4 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Safari
This 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari is a fascinating adventure which starts and ends in Kigali. During the safari will participate in gorilla trekking activity in two national parks that is Volcanoes national park in north western part of Rwanda and Bwindi impenetrable national park in south western Uganda. During gorilla trekking you will be allowed to spend one hour with the endangered mountain gorillas which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their lifestyle.
Highlights of the 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 3: Gorilla trekking
Day 4: Cultural tour and departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of the 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari
Arrival and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park, depending on the time of arrival on the first day of your 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari you will be picked up by our driver guide, who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours drive passing via Cyanika border in Kisoro district or Katuna border in Kabale district and on your way you will have en-route lunch and great views of the rolling hills in Rwanda, beautiful scenery, landscapes, traditional homesteads, terraced farmlands, roadside markets among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into lodge, have dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulation of gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking in the park is done in a group of 8 people where each group is allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle. Grouping of individuals is however done according to various factors like age, physical fitness and personal preferences therefore in case you are not physically fit you are advised to communicate with your guide so that they allocate you a gorilla family that is near to trek.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located and during trekking you will have views of colorful bird species such as African green pigeon, black bee-eater, black billed turaco, handsome francolin, rwenzori apalis, purple breasted sunbird, plant and tree species, mammals, other primates like chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment which gives you an opportunity to learn about their habits, behaviors, take photos, record videos among others. After the one hour with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for late lunch. After lunch you will check out of the lodge and your driver guide will pick you up to start the journey to Volcanoes national park passing via Cyanika border in Kisoro district. Upon arrival you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Gorilla trekking, on the third day of the 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari you will have an early breakfast, carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. after the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people, allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who will be sharing information about the mountain gorillas and also well conversant with gorilla trails.
Trekking of the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park takes about 3o minutes to 6 hours and during trekking you will view other wildlife species such as birds, mammals, primates, plant species among others. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat and during this time you will compare gorilla experiences, learn about their lifestyle, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record the moments to show people back home. You will later trek back to the park headquarters after spending one hour with the endangered mountain gorillas, meet up with your driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Cultural tour and departure to Kigali
Cultural tour, after breakfast on the last day of the 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari you will meet up with your driver guide to go for cultural tour to Ibyi’wacu cultural village which is one of the neighboring communities around the park. During the cultural tour you will interact with the local people which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their lifestyle, culture, traditions, way of living, taste different dishes, listen to interesting stories about traditional medicine from local traditional healers, learn how local beer is made out of bananas, enjoy entertainments traditional dances, songs, drama from women among others. After the cultural tour you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Departure to Kigali, after lunch you will check out of the lodge and your driver guide will pick you up to transfer to Kigali international airport for your next flight or drop off at any place of convenience.
End of 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari
Inclusions of the 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari
- Gorilla trekking permits
- cultural tour
- An English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Exclusions of the 4 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla safari
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
Tips for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
- Hiking shoes
- Garden gloves
- Long sleeved shirt and trouser
- Insect repellent
- Water proof rain jacket
- Warm sweaters
- Long cotton stockings
- Water proof back pack to carry your equipment’s
- Camera
- Drinking water and packed lunch from the lodge
- Walking stick
- Hiring a Porter who will help you carry your equipment’s and gives you a pull or a push in steep and slippery areas.
