Private
7 Days Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Golden Monkey Safari
Bwindi forest floors to the volcanic slopes of Volcanoes National Park
Overview
About this journey
- Region
- Southwestern Uganda
- Duration
- 7 days
- Departures
- All year round
- Party size
- Up to 6
Embark on an unforgettable 7-day safari through Uganda and Rwanda, combining two extraordinary gorilla trekking experiences with an exciting golden monkey trek. Explore the breathtaking landscapes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park, discover the vibrant city of Kigali, immerse yourself in local culture, and learn about mountain gorilla conservation. This safari offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to encounter endangered primates while experiencing the beauty and rich heritage of East Africa.
Highlights
What you'll experience
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
You follow a ranger through fig roots and red mud until the canopy opens and a silverback is just there — chest rising, watching you watching him. The permit limits your group to eight people and your time to one hour, which turns out to be exactly enough.
Golden Monkeys on the Volcano Slopes
Cercopithecus kandti — the golden monkey — moves through Volcanoes National Park bamboo in quick amber flashes. A family of twenty or more will surround you at eye level, grooming, playing, entirely unbothered by your presence.
Rwanda's Gorillas at Dawn
The second gorilla trek — this time in Volcanoes National Park — begins in pre-dawn cold with the smell of wet volcanic soil underfoot. The Susa group is one of the largest habituated families in the park, and finding them often means watching young males tumble over one another in the morning light.
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe
A 90-metre suspension bridge sways gently 50 metres above the Nyungwe Forest floor. Crowned hornbills glide past at shoulder height, and the sound below is unbroken — cicadas, wind in the canopy, a distant troop of Angola colobus.
Kigali's Genocide Memorial
Before leaving Rwanda, a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial is quiet and unhurried. It is not easy, and it is not meant to be — but it is an honest part of understanding the country you are travelling through.
Crater Lakes of Kigezi
The road south from Bwindi winds through the interlocking crater lakes of the Kigezi highlands — each one a different shade of green depending on the hour and the algae. You stop at a ridge viewpoint where your guide, Moses Turyamuhika, says he never tires of counting them.
Why choose us
Why choose a Private Journey?
Most gorilla itineraries stop at the border. This one crosses it — giving you two entirely different forest systems, two gorilla encounters under different light and latitude, and the bonus of Rwanda's golden monkeys.
Two Countries, Two Trek Ecosystems
Bwindi's ancient Afromontane tangle and Volcanoes' bamboo-and-hagenia slopes produce different encounters even with the same species. Tracking gorillas in both reveals how much habitat shapes behaviour — and how different the same hour can feel.
Small Private Groups
Maximum six guests on all vehicles and activities. Gorilla trekking regulations already cap group sizes at eight; we cap ours at six so there is always room to move, always a clear line of sight, and the guide can spend time on each person rather than managing a crowd.
Guides Who Know the Forest
Every guide on this route has a minimum of eight years working in Bwindi or Volcanoes. They know which ranger to ask about last-night's tracking data, where the golden monkeys feed in dry season versus wet, and how to read the moment the silverback decides he is comfortable with you.
Itinerary
Your day-by-day journey
Day 1
Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our professional safari representative and transferred to your hotel in Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, you may relax after your journey or enjoy a leisurely walk around the city to experience Rwanda's clean streets and peaceful atmosphere.
Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel / Protea Hotel Kigali (or similar)
Meal Plan: Dinner
Meals · Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
Optional Kigali City Tour – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
After breakfast, you may enjoy an optional guided tour of Kigali, visiting some of the city's most important attractions, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local craft markets, and historical landmarks. Later, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. The scenic drive takes you through the beautiful countryside of Rwanda and Uganda, characterized by rolling hills, terraced farms, and picturesque rural villages. Stop for lunch along the way before continuing to your lodge near the national park.
Arrive in the evening, check in, and relax in preparation for the following day's gorilla trekking adventure.
Accommodation: Bwindi Lodge (or similar)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing by the Uganda Wildlife Authority guides. You will be assigned a gorilla family and receive information about trekking guidelines before beginning your unforgettable journey into the ancient rainforest.
