6 Days Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Transfer to Ruhengeri

Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where our driver-guide will warmly welcome you. After a short briefing, you will be transferred into the city for lunch before beginning the scenic drive north to Ruhengeri, a town lying close to Volcanoes National Park. The park is part of the magnificent Virunga Mountains, which extend into Uganda’s Bwindi Forest and Congo’s Virunga, and are home to peaks such as Bisoke, Karisimbi, Muhabura, and Sabyinyo. This area is famed as one of the last natural habitats of the rare mountain gorillas.

Dinner and overnight will be at Gorilla’s Nest Hotel or Kinigi Guesthouse.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing by ranger guides. Soon after, set off on your trek into the forest in search of the gorillas. The hike may take some time depending on their movements, but the reward is exceptional—an hour in the company of a gorilla family. Watch the Silverbacks as they command respect, the mothers nurturing their infants, and the playful young ones tumbling in the vegetation. This intimate encounter with the gorillas is truly unforgettable.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Golden Monkey Tracking or Dian Fossey’s Grave Hike

EThis day offers a choice of activities. You may set out to track the lively golden monkeys, explore the burial site of Dian Fossey—the renowned primatologist who dedicated her life to the conservation of gorillas—or choose to engage in cultural visits to local communities and schools. For the adventurous, hikes to volcanic peaks such as Muhabura or Bisoke can also be arranged.

Return in the evening for dinner and overnight at your lodge in Ruhengeri.

Day 4: Transfer from Rwanda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda)

After breakfast, depart Ruhengeri and continue your journey into Uganda. Cross the border and drive through rolling hills to reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its dense forest and being home to nearly half the world’s mountain gorillas.

Dinner and overnight will be at Buhoma Community Bandas or Gorilla Resort Hotel.

Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Batwa Community Visit

Rise early for breakfast, then head to the Bwindi park headquarters for a briefing before your second gorilla trek. This trek takes you through Bwindi’s thick rainforest, alive with mist and birdsong, until you finally come face-to-face with another gorilla family. Once again, you will have one unforgettable hour to observe their behaviors before trekking back to the lodge. In the evening, take part in a cultural experience with the Batwa pygmies, the forest’s original inhabitants, learning about their traditions, music, and way of life. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Day 6: Return to Kigali – Departure

Enjoy an early breakfast before bidding farewell to Bwindi. Begin your journey back to Kigali, where you will stop for lunch on arrival. Depending on your schedule, you may do some shopping or a brief city tour before being transferred to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.