Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks & Safari Drives
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey from Uganda to Rwanda with the "Gorilla Treks & Safari Drives" tour. This adventure offers a unique opportunity to witness the majestic mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and trek to see chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. Experience thrilling wildlife safari drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to elephants, hippos, and more. Delve into Rwanda's poignant history at the Kigali Genocide Museum and enjoy cultural experiences with traditional lunches in the Bigodi Community and at the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre. Travel comfortably in a private van, staying in a mix of standard hotels and simple furnished tents, ensuring a comfortable yet adventurous experience. This tour promises breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural insights, and the chance to connect with some of Africa's most iconic wildlife. ...more ...less
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala
Location: Kampala, Jinja
Accommodation: Hotel, Canary
Accommodation Name: Canary Hotel
Arrive at anytime.
Arriving early? Pre-book Nile River Whitewater Rafting in Jinja on Day 1, and be back in time for your evening welcome meeting. We strongly advise arriving one night earlier to facilitate the activity's early start.
Additional Information: Please note that if you choose to participate in the Jinja Rafting excursion, the pick-up will depart from The Canary Hotel in Kampala at approx 7:30am. If you have booked alternative pre-tour accommodations, please be sure to contact Nile River Explorers the day before to arrange a convenient pick-up point. See the Optional Activities section of the Tour Details page for more information.
ACTIVITY: Meet your CEO and fellow group members and learn more about the upcoming itinerary. Fill out some paperwork and get ready for the adventure.
Day 2: Kampala/Fort Portal
Location: Kampala, Fort Portal
Accommodation: Kluges Guest Farm
Accommodation Name: Kluges Guest Farm
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take the scenic route to Fort Portal at the edge of Kibale National Park. Spend the night on a guest farm listening to the sounds of monkeys and birds.
Additional Information: Accommodation in Fort Portal is on a farm in simple furnished tents with shared bathroom facilities.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 3: Kibale National Park
Location: Kibale National Park, Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary
Accommodation: Kluges Guest Farm
Accommodation Name: Kluges Guest Farm
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the evergreen rainforest and trek to spot chimps in the morning or afternoon. Enjoy a traditional lunch in the Bigodi Community.
Opt to venture deep into the wetlands to spot more wildlife on a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary.
ACTIVITY: Embark on a chimp trek with a park ranger/guide. See more than just chimpanzees in their natural environment. Learn about the ecosystem and keep an eye out for other animals. Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, visitors stand a good chance of hearing and seeing our distant cousins as they are not bothered by humans watching their daily behaviour.
ACTIVITY: Sit down to a traditional buffet-style lunch prepared with fresh, organic local ingredients. Guests dine in a grass thatched hut and learn about Bigodi dining etiquette. Your local hosts describes how the ingredients used in the dishes are grown, harvested and prepared.
Day 4: Kibale NP/Queen Elizabeth NP
Location: Kibale National Park, Equator, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge
Accommodation Name: Simba Safari Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Continue on to Queen Elizabeth NP, stopping at the equator. Head out on a wildlife safari drive in the afternoon. Keep your eyes peeled for warthogs, elephants, buffalo, five different species of primates, and hippos.Queen Elizabeth National Park is characterized by open savannah, large areas of swamp around Lake George, the extensive Maramagambo Forest in the southeast, and the forested Kyambura Gorge along the border with Kyambura Game Reserve.Additional Information: Tonight's accommodation is located on a hill, on the border of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It offers spectacular views of Lake George and the savannah plains.TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.ACTIVITY: AFTERNOON Enjoy a wildlife safari drive inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to Uganda's largest wildlife populations. Keep an eye out for buffalo, elephants, hippos, hyenas, lions, warthogs, and the elusive leopards.
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge
Accommodation Name: Simba Safari Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take an early morning wildlife safari drive and enjoy lunch inside the park. Opt for an evening cruise along the Kazinga Channel.
Enjoy a wildlife safari drive with possible sightings of buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, lions, leopards, hyenas, giant forest hogs, and elephants.
ACTIVITY: MORNING Enjoy a wildlife safari drive inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to Uganda's largest wildlife populations. Keep an eye out for buffalo, elephants, hippos, hyenas, lions, warthogs, and the elusive leopards.
FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Don't waste a minute— start exploring.
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth NP/Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Accommodation Name: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy the scenic drive south, with views of forests, volcanoes and lakes. Spend the night on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Additional Information: Accommodation at Bwindi Impenetrable NP is in simple furnished tents
ooms with ensuite bathroom facilities.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Accommodation Name: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast
Rise early for the tour's main highlight – gorilla trekking!
Head into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to meet the park ranger/guide for orientation. Embark on the trek, which can vary in length and difficulty, depending on the location of the gorilla family that's being visited. Spend 1 hr (max) observing these beautiful and endangered creatures, a truly privileged experience. Trek back and return to town. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.
Additional Information: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas; Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija. Depending on permit availability your group could be tracking gorillas from different areas of the park, it is all still part of Bwindi.
