5 days Uganda Rwanda gorillas is a 4 nights and 5 days of exploring East Africa’s leading mountain gorilla trekking destinations. Start your expedition with visit to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda where you will enjoy the first gorilla trek and cross to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Volcanoes Park Rwanda is found in the Northern Province, accessible within just 2-3 hours’ drive from the heart of Kigali capital. It takes its name from the 8 chain Virunga volcanoes located and the highest of these volcanoes (Karisimbi -4507m) lies right within this park. Over 30% of the world’s 1063 endangered mountain gorillas call this park their home with 12 gorilla families set for tourism and in addition, there are lots of golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, 200 bird species.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the top visited mountain gorilla destination in Uganda, located in the extreme Southwestern side of the country at the edge of Albertine rift valley. Bwindi is 331sq.km, gazetted in 1991 and primary reason for its establishment was to protect the endangered mountain gorillas. Today, Bwindi is home to 120 mammal species with over 20 habituated gorilla families open to tourism, 360 bird species, and these share the same habitat with chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, forest elephants, etc.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Ruhengeri Road trip from Kigali
Upon arrival at Kigali Airport or after hefty breakfast at a hotel in Kigali, leave for Ruhengeri to visit Volcanoes National Park. Before connecting to the Northern Province of Rwanda, a short Kigali city tour will be done for 2 hours and you will be visiting key sites in the city -Gisozi/Kigali genocide center 10 minutes’ drive from the city center; Kirimonko market and also, visit some of the craft shops.
Day 2: Rwanda gorillas
After a hot cup of African tea or coffee, transfer to Kinigi before 7:00am to get briefed about guidelines for gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes Park. At 8:00am with your gear set and bottled water ready, begin trekking through the forest to look for the group of gorillas the park official allocated to you. Maximum of one hour will be allowed for you to enjoy a close encounter with Rwanda gorillas and taking pictures, then you get back to the lodge. In case your trek ends early, you will embark on a cultural walk to Gorilla Guardians village.
Day 3: Travel to Katuna-Kabale to Bwindi
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Katuna border to connect to Kabale where you will drive up to Bwindi National Park or connect via Chanika border-Kisoro-Bwindi Park. Lunch will be served to you on arrival at the lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park, relax while enjoying the refreshing and unspoiled air in the surrounding.
Day 4: Uganda gorillas -Bwindi
Visit to a mountain gorilla family that you will be assigned to by the park guide and this starts at 8:00am after briefing about gorilla trekking rules. 4 gorilla regions are in Bwindi and you track a group in a region your gorilla permit directs you to, and they include Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga.
Total time to be spent tracking is 2-6 hours, though this isn’t predictable. When you come across a family of these massive apes, maximum of 1 hour is guaranteed for photography and observing their daily behaviors, body gestures. If time and your fitness level permits, you may take a short walk to Batwa pygmies’ community to enjoy the Batwa cultural experience.
Day 5: Depart
Enjoyable breakfast early in the morning, after drive back to Kigali via Katuna, and from Kigali, either proceed to a hotel or airport for departure. This marks the end of 5 days Uganda Rwanda gorillas.
End of safari
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