6-Day Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Kigali & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

This 6-day Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Safari starts from Kigali where you will meet your guide and begin your journey to Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. Enjoy the scenic drive through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside, passing rolling hills and rural communities along the way. On arrival near the park, check in at your lodge and relax as you prepare for your mountain gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Accommodation: Lodge near Volcanoes National Park.

Day 2 – Rwanda Gorilla Trekking & Community Experience

After an early breakfast, head to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing by park rangers before beginning your mountain gorilla trek. Accompanied by experienced guides, venture into the forest in search of a habituated gorilla family. The trek may take several hours, depending on the gorillas’ location and the terrain. Once you find them, enjoy a memorable hour observing these remarkable primates in their natural habitat.

Return to your lodge after the trek for lunch and some time to relax.

Later in the afternoon, enjoy a local community experience near Volcanoes National Park. Discover aspects of Rwandan culture, traditions and daily life through interactions with local people. Depending on the activity arranged, you may experience traditional music and dance, local crafts or other cultural activities.

Accommodation: Lodge near Volcanoes National Park.

Day 3 – Golden Monkey Tracking & Transfer to Uganda

After breakfast, head to Volcanoes National Park for golden monkey tracking. Accompanied by park guides, follow these lively primates through the bamboo forest and observe their playful movements and social behaviour in their natural habitat.

After the activity, travel towards the Uganda border and continue to the Bwindi area. The journey offers views of the beautiful Virunga highlands and surrounding countryside. Border procedures and driving times may vary, so the day’s schedule will depend on the tracking time and border crossing.

Accommodation: Lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.

Day 4 – Bwindi Forest & Community Experience

Wake up near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Uganda’s southwestern highlands. Depending on your interests and the location of your lodge, spend time exploring the surrounding community and learning about local traditions, daily life and the relationship between communities and the forest.

You may choose a guided community walk or another locally available cultural experience. Alternatively, enjoy a relaxed day at the lodge, take in the forest views and prepare for the following day’s gorilla trekking adventure.

Accommodation: Lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Day 5 – Uganda Gorilla Trekking

After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. Set off into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with experienced trackers to search for a habituated mountain gorilla family.

The trek takes you through beautiful montane forest, with the duration and difficulty depending on the gorillas’ location. Once the family is found, spend the permitted viewing time observing their behaviour, watching them interact and taking photographs while following the rangers’ instructions.

After the trek, return to the lodge to relax and reflect on this remarkable wildlife encounter. The rest of the day can be kept flexible depending on the trekking duration and your energy levels.

Accommodation: Lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Meals: According to the selected safari package.

Day 6 – Return to Kigali, Rwanda

After breakfast, depart from the Bwindi area and travel towards the Uganda–Rwanda border for the return journey to Kigali. Enjoy the changing scenery of southwestern Uganda and Rwanda’s beautiful highlands along the way.

After completing the border formalities, continue to Kigali and transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight, or to another agreed drop-off point in the city. The departure time should be planned carefully according to your flight schedule, border-crossing time and driving conditions.

Meals: Breakfast, according to the selected safari package.

Accommodation: Not included on this final day unless arranged separately.

Explore More Gorilla Trekking & Safari Experiences

Discover more of East Africa’s incredible primates with Bush Shrike Adventures. Learn more about gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, explore the exciting experience of golden monkey tracking in Rwanda and Uganda, or browse our Uganda and Rwanda safari packages to find the adventure that suits your travel plans.

Customize This Safari

This itinerary is a flexible starting point, and Bush Shrike Adventures can tailor the journey to suit your travel plans, interests and international flights.

You can begin your safari in Entebbe or Kampala, Uganda, and finish in Kigali, Rwanda, or travel in the opposite direction, starting in Kigali and ending in Entebbe or Kampala. You can also choose a safari that starts and ends in Uganda, allowing you to explore Uganda’s gorillas and other wildlife without crossing into Rwanda.

Customisation options include accommodation upgrades, additional nights, domestic flights, birding experiences, photography time and extra destinations in Uganda or Rwanda.

Whether you prefer a cross-border adventure or a Uganda-only journey, we can help you create an itinerary that fits your available time and budget. Border crossings, driving times and activity schedules will be planned according to your chosen route.