A Madagascar and Uganda itinerary usually runs 12 to 18 days: five to nine days with lemurs in Madagascar first, a connecting flight through Nairobi or Addis Ababa, then four to seven days in Uganda for gorilla trekking in Bwindi, often with chimps in Kibale. Madagascar has lemurs but no apes, so the pairing gives you two primate worlds in one trip. Most travellers book each half through a licensed ground operator and fix the gorilla permit date before anything else.
How a Madagascar and Uganda Itinerary Fits Together
Think of the trip as four blocks: an arrival night in Antananarivo, a lemur tour of one or two regions, a connection day, and three to six nights in southwest Uganda. Extras slot inside a block, never between them.
Distance sets the Madagascar block. The island is larger than France with only a handful of main roads, and a hundred kilometres can take three hours, so a short trip sees one region, usually the east around Andasibe Mantadia, about 140 kilometres from the capital. Madagascar holds roughly 112 lemur species, every one found nowhere else, and around 14 live in and around Andasibe. Our Madagascar itinerary page lays out each region in detail, and the Madagascar tours guide covers the parks.
The two halves walk differently. Lemur tracking is a series of gentle forest circuits and night walks with small animals at close range; the gorilla trek is one hard morning ending with an hour beside a habituated family, in a group of no more than eight. Trip reports often call Madagascar a hiking holiday more than a safari, which is why pairing it with East Africa works so well.
Gorilla permits are sold for a fixed date and a missed trek is not refunded, so every plan below keeps a night between landing in Uganda and trekking. To avoid the long drive, the fly in gorilla safari option cuts Entebbe to Bwindi to about two hours.
Flights Linking Antananarivo with Entebbe and Kigali
Three hubs carry almost every Madagascar and gorilla trip, and which one your ticket uses decides how long the connection day runs.
Schedules on these routes change often and some legs run only a few days a week, so check current schedules before fixing dates, and keep both flights on one ticket so a late first leg is the airline’s problem. With no nonstop flight from Antananarivo to Entebbe, you land late in Uganda; count it as a travel day and sleep near the airport.
Inside Madagascar, domestic flights move at short notice and checked bags sometimes follow on a later plane, so never connect a domestic flight to your departure for East Africa on the same day; sleep in Antananarivo the night before. Forum regulars give the same advice for road trips: finish close to the capital, since heavy rain can cut roads. Once in Uganda, gorilla trekking from Entebbe explains the road and air routes to each Bwindi sector, and Bwindi gorilla trekking from Kigali covers landing in Rwanda and crossing the border.
Madagascar First: Ordering the Lemur and Gorilla Trip
On most combined trips the order is not a matter of taste. Madagascar has at times refused entry to foreign visitors who were in, or passed through, a country with an Ebola outbreak in the previous 21 days, and it has not always published which countries count. When that rule is in force, arriving from Uganda, or even changing planes in a neighbouring hub, carries a risk that flying the other way does not.
So most operators plan the lemur tour first and the gorilla trek second. Check the current rule with your airline and a Malagasy embassy before paying for flights, and read your government’s travel advice for both countries, since health entry rules in this region change quickly when an outbreak starts or ends.
Madagascar first has other benefits. Short forest circuits are gentle after a long haul flight, and you avoid needing a yellow fever certificate to enter Madagascar, which it asks of travellers arriving from risk countries such as Uganda and Kenya. Uganda itself checks for one at Entebbe, so carry the card either way.
10 Day Madagascar and Rwanda Gorilla Tour
The shortest workable plan, built around a Rwanda gorilla trek because Volcanoes National Park is about two and a half hours from Kigali airport.
The Rwanda gorilla tours page compares two to five day versions of this half, and if your flights force a tight schedule, 1 day gorilla trekking from Kigali explains when a same day trek is realistic and when it is not.
12 Day Andasibe Lemur Tour and Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Itinerary
The compact Uganda version. It keeps Madagascar’s eastern rainforest, where drives are short and lemurs dense, and uses flights in Uganda to protect the trek date.
Day 6 is the insurance policy against a late boat or road delay. Our Uganda gorilla trekking tours guide compares other ways to build the Uganda half, the primates of Madagascar page explains which lemurs each eastern park holds, and the Batwa people page covers the day 10 visit.
14 Day Lemurs, Nosy Be Beach and Gorilla Trekking Trip
For travellers who want sand before the forest. This lemur and beach tour adds Madagascar’s northwest islands, which suits the order rule because the beach comes before Uganda, and it ends with the gorillas.
Upmarket versions swap Nosy Be for a private reserve lodge on the northwest coast, reached by light aircraft, where sifakas and brown lemurs walk through camp. Book the domestic flights early, and keep the day 8 night in the capital whatever happens.
16 Day RN7 Road Trip with Kibale Chimps and Bwindi Gorillas
The fuller primate safari. It runs the classic RN7 road trip south as far as Isalo, flies back to the capital, then crosses Uganda by road with a driver guide.
