Tour overview

This 9-day safari crosses from Rwanda into south-western Uganda, combining the story of gorilla conservation with big-game drives and a trek to meet mountain gorillas in the wild. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, travelling in two six-seater 4WD vehicles with local driver-guides and a tour leader. You stay eight nights: three in hotels and five in safari lodges, including a lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park overlooking the Kazinga Channel. Breakfast is included every day, with three lunches and three dinners.

Your adventure begins in Kigali, where the Kigali Genocide Memorial tells the story of 1994 and the country's rebuilding since. You drive to Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, to visit the headquarters of Gorilla Doctors, the only organisation in the world dedicated to saving mountain gorillas through veterinary medicine. The next day you visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to learn about Fossey's life and gorilla research, with time for optional golden monkey trekking, a hike on Mount Bisoke or a canoe ride.

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Crossing into Uganda, you reach Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species, for two nights by the Kazinga Channel. Game drives look for elephants, buffalo, hippos, lions and leopards, with an optional boat cruise along the channel. In the Ishasha sector, famous for lions that climb trees, you meet local farmers tackling human-wildlife conflict and learn to prepare traditional Bakiga dishes.

Driving to Kisoro in the far south-west, where Uganda meets Rwanda and Congo, you prepare for the highlight. With a local guide and trackers you climb through the steep, dense forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of a habituated gorilla family, then spend an hour watching them eat, groom and play under the watchful eye of a silverback. The trip ends with the return to Kigali.

The physical rating is high, as the gorilla trek can be long and strenuous. This trip suits wildlife lovers who want the full gorilla experience alongside a classic safari.

Trip highlights

  • The Kigali Genocide Memorial (Day 2)
  • Gorilla Doctors and the Dian Fossey Fund (Days 2–3)
  • Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Days 4–5)
  • Ishasha's tree-climbing lions (Day 6)
  • A mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi (Day 8)
  • A lodge on the Kazinga Channel

Your route

7 stops from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable NP

9-day route: Kigali – Musanze – Queen Elizabeth National Park – Ishasha – Kisoro – Bwindi – Kigali
  1. Kigali Days 1 & 9
  2. Musanze Days 2–3
  3. Queen Elizabeth NP Days 4–5
  4. Kazinga Channel Day 4
  5. Ishasha Day 6
  6. Kisoro Days 7–8
  7. Bwindi Impenetrable NP Day 8

Why choose this tour

Gorillas and a big-game safari in one journey. Gorilla permit and two game drives included.

Best suited to

  • Wildlife lovers
  • Active travellers
  • Solo travellers looking for a small group
  • Photographers
A mountain gorilla in the forest of Rwanda

Day-by-day itinerary

9 days from Kigali, Rwanda to Kigali, Rwanda

  1. Day 1 · Kigali Kigali

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Kigali Genocide Memorial, Musanze Musanze

    The memorial and Gorilla Doctors.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Musanze

    Gorilla research and optional activities.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Queen Elizabeth National Park Queen Elizabeth

    Into Uganda and the park.

    Hotel
    Safari lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Kazinga Channel Queen Elizabeth

    A game drive and an optional cruise.

    Hotel
    Safari lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Ishasha Ishasha

    Tree-climbing lions and a farm visit.

    Hotel
    Ecolodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Kisoro Kisoro

    To the corner of three countries.

    Hotel
    Safari lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Gorilla trek

    An hour with mountain gorillas.

    Hotel
    Safari lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Kigali Kigali

    The drive back to Kigali.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A golden monkey feeding in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Where you stay

  • Kigali (1 night) Hotel
  • Musanze (2 nights) Hotel
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park (2 nights) Safari lodge
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park (1 night) Ecolodge
  • Kisoro (2 nights) Safari lodge

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 3 nights in hotels and 5 in safari lodges
  • Meals 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
  • 4WD vehicles with local driver-guides
  • Mountain gorilla permit and guided trek
  • Two game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Gorilla Doctors and Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund visits
  • Ishasha community visit
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 4 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Optional activities such as the Kazinga Channel cruise
  • Porters on the gorilla trek
  • Visas, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Hippos basking in the water

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You can't manage a strenuous forest trek
  • You dislike long drives
  • You want luxury lodges
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–9 · Lunch: Days 2, 4 and 6 · Dinner: Days 4–6
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Rwanda · UK FCDO travel advice for Uganda
A herd of buffalo in Uganda

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,192 per person, twin share, tour only. 78 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Is the gorilla permit included?

Yes, a gorilla permit and guided trek in Bwindi are included.

How hard is the gorilla trek?

It can be wet, muddy, steep and strenuous. Porters can be hired for about USD 20.

Do I need to wear a mask near the gorillas?

Yes, a face mask is required near the gorillas to protect them from disease.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors need visas for Rwanda and Uganda; an East Africa Tourist Visa covers both. Check the latest advice before travel.

Are there travel advisories for the area?

Check the FCDO advice for Queen Elizabeth National Park before booking, and make sure your insurance covers all activities.

How many people travel together?

Up to 12 travellers, with a tour leader and driver-guides.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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