14 Days Double Gorilla Trek Rwanda & Uganda

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, take a short 20-minute drive to the heart of Kigali, known as Africa’s cleanest city. Depending on your arrival time, check into your comfortable hotel and choose to either relax or explore the city’s historical and cultural sites.
 
Kigali, founded in 1907 by German explorer Richard Kandt, is home to fascinating landmarks. You may visit the Kandt House Museum to learn about the city’s colonial past or the Presidential Palace Museum, where the plane crash that triggered the 1994 Rwandan Genocide took place.
 
After the city tour, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay, preparing for the exciting journey ahead.

Meal Plan: Dinner.

Drive Time: 20 Minutes.

Begin your day by exploring Kigali’s historical and cultural landmarks before heading to Volcanoes National Park.
 
Start with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you will gain insight into Rwanda’s history and resilience. Then, stop by art and craft galleries, where you can admire and purchase handmade African clothing, footwear, and souvenirs.
 
After enjoying lunch in the city, embark on a scenic 3-hour drive to Volcanoes National Park. Arrive in the evening, check-in at your lodge, and relax over dinner, preparing for the next day’s adventure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Driving Time: 3 hrs.
 
Helicopter flight: 30 minutes.

Start your day early with a drive to Kinigi Park Headquarters, where you will receive a briefing before being assigned to one of the 12 habituated gorilla groups. After a short drive to the trekking starting point, begin your walk through the forest, spotting various birds and wildlife along the way.
 
The trek lasts between 1 to 4 hours, leading you to the endangered mountain gorillas. Spend one magical hour watching their interactions, feeding habits, and playful behaviour, and take photos and videos of these gentle giants.
 
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, visit the Gorilla Guardians' Village for a cultural experience. Meet a traditional healer and learn about medicinal plants, observe banana beer brewing, enjoy traditional dances, visit a local school, and explore a King’s Palace replica, gaining a deeper understanding of Rwandan traditions.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

After breakfast, return to Volcanoes National Park for an exciting golden monkey tracking adventure. Just like gorilla trekking, the experience starts with a briefing on tracking guidelines before heading into the forest.
 
The trek lasts 1 to 3 hours, and once you spot these playful golden monkeys, you will spend one hour watching them jump between trees, feed, and rest. Capture amazing photos as they move through the forest.
 
After this short and enjoyable trek, return to the lodge for lunch. Later, embark on a scenic drive to Bwindi National Park in Uganda, crossing through either the Cyanika border (Kisoro District) or the Katuna border (Kabale District). Enjoy photo opportunities along the winding roads, arriving at your lodge in time for dinner and relaxation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Travel Time + 4 Hours.

After breakfast, head to the Park Headquarters for registration and a briefing before starting your gorilla trekking adventure. Enjoy a 30-minute cultural performance by the local community, then listen as the Park Ranger explains the trekking rules. With a walking stick and mask, begin your journey through Bwindi Forest.
 
The trek lasts between 1 to 6 hours, taking you through dense forest, towering trees, and rich wildlife habitats. Along the way, you may spot other primates, colourful birds, and butterflies before reaching the majestic mountain gorillas. Spend one magical hour observing their interactions, feeding, and playful behaviour, and take photos and videos of this incredible encounter.
 
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and some rest. Later in the afternoon, visit the Batwa community, the original forest dwellers of Bwindi. Learn about their traditional way of life, including hunting techniques, fire-making skills, and the use of medicinal plants. This cultural experience offers a glimpse into their unique heritage and survival skills in the forest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Start your day early with breakfast, then set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park, heading to the Ishasha sector in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. This remote part of the park is one of the few places in Africa where lions can be seen resting on fig tree branches. Keep an eye out for Uganda Kobs, a type of antelope that the lions closely watch as they graze in the plains.
 
After the game drive, continue to your lodge for lunch and an afternoon of relaxation.
 
In the evening, experience a magical sundowner in the wilderness. Enjoy the golden landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park, sip on your favourite drink, and watch as wildlife moves across the open savanna. As the sun sets, soak in the peaceful atmosphere, marking the perfect end to your day.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Travel Time + 4 Hours.

Start your day with a drive to the Kasenyi sector in the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy a mini game drive, where you may see lions, Defassa waterbucks, bushbucks, elephants, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, Cape buffaloes, leopards, spotted hyenas, Topis, hippos, and banded mongooses. After the drive, continue to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation.
 
In the afternoon, embark on a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, a wildlife-rich waterway that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. Look out for hippos, Nile crocodiles, and sometimes buffaloes and elephants along the banks. This boat ride is also a great birdwatching experience, with chances to spot African fish eagles, African skimmers, pelicans, and possibly the rare shoebill stork.
 
After the cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay, surrounded by the sounds of nature.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Start your day early with a hot cup of tea or coffee, then set off at 6:30 am for an exciting lion tracking experience in the Kasenyi sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Guided by researchers and expert trackers, you will follow radio signals to locate lions fitted with tracking collars. This special experience allows you to get up-close views of a lion pride as they move through the savanna.
 
After the lion-tracking adventure, return to the lodge for a full breakfast, then begin your scenic drive to Kibale National Park, home to lush tropical rainforests in Kabarole district, Western Uganda.
 
Along the way, stop to admire the stunning Crater Lakes and visit the Top of the World viewpoint, offering breathtaking panoramic views. Upon arrival at Kibale, check into your lodge for lunch, relax in the afternoon, and enjoy dinner and an overnight stay surrounded by the sights and sounds of the forest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Travel Time: 3-hour Drive.

Start your day with a hearty breakfast, then head to Kibale National Park Headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking rules. At 8:00 am, join your experienced guide and a small group of six to trek through the lush rainforest in search of wild chimpanzees.
 
The trek lasts between 2 to 4 hours, and once you find the chimp community, you will spend one fascinating hour observing their playful behaviour, feeding habits, and social interactions. Along the way, look out for other primates such as colobus monkeys, l’Hoest’s monkeys, and vervet monkeys, as well as various bird species.
 
After an exciting morning in the forest, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a rich ecosystem home to 8 primate species, 138 bird species, and various mammals. Enjoy a guided nature walk, spotting wildlife along the lush trails.
 
Alternatively, explore the local community, where you will experience traditional foods, art, music, and cultural dances. Learn about traditional clothing and customs, gaining a deeper understanding of the region’s heritage.
 
After an enriching day, return to the lodge for dinner and a restful overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After a hearty breakfast at your lodge in Kibale, begin your journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Covering 3,840 square kilometres, this stunning protected area is home to diverse wildlife and the world's most powerful waterfalls, which give the park its name. Enjoy the scenic drive as you prepare for the exciting adventures ahead.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Travel Time: 7-hour Drive.

Start your day with a hearty breakfast, then set off at 6:30 am for an early morning game drive through the northern game tracks of Murchison Falls National Park. Spend three hours exploring the diverse landscapes, where you can spot giraffes, warthogs, large herds of buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, antelopes, and a variety of bird species.
 
After an exciting wildlife safari, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, embark on a three-hour boat safari along the Victoria Nile, leading to the base of Murchison Falls. As you cruise, look out for basking crocodiles, hippos, and water birds along the riverbanks.
 
Enjoy the spectacular view of the powerful falls, then begin a 45-minute guided hike to the top, where you will witness the Nile River crashing through a narrow gorge, creating a breathtaking sight. After the hike, return to your lodge for dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Begin your day with a morning breakfast at the lodge before departing for Kampala, Uganda’s vibrant capital city.
 
On the way, stop at Nakasongola for a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can track rhinos in the wild. Spend two hours on foot observing these majestic creatures, while also spotting Uganda Kobs, Defassa waterbucks, hippos, and bushbucks in their natural habitat.
 
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then continue your journey to Kampala, arriving in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay at your lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Travel Time 6-hour Drive.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast, then meet your driver-guide for an exciting city tour of Kampala, exploring some of its most significant historical and cultural sites.
 
Begin with a visit to the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo, a sacred place where 22 Ugandans were executed between 1885 and 1887 under the rule of Kabaka Mwanga for refusing to renounce their faith. Learn about their courage and the tragic events that took place here.
 
Next, visit the Uganda National Museum, the oldest museum in East Africa, established in 1908. Explore exhibits that showcase Uganda’s rich cultural heritage, history, and natural wonders.
 
After the museum, enjoy lunch at a top restaurant in Kampala, then continue to the Kasubi Royal Tombs, the final resting place of four Buganda Kings (Kabakas). Although partially damaged by fire in 2010, the site remains an important cultural landmark with much to see and learn.
 
Wrap up your tour with a visit to Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo, one of the official residences of the Buganda King. After exploring its rich history, return to your hotel for dinner and relaxation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Enjoy your last breakfast in Uganda, then meet your driver-guide in the lobby for a short briefing. After that, take a comfortable drive to Entebbe Airport, where you will catch your departure flight. As you leave Uganda – The Pearl of Africa, take with you memories of incredible wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable experiences.

Meal Plan: Breakfast.

Travel Time 45 Minute Drive.