ACTIVITY: Take an unforgettable guided trek (1-6 hrs) deep into volcano forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a wildlife encounter of a lifetime, and meet a family of mountain gorillas. One of Africa's major highlights, a close encounter with these amazing animals is simply breathtaking.
Get prepared before heading out: bring plenty of water and waterproof clothing (it can rain on only a few minutes’ notice), and be sure to bring protective bags for cameras and film. Dress in layers with long sleeves and long pants to protect against stinging nettles found in the forests. The trek’s often chilly, at first, until you start trekking.
Note: Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure, and currently permit only a maximum of eight people, per day, to visit a given gorilla family. The group will be split into different sub-groups for the trek, and depending on the number of travellers, different sub-groups may do their trek on different days.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas; Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. Depending on permit availability your group could be tracking gorillas from different areas of the park, it is all still part of Bwindi.
FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Depending on when you get back from your gorilla trek, you may have some time to explore more of the area.
Day 8: Bwindi/Kigali
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kigali, Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Cross the border into Rwanda, then head to the capital city, Kigali. Visit the genocide museum to learn more about the dark history of this fascinating country. Enjoy lunch at the G Adventures supported Nyamirambo Women's Centre. Tour ends on arrival at hotel.
ACTIVITY: Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, which serves as a permanent memorial to those who fell victim to the genocide in 1994. The centre opened on the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, in April 2004, and was built on a site where more than 250,000 people are buried.
Please note that content at the Memorial Centre shows the harsh reality of the genocide.
ACTIVITY: Located in Nyamirambo, the largest and most vibrant township in Rwanda, the centre provides women and girls from a diverse range of backgrounds, the opportunity to support each other and succeed, through education and training programs. Enjoy lunch prepared by women employed at the centre, allowing us to try local foods and popular dishes. After lunch, take some time to browse the centre's shop, which features handmade, high-quality crafts and clothes, made by some of the women at the shop, as well as other women's cooperatives throughout Rwanda. Proceeds from the meal and shop help support the centre’s education and training programs, including a community library.
ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Standard hotel (1 nt), simple furnished tents/rooms (6 nts). -
Meals
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners -
Nyamirambo Women’s Centre
Enjoy a local lunch at the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre in Kigali.
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Guest Farm Stay
Experience a guest farm stay near Kibale National Park.
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Chimpanzee Trek
Participate in a guided chimpanzee trek.
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Bigodi Community Lunch
Enjoy a traditional lunch in the Bigodi Community.
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Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari
Engage in wildlife safari drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
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Gorilla Trekking
Take part in guided gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
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Kigali Genocide Museum
Visit the Kigali Genocide Museum.
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National Park Fees and Permits
All national park fees and trekking permits are included.
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Transport
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities is provided.
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
Tipping and gratuities are not included.
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International Travel
International travel to and from the tour is not included.
Accommodation
Enjoy a mix of standard hotel accommodations for one night and simple furnished tents or rooms for six nights, providing a comfortable yet adventurous experience amidst the stunning landscapes of Uganda and Rwanda.
Transport
Private van, walking.
Meals Included
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Group Size
Max 12, avg 8
Solo Travellers
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price. ...more ...less
Meals
Vegetarian meals and other dietary requirements need to be specified prior to arrival. Please note all bottled drinking water will be at your own expense.
Mode of Transport
Travel conveniently in a private van, allowing you to enjoy the scenic views, with walking included for a more immersive experience in the natural surroundings.
Minimum Age
Minimum age of 15 years for this trip.
Important Notes
1. AGE RESTRICTIONS
Please note that all passengers must be aged 15 years or older (prior to start of travel) to go on this tour - there are no exceptions to this as it is for safety reasons and strictly controlled by the Government.
2. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT
This trip is rated a level 4 physical requirement - travellers should be in excellent physical condition, without any heart problems and prepared to spend strenuous days in humid rain forests, steep terrain and high altitude trekking for chimpanzee and gorillas, as well as other primates. Please ensure you meet the requirements as described under "physical rating".
3. TRAVEL DAYS
Travelling can be difficult, as long drives and poor road conditions are the rule as opposed to the exception in both Rwanda and Uganda. Despite this, the diversity and scenery of the African landscape, the local culture and abundant wildlife are all well worth the experience.
4. WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
G Adventures can never guarantee the sighting of wildlife, especially when it comes to mountain gorillas. However, the mountain gorilla trek is organized to ensure success. Before heading into the jungle, our local guides receive coordinates from trackers on the whereabouts of the gorillas, and the trackers stay with the gorillas until the group arrives.
5. ACCOMMODATION
Much of the accommodation on this tour is in simple furnished tents with shared bathroom facilities.
Please remember that this is a developing area and as such, accommodations/service may not be of similar standard to which you are used to in your home country. As well, interruptions in electricity and water can be common. We appreciate your patience and understanding, as well as your sense of adventure.
Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.
6. ILLNESS
Please note that if you are unwell with anything contagious, even a common cold, you may be denied any of the treks to ensure the safety of the gorillas and chimps. This is a national park regulation, and trekking permits will not be refunded if you are denied entrance due to illness.
