This 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari is a charming adventure that introduces you to track mountain gorillas in Bwindi and Volcanoes national parks. The tour begins and ends in Kigali Rwanda. This safari will make you participate in two national parks is volcanoes national park located in the northwest of Rwanda and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park located in southwestern Uganda. During gorilla trekking, you will be given a maximum of one hour to be with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat allowing you to learn more about their lifestyles.

4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari highlights

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Day 3: Gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park

Day 4: Cultural tour and departure to Kigali

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Depending on your arrival, an English-speaking driver guide from Africa adventure vacations will be ready to pick you up, brief you about the safari, and transfer you to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in southwestern Uganda. The journey from Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park takes 3 to 4 hours passing via Cyanika border in Kisoro district or Katuna border in Kabale and on your way you will have a stopover for lunch and beautiful views of rolling hills in Rwanda, beautiful scenery, traditional homesteads, landscapes, terraced farmlands, roadside markets among others. On reaching the park you will check into the lodge, get dinner, and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge – luxury, Buhoma Haven Lodge – mid-range and Buhoma Community Rest Camp – budget

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

After a very early morning breakfast on the second day of your 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari, you will get your packed lunch and other things you need for gorilla trekking then meet up with your driver-guide to transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing about gorillas. During the briefing, you will be told about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking, grouped into 8, and given a guide to lead you into the forest in search of these mountain gorillas. The grouping of gorilla trekkers and allocation of gorilla families is based on age, physical fitness, and personal preferences so therefore in case you are not physically fit, there is no need to worry. You are just advised to book in advance so that they allocate you an easy family to trek.

There are 19 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and gorilla trekking takes 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of gorillas and the speed of the slowest trekker. During gorilla trekking you will meet different mammals, primates like l’hoest monkey, vervet monkeys, chimpanzees, olive baboons, colorful birds such as black bee-eater, African green pigeon, handsome francolin, purple breasted sunbird, Rwenzori Apalis, plants, and trees among others. Once you meet mountain gorillas you will spend an hour with them in their natural environment allowing you to learn about their habitats, behaviors, take photos, and recording videos among others. After an hour with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide who will drive you to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate before proceeding to your lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will check out of your lodge meet your driver-guide for a transfer to volcanoes national park in the northwest of Rwanda via Cyanika border in Kisoro. Volcanoes national park is a home to a number of volcanoes such as Karisimbi, Bisoke among others for hiking experiences. When you reach volcanoes national park, you will continue to the lodge for check-in, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel – luxury, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge – mid range, Garden Place Hotel – budget

Day 3: Gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park

On the third day of your Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari, you will wake up early for a morning breakfast, carry packed lunch and other requirements you need for gorilla trekking after which meet your driver-guide ready to transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don’ts of mountain gorilla trekking. After the briefing, you will be given a gorilla family to trek in groups not exceeding 8 people and a guide to lead you into the forest while sharing information with you about mountain gorillas. Trekking in volcanoes national park Rwanda takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on the location of mountain gorillas, nature of the terrain, and the speed at which you are trekking. While trekking mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park you will come across animals like forest elephants, giant forest hogs, monkeys, different birds, plants, and different vegetation types. Once the gorillas are allocated you will be allowed to spend an hour with them as you learn about their behaviors, watch them go about their daily activities while taking photos, and record videos. After an hour with gorillas, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide who will transfer you to your lodge for lunch via the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate. Dinner and overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel – luxury, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge – mid range, Garden Place Hotel – budget

Day 4: Cultural tour and departure to Kigali

After morning breakfast on your last day of Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari, you will meet up with your driver-guide to drive you Iby’Iwacu village for a cultural tour. During the cultural tour, you will meet local people who will tell you about how they go about their day-to-day life, culture, traditions, taste different dishes, listening to ancient stories, learning how to make local wine from bananas, and get entertained by traditional dancers. After the visit to Iby’Iwacu village, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will check out of the lodge and meet your driver-guide to start on your journey back to Kigali international airport or at your hotel to end your 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari.

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Tour includes 

Gorilla trekking permits

Cultural tour

An English-speaking driver-guide

Accommodation

Transport

Drinking water

Tour excludes

Air flight tickets

Visa

Optional activities

Personal expenses

What to pack for 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari?

Rain jacket

Waterproof back

Waterproof walking shoes

Gloves

Long-sleeved clothes

Camera

Insect repellent

Long cotton stockings