The RN7 can also run in reverse: fly to Toliara on day 2 and drive north, ending in Andasibe, a short drive from the airport. Seasoned Madagascar travellers favour that version, because it leaves the cooler rainforest for last and keeps you close to the capital before the flight to Uganda. The Madagascar RN7 itinerary covers the road stop by stop, the Kibale chimpanzee trekking guide covers day 12, and the 7 day Uganda safari shows the Uganda half on its own.
18 Day Primate Expedition: Baobabs, Tsingy, Chimps and Gorillas
For travellers with time and a dry season window. This primate expedition adds Madagascar’s west, where the baobabs and the Tsingy limestone are, to Andasibe, then gives Uganda a second trek or the habituation experience.
The west only works from roughly late May to November, when the Tsingy road is open, and Morondava flights fill early in high season. The gorilla habituation experience page explains the longer day in Rushaga.
Three Country Safaris Adding Kenya or Tanzania
Because most flights to Madagascar from East Africa pass through Nairobi, a three country safari is a natural stretch. Two shapes sell well.
Allow sixteen days at the least, since each country adds a travel day. The gorilla and Masai Mara safari guide, Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking and the Serengeti safari page cover the savannah legs, and honeymoon in Africa shows how couples build longer combinations.
Extending the Uganda Safari: Murchison, Jinja and Mgahinga
Uganda rewards a few extra days after the lemurs, and several of the ranking itineraries spend a full week or two there.
The northern loop adds a night at the Ziwa rhino reserve on the drive from Kampala, then Murchison Falls game drives and a launch trip to the foot of the falls, before heading south through Fort Portal to Kibale; our Murchison Falls safari guide covers it. An active option spends two days in Jinja at the source of the Nile for rafting, kayaking or a sunset cruise. In the far southwest, golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga sits beside the Bwindi gorillas; the golden monkey trekking in Uganda page explains it, and Mgahinga gorilla trekking covers the one bookable family there.
Shorter add ons fit any plan: a Kampala day for the markets and the Kasubi tombs area, a night at Lake Mburo to break the Bwindi drive, a stop at the equator, or a boat trip on Mabamba swamp for the shoebill if you are a birder. Some older itineraries added a Nyiragongo volcano climb in Congo; Virunga lists those treks as closed until further notice at the latest check.
Choosing Lemur Parks, Gorilla Sectors and Lodges for a Two Country Trip
On a combined lemur and gorilla tour, two choices matter most: the Madagascar region and the Uganda sector.
In Uganda, Buhoma and Ruhija pair with the Kihihi airstrip and the road from Queen Elizabeth; Rushaga and Nkuringo pair with Kisoro and Lake Bunyonyi, and suit the habituation experience. See Buhoma gorilla trekking and Rushaga gorilla trekking.
Madagascar’s mid range rooms are simple by East African safari standards, with electricity cuts at every level, while Bwindi runs from community bandas to top end lodges. Our Bwindi lodges by sector page helps with the Uganda side, and Madagascar’s tiers are set out on the Madagascar tour cost page. For a lemur focused route, lemur tours in Madagascar compares the circuits by species.
Timing a Madagascar and Uganda Safari Month by Month
Gorilla treks run all year, so the best time for a Madagascar and Uganda safari is when Madagascar’s dry months meet Bwindi’s drier spells.
| Month | Madagascar | Bwindi trails | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cyclones | Drier | Avoid |
| February | Cyclones | Drier | Avoid |
| March | Wet, closures | Wetter | Avoid |
| April | Drying, green | Wettest | Value |
| May | Dry, cooler | Wet | Value |
| June | Dry, cool | Dry | Good |
| July | Dry, busy | Dry | Peak |
| August | Dry, busy | Dry | Peak |
| September | Dry, warm | Dry | Best |
| October | Baby lemurs | Rains return | Good |
| November | Hot, dry | Wet | Value |
| December | Rains begin | Drying | Mixed |
June to September is the safe window, with cold highland nights in Madagascar and busy lodges in July and August. Book gorilla permits four to six months ahead for these months.
October and November are the specialists’ pick. Lemurs carry young, chameleons are active and the island is hot and dry, while Bwindi’s short rains come mostly as afternoon showers. November also brings Uganda’s reduced low season permit, sold on fixed dates. April and May work for the east and the RN7 but not reliably for the Tsingy, and Bwindi is at its wettest. Madagascar’s main season runs from about the end of March to the end of October. Christmas is quiet there, with the pick of rooms and some hotel offers, but it is hot and the rains are starting; January to March is cyclone season, when roads wash out and some lodges close. More detail sits on the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
What a Madagascar and Gorilla Trekking Quote Should Include
Combined trips are often run by two companies, so check the safari quote leg by leg.
