6 Days Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda And Uganda

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali & transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda will be your first gorilla safari destination and your journey will begin from Kigali. Leave the hotel or Kigali International Airport (KGL) for Volcanoes N/Park 2-3 hours’ drive and enjoy Rwanda’s breathtaking rolling hills en-route. Arrive at Ruhengeri early and you will check in at the gorilla safari lodge for a superb stay.

Day 2: Trekking Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri

Wake up to start your beautiful day with a tasty breakfast, after, travel to the park offices to meet the officials for briefing about gorilla tracking rules. Actual visit to see endangered mountain gorillas begins at 8:00am and it will take 2-6 hours. When you come across gorillas, the park guide will let to stay for 1 hour observing how these apes behave and taking pictures. After maximizing your one hour, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation with an optional cultural visit to the Gorilla Guardian Village.

Day 3: Border crossing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Enjoy a hefty breakfast early morning, after, check out and you will meet the driver guide. Today will be the day to cross from Rwanda to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The border crossing will be through Katuna via Kabale or via Chanika border and at the lodge, have a relaxed evening.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking

You will wake up early and meeting the park official will be at the park headquarters where briefing concerning gorilla trekking, rules and allocation of gorilla groups will be done. Bwindi is a charming tropical forest park, located in Southwestern Uganda and hosts up to 20 fully habituated gorilla families. On each day of tracking gorillas, maximum of 8 visitors are assigned to one gorilla group. When you get a family of gorillas with massive silverback, expect to have one hour face-to-face and taking keen attention on their daily behaviors, body gestures.

When you return, lunch will be served and you sometime to relax before connecting to the Batwa pygmies’ community. Meet and interact with the Batwa, the historic forest keepers, hunters and gatherers. After, transfer back to your superb accommodation for overnight stay.

Day 5: Lake Bunyonyi excursion

Wake early and be served with a tasty breakfast, after, leave Bwindi for Lake Bunyonyi excursion. You will arrive early, enjoy lunch and take a canoe ride to the Punishment Island or Upside Down/Bucuranuka. Late in the evening, relax at the cool shores of Lake Bunyonyi and overnight stay at the pre-booked lodge.

Day 6: Kigali for departure

With pack of lunch (depending on the lodge), leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Kigali crossing to Rwanda via Chanika or Katuna borders. 3-5 hours’ drive to Kigali come with incredible views of the countryside rolling hills.