Looking for a short, yet exclusive gorilla trekking adventure in Africa? Here is our all-inclusive 4-Day Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali that allows one to trek 2 different gorilla families in 2 different national parks, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.
This 4 days gorilla trekking combo safari also includes a cultural tour to the Batwa communities in Bwindi’s Rushaga sector and a city tour in Kigali to explore the magic of Africa’s cleanest city and the land of a thousand hills, all in only 4 days.
4-Day Bwindi & Mgahinga Gorilla Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Transfer to Bwindi
- Day 3: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Community Walk
- Day 4: Transfer to Kigali
Detailed 4-Day Bwindi & Mgahinga Gorilla Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Morning pick-up from the airport or your hotel by our company guide. Depending on arrival time, take a Kigali city tour.
Spots to look out for include the Kigali Genocide Memorial center located in Gisozi – a suburb in Kigali city. The museum was built in commemoration of the Rwandan genocide that claimed over 1,000,000 lives in 1994. Proceed to the Presidential Palace museum, Kigali craft market, and more.
After this brief excursion, take a cup of coffee at Radisson Blu or Marriott’s Hotel Des Mille Colline in preparation for the long journey to Uganda.
The trip to Mgahinga National Park is long but very rewarding. The park is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda, within the Virunga region, bordering Rwanda to its south, and D.R. Congo to its southwest.
The journey offers unparalleled views of Virunga’s 8 volcanoes and myriad rolling hills, typical of the land of a thousand hills. Passing via Musanze – home of Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda, cross into Uganda via the Cyanika Border, Kisoro district. Arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Transfer to Bwindi
The day starts with an early breakfast at the lodge. The guide will then drive you to Ntebeko park headquarters and get ready for the mighty Uganda safaris adventure which is gorilla trekking.
Attend the briefing with other trekkers and the head ranger who will tell you about the trekking etiquette crucial to observe before and during your meeting with gorillas.
Gorilla tracking in Mgahinga National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you should be ready for it.
Start your trek, escorted by a ranger, trackers, and a porter if you need one for heavy luggage. The duration of the trek is unpredictable, ranging from a mere 1-hour hike to a full-day trek within the forest.
Upon meeting the mountain gorillas, you have up to one hour to watch them in the wild, mix and mingle, take selfies, and learn more about their history, conservation, family composition, and more.
After trekking, return to the lodge with your guide. In the evening, drive to Bwindi’s southern sector, Rushaga, ahead of yet another gorilla adventure that awaits the following morning.
Day 3: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Community Walk
This morning, enjoy a warm cup of coffee to shake off the morning chill, typical of the Rushaga region. After breakfast, transfer to the briefing area near Rushaga ranger station.
The head ranger will brief you briefly on what to expect, gorilla trekking etiquette, and behaviors to observe while in the forest searching for the gorillas.
After the briefing, enter the impenetrable forest in search of these endangered mountain gorillas. This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and an opportunity one should never miss while on safari in Africa.
The terrain can be rough and muddy, especially during rainy days, and initially, the trek may seem arduous and tiresome, requiring average physical fitness. However, soon you’ll meet the gorillas, and the joy of seeing a giant silverback up close is worth all the effort.
The trek normally takes 1-2 hours but can last 6 hours or more depending on the movement of the gorillas. Therefore, it is advisable to bring packed lunch, bottled water, and snacks.
Return to your lodge for relaxation, and in the afternoon, take a community walk to visit the local Batwa pygmies, historical inhabitants of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Learn about their culture, way of life, traditional dances, and more.
Day 4: Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, depart Rushaga for Kigali. Cross via the Cyanika border, Kisoro, through Rwanda’s Northern Province.
Upon arrival in the city, have lunch and take a short city tour (in case you didn’t do it on the first day), visiting places like the Genocide Memorial sites, Nyamirambo women’s group, shopping malls, and more.
Later, you will be driven to your accommodation or Kigali airport for your departure flight back home.
End of 4-Day Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali.