The trek may take between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the location of your assigned gorilla family. Once the gorillas are found, you will spend one magical hour observing their fascinating behavior, photographing them, and learning about their social structure in their natural habitat.
After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing while reflecting on this extraordinary wildlife encounter.
Accommodation: Bwindi Lodge (or similar)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
Volcanoes National Park — Rwanda's Gorillas
Following breakfast, depart Bwindi and cross the border back into Rwanda. Enjoy another scenic drive through lush countryside, beautiful valleys, and the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes. After lunch en route, continue to your lodge near Volcanoes National Park. Spend the evening relaxing while enjoying spectacular views of the Virunga Mountain range.
Accommodation: Lodge near Volcanoes National Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park – Cultural Experience
Rise early for breakfast before transferring to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for your second gorilla trekking adventure. Although similar to your Bwindi experience, trekking in Volcanoes National Park offers a different landscape and the opportunity to observe another gorilla family in Rwanda's stunning bamboo forests. After spending one unforgettable hour with the mountain gorillas, return to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village (Gorilla Guardians Village), where you'll experience Rwanda's rich cultural heritage through traditional music, dance performances, local crafts, and storytelling. Meet community members and gain insight into Rwanda's customs and conservation efforts.
Accommodation: Lodge near Volcanoes National Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
Golden Monkey Trekking and Visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus
After breakfast, return to Volcanoes National Park for an exciting golden monkey trekking experience. Accompanied by an experienced ranger guide, hike through the bamboo forests to observe these energetic and endangered primates as they leap through the trees and forage on the forest floor.
Later, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, an internationally recognized conservation and research center dedicated to protecting mountain gorillas and supporting community conservation initiatives. Learn about ongoing scientific research, education programs, and conservation projects that help safeguard these remarkable animals.
Return to your lodge for a relaxing afternoon and your final evening in Rwanda.
Accommodation: Lodge near Volcanoes National Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7
Return to Kigali – Departure
Enjoy your final breakfast before checking out and driving back to Kigali. Depending on your international flight schedule, you may have time for last-minute shopping, sightseeing, or visiting a local craft market before being transferred to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.
Your 7-day Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Golden Monkey Safari comes to an end, leaving you with unforgettable memories of East Africa's magnificent wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality.
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch
Inclusions
What is and isn't included
Included
- One mountain gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda)
- One mountain gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
- One golden monkey trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park
- Return charter flight Entebbe–Kihihi on Day 1
- All road transfers throughout the itinerary in a private 4WD safari vehicle
- Six nights' accommodation as listed (twin/double rooms, full board from Day 1 dinner)
- All meals as specified in the day-by-day programme
- All national park entry fees in Uganda and Rwanda
- English-speaking private guide throughout
- Kigali Genocide Memorial entrance and guided visit
- Nyungwe canopy walk permit
- Bottled water in vehicle daily
- Porterage fees for gorilla and golden monkey treks
Not included
- International flights to and from the region
- Entry visas and any transit visas
- Travel and medical insurance, which is mandatory
- Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
- Laundry, telephone and other items of a personal nature
- Tips and gratuities for your guide, drivers and lodge staff
- Optional activities not listed in the day-by-day itinerary
Pricing
Available all year round
A private itinerary with no fixed departure dates. Rates are per person in USD.
Journey Details
Essential information
Minimum Age
15 years for gorilla and golden monkey trekking (Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board regulations)
Safari Duffel
Soft-sided bags only for charter flights; max 15 kg per person in the hold plus a small day bag in cabin. Hard-shell suitcases can be stored securely in Entebbe.
First Group Event
Welcome dinner and ranger briefing at Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma, on the evening of Day 1
Last Group Event
Lunch in Kigali on Day 7, followed by airport transfer
Guaranteed Departures
All dates are private departures and run with a minimum of 2 guests confirmed. Single travellers are guaranteed their departure.
Alternate Sightseeing
If a gorilla permit becomes unavailable due to park closures, we substitute a gorilla habituation experience (where quotas allow) or arrange a full refund of the permit cost.