in East Africa — over 1,500 individuals. Trek briefing at 7:30 AM. Trek duration: 2-5 hours. Afternoon: optional chimp habituation experience (full day with a less habituated group, permit separate). Overnight near Kibale.
Day 6 — Kibale to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park (~1.5 hours from Kibale). Morning game drive: lion, elephant, hippo, buffalo, kob antelope. Afternoon: boat safari on the Kazinga Channel — the best hippo concentration in Uganda. Overnight Queen Elizabeth NP.
Day 7 — Queen Elizabeth NP to Entebbe, vehicle drop-off
Morning game drive at dawn (best lion sightings). Drive north to Kampala (~4 hours) and then Entebbe (~1 hour from Kampala). Drop off the vehicle at our agreed Uganda partner location near Entebbe. Total drive: ~5-6 hours. Evening flight from Entebbe International Airport (EBB).
Mileage and fuel budget
| Leg | Distance | Est. Fuel Cost (Land Cruiser) |
|---|---|---|
| Kigali → Musanze | 110 km | ~$15 |
| Musanze → Cyanika Border | 45 km | ~$6 |
| Border → Kibale Forest | 200 km | ~$28 |
| Kibale → Queen Elizabeth NP | 80 km | ~$11 |
| Queen Elizabeth → Entebbe | 390 km | ~$55 |
| Total | ~825 km | ~$115 |
Fuel costs calculated at ~$1.45/litre in Rwanda and ~$1.35/litre in Uganda for petrol. A Land Cruiser VX averages approximately 12 litres/100km.
One-way rental cost for this itinerary: Rwanda Uganda Road Trip
A 7-day cross-border one-way rental in a Land Cruiser VX costs approximately $490 in vehicle rental ($70/day × 7) plus a one-way relocation fee depending on drop-off location. All permits, visa fees and park entrance fees are separate. Contact us for an exact quote for this specific itinerary — we’ve done this route dozens of times and can advise on current border crossing times and conditions.
See our one-way car rental Rwanda to Uganda page for full details on cross-border permits and COMESA insurance. We arrange everything before you collect the vehicle.