Book and enjoy 4 Days double gorilla trekking safari to Uganda and Rwanda guided by Africa Adventure Safaris. The 5 Days gorilla safari offer you two gorilla treks to see two different gorilla families, 1 in Bwindi impenetrable Forest National park in Uganda and another one in Volcanoes National park Rwanda. The double encounter requires you to have two gorilla permits allowing you to trek two different gorilla groups in Uganda and Rwanda. This package will offer you 2 full hours with mountain gorillas to take pictures, learn their social behaviors and enjoy their company. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Parks are the top gorilla safari destinations in Africa.
Bwindi hosts over 450 mountain gorillas, which is the highest gorilla population in Africa. The impenetrable forest is bisected into four regions namely Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is therefore done in any of the four gorilla regions. A single gorilla permit in Uganda costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens. Regarding Volcanoes National park, the bamboo forest is a luxury gorilla tour destination.
The park contains 10 habituated gorilla families which guarantee availability of 80 gorilla permits every day. Each Rwanda gorilla permit costs $1500 allowing you to spend an hour with the gorillas. Gorilla permit bookings in both countries can be done through us at Africa Adventure Safaris or directly through responsible government bodies i.e Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda and Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda.
Trip summary
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park
Day 2: 1st Gorilla Trekking & Batwa community tour
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National park
Day 4: 2nd gorilla trekking & Iby’iwacu
Day 5: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park
Today is the beginning of our 4 Days gorilla adventure! Early in the morning, the driver guide representing Africa Adventure Safaris will pick you up from either your hotel in Entebbe or from the airport. Meet, greet and after a brief take through the itinerary, start off a drive headed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park located in southwestern Uganda. The drive will take you roughly 8-19 hours driving through different districts. Enjoy this full day drive with various stopovers for short breaks, lunch, photography and shopping in the roadside markets.
Day 2: 1st Gorilla Trekking & Batwa community tour
We shall have our 1st gorilla trekking experience today! Have an early morning breakfast and then transfer to the respective park headquarters in Bwindi Forest for registration, briefing and gorilla family allocation. The real trek to see gorillas start at 8:00am and can take up to over 7 hours. There is no actual time to spend in the jungle but it rather depends on the location of the gorilla family and your hiking speed. After meeting the endangered gorillas, you will be allowed to spend an hour with the gorillas. Keep a distance, hold your camera right and take as many pictures as you can. In the evening if time allows, visit batwa pygmies to learn and experience their traditional forest life.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National park
Today you will have a relaxed breakfast, check out and cross the border to Rwanda. Have a brief drive through Kigali city, the cleanest city in Africa. Some of the places you can visit in Kigali include the genocide memorial Centre, Kimironko market, presidential palace, Inema art gallery and the Kigali Convention Centre among others. Have lunch in the city Centre and thereafter drive north westwards headed to Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas. The drive time from Kigali to Volcanoes Park is roughly 2-3 hours. Volcanoes Park is the most accessible gorilla permit in Africa, hence the best option for travelers with limited time.
Day 4: 2nd gorilla trekking & Iby’iwacu
You shall have your 2nd gorilla trek today, wake up very early, have breakfast and with your packed lunch drive to Kinigi park head quarters of the park. Register with the park wardens and join other travelers for pre gorilla trekking briefing. At 8:00am begin the adventure to meet up with the endangered primates. The trek can last for between 30 minutes to half a day depending on where gorillas will be. Trekking time is also determined by the speed of the slowest person in the group. The allowed time with gorillas is strictly an hour counted from the time you meet them. You might meet other animals such as golden monkeys, African buffalos, Forest elephants and colobus monkeys, which live in this bamboo forest. In the evening, visit the Gorilla Guardian Village (former Iby’iwacu cultural village) where you will learn and experience the traditions, norms and customs of Rwanda local people.
Day 5: Departure
Have breakfast and enjoy your last moments at your lodge! You will then check out and transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.
End of the safari
Tour inclusions
- 2 mountain gorilla permits
- Full time English speaking guide
- Accommodation & meals
- All activities include in the itinerary
- Miscellaneous
- Bottled drinking water
- Cultural tours
- Government taxes
Tour exclusions
- Extra activities not in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tips