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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 heartbreaking history and incredible wildlife on a six-day Premium journey through Rwanda and Uganda. See sombre reminders of Kigali’s devastating past, watch local life play out on the streets and witness a beautiful country that’s continuously striving to move forward. Enter the world of rare mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and spend a day tracking and observing these creatures, overlooked by a rare silverback gorilla. Stay in memorable accommodation, including your Feature Stay surrounded by forest canopy, and sit down for amazing Exclusive Experiences like a fireside chat a field veterinarian from The Gorilla Doctors.

Trip Name
Premium Rwanda & Gorillas of Uganda
Last Updated
2024-07-25
Days
6
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Spend a day trekking (and perhaps 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.
  • Join an intimate fireside chat with a field veterinarian from The Gorilla Doctors and discover how they are saving the species, one gorilla patient at a time.
  • Take a closer look at Rwanda’s history and the resilience of its people during a two-night stay at Kigali’s Hotel des Mille Collines, which famously sheltered more than 1000 people during the Genocide.
  • Sit down to dinner with a local park ranger, learning about life in the wilderness and their special relationships with the mountain gorillas.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Gorilla Doctors. Donations help them care for injured mountain and Grauer's gorillas – contributing to the long-term sustainability of gorilla populations.

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. 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 tonight. Your accommodation for the next two nights is no ordinary hotel – the Hotel des Mille Collines is famous for sheltering and consequently saving more than 1000 people during the Rwandan genocide of 1994. 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, head out of the city for a sobering visit to the Ntarama Church. Your leader will explain how this memorial marks the spot where 5000 people were tragically slaughtered during the genocide. Reminders of lives lost remain in the church, including clothes and even bones. Continue to the Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre – a former church where an incomprehensible 50,000 people were murdered. Your leader will discuss how the Tutsis sought refuge in churches, only for them to turn into death traps. Then, visit the Genocide Museum – a powerful yet confronting experience and important in understanding the tragedy and the resilience of the Rwandan people. This afternoon, re-energise with some local Ugandan treats before taking a tour of the city and its market with your leader. 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 the Bwindi National Park in Uganda. Arrive at the Gorilla Heights Lodge – your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights. Sitting high on the Nteko Ridge, the lodge offers great views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to half of the world’s 800 mountain gorillas. Gaze out across the jagged Virunga Mountains that straddle Uganda's border with Congo and Rwanda. Each cottage has a private balcony overlooking the forest canopy and is solar-powered. This evening, a field veterinarian from the Gorilla Doctors will join you for a fireside chat. This organisation is dedicated to saving the mountain and eastern lowland (Grauer's) gorilla species using veterinary medicine and science. They provide medical interventions to protect the animals from human-induced or life-threatening trauma or disease. You'll learn more about their fascinating work during this exclusive experience.
Day 4 - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Rise early and take a short walk to the park headquarters where you’ll be briefed on today's gorilla trek by the Uganda Wildlife Authorities. The trek 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 makes 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 trek. Not only does it make for a more comfortable trek, but it also provides valuable employment opportunities to locals. Gorilla trekking is highly controlled, with only 24 gorilla trekking permits available each day. 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.
Day 5 - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the terrace overlooking the forest. Today is free for you to do as little or as much as you like. For those seeking another encounter with the mountain gorillas, there’s the option for a second day of trekking. You might like to take The Buniga Batwa Cultural Trail – a cultural experience led by the Batwa community (the indigenous people of Uganda). With your local guide and a local translator, you’ll walk through the forest 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. Tonight, join your group and leader for dinner at the terraced restaurant surrounded by mountains.
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
18-08-202423-08-2024AUD $ 8,514-
01-09-202406-09-2024AUD $ 8,204-
15-09-202420-09-2024AUD $ 8,204-
13-10-202418-10-2024AUD $ 8,765-
29-12-202403-01-2025AUD $ 8,765-
02-02-202507-02-2025AUD $ 9,985-
01-06-202506-06-2025AUD $ 9,985-
22-06-202527-06-2025AUD $ 9,985-
29-06-202504-07-2025AUD $ 10,385-
13-07-202518-07-2025AUD $ 10,780-
20-07-202525-07-2025AUD $ 10,780-
03-08-202508-08-2025AUD $ 10,780-
17-08-202522-08-2025AUD $ 10,780-
31-08-202505-09-2025AUD $ 10,385-
07-09-202512-09-2025AUD $ 10,385-
14-09-202519-09-2025AUD $ 10,385-
21-09-202526-09-2025AUD $ 10,385-
12-10-202517-10-2025AUD $ 9,985-
28-12-202502-01-2026AUD $ 9,985-
01-02-202606-02-2026AUD $ 10,030-
31-05-202605-06-2026AUD $ 10,030-
21-06-202626-06-2026AUD $ 10,030-
28-06-202603-07-2026AUD $ 10,030-
12-07-202617-07-2026AUD $ 10,030-
19-07-202624-07-2026AUD $ 10,030-
02-08-202607-08-2026AUD $ 10,030-
16-08-202621-08-2026AUD $ 10,030-
30-08-202604-09-2026AUD $ 10,030-
06-09-202611-09-2026AUD $ 10,030-
13-09-202618-09-2026AUD $ 10,030-
20-09-202625-09-2026AUD $ 10,030-
11-10-202616-10-2026AUD $ 10,030-
27-12-202601-01-2027AUD $ 10,030-

Accommodation

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

Transport

4WD vehicle,Private Vehicle

Map