7. CAMERAS
As it is very dark and damp in the jungle; please ensure your camera equipment is appropriate for such conditions and that you bring dry bags to protect it.
8. ELECTRICITY
The power supply in Uganda and Rwanda is nominally 240VAC, 50hz. Variable voltage, spikes and sporadic, unexpected, unscheduled power cuts of varying duration can be expected.
9. YELLOW FEVER
Please be advised that it will be required to show a yellow fever certificate upon entering Uganda and Rwanda.
10. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas; Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija. Depending on permit availability your group could be tracking gorillas from different areas of the park, it is all still part of Bwindi.
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Group Leader
The CEO (Chief Experience Officer) will be the group manager and leader. He/she organizes the trip, and will be there to assist you when needed. He/she will take care of the small things so you can concentrate on enjoying your adventure. All of our CEOs in East Africa are experienced group leaders, with a broad knowledge base of the region’s history, cultures, and wildlife. Your leader will be from either southern or East Africa depending on which part of the tour you are on.
During the trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we use an experienced and certified tracking guide, and armed guards to accompany you for your safety.
We also use local guides for some included activities where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting.
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About Accommodation
Hotel accommodation will be in simple, but comfortable twin-share rooms. All rooms are equipped with adequate mosquito netting (with the exception of your hotel in Musanze, where mosquito nets are not needed due to high-altitudes).
Tented accommodation will be in simple furnished tents on wooden platforms, with shared bathroom facilities. All tents are large, walk-in tents with mosquito-netting, two beds and provided linens. A sleeping bag or extra mosquito-netting is not needed for this tour.
Please remember that this is a developing area and as such, accommodations/service may not be of similar standard to which you are used to in your home country. As well, interruptions in electricity and water can be common. We appreciate your patience and understanding as well as your sense of adventure.
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What to Take
You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. Your baggage should be clearly labelled and restricted to one soft compact suitcase, sports bag, or backpack, of medium size, as well as a day pack.
On this trip you may experience several types of weather. It is important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings. Light, quick-drying, practical clothes are advisable for this trip.
Your clothes will in all likelihood get very muddy and may not recover to their original state - therefore take old clothing for trekking. Hard wearing clothes, no bright colours, or no army camouflage clothing should be worn. Greens, khaki and similar neutral clothes are recommended.
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Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip. ...more ...less
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
The tour offers a mix of standard hotel accommodations for one night and simple furnished tents or rooms for six nights. The accommodations are comfortable yet adventurous, allowing you to enjoy the stunning landscapes of Uganda and Rwanda.
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What is the main highlight of the tour?
The main highlight of the tour is the gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you will have the opportunity to observe a family of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
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Are there any age restrictions for this tour?
Yes, all passengers must be aged 15 years or older to participate in this tour. This restriction is for safety reasons and is strictly controlled by the government.
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What should I bring for the gorilla trekking experience?
For the gorilla trekking, it is recommended to bring plenty of water, waterproof clothing, and protective bags for cameras. Dress in layers with long sleeves and long pants to protect against stinging nettles found in the forests. The trek can be chilly at first until you start trekking. ...more ...less
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see during the safari drives?
During the safari drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including buffalo, elephants, hippos, hyenas, lions, warthogs, and possibly the elusive leopards.
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Is there any special preparation required for the chimpanzee trek?
The chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park involves exploring the rainforest with a park ranger/guide. While sightings are not guaranteed, visitors have a good chance of seeing chimpanzees and other wildlife. It is important to be in good physical condition as the trek can be strenuous.
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What is included in the tour regarding meals?
The tour includes 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners. Vegetarian meals and other dietary requirements need to be specified prior to arrival.
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What should I know about the Kigali Genocide Museum visit?
The visit to the Kigali Genocide Museum is a part of the tour where you will learn about Rwanda's history. The museum serves as a permanent memorial to the victims of the 1994 genocide and is built on a site where more than 250,000 people are buried. The content at the museum shows the harsh reality of the genocide.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
G Adventures was established in 1990
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Most of our trips do not have a single supplement. This means that the accommodation is on a twin share basis and, if travelling on your own, you will be sharing a room with another G Adventures traveller of the same sex. Some tours have an optional single supplement. An optional service that may be available is called "My Own Room". This service allows solo travellers to request their own room.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It's extremely difficult if not impossible to join a tour after it has begun. It is possible to leave a tour early however you will be responsible for your own arrangements from the moment you decide to leave the tour. You would also be responsible for all costs associated with joining a tour late or leaving one early. If you feel this may be necessary, please consult us before you book.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
https://www.gadventures.com/travel-with-confidence/
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
https://www.gadventures.com/about-us/core-values/
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Free Date Changes
G Adventures allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
G Adventures requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of g adventures charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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Rated 5* on Trust Pilot & ABTA Protected.
Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks & Safari Drives
8 Days Starting in Kampala, Uganda and ending in Kigali, Rwanda
Visiting: Kampala, Jinja, Fort Portal, Kibale National Park, Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, Equator, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kigali, Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre ...more ...less
Tour operator:
Tour code:
22584
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans
