5 days Rwanda – Uganda Gorilla Trek| Uganda Rwanda Tours

Rwanda – Uganda Gorilla Trek – 5days, No one can ever been fully satisfied with the one hour allowed with these few remaining endangered mountain gorillas left on earth. However, this 5 days Uganda and Rwanda gorillas tour will give you the full African jungle feel when you go trekking gorillas in two different jungle parks in both Uganda (bwindi national park) and Rwanda (volcanoes national park that protect the gentle giants.in Rwanda you will have a chance to take a tour to the Karisoke Research center which was established by Dian Fossey an American primatologist who dedicated all her life devising systems for conserving the endangered mountain gorilla in the region that they can now safely be met face to face without causing any harm to human. The tour will also give you a great chance to tour Kigali city.

Brief itinerary

•  Arrive in Kigali- City Tour & transfer to Volcanoes National Park
•  Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes
•  Hike Dian Fossey in Volcanoes
•  Golden Monkey tracking in Volcanoes & transfer to Bwindi
• Gorilla trek in Bwindi & transfer to Kigali

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival-Kigali City Tour & transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Upon your arrival at Kigali international airport,  greeted by your Mum and Dad Uganda Tours guide and drive to your hotel in a quiet verdant street in the heart of down-town Kigali. Arrive at your pre-booked hotel/lodge for a free drink by the hotel’s pool bar. Get briefed by your guide on the details of your upcoming memorable adventure. Take a city tour or visit the genocide memorial site, the craft markets to browse amongst the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, musical instruments, leather and fabrics on offer.

You will have lunch and later transfer to the Gorilla haven in the Volcanoes National Park. Check in pre-booked accommodation in Rehengeri town just outside the park. And later go for an exploration tour of the scenic twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Finally  return to your lodge for dinner and overnight. 

Accommodation Options; Kinigi Guest House (Budget), La Palme Hotel (Moderate), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Up market)

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Early morning breakfast and then after report to the park headquarters to receive short briefings about gorilla trekking and also gets you allocated to the gorilla family. At 8:00am you will certainly start to hike into lead by the ranger guide hike deep into the forest to have a chance to meet the endangered gorillas in their natural habitat.  Gorilla trekking is unpredictable as meeting them depends on where they last spent their night from.

After reaching the gorillas, spend an hour with and then descend back to the lodge for lunch. You will later in the afternoon be taken on a nature walk to the twin lakes or visit the Iby’ Iwachu Village to explore the Banyarwanda culture. Later return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Accommodation Options; Kinigi Guest House (Budget), La Palme Hotel (Moderate), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Up market)

Day 3: Hike Dian Fossey in Volcanoes

. In the afternoon you will a hike up to Karisoke research Centre established by Dian Fossey. Diane Fossy was an American primatologist who dedicated all her entire life conserving the endangered mountain gorillas that they become familiar to human, it’s because of her that gorillas can be met safely in their natural habitat without causing any harm to human.  Meanwhile she stayed with these few remaining apes for a period of over 18 years until when she was killed by the said poachers. Overall, the center adds a perfect learning opportunity to the facts that people barely know about Mountain Gorillas

Lodging Options; Gift of Nature/ Gorilla safari lodge/Buhoma lodge (Luxury), Haven lodge/ gorilla mist lodge (Mid-range), Buhoma Community Camp/Bwindi view Bandas (Budget)

Meal Plan; Full Board

Day 4: Golden Monkey Trek & transfer to Bwindi

Wake-up early for breakfast and then assemble at the Park headquarters for a short briefing on the dos and don’ts while the Golden monkey and also gets you assigned to the ranger guide. Later head to the forest to begin the search of  the gorillas, once the apes are found you are strictly allowed only one hour with them. The trekking will take 1-2 hours after which you will return to the lodge for lunch.  Later cross over to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. Lastly dinner and overnight will be at the lodge of your booking

Lodging Options; Gift of Nature/ Gorilla safari lodge/Buhoma lodge(Luxury), Haven lodge/ gorilla mist lodge(Mid-range), Buhoma Community Camp/Bwindi view bandas (Budget) Meal Plan; Full Board

Day 5: Mountain Gorilla trekking safari

On this day after a cup of tea or coffee, the guide will take you to the park headquarters for a short briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas and also gets you allocated to the gorilla group to trek. Bwindi national park host the highest number of these gentle giants in the world almost a half of the remaining mountain gorillas live in this park.

Not only gorillas but also the park is a home to other species like butterflies, plants, primates, mammals, butterflies, frogs, among others. Gorilla trekking experience last between 1-8 hours since meeting them depends on where they spent their last night from and once they are met you are strictly allowed only one hour with the gorillas. In the evening you will transfer to Kigali about 4 hours’ drive from Bwindi.  However this part of the Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Trek journey is quite delightful with scenic views of Kigezi highlands, Virunga Volcanoes and hills of Rwanda.

End of the Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Trek

Requirements for this Safari:

• Uganda & Rwanda Visas which can be got either from your home country or on arrival at the Airports
• Chimpanzee, Gorilla and Golden Monkey trekking permits (paid for in advance through our company Mum and Dad Uganda Tours)
• Travel & Health insurance arranged for from your home country
• Yellow fever proof vaccination (certificate)
• Some levels of Physical fitness

Tour inclusions;

• Airport transfers
• Transportation in a 4WD plus all fuel for the tour
• Professional English-speaking driver/guide
• Accommodations
• Meals
• Drinking water in the vehicle
• Park entrance fees
• Activities as listed
• 1 Gorilla tracking permit per person Bwindi N.P ($750)
• 1 Gorilla Tracking permit per person ($ 1.500)

Excluded

• International flights
• Visa
• Meals that are not part of your accommodation
• Activities that are mentioned as optional in the program
• A porter to carry your daypack during gorilla tracking (recommended