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Premium Rwanda & Gorillas of Uganda

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Premium Rwanda & Gorillas of Uganda

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Description

Come face to face with incredible wildlife on this six-day Premium journey through Rwanda and Uganda. Enter the world of rare mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and spend a day tracking and observing these creatures, hopefully seeing a silverback in his natural habitat. Take a walk and boat ride on Lake Ruhondo, then enjoy your forest-fringed Feature Stay. Sit down for amazing Signature Experiences like a fireside chat with The Gorilla Doctors. You’ll also trek to the ‘Top of the World,’ and walk the Buniga Batwa Cultural Trail with a local guide, gaining insight into the Batwa community’s forest-based way of life. In Kigali, take time to understand Rwanda’s recent troubling history and the country’s ongoing resilience.

Trip Name
Premium Rwanda & Gorillas of Uganda
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
6
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Spend a day trekking (and a second day, if you choose) through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to get close to Uganda’s rare mountain gorillas for an unforgettable hour – a one-day gorilla trekking permit is included in this trip.
  • Wake up to spectacular views of the forest canopy during your three-night stay at your Feature Stay – the Gorilla Heights Lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
  • Get a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of gorillas with a field veterinarian from The Gorilla Doctors and discover how they are saving the species, one gorilla patient at a time.
  • Go deep into lesser-visited landscapes, including a trek to the ‘Top of the World’ to overlook Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and a boat ride on serene Lake Ruhondo.
  • Learn about the lives of the indigenous Batwa people on the Buniga Cultural Trail as they share their traditional survival skills, from foraging to fire-making, while supporting their community and preserving their heritage.

Itinerary

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk., ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. , ROAD CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN AFRICA: Roads in Africa are often in very poor condition, which makes it hard on our vehicles. Our vehicles are serviced regularly and are generally in good condition, but breakdowns can and do happen. Sometimes the going on this trip is quite tough, the distances covered fairly large and some of the roads and tracks are not exactly smooth or free from dust, but the rewards are exceptional. The travelling times indicated in our Essential Trip Information is just a rough guide and is dependent on various factors that may be outside our control, such as road conditions, weather and time spent at borders. DRIVE TIMES: The travel times listed in the day to day itinerary are a guide only. Please be aware that delays may occur and please be patient - it's all part of the experience afterall! Additionally, the travel times do not include time spent on game drives as these can vary with each departure.

