5 days Luxury Double Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda And Uganda
This extraordinary 5 days Luxury Double Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda And Uganda offers the rare privilege of encountering mountain gorillas in two of Africa’s most celebrated national parks — Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. With fewer than 1,100 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild, this double trekking experience delivers two unforgettable, intimate encounters with these magnificent great apes in their natural jungle habitats.
The itinerary is crafted for both luxury and mid-range travellers, with two distinct accommodation options presented at every destination. Whether you prefer ultra-exclusive lodges with panoramic volcano views or stylish, comfortable lodges that deliver excellent value, this safari delivers a world-class gorilla encounter.
ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS
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BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
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DAY 1 | ARRIVAL IN KIGALI — TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES Kigali, Rwanda → Ruhengeri / Kinigi, Northern Rwanda (~2.5 hrs drive) |
Day Programme
Morning / Afternoon — Arrive at Kigali International Airport (KGL). You will be met by your private Marriott safaris guide and transferred in a comfortable 4×4 Land Cruiser to the base of the Virunga Volcanoes in Northern Rwanda, approximately 2.5 hours from Kigali. En route, stop at a local market in Musanze (Ruhengeri) for an introduction to Rwandan daily life.
On arrival at your lodge, enjoy a sunset welcome drink with breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcano chain — Mt Karisimbi, Mt Bisoke, Mt Muhabura — silhouetted against the evening sky. Your guide will brief you on tomorrow’s gorilla trekking experience, including what to expect, packing tips, and trekking etiquette.
Afternoon Activity Option: Kigali City Tour
For guests arriving early, an optional Kigali Genocide Memorial visit and city tour can be arranged before departing north. Kigali is one of Africa’s cleanest and safest capitals, with excellent coffee shops and craft markets.
Day 1 Accommodation — Volcanoes National Park
LUXURY OPTION | MID-RANGE OPTION |
Bisate Lodge (andBeyond) Ultra-luxury eco-lodge set within a reforested volcanic crater. 6 opulent forest villas with private plunge pools, butler service, panoramic Virunga views, gourmet dining. Fully all-inclusive. From ~$3,000 per person per night (all-inclusive) | Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Stylish 4-star lodge on the foothills of the Virungas. 24 comfortable rooms, infinity pool, stunning volcano views, excellent buffet dining and guiding team. From ~$400–$600 per person per night (full board) |
Day 1 Meals & Logistics ● Meals: Lunch (at lodge on arrival) | Dinner at lodge ● Transport: Private 4×4 Land Cruiser, Kigali to Kinigi (~2.5 hrs) ● Packing brief by guide — early night recommended before trekking day |
DAY 2 | GORILLA TREKKING — VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains — Encounter #1 with Mountain Gorillas |
Day Programme
06:00 — Early breakfast at your lodge, pack your day bag (rain jacket, water, snacks, camera, extra layers).
07:00 — Transfer to Kinigi Park Headquarters for gorilla trekking registration and briefing (approx. 20 minutes from most lodges). Here you are assigned to a gorilla family group based on fitness level and group size. Over 12 habituated gorilla families are available for trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
08:00 — Trek begins. Guided by expert trackers and rangers, you hike through bamboo forests, alpine meadows, and Hagenia woodland on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes. Trek duration varies from 1 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family’s location that day — typically 2–4 hours for most groups.
Upon finding the gorilla family, enjoy a magical 1-hour observation period — Rwanda’s strict and precisely managed rule. Witness silverbacks, mothers with infants, juveniles playing, and the remarkable family dynamics of these gentle giants at close range (min. 7 metres). Only 8 people per gorilla family per day.
Afternoon — Return to the trailhead; transfer back to lodge. Freshen up and enjoy a relaxed lunch. Afternoon at leisure — optional Golden Monkey Trekking in the bamboo zone, Dian Fossey Tomb hike, or village community walk.
Evening — Celebratory dinner at your lodge reflecting on the day’s incredible encounter.
