8 Days Ultimate Gorilla Trekking Experience in East Africa
This 8 Days Ultimate Gorilla Trekking Experience in East Africa will combine the top gorilla trekking destinations in East Africa that is Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and Kahuzi Biega National Park in the democratic republic of Congo. Interesting about the safari experience is the fact that you will get to watch the different gorilla types like the mountain gorillas when you participate in gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and as you participate in gorilla trekking in kahuzi biega national park, you will get to watch the eastern lowland gorillas. Continue with the detailed itinerary below for a few surprises on your gorilla safari in Africa.
Highlights of the 8 Days Ultimate Gorilla Trekking Experience in East Africa
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 3: Boat cruise and transfer to Kigali
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Gorilla trekking and transfer back to Kigali
Day 6: Pick-up from Kigali Rwanda and cross to Bukavu
Day 7: Lowland gorilla trekking
Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Depending on your point of location in either kampala city or Entebbe International Airport, you will be picked up by our safari guide who will brief you about your 8 Days Ultimate Gorilla Trekking Experience in East Africa. After the briefing session, you will be transferred back to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, south western part of Uganda which will take you about 9 hours to reach the park. You will have an en-route lunch at Mbarara. Continues with your drive to the park having spectacular views of the farmlands, traditional homesteads, tea plantations and many more. You will also have stopovers for photography to soak in the beauty of the west. Upon arrival in the park, check into the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Have an early morning have breakfast at 6:30 am with packed lunch boxes. You will be pick by your driver guide to transfer you to park headquarters for a briefing about gorillas. After, you will make your way to the habituated gorilla family which you will get to spend an hour with when you get contact with them. The gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park will take between 2-7 hours when you get in contact with them taking their pictures, watching their behavioral patterns in the wild. After the safari experience, you will then transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. At lake Bunyonyi, you will participate in the boat cruise on Uganda deepest lake where you can visit akampene island which has a unique history, you will watch a number of bird species and if you’re interested you can also go swimming in the bilharzia free waters. Upon arrival, you will check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Boat cruise and transfer to Kigali
After an early morning breakfast, you will check out the lodge and go for a boat ride on the Lake where you will be able to explore some of the 29 islands such as the akampene island which was a punishment island where young girls were abandoned by their parents when they got impregnated before marriage and many other islands. Alternatively, instead of a boat cruise, you can participate in a village walk to understand more about the culture of the people of Uganda and their unique cultures. After you will make your way to transfer to Kigali city reaching in time for refreshments and relaxation at your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel des Mille Collines.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
You will be met by your driver guide at your agreed location in Kigali city to transfer to volcanoes national park where you will arrive in time to participate in Ibyi’wacu cultural village tour. Have a guided walk around the village at the different sites that exhibit the different aspects of the people of at the village to have an insight about the interesting features of the culture of the people of Rwanda. By visiting ibyiwacu cultural village get to see a medicine man that is mixing a number of herbs that were used to cure a number of diseases like bareness and impotence, stomach upsets, fever and many more. If you’re interested, you can also get involved in mixing the herbs which will give you an authentic experience. After the experience head to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Da Vinci hotel (mid-range) hotel muhabura(budget)
Day 5: Gorilla trekking and transfer back to Kigali
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel. our guide will meet you after having your breakfast and your lunches packed and he will take you to Kinigi Headquarters where you are expected to be given a brief before starting the gorilla trek. This brief is done at 7 am. You are given guidelines during this brief before you are allowed to start the trek. This gorilla trek can take about 2 hours to half a day as it’s unpredictable. When you finally find the gorillas, you will have to maintain a 7-meter distance and you are allowed one hour to admire and take photos of the gorillas. During the time you spend with the gorillas, you will get the opportunity to understand a number of their rewarding features like how they co-exist with one another, you will get to watch the duty of the dominant silverback whose role is to mate with the adult females to increase the members of the family, raid other gorilla families for their members, you will watch the juveniles grooming one another for a rewarding safari experience. After the trek, you will then embark on your journey back to Kigali where you will be dropped off at your hotel in kigali
Day 6: Pick-up from Kigali Rwanda and cross to Bukavu
After an early morning breakfast at yyour hotel, our -guide/driver will pick you up and drive for about 7 hours through Nyungwe national park with amazing rolling hill in Rusizi with stopovers for lunch and refreshing. Cross through Cyangugu border to Bukavu town in Democratic Republic of Congo. On arrival at Bukavu, nearest town to Kahuzi Biega, advance to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Panorama
Day 7: Lowland gorilla trekking
After enjoying your breakfast at the lodge, drive to the park headquarters for about 45 minutes for briefing about the Eastern lowland gorillas. You will then set off to your fascinating experience of the lowland gorillas in the valleys of Kahuzi as you encounter different mammals, birds and primates. It’s usually a 1-6 hours’ experience of the jungle, depending on their movement while watching them interact/play with each other as you take photos and videos
You will then descend back and meet up with your driver to drive back to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Panorama Hotel.
Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali
Have early morning breakfast and head back to Kigali city. It’s an 7 hours’ drive passing through Nyungwe National Park again, en route visit to the King’s Palace in Nyanza and Butare National Museum before proceeding to Kigali with lunch en-route, connect to Kigali airport for your ongoing flight and the end of your 8 days ultimate gorilla trekking experience in East Africa.
Note that your Rwanda Visa expires immediately you cross into Congo so you will have to reapply for another while at the border and find it ready after the tour.
Quote includes:
- Pick-up and drop-off Kigali
- Gorilla trekking permits in all countries
- Congo Visa
- English/ French speaking driver/guide
- Accommodation and meals as described in the itinerary
- 4X4 safari vehicle and Fuel.
- Bottled mineral water in the car
Quote excludes:
- International flights fees
- Uganda and Rwanda visa
- Porters and walking sticks for trekking
- Tourist visa fees for Rwanda
- Items of a personal nature like Laundry, Telephone calls, and luxury drinks among others.
- Tips and gratuities to service providers
- Any other item not mentioned in the itinerary and extra costs not included in the itinerary