Day 1 - Kigali
Murakaza neza! Welcome to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, where you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive in Kigali early, maybe start exploring at your own pace. Head to Nyamirambo, the Muslim quarter, to try some giant grilled tilapia, or stop by a local cafe and discover why Rwandan coffee is considered some of the world’s best. Tonight, you’ll join your leader for dinner at an East African restaurant popular with the locals. Enjoy live music, cocktails, great views and an authentic shared dining experience full of regional flavour.
Day 2 - Kigali
This morning, take a tour of the city and Kimironko market with your trip leader, where you can try traditional Rwandan and Ugandan dishes for lunch. Then, head out of the city for a sobering visit to Ntarama Church. Your local guide will explain how this memorial marks the site of a significant event during the genocide and provides an important reminder of lives lost. Continue to the Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre, where you’ll learn how the Tutsis sought refuge in churches during harrowing times. Then, visit the Genocide Museum – a powerful yet confronting experience and important in understanding the tragedy and the resilience of the Rwandan people. The evening is then free for you to explore at your own pace.
Day 3 - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, depart Kigali and head across the border to Bwindi National Park in Uganda. Break up the journey with a guided, gentle 4 km (2.4 mi) walk along the shore of Lake Ruhondo, with great birdlife and scenic views. Then, take a calm boat ride before moving on to Bwindi. Arrive at the Gorilla Heights Lodge – your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights. Sitting high on the Nteko Ridge, the lodge offers excellent views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to half of the world’s 800 mountain gorillas. Gaze out from your solar-powered cottage balcony across the jagged Virunga Mountains that straddle Uganda’s border with Congo and Rwanda. This evening, during a Signature Experience, a field veterinarian from the Gorilla Doctors will join you at the lodge for a behind-the-scenes look at their work. This organisation is dedicated to saving the mountain and eastern lowland (Grauer’s) gorilla species through medical interventions that protect the animals from human-induced or life-threatening trauma or disease.
Day 4 - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Rise early and head to the park headquarters where the Uganda Wildlife Authorities will brief you on today’s gorilla trek. The hike can be strenuous, wet and uncomfortable at times, but the incredible biodiversity of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the chance to see rare mountain gorillas make it worthwhile. It’s recommended that you invest in the help of local porters who can carry your pack and provide expert, local, one-on-one assistance along the way. Not only does it make for a more comfortable trek, but it also provides valuable employment opportunities to locals. Gorilla trekking is highly controlled. When you encounter a group of gorillas, you’ll be able to stay with them for one hour – watch them swing from trees, groom each other and play, all under the watchful eye of a giant silverback. Have a picnic lunch in the wilderness of the rainforest, then return to your accommodation.
Day 5 - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast today, you’ll experience the Buniga Batwa Cultural Trail. The indigenous Batwa tribes, once forest-dwelling hunter-gatherers, were displaced in 1991 when the forests were designated as protected national parks, leaving them conservation refugees. The trail offers a glimpse into their traditional way of life. Walk through the forest with your local guide and translator, as they teach you how they used to forage for food, trap animals with snares made from branches and make tools and medicines from nature. Watch as they demonstrate their traditional hunting and fire-making techniques and learn how they built their huts and ‘nests’ in trees to protect children from dangerous animals. This afternoon, take another memorable walk, this time to the ‘Top of the World’ viewpoint in the Nkuringo Sector. From here, you can look out over the dense canopy of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the Virunga Mountains, the distant Rwenzori Mountains and even small towns across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Enjoy a sundowner and light snacks as the sun sets over the forest.
Day 6 - Kigali
After breakfast today, depart the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and begin the journey back over the border into Kigali. After arriving at the capital, your adventure will come to an end at around 1 pm.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
19-07-202624-07-2026AUD $ 9,250-
02-08-202607-08-2026AUD $ 7,568-
06-09-202611-09-2026AUD $ 9,690-
13-09-202618-09-2026AUD $ 6,862-
27-12-202601-01-2027AUD $ 9,760-
31-01-202705-02-2027AUD $ 9,995-
30-05-202704-06-2027AUD $ 9,995-
13-06-202718-06-2027AUD $ 9,995-
20-06-202725-06-2027AUD $ 10,295-
27-06-202702-07-2027AUD $ 10,295-
11-07-202716-07-2027AUD $ 10,295-
18-07-202723-07-2027AUD $ 10,295-
01-08-202706-08-2027AUD $ 9,995-
15-08-202720-08-2027AUD $ 9,995-
05-09-202710-09-2027AUD $ 10,295-
26-09-202701-10-2027AUD $ 10,295-
10-10-202715-10-2027AUD $ 9,995-
26-12-202731-12-2027AUD $ 9,995-
30-01-202804-02-2028AUD $ 10,495-
28-05-202802-06-2028AUD $ 10,495-
11-06-202816-06-2028AUD $ 10,495-
18-06-202823-06-2028AUD $ 10,810-
25-06-202830-06-2028AUD $ 10,810-
09-07-202814-07-2028AUD $ 10,810-
16-07-202821-07-2028AUD $ 10,810-
30-07-202804-08-2028AUD $ 10,495-
13-08-202818-08-2028AUD $ 10,495-
03-09-202808-09-2028AUD $ 10,810-
24-09-202829-09-2028AUD $ 10,810-
08-10-202813-10-2028AUD $ 10,495-
24-12-202829-12-2028AUD $ 10,495-

Accommodation

Hotel (2 night), Feature Stay Eco-Lodge (3 nights)

Transport

4WD vehicle, Private Vehicle

Map