East Africa Tours

Rwanda & Uganda Primate Adventure

Duration7 days

LocationVolcanoes NP & Bwindi

Group4 persons

Rating

Trek between two of the world's best primate destinations on this 7-day Rwanda and Uganda adventure. Begin in Kigali, hike into the Virunga volcanoes of Volcanoes National Park, then cross into Uganda for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Volcanoes National Park: a Dian Fossey grave hike, with a gorilla trek or cultural village visit as options
Cultural village visit near the volcanoes
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi with a ranger guide
Mountain lodges and a comfortable Kigali start and finish

Pick the gorilla experience that suits your fitness and budget. Talk to Day Safaris Adventures about permits and dates.

What's included

Accommodation in lodges/tented camps as per itinerary
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Bottled drinking water during game drives
Game drives in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Gorilla / chimpanzee trekking permits
Government taxes and service charges
Meals as stated in the daily itinerary
Park entry fees and ranger guides
Park, conservancy and entry fees
Professional English-speaking driver-guide

Not included

Anything not listed under "What's Included"
International flights to and from your home country
Optional activities (e.g. hot air balloon safari)
Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, phone calls)
Porter fees for trekking (optional)
Tips and gratuities for guides and staff
Travel, medical and cancellation insurance
Visa fees and entry permits (unless stated)

7-day itinerary

A day-by-day breakdown of your adventure.

Day1

Arrival in Kigali - Land of a Thousand Hills

Arrive at Kigali International Airport (KGL). Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial for a sobering but important educational experience. Evening briefing about your primate adventure. Dinner at a local restaurant serving Rwandan cuisine.

4-star hotel in Kigali (Kigali Serena or similar)Full Board

Airport
Transfer,
Genocide
Memorial
Visit,
Welcome

Day2

Kigali to Volcanoes National Park - Golden Monkeys

7:00 AM breakfast. Drive to Musanze (2 hours). Check-in at your lodge at the foothills of the Virunga Mountains. Afternoon golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park (2-3 hours). Spend one hour with these playful primates in the bamboo forest.

Volcanoes mountain lodge (Virunga Lodge or similar)Full Board

Scenic
Drive,
Golden
Monkey
Trekking,
Photography

Day3

Volcanoes - Optional Gorilla Trek (Rwanda) or Cultural Day

Option A (optional extra, ask for the supplement): Gorilla trekking in Rwanda - early morning briefing and trek into the forest to find a mountain gorilla family. Option B: Visit Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village to learn about traditional Rwandan life - banana beer making, blacksmithing, and Intore dancing. Afternoon visit to Dian Fossey grave site.

Volcanoes mountain lodgeFull Board

Either
Gorilla
Trekking
OR
Cultural
Village

Day4

Volcanoes to Bwindi - Crossing to Uganda

8:00 AM breakfast. Drive to Cyanika border crossing into Uganda (1 hour). Complete immigration formalities. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (3 hours) through the beautiful Kigezi Highlands - known as the "Switzerland of Africa". Check-in at your Bwindi lodge. Evening gorilla trek briefing.

Bwindi Jungle Lodge (Bwindi Lodge or similar)Full Board

Border
Crossing,
Scenic
Highland
Drive,
Gorilla

Day5

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi - The Ultimate Experience

5:30 AM early breakfast. 6:30 AM depart for park headquarters. Meet your trackers and armed guards. Enter Bwindi's Impenetrable Forest. Trek 1-6 hours through thick vegetation, guided by trackers who communicate with gorillas. Once you find the gorilla family, you have one magical hour watching them. Return to lodge for celebration.

Bwindi Jungle LodgeFull Board

Gorilla
Trekking,
Photography,
Celebration
Dinner

Day6

Bwindi - Batwa Cultural Experience

9:00 AM breakfast. Visit the Batwa pygmies - the "Keepers of the Forest". Learn their traditional hunting techniques, hear forest songs, and see how they lived in the forest before the park was gazetted. Participate in traditional dance. Afternoon optional community walk or relaxation at lodge.

Bwindi Jungle LodgeFull Board

Batwa
Cultural
Experience,
Traditional
Dance,
Forest

Day7

Bwindi to Kigali - Departure

7:00 AM breakfast. Drive to the Uganda-Rwanda border at Cyanika (2 hours). Complete immigration. Continue to Kigali (2 hours). Lunch at a local restaurant in Kigali. Visit the Caplaki Craft Village for souvenir shopping. Drop-off at Kigali International Airport for departure.

No accommodationFull Board