5 Days Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Tour.

5 Days Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Tour

5 Days Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Tour is a combined safari which gives you the opportunity to track mountain gorillas in both countries. You will also get to experience unique cultures in Rwanda and Uganda. At the end of your 5 Days Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Tour, you will be transferred back to Kigali city in time to board your flight back home.

Highlights 5 Days Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Tour

• Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
• Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Iby’ iwacu Community Tour.
• Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi National Park.
• Day 4: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Trail Experience.
• Day 5: Transfer Back to Kigali & Departure.

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.

• Arrival in Kigali & City Tour: On day 1 of your 5 days Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Tour, you will be picked up by your guide upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport. After a brief meet and greet session with your guide, you will embark on a short tour of Kigali City where you will visit interesting sites like; Kigali Genocide Memorial and Umusambi Village which is home to about 50 rescued grey crested cranes. You will then proceed to have lunch at any of the top eat-outs in the city before proceeding with your transfer to Volcanoes national park.
• Transfer to Volcanoes:  You will drive to Volcanoes national park in the northeastern part of Rwanda, in the province of Ruhengeri. Your transfer to Volcanoes will take about two hours of amazing sighting in Rwanda’s countryside. The national park is home to over 400 mountain gorillas.
• Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Iby’ iwacu Community Tour.

• Gorilla Trekking: Today marks the highlight of your tour in Rwanda. Wake up early in the morning and have your breakfast at the lodge. You will then proceed to drive to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi where your gorilla trekking activity will commence. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park begins at exactly 8am in the morning, but you will be required to report at the park by 7am. You will be briefed and then placed in trekking groups each comprising of a maximum of 8 members. Tracking gorillas in the park can take between 6-8 hours or more depending on the location of the gorillas in the forest. Once gorilla group is located, your will be allowed to spend only an hour with the gorillas. You can have your packed lunch after your gorilla trekking experience.
• Iby’iwacu Community Visit:  After having your lunch, meet up with your guide at the park’s headquarters and proceed with your drive to the popular Iby’iwacu community village which is located just outside the national park. This community is filled with individuals who were once poachers who have reformed and now actively participate in conservation projects that are run in the park. Visiting the Iby’iwacu community village is a good way to experience the Rwanda culture through music, dance and drumming performances from the local intore dance group. 
• Later drive to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi National Park.

• Transfer to Bwindi: Have breakfast early in the morning and proceed with your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the south western part of Uganda. The national park has a total of about 459 mountain gorillas which is the highest in the Virunga Conservation Area. The national park is also home to over 350 species of birds which makes it ideal for bird watching safaris in Uganda. Check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation. 

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Trail Experience.

• Gorilla trekking: This is the day you have been anxiously waiting for. Have breakfast very early at you lodge as your guide will pick you up at 6am. You will embark on a short journey to the Parks headquarters in Buhoma. You are supposed to be at Buhoma at exactly 7am for a briefing by the park’s head ranger which will begin at 8am and then you will be put in groups of 8 individuals per group depending on the gorilla group you are going to track. Tracking begins at exactly 8:30 am hence endeavor to always keep time. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a total of 15 habituated gorilla groups that are tracked from four trailheads. Of these 15 habituated gorilla groups, 3 are found in Buhoma area in the northwest part of the park; while 4 gorilla groups are situated in Ruhija in the eastern part of Bwindi and 8 gorilla groups in Nkuringo and Rushaga respectively, located south of Bwindi. Each tracking group consists of strictly eight individuals with each group having a park guide and ranger. Tracking can take about 1- 6 hours depending how easily and quick the gorillas are spotted. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be give exactly an hour with them; hence you should maximize your time well and don’t forget to take lots of pictures without using your camera’s flash. The tracking trails can be very wet, steep and slippery thus you should wear a good pair of hiking boots.
• Batwa Trail Experience: After your gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest, you will proceed to do the Batwa Trail Experience, which is conducted by local Batwa guides. Get to learn more about the Batwa’s long and ancient history with the forest, and also learn how to make some local herbal medicines, and Batwa traditional hunting skills. Later head back to the park’s headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate and transfer back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer Back to Kigali & Departure.

• Transfer back to Kigali & Departure: After your gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest, head back to the park headquarters to receive your gorilla trekking certificate and meet your guide, who will drive you back to your hotel in Kigali City. Alternatively, you can have your guide drop you off at Kigali airport where you will take your flight back home. End of Tour.