This express cross-border gorilla safari is designed for travelers already in Kigali who want to trek mountain gorillas in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. You will be picked up in Kigali, cross the Cyanika border, overnight near the forest, and trek gorillas the following morning before returning to Kigali. It is a tight but highly rewarding itinerary for those with limited time and a gorilla encounter at the top of their list.
Itinerary
You will be picked up from your hotel or residence in Kigali at approximately 7:00 AM by your Ringstone Safaris driver-guide. Drive north through the beautiful Rwandan hills towards the Virunga volcanoes, passing through Musanze. Cross into Uganda at the Cyanika border, where your guide will assist with immigration formalities. Continue to the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Arrive in the early afternoon. After lunch, you may relax at your lodge or opt for a community walk, a Batwa cultural experience, or a visit to a local coffee cooperative. In the evening, your guide will brief you on the following day’s gorilla trekking, including what to wear and what to expect. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Main Destination: Rushaga, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, transfer to the Rushaga park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You will be allocated to a gorilla family and assigned a ranger guide. The trek can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend one magical hour observing them as they feed, play and rest.
Return to the park headquarters, where you will receive a certificate of trekking. After lunch, begin your journey back to Kigali, crossing the Cyanika border again. You will be dropped off at your hotel or at Kigali International Airport in the evening.
Main Destination: Kigali, Rwanda