Compare itemised quotes on the same lodges and nights. A good Uganda driver guide makes the long road days, and many trip reports name theirs as the highlight, so ask who it will be. The gorilla trekking cost guide breaks down the Uganda half, and the gorilla permits page explains how Uganda sells them.
Visas, Health, Safety and Packing for a Lemur and Gorilla Trip
Madagascar sells visas online and on arrival, priced by length of stay, so check the official eVisa portal for the current fee before you pay. Uganda issues its own eVisa; add Rwanda or Kenya and the East Africa Tourist Visa covers all three.
Malaria is present in both countries, so see a travel clinic early. Carry the original yellow fever card and check government travel advice for every country on the route. At the latest check, the US State Department rates Madagascar at Level 2, Uganda at Level 4, Do Not Travel, and Rwanda at Level 3; our Uganda safety guide sets out the detail alongside UK and Canadian advice. Buy safari insurance that covers trip disruption and medical evacuation, since serious care in Antananarivo is limited and a missed trek date is not refunded.
Pack once for both. Ranomafana and Bwindi need the same rain jacket, gaiters and gardening gloves for nettles, plus a head torch for night walks. Keep to a soft bag of about 15 kg for light aircraft, and carry trek clothes and boots in hand luggage on the regional flight, since a delayed bag cannot follow you into the forest. Bring ariary cash in small notes for Madagascar’s park guides, as ATMs run dry outside the towns. The gorilla trekking packing list, safari duffel bag guide and headlamps for safari page cover the kit.
Madagascar and Uganda Itinerary FAQ
How much does a Madagascar and Uganda itinerary cost per person?
As a rough market guide for two sharing, with permits included and international flights excluded: a 12 to 14 day trip with mid range lodges, a private driver guide in Madagascar and a Uganda road safari is commonly quoted around US$6,500 to US$10,000 per person. Trips with bush flights in Uganda and upscale lodges in both countries often run US$10,000 to US$16,000 or more. The Antananarivo to Entebbe or Kigali flight usually adds several hundred US dollars one way. These are ranges, not prices.
What do the gorilla permit, park fees and visas cost?
Uganda’s gorilla permit is US$800 for foreign non residents, US$700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens, with low season permits at US$600 (US$500 for residents) in April, May and November on fixed dates that cannot be rescheduled. Permits are paid in full at booking. The habituation experience is US$1,500, with a rise to US$1,800 announced. Rwanda’s permit is US$1,500, with 30 percent off (US$1,050) from November to May for visitors who also stay in Nyungwe or Akagera. Madagascar park entry for foreign adults has been about 45,000 to 65,000 ariary a day at the main parks, with a doubling announced, plus local guide fees per circuit. Madagascar’s visa is priced by length of stay; published figures differ between sources, so confirm the fee on the official eVisa portal. Uganda’s single entry tourist visa is US$50 and the East Africa Tourist Visa US$100.
How many days do I need for Madagascar and gorilla trekking?
Ten days works with Rwanda and one Madagascar region. Twelve days suits the east of Madagascar plus Bwindi with flights, fourteen adds a beach, sixteen adds the RN7 and chimps, and eighteen or more covers two Madagascar regions without living in the car. Many travellers find two weeks in Madagascar alone is enough to see a good share of it.
Is there a direct flight from Madagascar to Uganda?
Not on current schedules. Most travellers connect through Nairobi or Addis Ababa, and some through Johannesburg.
Should I visit Madagascar or Uganda first?
Madagascar first in almost every case. Madagascar has refused entry to visitors who were recently in a country with an Ebola outbreak, and it asks travellers from yellow fever risk countries such as Uganda for a certificate. Going there first avoids both questions. Confirm the current rule before booking.
Is Uganda or Rwanda better to combine with Madagascar?
Rwanda if time is short, since Volcanoes is close to Kigali airport. Uganda for a cheaper permit, more gorilla families, chimps in Kibale and the habituation experience. Our Uganda vs Rwanda page compares them.
What should I skip in Madagascar if time is short?
Skip the west and the far north on a first short visit, since both need flights. Andasibe alone gives the indri and a dozen or so other lemurs within a morning’s drive of the capital, and adding Ranomafana and Isalo brings ring tailed lemurs and canyon walks.
How fit do I need to be for this two country trip?
Moderately fit. Ranomafana and the Grand Tsingy are steep, Isalo is hot and rocky, and a gorilla trek can take from under an hour to most of a day on muddy slopes at altitude. The minimum gorilla trekking age is 15, and chimp tracking in Kibale starts at 12. See how hard gorilla trekking is.
Can I add a beach or the Serengeti?
Yes. Put Nosy Be or Ile Sainte Marie at the start of the Madagascar half, or finish in Zanzibar after the gorillas. A Serengeti or Masai Mara safari fits after Madagascar and before or after Uganda; see Tanzania safari and gorilla trekking and the gorilla and Masai Mara safari guide.
