Day 1: Kigali, Rwanda - Bwindi, Uganda
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Arrival Airport: Kigali International Airport (KGL)

After clearing customs, you’ll meet up with your professional driver and guide for the day. Take a tour of Kigali and the surrounding countryside, learning about Rwanda’s modern prosperity and challenging past.

In the afternoon, you’ll cross the border into Uganda, making your way towards Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Tourist visas are required and must be obtained before starting your adventure. You can obtain your visa at the VisaHQ Uganda site.

You’ll be spending the next four days at the Karungi Camp. Your first day wouldn’t be complete without a forest walk, bird-watching expedition, or wildlife encounter. Bwindi is home to many rare bird species, the elusive forest elephant, the giant forest hog, and 11 kinds of primates, such as the red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus, baboon, and chimpanzee. What's more, nearly half the world population of mountain gorillas make their home in this forest.

Accommodation: Karungi Camp or similar

Day 2: Bwindi, Uganda
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Trekking commences at park headquarters every morning at 8:30 a.m., with the guides leading the way. The search can take anywhere from 1-3 hours, and once the gorillas are located, your group will spend an hour observing and interacting with them. You'll never forget this extraordinary encounter with a beautiful, critically endangered primate — one of our nearest relatives in the animal kingdom.

Spend your afternoon relaxing or exploring your surroundings, making sure to capture the beauty around you on camera!

Accommodation: Karungi Camp or similar

Day 3: Bwindi, Uganda
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Today you can embark on another primate trekking experience, this time with chimpanzee families. Once again, you’ll head out from park headquarters in the morning after your professional guide briefs you on protocol. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you'll get to spend a playful, magical hour getting to know them in their forest home!

You'll enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to camp for a free afternoon.

Accommodation: Karungi Camp or similar

Day 4: Bwindi, Uganda
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After breakfast, you'll set out to visit a local village. After arriving there, you’ll meet the inhabitants and learn about their day-to-day lives. Visit a honey production site, traditional medicine man, blacksmith, and local school, and even attend a Batwa dance performance. This experience is organized with the local community as part of our community support efforts in Uganda.

After lunch, enjoy time at the camp on your own. If you are looking for more adventure, you can add on an afternoon bird walk with a local expert through the Bwindi Forest, home to over 300 bird species — including 24 that are endemic to the highlands straddling Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo. You’ll also get to see several of the 200+ species of butterflies found in the park.

Accommodation: Karungi Camp or similar

Day 5: Bwindi, Uganda
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Goodbye, Uganda! It's been an extraordinary adventure, one that's allowed you to spend time in nature and come up close and personal with several incredible animals.

After breakfast, you will drive back to Kigali, Rwanda, and go directly to Kigali International Airport to catch your flight back home — or, if you're extending your trip, you'll proceed to Nairobi, Kenya.

Departure Airport: Kigali International Airport (KGL)

Extension to Kenya

+ What vaccinations should I get before my trip?

It's important that you receive the most accurate and up-to-date travel health information before departing for Africa. The only one qualified to provide you with this advice is your family physician or a specialist from a Travel Health clinic. We can provide some general guidance on what websites to check, but these websites are no substitute for a personal consultation with a qualified medical professional.

+ Can you help arrange my travel visas?

If you are an American traveler joining this trip, you will need visas to visit both Rwanda (where you will spend a half-day exploring Kigali and the surrounding countryside) and Uganda (where you will spend the remainder of your trip. Please note that, although you may purchase your Rwanda visit at the airport, you must obtain your Uganda visit in advance.

If you are not an American citizen, or if you would like more information on the visas you'll need, please use VisaHQ to verify the requirements for your travel plans.

+ Do your tours include international airfare?

Travelers arrive from all over the world to begin our tours, and it is not possible to include international airfare in our prices. We would be happy to help you arrange flights. Just ask for an air quote when making your booking.

+ How much does my gorilla permit cost?

Gorilla permits cost $700 per person and are included in the price of the trip.

+ I'm a solo traveler — will I be charged a single supplement?

We love having single travelers join us, especially on exciting wildlife trips! Please note that we will add a single supplement charge to your trip cost. We look forward to putting together your dream trip!