Two Gorilla Treks in Two Countries, Plus Akagera
This 5-day private safari includes two gorilla treks, one in Rwanda and one in Uganda. It starts on the savanna in Akagera National Park, with a game drive and a boat trip on Lake Ihema, then crosses Rwanda to Volcanoes National Park for your first gorilla trek and an afternoon at Gorilla Guardians Village.
The next morning, you track golden monkeys before crossing into Uganda. Your second trek is in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with a different gorilla family in a very different forest. Our 3-day and 4-day Uganda gorilla and golden monkey tours include one gorilla trek and no savanna; this route adds a second trek and Akagera’s big game.
Why You’ll Love This Safari
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Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
Price on request. Tell us your dates and group size, and we’ll send you a quote.
Meeting point
Kigali
Availability
Year-round, 7 days a week
Duration
5 days
Group size
Min. 1 person
Included
- Park fees (for non-residents)
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodations (unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- Private safari vehicle: a 4×4 Land Cruiser, Toyota Prado or safari van, depending on group size
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water (on all days)
- Gorilla permits (two per person, non-resident: one for Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, one for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda)
- Golden monkey permits (one per person, non-resident)
Not included
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodations before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Porter fees
What to bring
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm jacket (early mornings can be cold)
- Neutral-colored clothing (avoid bright colors)
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Long pants
- Good hiking shoes
- Gaiters (for mud and nettles)
- Hat
- Gloves
- Light backpack
- Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Light face mask
- Binoculars
- Passport and Uganda visa
Participation requirements
Min. age of 15 years old required to participate in this tour. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended for the two gorilla treks.
About your guide
Your safari will be led by an experienced local guide who will share facts about the wildlife, landscapes, and culture. Your guide is dedicated to ensuring your safari is safe, informative, and tailored to your interests.
What You’ll See & Do
Day 1: Kigali to Akagera: Game Drive and Lake Ihema Boat Trip
Your driver/guide will collect you in Kigali for the drive east to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s savanna park. Once inside, you’ll set out on a game drive across open grassland and wooded hills, looking for elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and several kinds of antelope.
In the afternoon, you’ll head out by boat on Lake Ihema. Hippos and crocodiles are easy to spot from the water, and the shoreline is busy with birds. After the boat trip, you’ll check in at your lodge in the Akagera area for dinner and the night.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Akagera National Park
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Drive to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you’ll take a half-day game drive on your way out of Akagera, a second chance to find any animals you missed yesterday. Then the road heads west across Rwanda, through green hills, farmland and busy villages, to Musanze, the town at the edge of Volcanoes National Park.
It’s a long day on the road, so expect to arrive in the evening. You’ll check in at your lodge below the Virunga volcanoes, have dinner, and lay out your boots and rain gear for tomorrow’s gorilla trek.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes and Gorilla Guardians Village
After an early breakfast, you’ll check in at park headquarters for the briefing and be assigned a habituated gorilla family. Rangers lead you up through the misty forest on the volcano slopes; the trek can take two to five hours in total, depending on where the family is. Once you find them, you’ll spend one hour watching the gorillas feed, rest and play.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit Gorilla Guardians Village (formerly Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village), where people from the communities around the park share Rwandan music, dance and stories. Return to your lodge for dinner and a second night near the park.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Golden Monkey Trek and Crossing into Uganda
This morning, you’ll head back into Volcanoes National Park to track golden monkeys in the bamboo forest. They are quick and lively, leaping between the bamboo stems, which makes for great photos if you can keep up.
After the trek, you’ll drive to the Cyanika border post and cross into Uganda. The road continues through Kisoro, a small town ringed by volcanic peaks, to the Rushaga area in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You’ll check in at your lodge for dinner and an early night before your second gorilla trek.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Rushaga, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 5: Gorilla Trek in Bwindi and Return to Kigali
After an early breakfast, you’ll go to the park office for your briefing and gorilla family assignment. Bwindi lives up to its name: the forest is dense and the slopes are steep, so take your time and use a walking stick. When you reach the family, you’ll have another hour with mountain gorillas, this time in Uganda, and a chance to compare two different groups.
After the trek, you’ll start the long drive back to Kigali, crossing the border into Rwanda on the way. You’ll reach Kigali in the evening for drop-off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Frequently Asked Questions
Our 3-day and 4-day Uganda gorilla and golden monkey tours include one gorilla trek and no savanna. This 5-day safari includes two gorilla treks, one in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and one in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, so you meet two different families. It also starts with a game drive and a boat trip in Akagera, Rwanda’s savanna park.
Not sure whether to trek in Rwanda or Uganda? Our Rwanda vs Uganda gorilla trekking guide compares permits, trails and drive times.
Both are moderate to challenging hikes on steep, often muddy ground. In Volcanoes National Park, the trek can take two to five hours in total, depending on where your family is. Bwindi’s forest is dense and hilly, so expect a similar or tougher walk. A reasonable level of fitness helps. Local porters can carry your bag and help on steep sections; porter fees are not included.
Your price includes two gorilla permits per person: a Rwanda permit for Volcanoes National Park ($1,500) and a Uganda permit for Bwindi ($800, or $600 in April, May and November, when permits can’t be rescheduled). A golden monkey permit, park fees, the Lake Ihema boat trip, four nights’ accommodation and the meals listed are also included.
For how gorilla permits are priced and booked, see our gorilla trekking permit cost guide and our guide to the full cost of a gorilla trek.
Yes. The tour crosses into Uganda on Day 4, so you’ll need a Uganda visa in addition to your entry to Rwanda. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya on one visa, which suits this route. Rules depend on your passport, so check the current requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Book as early as you can, because both countries issue a limited number of gorilla permits each day, and you need one for each trek date. For July and August, the busiest months, we recommend booking about six months ahead. A 50% deposit confirms your booking. Day 5 ends with an evening arrival in Kigali, so check your flight time with us before you book it.
