12 nights n Rwanda

In terms of dividing your time, I would allocate more to Uganda, and less to Rwanda.

Also, why fly to Entebbe? This is silly--southwestern Uganda is my favorite part, and this is adjacent to Rwanda. Just cross the border and continue after gorilla trekking.

My guess is that you plan to trek gorillas for two days? Correct? Again, no need to head back to Kigali (Day 4 of the typical package)--just continue onto Uganda.

Peace,

BB

Thanks BigBri. Makes much more sense to cross the border after trekking - will look into that. Unfortunately we have flights that take us into Kigali on day 1 and have gorilla permits for days 9 and 10 so we are kind of stuck with splitting our time equally between the two countries. Not ideal, but we can always go back another year.

So day 11 can be Ruhengeri to southwest Uganda, giving you two weeks in Uganda. I would head up western Uganda to Murchison Falls, and then return to Kampala. Will you have a car and driver for the whole trip?

You don't mention the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, which is a must even if you go to Nyamata.

Peace,

BB

Agree with BB no need to fly to Entebbe. Cyanika border is 20 minutes from Ruhengeri and SW Uganda is beauitiful. You could easily cross the afternoon of your last gorilla trek day.

The gorilla trek is a day trip, sometimes even only half a day trip. While in that region, you could use another one of your 4 days to see the golden monkeys, or to climb Bisoke volcano, both are day trips organised from the same people at the PNV (Parc National des Volcans) headquarters in Kinigi where you have to be to start your gorilla trip.
www.rwandatourism.com

If you are interested in the genocide, on your way from Butare to Nyungwe, you could do a little side trip (only a few kilometers from the main road) to the memorial of Murambi, near the town of Gikongoro. http://www.kigalimemorialcentre.org/old/centre/other/murambi.html