Overview
Your 6 days Uganda and Rwanda gorilla tour will take you through some of the best gorilla destinations in the world. Your adventure will kick off with a visit to the Mabamba wetland, where you get to spot the shoebill stock and other bird species. While in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you will encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat for an hour before a Batwa cultural tour.
Crossing the border to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, experience a gorilla trek and a Dian Fossey grave hike to honor her legacy. Further from the park, visit the cultural village of Iby’iwacu as you head to Kigali city for a city tour. Run through the detailed itinerary below for a full picture of how your trip will go.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Mabamba wetland
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and be picked up by our driver guide who will brief you about the entire trip. Depending on your arrival time, you will explore Mabamba wetland on Lake Victoria. From the airport, drive to your booked hotel for lunch and later in the afternoon be driven to the Nakiwogo landing site.
Here, embark on a boat transfer to Mabamba wetland. This wetland houses over 300 bird species, with the notable species being the shoebill stock. While at Mabamba, encounter the shoebill stock towering the wetland as it stands stealthily hunting. Several other bird species can also be spotted such as hadada ibis, black crane, green cuckoo, double-toothed barbet, shining blue kingfisher, yellow-backed weaver, etc. Head back to the landing site at Nakiwogo where our driver guide will return you to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Early morning wake up to breakfast and check out of your hotel. Embark on the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It will take you about 8-9 hours to get to the park with an en route lunch at Igongo Country Hotel. By the time evening kicks in, check into your booked lodge in the park for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Breakfast, and Dinner
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and Batwa encounter
At the break of the day, wake up and have breakfast at your lodge. Our driver guide will drive you to the park offices for a briefing. This short briefing highlights the rules, regulations, and the expected code of conduct while in the presence of the mountain gorillas. Venture into the impenetrable forest after you have been grouped into groups of 8 and given a gorilla family to trek. Explore the forest as you search for the mountain gorillas through the dense forest and navigate through the steep terrain.
In about 4-6 hours, arrive at the assigned gorilla family and spend an hour in their presence. Utilize your time with the endangered mountain gorillas as you take pictures and watch them play, feed, and groom their young. Return to the lodge for lunch later, after your trekking experience. In the afternoon, prepare for a Batwa encounter as you visit their communities. These are the true forest keepers that lived in Bwindi years back before it was gazetted. The Batwa will take you through their cultures and survival skills they used during their time in the forest, like fire making and hunting. Interact with their elders for a full picture of their history and also with their medicine man for an insight into the healing herbs. This exciting adventure will last until evening when you go back to the lodge for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Dian Fossey Museum
The early melodies of several bird species in Bwindi will wake you up to a hot, delicious breakfast. Check out after your breakfast and hit the road for about 2-3 hours across the border in Rwanda to Volcanoes National Park. The scenic views of the landscape as you can journey across the countryside to the park will bless your eyes.
As the time for lunch closes, you will have checked into your lodge in the park. Immediately after your lunch, embark on a tour to the Dian Fossey museum. Witness the works done by Dian Fossey before she died while at the museum. This museum is the founding work station of Dian Fossey, also formerly known as Karisoke Research Center. This museum is located in the park between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. Return to your lodge later in the evening for dinner and rest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla trekking and Iby’iwacu visit
At cockcrow, have breakfast to prepare for the day’s activities. Head to the briefing center at Kinigi at the park headquarters. Receive a short briefing about the rules and regulations of trekking. The ranger guides also take you through the expected code of conduct while in the presence of the mountain gorillas. These primates live in groups known as families, and each family can be trekked by 8 people once a day.
Therefore, after briefing, you are grouped in groups of 8 people and given a gorilla family to trek. Trek through the rugged terrain of the park and its dense montane vegetation. Sooner than you think, you will encounter the gorillas resting and others as they feed deep in the forest. The ranger guides will notify you on how you should position yourself well, not to frighten the primates. Relax and take in the moment with the primates as you take pictures for memories. After your hour with the mountain gorillas, return to the park offices and our guide driver will drive you back to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will drive to Iby’iwacu cultural village for a cultural tour. Rwanda is blessed with few uniform cultures that cut across the entire population. While at the cultural village, experience this culture exhibition as you learn the different basics like norms, values, and beliefs. Get entertained by the traditional dances and songs performed by the cultural dancers. Race with the sun as it sets to relieve the night and arrive at the lodge for dinner and rest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali for a city tour and departure
As the sun rises to part the night, enjoy a delicious breakfast and check out of the lodge. Travel to Kigali for a city tour through its epic attractions like the genocide sites, cultural sites, and art museums. The journey from the Volcanoes National Park to Kigali city takes about 2-3 hours, hence you have ample time to utilize some of the sites in the city.
Visit the fresh food market of Kimironko to witness the rich fresh foods like fruits and vegetables. Interact with the local community while on your city tour. Enjoy a local cuisine lunch as you conclude your 6 days Uganda and Rwanda gorillas tour. In the afternoon, head to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight back home.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
