4 Days Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Safari

4 Days Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Safari | Mountain Gorillas & Golden Monkeys

There is only one place on earth where you can trek mountain gorillas in one country and golden monkeys in another within the same short trip, and this 4 Days Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Safari is built around exactly that. Over four days, you cross between Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, two of the three parks on the planet where mountain gorillas survive in the wild.

Starting and ending in Kigali, this route is designed for travelers who want a serious primate encounter without committing to a longer East Africa circuit. It combines gorilla trekking in Bwindi with golden monkey trekking in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park, and adds a cultural visit to the Batwa community, the region’s original forest-dwelling people.

This safari suits travelers with limited time who still want two distinct trekking experiences rather than one, and who are comfortable with a border crossing as part of the itinerary. Because permits for both species are limited and issued for specific dates, this is a trip that benefits from booking well ahead of your travel window.

Quick Facts

Highlights

• Day 1: Kigali city tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
• Day 2: Golden monkey trekking, then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 3: Gorilla trekking and a Batwa cultural experience
• Day 4: Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Your safari begins with a pick-up from your hotel in Kigali or from Kigali International Airport. After a short briefing on what to expect, you will go on a Kigali city tour that includes the Kigali Genocide Memorial and Kimironko Market. After lunch, you will set off for Volcanoes National Park, driving through the rolling hills that give Rwanda its nickname — the land of a thousand hills.

You will arrive at the park in the evening. Check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Amicus Hotel

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Golden Monkey Trekking, Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Wake early for breakfast, then meet your driver-guide for the drive to the park headquarters in Kinigi, where you will be briefed on golden monkey trekking and the etiquette expected around these primates. Golden monkeys are an endangered species found in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park. Led by an experienced guide and armed rangers, you will spend an hour watching them play, feed, and pick bamboo shoots.

After the trek, you will return to the park headquarters to collect your certificate before heading to your lodge for lunch. From there, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, crossing the border at Cyanika. Once cleared by border authorities, you will continue to Bwindi, arriving in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Amicus Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience

Wake early for breakfast before your driver-guide takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking. You will join other visitors at the park headquarters for a briefing on trekking etiquette and safety in the forest.

In groups of eight, you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek. The hike through the forest in search of mountain gorillas typically takes two to five hours, sometimes longer, depending on where the family settled the previous night. Once you locate them, you will spend one hour in their presence, watching them go about their daily lives.

Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After collecting your gorilla trekking certificate at the park headquarters, return to your lodge for a short rest. In the evening, you will visit the Batwa community for a cultural encounter — traditional dance and drama, conversation with community members, and a visit to the local medicine man, offering a deeper look into Batwa life. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Amicus Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Departure

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out and driving back to Kigali, crossing the border again at Cyanika. After lunch, you will be dropped at your hotel or at Kigali International Airport for your flight home or to your next destination.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

What’s Included

• Golden monkey and gorilla permits
• Accommodation for 3 nights
• Meals on a full-board basis
• All activities listed in the itinerary
• Transportation in a fueled vehicle with an experienced guide
• Airport transfers