GORILLA TREKKING ESSENTIALS — VOLCANOES NP
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Day 2 Accommodation — Volcanoes National Park
LUXURY OPTION | MID-RANGE OPTION |
Bisate Lodge (andBeyond) Second night at Bisate. Wind down in your forest villa with butler service, organic farm-to-table dinner, and a soak in your private plunge pool under the Milky Way. From ~$3,000 per person per night (all-inclusive) | Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Second night at MGVL. Enjoy the celebrated open-air bar with volcano panoramas, guided forest walk, and excellent buffet dinner with local Rwandan cuisine. From ~$400–$600 per person per night (full board) |
Day 2 Meals & Logistics
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DAY 3 | CROSS-BORDER TRANSFER — RWANDA TO UGANDA Volcanoes NP, Rwanda → Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda (~4–5 hrs) |
Day Programme
07:00 — Breakfast at your lodge. Pack and check out. Begin scenic drive from the Virunga foothills through Northern Rwanda’s rolling hills toward the Cyanika Border crossing between Rwanda and Uganda.
10:00 (approx.) — Cross at Cyanika / Bunagana Border into Southwestern Uganda (Kisoro District). Your Ugandan guide and vehicle will meet you on the Ugandan side for a seamless transfer. Border crossing typically takes 30–60 minutes with pre-arranged documentation.
The drive through Kisoro District to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of Africa’s most visually stunning road journeys — past volcanic lakes, terrace-farmed hillsides, local trading centres, and rural villages deep in the Albertine Rift Valley. Your guide shares context on Ugandan culture, conservation challenges, and the remarkable story of gorilla recovery.
13:00 — Arrive Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Buhoma or Ruhija/Rushaga sector depending on your trekking permit). Check in and enjoy lunch at your lodge.
Afternoon — Rest and acclimatise. Optional afternoon forest walk to introduce yourself to the atmosphere of Bwindi’s ancient canopy, or visit a local Batwa cultural village for a guided cultural experience with Uganda’s indigenous forest community.
Evening — Briefing by your Ugandan guide on tomorrow’s gorilla trekking, including sector specifics and which gorilla family you are assigned to.
CROSS-BORDER LOGISTICS ● Border: Cyanika (Rwanda) / Bunagana or Kyanika (Uganda) — most commonly used for this route ● Documents required: Valid passport, Uganda/Rwanda single or East Africa Tourist Visa ● East Africa Tourist Visa ($100 USD): Allows multiple entry into Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda — very convenient for this itinerary ● Drive time: Approx. 4–5 hours total (border crossing + Bwindi transfer) ● Transfer: Private 4×4 safari vehicle with experienced cross-border guide |
Day 3 Accommodation — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
LUXURY OPTION | MID-RANGE OPTION |
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Intimate luxury camp perched at the edge of Bwindi forest. 8 spacious tented suites with private decks overlooking the forest canopy. Exceptional guiding, gourmet cuisine, open fire lounge. From ~$2,000–$2,500 per person per night (all-inclusive) | Buhoma Lodge Charming lodge on the forest edge with 10 comfortable bandas and cottages. Well-regarded guiding, excellent home-cooked meals, beautiful gardens at Bwindi’s Buhoma sector. From ~$300–$520 per person per night (full board) |
Day 3 Meals & Logistics ● Meals: Breakfast at Rwanda lodge | Lunch on arrival at Bwindi | Dinner at Bwindi lodge ● Border crossing arranged and pre-cleared by your safari operator ● Optional PM: Batwa Cultural Trail ($30–50pp) | Forest Nature Walk |
DAY 4 | GORILLA TREKKING — BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST Uganda’s Ancient Rainforest — Encounter #2 with Mountain Gorillas |
Day Programme
07:00 — Early breakfast at lodge, prepare day pack for trekking. Your guide drives you to the sector park headquarters (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo) for registration and group briefing at approximately 08:00.
