5 Days Combined Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Tour – Overview

The 5 Days Combined Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Tour, 5 Days Combined Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Tour, Uganda Gorilla Safari is a short-combined tour featuring gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

The safari commences and ends in Kigali Rwanda taking you to Volcanoes National Park – the main destination for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, the Musaze Caves – historical caves of Rwanda that date back to over 65 million year ago, Lake Bunyonyi for a recreational and relaxation experience, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for another adventurous hike to explore the critically endangered mountain gorillas not forgetting Kigali / Gisozi genocide memorial exploring the Rwanda’s horrific past.

5 Days Combined Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Tour – Highlights

Day 1: Drive to Volcanoes National Park & explore the Musaze Caves

Day 2: Undertake gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park & drive to Uganda (Lake Bunyonyi)

Day 3: Undertake a morning boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 4: Do gorilla trekking in Bwindi & relax at the lodge

Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali and visit the Gisozi genocide memorial

5 Days Combined Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Volcanoes National Park & Explore the Musaze Caves

You depart your place of stay in Kigali Rwanda to embark on the drive to Volcanoes National Park 116km about 3 hours’ drive.

The journey offers you magical views of the scenic Rwandan countryside including the rolling hills that have inspired its naming as the land of a thousand hills.

Settle for lunch in Musaze after which you embark on the Musaze Caves exploration. The Musaze Caves are among the historical caves of Rwanda whose formation dates back to 65 million years out of the lava flow from Bisoke and Sabyinyo Volcanoes.

The walk allows you to explore the 2km caves which have 31 entrances with a magical roof top full of bat colony.

The Musaze Caves are noted to have been helpful in the turbulent times as they provided storage for supplies and hiding place. Retire for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation
Up market / Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Hotel / Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge / Virunga Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Lapalme Hotel / Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel

Day 2: Undertake Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park & Drive to Uganda (Lake Bunyonyi)

After a good breakfast at your lodge, you gather at the Volcanoes Park Headquarters Kinigi for the gorilla trekking experience.

The encounter commences at 8am in the morning with gorilla family allocation and briefing but an earlier arrival offers you chances of enjoying the magical performances of the Kinyarwanda dance troupe and a self-served warm cup of coffee.

You embark on the hike through the jungle of Volcanoes on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes traversing the challenging landscapes, slippery surfaces, the dense jungle whilst enjoying the impressive bird songs and other jungle sounds.

Your moment with the mountain gorillas is a lifetime exciting memory as you will view them forage, play, socialize, and care for the young among other aspects.

The viewing is limited to one hour for conservation purposes though the entire trekking experience can last from 2 – 8 hours.

Return from the activity and embark on the 120km transfer about 3 hours drive to Lake Bunyonyi Uganda enjoying the amazing sceneries of the Virunga Mountains and the fascinating Kigezi Highlands

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort
Midrange / Standard: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
Budget / Basic: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat

Day 3: Undertake a Morning Boat Ride on Lake Bunyonyi and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Undertake a thrilling boat ride on the lake of a thousand Islands as it has been dubbed due to count of 29 Islands that comprise it.

The lake is surrounded by the magical hills of Kigezi and stands as the second deepest in Africa. You interact with the lake surrounding and Island communities as they traverse the lake for fish and connection to and from the main land.

Settle for lunch at the lake after which you embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park driving via the scenic Highlands of Kigezi arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge / Buhoma Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp / Gorilla Valley Lodge
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp

Day 4: Do Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Relax at the lodge

On your second day, you will be required to wake up very early in the morning, take your breakfast, pack your lunch, water, cameras, and drive to the Park Headquarters for briefing from the park rangers about the code conduct of gorilla trekking activity.

After the short briefing, you will be divided in groups of 8 individuals and UWA ranger guide will lead you to start the challenging but highly rewarding trek through the impenetrable jungle of Bwindi with its rugged landscape involving steep slopes, valleys, swamps, and rocky areas amidst amazing jungle melodies coming from different bird species which is an interesting experience of its own.

After long distance walk of like 2-8hours, you will finally come across these endangered apes thriving in their ancient natural habitat foraging in group.

You will be given one hour to marvel at the stunning gorillas as they welcome you, interact, take photos of these apes, and finally say bye when your one hour with them is used up.

After that life time experience, you will retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation and overnight

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge / Buhoma Lodge
Mid range / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp / Gorilla Valley Lodge
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp

Day 5: Transfer Back to Kigali and Visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial

Following breakfast at your lodge, you embark on the drive to Kigali passing via the Katuna border post. The drive offers you impressive sights of the countryside landscapes and upon arrival in Kigali, you embark on the tour of the Gisozi genocide memorial to learn about the horrific genocide that befell Rwanda in 1994.

The Genocide Museum is well designed and organised to provide a detailed encounter of the causes and effects of the genocide horror.

End of the 5 Days Combined Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Tour

Safari Inclusions

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

Safari Exclusions

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