8-Day East Africa Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari

On arrival at Kigali International Airport (we recommend a morning arrival), our dedicated team of Hermosa Life Tours and Travel will be at the Kigali International Airport for the meet and greet assistance, clear with customs. Get on a short city tour with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center. You have lunch in a city restaurant before you hit the road to Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park is found in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Volcanoes National Park is home to gorillas, golden monkeys, and several hikes in Rwanda. The drive is scenic and rewards you with the great hills of the country. You will arrive at the booked accommodation for check-in and relaxation. The evening will be spent at leisure.

Early morning breakfast, and if you are a fan of hiking and beautiful scenery, Mount Bisoke is just what you have been looking for. After breakfast, you collect your packed lunch boxes and proceed to the starting point (Kinigi park offices). You will receive a brief and head out with the assigned ranger-guides to hike Mount Bisoke (3,711 meters above sea level). You ascend for 4-5 hours, and the descent time is about 3 hours. At the summit, you will be rewarded with the sight of a beautiful crater lake. You return to the accommodation and get some rest. Refresh as you recover from the adventure. (Optional: Cultural visit to the Gorilla Guardians Village, the former Iby'iwacu Village). You'll have your dinner and rest.

You wake up to your breakfast at the hotel. The golden monkeys' trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park at 7:00 am every day, the same time as the gorilla trekking. These rare monkey species are also listed as endangered. Volcanoes National Park has habituated groups that are available for trekking by visitors. The exercise starts with a short briefing from the park ranger at the RDB office. Thereafter, you will proceed to the starting point to trek the golden monkeys through the rainforest of the Volcanoes Park. You return to the hotel for a quick lunch, check out, and say your goodbyes before proceeding to Cyanika border post. From Cyanika, you will cross to meet our Uganda-based professional tour driver-guide who will take over to guide you the remaining bit of the tour. You will drive to your lodge, arrive, check in, and relax. Evening at leisure as you wait for the next day.

After breakfast, you continue to the park offices, where you will receive a briefing from a ranger guide on the dos and don'ts during gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the gorilla sanctuary for your adventure and encounter. Gorilla trekking is challenging, but nothing beats the experience of finally observing a gorilla group. Always follow instructions from the guides, stay calm, and avoid sudden movements as you take your photos. Once the one hour with the gorillas is done, you will head back to the starting point where you will find our driver waiting for you. The driver will take you back to the lodge for lunch and rest. The rest of the evening at leisure. Dinner served.

You wake up early for breakfast before you embark on a transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famously known for its tree-climbing lion population. Once there, you undertake a game drive in search of these rare species of lions. Should you get the chance to spot the lions up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and unforgettable. From Ishasha (south), exit and head to the booked accommodation in the north sector. You'll check in with relaxation using lodge/hotel amenities. Dinner and rest.

You'll be up early for your breakfast. You will proceed for a morning game drives/safari in the Kasenyi plains and be on the lookout for Cape buffalo, herds of elephants, as well as lions and leopards (though hard to spot), among others. You return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch in the afternoon, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife, including giant hippos, elephants, antelopes, and crocodiles, among others, will mesmerize you. You will also see many varieties of birds on the water shores. You may later do an evening optional game drive, then back to the lodge.

You will wake up early for breakfast and drive out to the nearby Kalinzu Forest Reserve. The forest is home to habituated chimpanzees plus other primates, including baboons, monkeys, and various bird species. Today, you will spend the early part of the day trekking chimpanzees. This thrilling adventure will reward you with the playful primates jumping from one tree to another, hence great photography. Thereafter, you transfer to Lake Mburo National Park via Mbarara City with a lunch stopover. Once in Lake Mburo National Park, you can choose to check in and just relax, or check in and go for an evening game drive.

Wake up early to enjoy your early breakfast and proceed to the Lake Mburo National Park morning bushwalk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter at close range zebras, giraffes, elands, topi, and other antelopes, and Cape buffalo among others. You'll take the trail to the top of the hills to see Lake Mburo and beyond. Thereafter, you return to the lodge, check out, and then hit the road to Entebbe, with an en-route stopover at Kayabwe to see the equator and lunch. You continue to drive to Entebbe International Airport.