Mountain Gorillas on a 21-Days Ultimate East African complete Safari

Overview

The 4 Days Gorilla tracking in Rwanda and Uganda Safari allows you to trek gorillas twice in two different habitats.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is part of the Virunga Massif that features 480 mountain gorillas.

That are over a half of the total world population that is standing at 880.

The Volcanoes tend to present a relative short hike to the gorillas and its vegetation is not all dense like that of Bwindi.

Bwindi supports 400 mountain gorillas making it single habitat with the largest concentration of mountain gorillas in the world.

It presents a rugged landscape with deep valleys intercepted with steep slopes.

And flowing rivers and streams covered with dense vegetation that have earned it the name Impenetrable.

It presents a somehow challenging adventure trek compared to the Volcanoes.

This makes Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda remarkable as they offer different experiences.

The 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari also features the boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi.

Lake Bunyonyi is the second deepest in Africa marked with 29 Islands and eventually the Kigali genocide memorial which is a living museum of what transpired in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Rwanda – Kigali International Airport and drive to Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri.

Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be received by our guide and who will usher you in to the safari moods.

You drive through Kigali City and then drive to Volcanoes National Park 116km about 3 hours’.

While driving through impressive countryside landscapes of Rwanda with rolling hills before arriving in Ruhengeri for relaxation.

Dinner and overnight.

Upmarket / Luxury: Mount Gorilla View Lodge,

Midrange / Standard: Hotel La Palme,

Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel, Camping

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and transfer to Uganda – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Rwanda

After our breakfast, start your Rwanda Gorilla tracking safari by driving to the headquarters for briefing by park officials at 8am.

And after enter into the jungle to search for the shy mountain endangered gorillas in Rwanda.

Requirements like firm walking shoes, hut, insect repellent, sun screen, rain gears, packed lunch and bottled water are a must plus other tools that one may need once in the tropical rain forest.

Gorilla trekking Rwanda experience in Volcanoes is beyond gorilla alone.

The sights of the Volcanic Mountains that stretch from Congo through Rwanda to Uganda, the verdant green vegetation that shelter their slopes.

Counts of birds along with fauna like duikers and buffaloes combine to generate lasting safari memories.

Gorilla trekking safari activity tends to last from 2 hours to 8 hours or more depending on the day’s gorilla movement.

The one hour of direct encounter with the gorillas brings you closer to these ancient apes.

Look into their eyes and their gigantic structure which makes them most powerful of all apes.

Encounter them forage and play before retreating to the starting point and embark on the transfer to Uganda.

You cross through Cyanika boarder in the views of the Virunga massif before being welcomed by the magical Kigezi Highlands.

Arriving at the lodge in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge,

Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp,

Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp, Camping

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for evening boat cruise and relaxation

Canoing on Lake Bunyonyi

This is a great day that will mark your re-union with your long lost cousins – the mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

You gather at the respective park headquarters for briefing in the morning at 8am where you are also allocated the respective gorilla families to track.

From here, you head to the forest in the company of the armed ranger guides that will lead you up the gorillas.

The walk is beyond the ordinary as it involves traversing the dense jungle whose thickness would at some points necessitate using a machete to make a path.

Hiking the challenging landscapes some of which are steep and slippery at times under the canopy of the mature forest which forms darkness even during the day.

You are treated to the impressive bird songs and beautiful flowers through the experience.

Gorilla trekking tour tends to take 2 – 8 hours depending on the gorilla movements and one hour is availed to you to have a direct touch with the gorillas.

Upon approaching gorillas, their reaction is not predictable as it can include them giving you a courteous welcome, minding less about you and charging against you.

However, as a result of habituation, Mountain gorillas are always welcoming with the Silverback beating a little of his chest to demonstrate his might and also welcoming to you to the group.

The young gorillas are very playful and are at times not aware of the 7m rule thus can try to draw closer to even touching on your body – save it by taking some steps away to observe the distance.

4 Days Gorilla tracking in Rwanda and Uganda Safari

You are not limited in any way to ask as many questions about gorillas and their habitats along with taking pictures so long as you have the opportunity to do so.

After your one hour with the gorillas, return to the starting point and transfer to the starting point to embark on the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.

While driving through fascinating Kigezi Highlands which locals apply terracing method to cultivate their slopes deriving impressive scenic landscape.

You arrive at Lake Bunyonyi in the afternoon for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:

Upmarket / Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort

Midrange / Standard: Lake Bunyonyi Eco – resort

Budget / Basic: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat, Resort Camping

Day 4:Transfer back to Kigali & visit the Gisozi Genocide memorial

Rwandas-Gisozi-genocide-memorial-center Rwanda safari

After a relaxed breakfast, embark on the transfer back to Kigali 196km about 3 – 4 hours’

Drive passing through the hilly landscapes of Rwanda that have qualified it as a land of a thousand hills.

Upon arriving in Kigali city, you embark on the visit to the Gisozi genocide memorial where you will take time and explore what actually happened in the 1994 horrific genocide that hit Rwanda.

The skulls are aligned, writings and photos are displayed and presentations are made to take you through the entire experience.

Retreat from this activity and mark the end of the tour.

End of the 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla tracking Tour with Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

1. 1. Gorilla Permit
  2. Full Board Accommodation on Safari
  3. Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
  4. Fuel
  5. Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
  6. Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
  7. Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
  8. Bottled water while on safari
  9. Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)

Exclusions

- 1. General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
  2. Laundry Services
  3. Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
  4. International Flights (Arranged on request)
  5. Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
  6. Visas
  7. Optional Activity fees
  8. Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
  9. Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
  10. Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)

End of the 4 Days Gorilla tracking in Rwanda and Uganda Safari

Accommodation

Day 1: