9 Days | Experience a special event and remarkable wildlife in Rwanda and Uganda





Encounter the culture, history and wildlife of Rwanda and Uganda on a 9-day adventure that’s as moving as it is fun. Take part in an incredibly important gorilla naming ceremony in the name of conservation in Musanze, look out for big-ticket wildlife on game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, search for mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park, meet a Gorilla Doctor in Kisoro, and learn about Rwanda’s devastating history in Kigali. The experiences you’ll have on this adventure will stick with you for a lifetime.
Trip overview
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- Start
- Kigali, Rwanda
- Finish
- Kigali, Rwanda
- Theme
- Festivals and Events, Wildlife
- Destinations
- Uganda, Rwanda
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- YGSUS
- With gorilla permits included in the price of the trip, seek out the rare mountain gorilla on a trek through Uganda's steamy forests and spend an unforgettable hour in their presence.
- Experience one of the world’s most important celebrations of conservation success; a naming ceremony for the baby gorillas born in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park over the past year.
- Discover the diverse wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park on exciting game drives, and an optional boat cruise around the lake, and learn how human-wildlife conflict is being tackled with anti-crop raiding techniques.
- Spend one night in beautiful Gisenyi on the north shore of Lake Kivu. Take a boat cruise around the lake spotting birdlife and visiting some of the small islands.
- Be joined by a field veterinarian from The Gorilla Doctors for an exclusive fireside chat at our lodge, knowing that a proportion of your trip cost goes back to supporting the important work they do.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Gorilla Doctors. Donations help them care for injured mountain and Grauer's gorillas – contributing to the long-term sustainability of gorilla populations.
- Tracking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain is by no means easy either, so it can be pretty strenuous and often humid. But the sheer thrill in coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk up to 4 hours - up and down hill. A top tip is to pack some gardening gloves to assist in any up-hill climbs.
- You may also want to check out Gorillas & East Africa Safari if you have more time to explore in East Africa.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
4WD vehicles
Hotel (3 nights), Safari Lodge (5 nights)
- Musanze - Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony
- Queen Elizabeth National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
- Ishasha - Community Tourism Project Visit
- Kisoro - Gorilla Doctors Veterinarian Educational Talk
- Bwindi National Park - Mountain Gorilla Permit & Trek
- Gisenyi - Morning Town Visit
- Gisenyi – Boat Cruise and Island Visit
- Kigali - City Tour
- Kigali - Genocide Memorial Centre
- Queen Elizabeth National Park - Kazinga Channel boat cruise - USD30
- Gisenyi - Napoleon Island Boat Trip & Hike - USD120
- Kigali - Genocide Memorial Audio Guide - USD15
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This trip finishes upon arrival in Kigali on Day 9. Please do not book any flights until after 3pm in the afternoon.
3. This trip requires a higher non-refundable deposit (AUD1000, USD1000, EUR800, NZD1250, GBP650, CAD1000, ZAR8000, CHF900) in order to secure the included gorilla permit. Please note that we need to confirm the availability of a gorilla permit if you are booking within 45 days of departure. The additional deposit paid at the time of booking will be credited to the final balance of your booking.
4. Please submit a headshot at the time of booking. This is required for your entry badge into the ceremony.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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