08:00 — Gorilla trek begins in the primeval Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s oldest rainforests (over 25,000 years old). Unlike the open Virunga slopes, Bwindi is dense tropical rainforest — the trekking terrain is steep, humid, and breathtakingly wild. Your expert UWA rangers and community trackers lead you through thick vegetation following fresh trails.
Bwindi hosts over 500 mountain gorillas across more than 20 habituated families. Each sector offers a distinct experience — Buhoma is Bwindi’s original trekking sector; Rushaga has the most habituated families; Ruhija at high altitude offers spectacular highland scenery; Nkuringo gives dramatic views over the Congo border.
Upon finding your assigned gorilla family, enjoy the precious 1-hour visit — experiencing Bwindi’s gorillas in their dense forest environment is uniquely intimate and often described by visitors as a more ‘wild’ and immersive experience than Rwanda, due to the dense forest setting.
Afternoon — Return hike to trailhead; transfer to lodge for a celebratory bush lunch or lunch on the terrace. Afternoon at leisure. Optional activities include the Bwindi Community Hospital visit, craft co-op shopping (Batwa baskets, wooden carvings), or an additional nature walk inside the forest.
Evening — Gala farewell dinner at your Bwindi lodge with memorable sunset views over the forest canopy.
GORILLA TREKKING ESSENTIALS — BWINDI FOREST
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Day 4 Accommodation — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
LUXURY OPTION | MID-RANGE OPTION |
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Second night in your tented suite. Curl up by the wood-burning stove, enjoy a forest massage, and recount the day’s gorilla encounter over sundowners on your private deck. From ~$2,000–$3,000 per person per night (all-inclusive) | Buhoma Lodge Second night at Buhoma Lodge. Enjoy the warmly lit dining banda, local storytelling around a bonfire, and the sounds of the Bwindi rainforest at night. From ~$480–$620 per person per night (full board) |
Day 4 Meals & Logistics
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DAY 5 | DEPARTURE — TRANSFER TO ENTEBBE OR KIGALI Bwindi → Entebbe International Airport (5–6 hrs) OR Kigali via Border (4–5 hrs) |
Day Programme
07:00 — Final breakfast at your Bwindi lodge. Soak in the forest views one last time — keep your binoculars handy, as black-and-white colobus monkeys, forest elephants, and over 350 bird species inhabit the Bwindi forest edge.
08:00 — Check out and depart. Two departure route options available:
OPTION A: Entebbe (Uganda) | OPTION B: Kigali (Rwanda) |
Bwindi → Mbarara → Entebbe Airport Drive Time: ~5–8 hours Via Queen Elizabeth NP (game drive optional) | Bwindi → Cyanika Border → Kigali Drive Time: ~4–5 hours Return through Rwanda to Kigali International Airport |
En Route Bonus — Option A guests can enjoy a game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing Uganda’s famous tree-climbing lions, hippo pools, and vast savanna along the Kazinga Channel — an optional add-on that dramatically enhances the journey to Entebbe.
Afternoon arrival at your departure airport. End of your extraordinary 5 day Double Gorilla Trekking Safari.
Day 5 Meals & Logistics
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SAFARI COST BREAKDOWN
All prices are per person, based on double occupancy sharing. Solo traveller single supplements apply. Prices are approximate and subject to change — contact your safari operator for current confirmed pricing.
