Shoebills, chimps on an island, the source of the Nile, rhinos, city tours and even a gorilla trek. Here are day trips for layovers, arrival days and short stays.
Not every trip has room for a week-long safari. If you are in Uganda or Rwanda for work, have a long layover, or have a free first or last day, these day tours give you a real taste of the country. All run privately with pick-up from your hotel.
A half-day canoe trip through papyrus channels to find the shoebill, with 1–1½ hours of travel each way. Entebbe guide
A boat across Lake Victoria to a sanctuary for about 50 rescued chimpanzees. Half or full day.
The UWEC wildlife centre, the botanical gardens (colobus monkeys and turacos) and a Lake Victoria sunset.
A boat to the source, Mabira Forest, and optional rafting or kayaking. Jinja guide
Kasubi Tombs, Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, the Gaddafi Mosque tower, Owino market and a Buganda kingdom site. Kampala guide
A long day: about 3 hours each way to walk with white rhinos. Staying overnight is better. Ziwa guide
The Genocide Memorial, Kimironko market, a craft cooperative and Nyamirambo. Kigali guide
Leave around 4:30 am for the 7:00 am briefing at Kinigi and return in the evening. Possible, but an overnight is kinder. Rwanda gorillas
A dawn departure, game drives, a Lake Ihema boat trip and a return after dark. Akagera guide
Day tours are priced per vehicle, so they get cheaper per person as more people share. Prices include transport, guide, entry fees and activity fees as listed. Lunch is included on full-day trips. For gorilla day trips, the permit must be booked well in advance even though the trip is short.
Kampala is built on hills, each with its own landmarks. A typical city tour visits the Kasubi Tombs (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and burial place of Buganda kings), the Buganda Parliament (Bulange) and Lubiri palace, the Uganda Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo (the site of 19th-century Christian martyrdoms, a pilgrimage destination every 3 June), the Gaddafi National Mosque with its tower view over the city, and the bustling Owino (St Balikuddembe) market. The Uganda Museum adds history, ethnography and traditional musical instruments. See discover Kampala.
With 6 hours or more between flights, a short tour is possible. From Entebbe airport: the botanical gardens, UWEC or a lakeside lunch (allow at least 3 hours before your next flight). From Kigali airport: the Genocide Memorial and a drive through the city. Check your visa requirements, because you'll need to pass through immigration. We collect you at arrivals and return you in good time.
Not included are tips, drinks with meals and optional extras. Gorilla day trips include the permit, which must be booked in advance.
Many day tours become better as short overnights: Ziwa with a night lets you add the shoebill canoe trip, Jinja with a night adds rafting, and Akagera with a night adds a boat trip and a night drive. We can turn any day tour into a 2-day trip. See all tours.
| If you want... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Wildlife close to the airport | UWEC and the Entebbe botanical gardens |
| A rare bird | The Mabamba shoebill trip |
| Chimpanzees | Ngamba Island |
| Adventure | Jinja: rafting, bungee or kayaking |
| History and culture | A Kampala or Kigali city tour |
| Rhinos | Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (a long day) |
| Big game | Akagera day safari from Kigali |
| Gorillas | A one-day trek from Kigali (with a permit) |
Many visitors to Kampala and Kigali come for work, conferences or NGO projects. A day tour is an easy way to see more of the country: a morning in Mabamba before an afternoon meeting, a Saturday in Jinja, or a weekend gorilla trek from Kigali. We arrange early pick-ups and prompt returns, and can build tours around conference schedules. See corporate and business travel.
Every 3 June, millions of pilgrims from Uganda and across Africa gather at the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine near Kampala. They commemorate the young Christians killed on the orders of the Buganda king in 1885–87. Many pilgrims walk for weeks to attend. Visiting the shrine at any time of year, with its unusual basilica shaped like a traditional hut and its peaceful grounds, gives insight into Uganda's history and faith. Around Martyrs Day, we plan tours around the heavy traffic and crowds.
Kampala and Kigali are great cities for food. Market tours at Owino, Nakasero or Kimironko introduce you to tropical fruits, spices and local produce. Street-food walks let you sample rolex, samosas, grilled meat skewers and fresh juices. Cooking classes show you how to prepare dishes such as luwombo (steamed in banana leaves) in Uganda or isombe in Rwanda.
Travellers attending conferences in Kigali or Kampala, or passing through Entebbe on a layover, often have one free day. With planning, that day can include a shoebill at dawn, chimps on an island, a city tour and a sunset on Lake Victoria. We tailor day tours to your schedule and pick you up from your hotel or the conference venue.
Yes. Mabamba Swamp is the most reliable half-day shoebill trip in Uganda.
From Kigali, yes, with a very early start. From Entebbe or Kampala, no: Bwindi is 8–10 hours away, although flying in makes a 2-day trip possible.
Yes. With 6+ hours between flights at Entebbe, the botanical gardens, UWEC or a lake cruise fit easily.
Usually yes, 24–48 hours ahead for most tours. Gorilla day trips need a permit, which should be booked well in advance.
Yes. All our day tours are private, with your own vehicle and guide.
Jinja and the source of the Nile for adventure, or Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for wildlife. Mabamba and Ngamba are best from Entebbe.
Not comfortably. Akagera needs a full day. Do the city tour on a separate half-day.
Yes. Most day tours suit children, especially UWEC, Ngamba Island, boat trips and the botanical gardens. Gorilla day trips are for over-15s only.
It depends on distance, activities and group size. Prices are per vehicle, so they get cheaper per person as more people join. We quote exact prices on request.
Some can be combined, such as the botanical gardens and UWEC, or Mabamba and a Kampala tour. Others, such as Ziwa or Jinja, need a full day.
Yes, all year, subject to availability for activities such as Ngamba Island boats or gorilla permits.
Yes. Kayabwe on the Kampala–Masaka road is about 1½–2 hours from Kampala, and it is often combined with other stops.
Yes. We can collect you from Entebbe or Kigali airport, run the tour, and drop you at your hotel or back at the airport for your flight.
Tell us your dates, budget and interests. We reply within 24 hours with a costed itinerary.
