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Ultimate Gorilla Safaris
Safari Packages
Find the right gorilla safari for you: short day trips or multi-country Rwanda & Uganda adventures with chimp tracking and Big Five game drives. Get a free quote.
This is a day trip from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park. You’ll depart early (around 4:00–5:00 AM) for the scenic two-to-three-hour drive to Kinigi, arriving in time for a briefing and gorilla permit allocation. From there, expert guides and trackers lead you into the misty forests along the Virunga volcanoes in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. Trekking time varies from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the gorillas’ location, followed by a magical hour observing them up close in their natural habitat. After the trek, you’ll return to Kigali the same evening. It’s a physically demanding but unforgettable experience, best suited for travelers with moderate fitness and limited time.
This itinerary assumes you’re flying into Kigali International Airport (KGL) and traveling to Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province, roughly a 2.5–3 hour drive from the capital. It’s built as a compact, high-impact trip — ideal if your time is limited but you still want the full gorilla trekking experience plus a taste of the surrounding culture and landscape.
7 day fly-in safari combines two of Uganda’s premier primate experiences: chimpanzee tracking and habituation in Kibale Forest National Park, and mountain gorilla trekking in the remote Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Domestic flights with ,Aerolink or Bar Aviation eliminate the long road transfers between parks maximizing time with the primates rather than in a vehicle.
This Safari package combines Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (gorilla trekking), a scenic crossing into southwestern Uganda for relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi, and wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, before looping back to Kigali. It’s a popular combination because the three destinations sit within a few hours’ drive of each other along the Rwanda–Uganda border corridor.
This 12-day loop runs Kigali → Nyungwe → Volcanoes National Park → Bwindi → Queen Elizabeth → Lake Mburo → Entebbe. Highlights include chimpanzee trekking and a canopy walk in Nyungwe, gorilla treks in both Rwanda and Uganda, Kazinga Channel boat cruises, Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions, and Lake Mburo game drives, ending with departure via Entebbe.
This 8-day Rwanda safari covers the country’s three flagship parks: Akagera for Big Five game drives and boat safaris, Nyungwe for chimpanzee trekking and the canopy walkway, and Volcanoes National Park for the highlight—mountain gorilla trekking. With cultural stops and scenic drives through Rwanda’s “thousand hills” connecting each region, staying at upper-midrange lodges.
This 15-day Uganda safari combines three ecosystems: savannah, rainforest, and the Nile. Highlights include Murchison Falls with boat cruises, chimpanzee tracking and habituation in Kibale, Queen Elizabeth’s Kazinga Channel, Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions, and gorilla trekking plus habituation across multiple Bwindi sectors — a rich primate-and-wildlife journey.
This is a fast-paced day trip combining travel with a bucket-list wildlife experience. You’ll depart Kigali very early (around 3:00–4:00 AM) by road, crossing the Rwanda–Uganda border at Cyanika/Katuna and driving roughly 3–4 hours to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. On arrival, you’ll join a briefing at the park headquarters before setting off with rangers and trackers into the forest to find a habituated gorilla family — trekking time varies from 1 to several hours depending on the gorillas’ location. You’ll spend a magical hour observing the gorillas up close, then trek back out and begin the return drive to Kigali, arriving late evening. It’s a long, tiring but unforgettable day requiring a valid gorilla permit, good fitness, and an early start.
Packing List
what everyone needs for gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda:
Gorilla permit – The single biggest requirement. A Rwanda permit costs USD 1,500 per person, while Uganda’s costs USD 800 (sometimes 600 in low season), both covering one hour with a habituated family. Book 3 to 6 months in advance.
Minimum age of 15 – This is enforced via passport checks on the morning of the trek in Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo, with no upper age limit.
Valid passport – Your full name and passport information must match your permit, and rangers check this at the park gate.
Reasonable fitness – Treks typically last 2 to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas have moved, over steep, muddy, sometimes high-altitude terrain.
Appropriate gear – Sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers and long sleeves (protection from stinging nettles and thorns), gardening-style gloves, a rain jacket, and a hat, since forest weather changes fast.
Physical preparation items – Drinking water, energy snacks, and insect repellent for the hike itself.
A porter (optional but recommended) – Local porters can carry your bag and help on steep sections; hiring one also supports the local community.
Travel/health considerations – Some parks recommend a yellow fever vaccination certificate for entry into Rwanda or Uganda, and travel insurance is wise since permits are largely non-refundable if you cancel.
Respect for park rules – Stay at least 7 meters from gorillas, keep your voice low, no flash photography, and don’t trek if you have a cold or contagious illness (gorillas are highly susceptible to human diseases).
Group size compliance – Groups are capped at eight visitors per gorilla family, so permits are date- and group-specific and can’t easily be transferred.