Per Person Cost Summary (5 Days)
Luxury (USD) | Mid-Range (USD) |
~$13,000–$16,000 | ~$7,000–$8,000 |
Optional Add-Ons & Upgrades
Item | Luxury (USD) | Mid-Range (USD) |
Gorilla Habituation Experience — Bwindi | $1,500 pp | $1,500 pp |
Golden Monkey Trekking — Volcanoes NP | $100 pp | $100 pp |
Dian Fossey Tomb Hike | $75 pp | $75 pp |
Batwa Cultural Village Experience | $50 pp | $50 pp |
Queen Elizabeth NP Game Drive (Day 5) | $80 pp | $80 pp |
Hot Air Balloon — Masai Mara Extension | ~$600 pp | ~$600 pp |
Kigali City Tour & Genocide Memorial | $60 pp | $60 pp |
Seaplane Transfer Bwindi–Entebbe | ~$900 pp | N/A |
FULL LODGE DIRECTORY
RWANDA — Volcanoes National Park
★★★★★ LUXURY: Bisate Lodge (andBeyond) Location: Reforested volcanic crater, 3km from Kinigi park gate | Style: Eco-luxury forest villas Highlights: 6 opulent villas, private plunge pools, butler service, farm-to-table dining, panoramic Virunga views, community reforestation programme, conservation-led travel model. Price: From ~$3,000 per person per night (fully all-inclusive) |
★★★★★ LUXURY ALT: Singita Kwitonda Lodge Location: Foothills of Volcanoes NP, Kinigi | Style: African-art inspired luxury suites Highlights: 8 suites + 4 villas, heated plunge pools, forest gym, wellness spa, Singita’s acclaimed cuisine and wine cellar, exceptional wildlife guiding philosophy. Price: From ~$3,000+ per person per night (all-inclusive) |
★★★★ MID-RANGE: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Location: Kinigi, on the lower slopes of the Virungas | Style: Comfortable 4-star lodge Highlights: 24 standard and superior rooms, infinity pool, spectacular volcano views, respected for value, dining quality, and guiding team. Popular with independent travellers. Price: From ~$350–$500 per person per night (full board) |
★★★★ MID-RANGE ALT: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge Location: Private concession bordering Volcanoes NP | Style: Stone cottages with community-benefit model Highlights: 9 en-suite stone cottages, intimate atmosphere, AKAGERA Management Company’s community-owned model directly benefits local Kinigi communities. Excellent guiding. Price: From ~$500–$700 per person per night (full board) |
UGANDA — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
★★★★★ LUXURY: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Location: Inside Bwindi’s Buhoma sector — the only camp actually inside the forest boundary | Style: Intimate luxury tented camp Highlights: 8 en-suite canvas suites with forest views, wood-burning stoves, open fire lounge, gourmet dining, forest massage, incredible gorilla and bird sightings from camp. Sanctuary’s premium conservation ethos. Price: From ~$2,500–$3,000 per person per night (all-inclusive) |
★★★★★ LUXURY ALT: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (Nkuringo) Location: Nkuringo sector ridge overlooking Congo DRC border | Style: Stone cottages with dramatic ridge-top setting Highlights: 8 individual stone cottages, most dramatic views of any Bwindi property, spectacular sunset panoramas over the Albertine Rift, excellent cuisine, strong community development programme. Price: From ~$2,400–$3,800 per person per night (all-inclusive) |
★★★★ MID-RANGE: Buhoma Lodge Location: Buhoma sector — Bwindi’s original trekking area | Style: Forest-edge eco-lodge with bandas and cottages Highlights: 10 bandas/cottages, beautiful gardens abutting the forest, excellent home-cooked meals sourced from kitchen garden, warm and authentic atmosphere, community-owned and managed. Price: From ~$480–$520 per person per night (full board) |
★★★★ MID-RANGE ALT: Silverback Lodge (Rushaga) Location: Rushaga sector — most habituated gorilla families | Style: Comfortable eco-lodge with forest views Highlights: Comfortable rooms with forest outlooks, highly-praised guiding, close to Rushaga trailhead making mornings easier, ideal for first-time trekkers, Gorilla Habituation Experience in same sector. Price: From ~$450–$580 per person per night (full board) |
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
What’s Included / Excluded
TYPICALLY INCLUDED | TYPICALLY EXCLUDED |
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Health, Fitness & Entry Requirements
HEALTH & VACCINATIONS
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FITNESS LEVEL
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VISA & ENTRY INFORMATION
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Packing Checklist for Gorilla Trekking
CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR | EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES |
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BOOKING NOTES & CONSERVATION
GORILLA PERMIT BOOKING — CRITICAL ADVANCE PLANNING
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CONSERVATION IMPACT — YOUR TREKKING FEES AT WORK
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