5 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari – Overview

The 5 days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari in the two only countries with the highest number of gorillas in the world i.e. Rwanda and Uganda take you for a double memorable gorilla trekking experience in stunning Volcanoes National park of Rwanda and thick ancient Bwindi impenetrable forest in south western Uganda respectively.

The safari gives you the opportunity of exploring the two unique protected areas in east Africa region and the end of the safari you will have wonderful experience which cannot be got elsewhere in the world.

This great double gorilla trekking experience starts and ends in Rwanda the land of thousand hills.

5 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari – Highlights

• Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport and drive transfer to Volcanoes National Park (Drive distance of 106kms)
• Day 2: Do gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park (2-8 hours trek)
• Day 3: Transfer drive from Volcanoes Park to Bwindi Impenetrable in Uganda (drive distance of 236 kms)
• Day 4: Do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (2 – 8 hours trek)
• Day 5: Transfer drive from Bwindi Impenetrable in Uganda to Kigali Rwanda (drive distance of 246kms)

5 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport And Drive Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

On arrival at Kigali Airport, you will meet and greet our driver guide who will be with you for the rest of the days of your gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda and Uganda.

You will have short briefing from the driver guide and then afterwards embark on drive transfer of 2 – 3hours from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes national park.

The drive to Volcanoes national park is scenic with beautiful hilly landscapes bearing green tea plantations.

On arrival at Ruhengeri where Volcanoes national park is located, you will drive direct to your lodge for check-in and overnight

Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), La Palme Hotel (Mid-range/Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/Basic).

Day 2: Do Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Immediately after your early morning breakfast like at 06:20 hours, you will transfer to the Volcanoes National Park Headquarters at Kinigi for Briefing at 8:00am by park rangers about the rules and regulations to follow while trekking and spending time with the mountain gorillas.

After the briefing, you will be driven to the trail head for the start of your amazing Gorilla Tracking adventure in the precious Volcanoes national park.

Porters may be hired for the trek to help you carry your backpack and gear. Your memorable Gorilla trekking experience begins from the cultivated foothills of the Virunga’s offering stirring views in all directions and the trails will lead you to the mysterious intimacy of the rain-forest, alive with the unique colorful bird species which offer free entertainment to trekkers moving in the forest, during the trek you have chances of hearing the chattering golden monkeys as well as enjoying the views of elusive buffalo and elephant roaming in the forest.

Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for one memorable magical hour as they go about their daily life of feeding, playing, resting, raising their young.

Coming face to face encounter with a giant silver back will be truly your greatest wildlife experiences on earth.

During this one hour you will be allowed to take a many photos as you can. Immediately the one hour is over, you will make U turn journey to the park head Quarters and drive back to your respective lodge for relaxation and memory sharing with friends.

After relaxing, you will drive to the nearby Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for a rare opportunity to interact with the local people, in their environment, with a taste of their unique culture and traditions.

After the cultural encounter, you will drive back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), La Palme Hotel (Mid-range/Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/Basic).

Day 3: Transfer Drive From Volcanoes Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda

After your early morning breakfast in your lodge, you will embark on transfer drive from Volcanoes national park to Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda.

You will cross the border via Kyanika. Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park is situated in the south west of Uganda and as you traverse the vast country side, you will have chance to enjoy the views of the beautiful scenery referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa”.

On arrival to Bwindi’s Buhoma sector, you will drive to your lodge for check-in, lunch, relaxation, and in the evening, you will drive to nearby Batwa community for a community walk.

The activity will give you the opportunity to attend the traditional dance and songs from these “Aborigines” of Uganda who left the forest recently following Uganda Wildlife Authority’s move to boost the conservation of the mountain gorilla in this natural forest.

After the interesting cultural encounter, you will retire to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Silver back Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 4: Do Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After your early morning breakfast, your driver guide will drive you to the Park head Quarters in Buhoma for briefing about the do’s and don’ts of gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

You will meet other trekkers in the headquarters and you will be divided in groups of eight individuals who are allowed to visit one particular gorilla habituated group.

After briefing ,UWA experienced ranger guide will lead you to the trail heads where gorilla trekking starts from and you will enter in the thick dark impenetrable forest to start searching for the mountain gorillas.

It can take you like 2-8 hours to encounter mountain gorilla and once up close, you will be allowed to spend one magical hour with these stunning apes.

During this time you can decide to sit down listen to gorilla crumble, study how these apes go about their daily activities and you can take as many photos as possible.

When the one hour is done, you will walk back to the park headquarters and finally after the whole mountain gorilla encounter in Uganda’s Bwindi you will drive back to your lodge for relaxation and depending on time and energy, if you can, you can participate in the interesting evening nature walks in Bwindi. Then after retire back to your respective lodge for dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Silverback Lodge (Mid-range/Standard) or Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 5: Transfer Drive From Bwindi Impenetrable in Uganda to Kigali Rwanda

After taking an early morning breakfast, you will embark on transfer drive from Bwindi to Kigali international airport in Kanombe.

The drive to Kigali will not be boring because you will traverse through beautiful hilly landscapes bearing green tea plantations, by-passing beautiful local Rwandan People when going for their daily activities.

On arrival to Kigali, you will have your lunch and take visit to some nearby craft shops to buy some crafts and then the driver guide will drive you to Kanombe airport for your flight back home hence the end of the safari.

End of The 5 days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari.