Gorilla Trekking Rwanda – 6 Days

From NAIROBI – KIGALI – GISENYI – LAKE KIVU – RUHENGERI – UGANDA BORDER.

This trip can be done in reverse order.

Day 1: Nairobi – Kigali (Rwanda) //..

Pick up from Kigali Airport in the morning.  Afternoon city tour around Kigali, including the Genocide Memorial of Gigozi, Kamp Kigali, the city centre and city market, the Parliament Building and a curio market. Dinner and overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel – Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 2: Kigali – Nyanza – Butare – Kigali //..

Full day excursion to Butare. Visit Nyanza King’s Palace. Visit National Museum in Butare and have performance of the Urugangazi group of Intore-dancers. Lunch at Ibis Hotel (or similar). Visit the workshop of the Tin Smith of Huye (few km out of Butare). Drive back to Kigali. Dinner and overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 3: Kigali – Gisenyi (Lake Kivu) //..

After breakfast, drive to the town of Kibuye on the shores of Lake Kivu. Lunch at Centre Bethanie or Moriah Hill Resort. Visit the Genocide Memorial Church and Napoleon’s hut with its colony of fruit bats. Boat ride on Lake Kivu. Dinner and overnight: Dinner and overnight: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 4:  Gisenyi – Ruhengeri //..

Visit Madam Ross Carr’s Orphanage on the way to Ruhengeri, near the Volcanoes National Park. Arrive at the lodge for lunch. Afternoon tour of lakes Burera and Ruhondo, and visit the Iby’Iwacu traditional village nearby. Dinner and overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 5: Volcanoes National Park //..

Visit Parc National des Volcans (PNV) home to 340 of the 720 Mountain Gorillas that survive in world today. It is also the location where Dian Fossey studied Mountain Gorillas for 20 years. There are four groups of Mountain Gorillas located in the Rwandan sector of the Virunga Volcanoes. They are the Susa Group, Sabinyo Group, Group Thirteen, and Amahoro Group. Trekking times to reach each group vary from two to seven hours depending upon their movements. Most days there are several groups within two-hour treks of the car park. During the wet season trekking times are reduced to as little as 20 minutes as the gorillas move to lower elevations to feed. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 6:  Ruhengeri – Kisoro (Cyanika Border with Uganda) or Ruhengeri – Kigali //..

Drive to the Rwanda / Uganda Border and drop off at Cyanika Border, or drive back to Kigali to connect on your return flight to Nairobi. Meal Plan {B,L}.

UGANDA SECTOR:

THIS TRIP CAN BE CONTINUED INTO UGANDA  AS FOLLOWS:

Day 6: Ruhengeri – Kisoro – Kabale – Bwindi (Uganda) //..

Pick up from Rwanda / Uganda Border and drive to Bwindi N. Park. Lunch at lodge! Afternoon is free to enjoy a nature walk up to the Munyaga Waterfall and a chance to see primates.   Uganda is a unique experience for those searching for a new adventure that offers more than just game viewing from a four-wheel drive vehicle. Dinner and overnight: Silver Back Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 7:  Bwindi Impenetrable Forest //..

Early morning Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Venture on foot into the forest to come face to face with the Mountain Gorilla, one of the rarest species on earth. Lunch at the lodge. Rest of the afternoon is free. Optional guided village walk in Buhoma village to see how Ugandans live, visit a local bar, meet a local medicine man and entertainment by orphans of the Buhoma village, with their Bakiga dances. Dinner and overnight: Silver Back Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 8: Bwindi – Queen Elizabeth National Park //..

Drive to the Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector. Check-in and lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge. Afternoon game drive in the park – may/may not include the 1.5-hour boat ride on the Kazinga Channel. We decide on the site and pay the going rate. Dinner and overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 9: Queen Elizabeth – Kibale Forest National Park //..

Drive north to Kibale National Park. Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon primate trekking in Kibale Forest. Dinner and overnight:  Primate Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 10:  Kibale Forest National Park //..

Morning guided walk through the Magombe Swamp at Bigodi. After lunch, visit the village of Bigodi, seeing a school and meeting local elders. Dinner and overnight: Primate Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}

Day 11: Kibale – Kampala //..

Depart for Kampala, where you arrive for lunch. Afternoon Kampala City tour and its surroundings, including the Kasubi Tombs, Uganda Museum, Rubaga Cathedral, Bahai Temple and craft market. Dinner and overnight: Dinner and overnight: Kampala Serena Hotel/ Protea Hotel/Cassia Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}

Day 12:  Kampala – Entebbe – Nairobi, or directly out //..

Visit Namugongo Shrine, on the way to Jinja for the view of the Source of the Nile. Return to Kampala for lunch. After lunch, transfer to Entebbe International Airport for out –bound flight. Meal Plan {B,L}.