7-Day Rwanda-Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking and Game Safari

Pickup : Kigali Airport
Drop-off : Kigali Airport

Tour Overview

This 7 Day Rwanda-Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking & Game Safari brings together thrilling game drives, a relaxed boat cruise, and two unforgettable gorilla treks across Rwanda and Uganda. You will begin in Akagera National Park, home to the Big Five and a wide variety of wildlife. From there, you head to Volcanoes National Park for your first gorilla trek in the misty Virunga Mountains. Next, you cross into Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for your second trek among the famous silverbacks. Along the way, this Rwanda-Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking safari also includes cultural encounters with local communities and beautiful lake scenery, all backed by professional guides who keep your comfort and safety a priority.

Cost Includes

Transportation (Car, Fuel, Driver Guide)
Meals & Accommodation as mentioned
Park Entrance Fees
Gorilla Trekking Permit
Boat Cruise
Bottled Drinking Water
Government Taxes

Cost Excludes

International Flights
Accommodation Before and After your Trip
Optional Iby'Iwacu Cultural Experience
Sourvenirs
Tips & Porter Hiring

Travel Plan

Day 1: Pickup from Kigali International Airport and Drive to Akagera with a Late Afternoon Game Drive

Your Iconic Africa Safaris guide will meet you at Kigali International Airport or your hotel in Kigali. You will then drive straight to Akagera National Park for an exciting late afternoon game drive. Keep an eye out for zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, rhinos, lions, elephants, and antelopes as the sun sets over the savanna. This first day sets the tone for the wildlife adventure ahead on your Rwanda-Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking journey.

Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge (Mid Range) | Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

You rise early, around 6:00 a.m., for a morning game drive through Akagera National Park. Look for the Big Five, including rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards, along with giraffes, zebras, topis, waterbucks, impalas, kobs, and bush babies. In the afternoon, you board a boat on Lake Ihema for a relaxing cruise, with hippos wading close by and crocodiles basking on the sandy banks. Colorful water birds circling overhead make this a memorable afternoon on the water.

Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge (Mid Range) | Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes National Park via Kigali

After breakfast, your guide will drive you from Akagera toward Volcanoes National Park, passing through Kigali, where you stop for lunch and a quick look at the city. Rolling hills and lush countryside unfold as you approach the Virunga Volcanoes, building anticipation for tomorrow’s gorilla trek. You will settle into your lodge for the night, surrounded by misty mountains and the sounds of the forest.

Accommodation: Ingagi Lodge (Mid Range) | Amakoro Songa Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park (First Trek)

This day brings the first major highlight of your Rwanda-Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking safari: your first gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park. You wake at 5:30 a.m. and enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading to Kinigi park headquarters for the 7:30 a.m. briefing. Rangers explain the rules and divide trekkers into groups of 8, with each group assigned to a specific gorilla family. At 8:00 a.m., armed guides lead you into the bamboo forest while trackers ahead radio back the gorillas’ location. The hike can take anywhere from 1 to 5 hours, depending on where the assigned family is feeding that morning. Once you find them, you spend 1 full hour observing these gentle giants, watching silverbacks guard their group, mothers cradle their young, and juveniles play nearby.

After the trek, you return to the lodge for lunch and some rest. In the evening, you can choose between the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, where you will enjoy traditional dances, drumming, storytelling, and even a chance to try the Intore dance yourself, or a visit to the Karisoke Research Centre, where Dian Fossey once worked, to see the research exhibits and learn about the history of gorilla conservation.

Accommodation: Ingagi Lodge (Mid Range) | Amakoro Songa Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Uganda and Enter Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, your guide will drive you toward the Cyanika border crossing into Uganda. The crossing itself is straightforward, and within about 2 to 3 hours you will arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, an ancient rainforest that shelters roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. You will check into your lodge to the sound of birdcalls and monkey chatter.

Optional: stop at Lake Mutanda for a canoe paddle with local fishermen, birdwatching among over 200 recorded species, or a community visit to a lakeside village for a fresh tilapia meal. This is a wonderful way to add some cultural flavor and calm water views before your second trek.

Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Mid Range) | Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Second Trek)

Excitement builds again for the second trek of your Rwanda-Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking adventure, this time in Bwindi. You wake at 5:30 a.m. for a filling breakfast, then head to the park headquarters for the 7:30 a.m. briefing, where rangers outline the rules and form groups of 8 per gorilla family. Armed guides escort you into the dense forest at 8:00 a.m., with trackers radioing ahead to guide your path. Expect a hike of 2 to 6 hours, since Bwindi’s terrain is steeper and the families can range further than in Volcanoes National Park. Once you reach them, you get 1 rewarding hour to watch them forage, groom one another, and rest in the undergrowth.

Rangers present certificates once you’re back at the trailhead. You return to the lodge for lunch and some downtime. In the evening, you can join the Batwa community for performances, hunting demonstrations, and honey gathering stories that reflect over 5,000 years of forest heritage, or browse local artisan stalls for baskets, beaded jewelry, and wood carvings made from sustainable materials.

Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Mid Range) | Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Drive Back to Kigali for Departure

You will enjoy an early breakfast at your Bwindi lodge before setting off for Kigali via the Katuna border, arriving in the city by around midday. After lunch at a welcoming spot in Kigali, and depending on your flight schedule, you can visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about this powerful chapter of history through its exhibits, mass grave sites, and survivor testimonies. Your guide will then drop you at the airport or your hotel, bringing this Rwanda-Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking & Game Safari to a close with memories of wildlife, gorillas, and culture that will stay with you long after you leave.

Accommodation: None, unless requested at an extra fee
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Answered FAQs

How much does this safari cost?

The total cost depends on your group size, the season you travel, and the level of accommodation you choose. Mandatory permit and park fees are included in your total trip cost:

Gorilla Trekking Permit (Rwanda): $1,500 per person
Gorilla Trekking Permit (Uganda): $800 per person
Akagera National Park Entry Fee: $100 per person per day (foreign non resident rate)

Let us know your group size and whether you would like to upgrade to any of the Luxury lodges mentioned in the itinerary, and we will send you a full cost breakdown per person.

How physically demanding is this safari?

This is a moderately demanding trip. The game drives and boat cruise require no special fitness, but the 2 gorilla treks involve hiking through forest and volcanic terrain at altitudes of up to 2,500 meters or higher. Trek duration ranges from 1 to 6 hours round trip depending on where the gorilla family is located that day. A reasonable level of fitness helps, and porters are available in both parks to carry your daypack and assist on steeper sections.

What is the best time of year to go on this trip?

The two dry seasons, from June to September and from December to February, are the best times for this Rwanda-Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking safari, since trails are drier and easier to hike. That said, gorilla trekking runs year round, and the wetter months (March to May and October to November) offer lush scenery and fewer crowds, though trails can be muddier and more slippery.

What should I pack for the safari?

We recommend packing:

Sturdy waterproof hiking boots
Gardening style gloves for gripping vegetation on the trek
Long sleeved shirts and long trousers in neutral colors
A rain jacket or poncho
A wide brimmed hat and sunglasses
Sunscreen and insect repellent
A facemask (some parks require these during gorilla trekking to protect the gorillas from human respiratory illness)
Binoculars and a good camera with spare batteries
A daypack, reusable water bottle, and personal medication
Cash in USD for tips and incidentals

Can this itinerary be customized?

Yes. This Rwanda-Uganda Double Gorilla Trekking & Game Safari can be adjusted to fit your travel dates, preferred pace, group size, and budget. We can extend or shorten the number of days, swap in different lodges, add chimpanzee trekking or a Lake Kivu extension, or rearrange activities to suit your interests.

Are the gorilla permits guaranteed?

Permits are issued in limited numbers by the Rwanda Development Board and the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect the gorilla population. Before confirming your booking, we first check permit availability, and once permits are purchased on your behalf, your trekking spots are guaranteed. Since demand is high during peak months, we recommend booking this itinerary 4 to 6 months in advance, especially if you plan to travel during peak season.

What type of vehicle is used for transportation?

You will travel in a customized 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser fitted with a pop up roof for wildlife viewing and photography. The vehicle’s 4 wheel drive handles rough park tracks and rural dirt roads with ease, and it comes stocked with bottled drinking water. Its extended chassis also ensures every passenger gets a window seat throughout the journey.