The 5 days Rwanda and Bwindi gorillas specifically take you to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in Uganda and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. You will trek the gorillas in both the prime homes of mountain gorillas, have cultural encounters with the amazing people living around the parks and tasting the local cuisines.
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali international airport and hotel transfer
On arrival at the airport, our experienced driver guide will be waiting for you. He will transfer you to the hotel for an overnight stay. He will briefly take you through the trip movements as he transfers you the lodge. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in, have dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Travel to volcanoes national park and Iby’Iwacu Cultural village
In the morning after an early breakfast, start the journey to Volcanoes national park. This is a prime home to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. It is located in the Virunga ranges, a series of eight volcanoes shared by three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The journey takes about 3-4 hours, giving you spectacular views of the Virunga ranges and the green lush along the high way.
On arrival in the afternoon, after lunch, visit the Iby’Iwacu cultural village. This is a one stop center that exhibits all the three cultures of Rwanda, the Twa, Hutu and the Tutsi. Enjoying the traditional performances and the local cuisines is a guarantee except to the ones who don’t wish. It’s an amazing way to spend an evening.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and visit Musanze caves
Early morning, have a very early breakfast and head to the park headquarters for a simple orientation about gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park by the local ranger guide. You will then enter into the forest to search out for the mighty apes in the forest. Gorilla trekking Volcanoes national park involves walking through the slippery trails on the lower slopes of Mount Karisibi, Huye or Bisoke. On meeting the apes, spend an hour watching them carry on their daily lives and taking as many pictures as you want.
In the afternoon, having had a palatable lunch, visit the Musanze caves located just on the outskirts of Volcanoes national park. This being a new destination, you will be among the first few tourists that have been to these amazing caves for a cave walk.
Day 4: Travel to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Waking up will be at your convenience for breakfast. Check out the hotel and start travelling to Bwindi impenetrable national park. This is a paramount home of mountain gorillas in Africa. Over 700 mountain gorillas call the park a home that is almost three quarters of the world’s total population of the gorillas. The journey is about 2-3 hours, having ore stunning and closer views of the Virunga ranges.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community
In the morning after an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters to be briefed about the dos and donts of trekking the gorillas in their natural habitats by the local ranger. You will be divided into groups of eight people, the maximum number of trekkers to visit a gorilla family per day.
Trekking the gorillas in Bwindi takes about 4-6 hours in the forest, depending on the luck of the trekkers and the movement of the trekked family. You will spend one magical hour in the presence of the apes, watching them play from one tree branch to the other, feeding and carrying on their daily lives. You will take as many pictures as you can provided the camera has no flash.
In the evening visit the Batwa community for a cultural retreat. Experience how these ancient people of the forest used to hunt and gather fruits in the forest time. You will taste the local cuisines, and also enjoy the traditional performances. Having personal interactions with the forest pygmies is the best way to spend an evening while in Bwindi. Returning to the lodge will be in the late evening for just dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Travel back to Kigali
Waking up will be very early in the morning, have breakfast, and travel back to Kigali to catch up with your exit flight at Kigali international airport.
