Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda / Uganda

After your arrival at Kigali Airport and completing immigration formalities, you are met at the airport and taken to your hotel in the city. You stay at Hotel Chez Lando. The journey from Kigali to Bwindi National Park is shorter than the overland journey from Entebbe in Uganda. The mountain gorilla trekking adventure begins!

After breakfast at your hotel and once your luggage is stowed in the vehicle, you set off towards the border crossing into Uganda. On the way you can enjoy spectacular views of Rwanda's surrounding volcanoes. You have lunch at a restaurant in the Musanze region, not far from the border crossing. Afterwards you cross the border into Uganda (proof of yellow fever vaccination is compulsory!). Soon afterwards you reach your accommodation near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. After check-in, the afternoon is at your leisure. Relax a little in your accommodation or take a short hike to get in the mood for the mountain gorilla trekking planned for the following morning. For the next two nights you stay, depending on availability, at Chameleon Hill Lodge or Gorilla Safari Lodge (both mid-range) or alternatively at the somewhat simpler Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge (standard).

Today is the highlight of the trekking trip: you follow the trail of the last free-living mountain gorillas in the world. The gorillas live scattered in several groups in Bwindi National Park. The various groups, which are habituated to humans, can be visited for one hour in small groups of max. eight people per gorilla family. First comes the transfer to the starting point of the trek and a short briefing. You then start the hike with a guide from the National Park authority. Depending on where the animals are, it can take between one and four hours until you spot the gorillas. The animals move freely in the park, so no exact guarantee can be given as to their whereabouts. One hour before your departure, a group of rangers is usually sent ahead to locate the gorillas and pass their exact position on to your guide by radio. The mountain gorillas live together in a family group of up to 20 animals and roam the National Park in constant search of food. Each group is led by a "silverback" up to 2 m tall and weighing up to 200 kg. Experience the gorillas and watch these unique animals going about their busy business, which shows almost human traits. You spend a total of one hour in the immediate vicinity of these "gentle giants". This experience is sure to take the breath away even of the most seasoned Africa expert. After your return to the National Park authority, you are transferred back to the lodge. You stay again in the same accommodation as the day before.

After breakfast and check-out, your guide meets you again at reception and together you drive back across the border to Kigali. Depending on your onward programme, you either spend another night there or are taken directly to the airport. Individual departure or onward journey.

Breakfast | Lunch

Note | Please note that, because of the strict limits on visitor numbers set by the Ugandan National Park authority, obtaining mountain gorilla trekking permits is very difficult. Early booking is therefore advised!