Bwindi & Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda
6-day double gorilla trek and Lake Bunyonyi
Two treks, two different families, two different sectors of the same forest — then two nights on Lake Bunyonyi doing absolutely nothing.
6 daysfrom US$2,950 pp
Uganda & Rwanda — by air · 7 days · from US$11,900 pp
7-day luxury gorilla safari, Uganda and Rwanda
two forests, two families, one week
- Duration
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Starts & ends
- Kigali International Airport
- Treks
- Bwindi (Uganda) and Volcanoes (Rwanda)
- Permits
- US$800 + US$1,500, both included
- Transfers
- Light aircraft; helicopter on request
- Travel
- Private guide throughout
At this level the money goes into three things: aircraft instead of long drives, lodges that are destinations in themselves, and a private guide who stays with you all week rather than handing you between regions.
You trek twice — once in Bwindi on an US$800 permit and once in Volcanoes National Park on a US$1,500 one. Two forests, two families, two entirely different mornings.
Day by day
The 7 days
- Day 1
Arrive Kigali
Met on arrival and taken to a boutique hotel in the city, with an afternoon at the Genocide Memorial with a private guide.
- Day 2
Fly to Bwindi
A light-aircraft transfer to Kisoro and a short drive to a top-end lodge on the southern edge of the forest.
- Day 3
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Your first trek, in the Rushaga sector, with porters and a packed lunch arranged and a hot bath waiting.
- Day 4
Lake Mutanda, then Rwanda
A morning canoe beneath the volcanoes, then across the Cyanika border to Kinigi and one of the great lodges of the Virungas.
- Day 5
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Your second trek, on a different mountain with a different family. Afternoon at the Dian Fossey Fund campus.
- Day 6
Golden monkeys or Karisoke
An hour with golden monkeys in the bamboo, or the hike to Dian Fossey's grave. Both, if you are feeling strong.
- Day 7
Musanze to Kigali
A slow drive back, lunch in the city and an evening departure — or a helicopter transfer if you would rather not drive at all.
US$11,900per person sharing, from
US$11,900 per person sharing is realistic in the lodges named above. The range runs from about US$9,600 to over US$18,000 depending on lodge choice and season, and every element is quoted separately.
What's included
- Both gorilla permits (US$800 Uganda, US$1,500 Rwanda)
- Light-aircraft transfer Kigali–Kisoro
- Private guide and 4x4 throughout
- Six nights in top-end lodges, full board with house drinks where offered
- Lake Mutanda canoe excursion
- Porters arranged and paid on both treks
- All park fees, transfers and taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Helicopter upgrades
- Golden monkey or Karisoke permits on day 6
- Tips
Who it suits. Honeymoons, milestone birthdays, and travellers for whom the difference between good and exceptional is worth paying for.
Questions about this trip
Is it worth trekking gorillas twice?
Most people who do it say the second was the better one. Two different forests and two different families make it feel like a separate experience rather than a repeat.
Can you arrange a helicopter?
Yes. Kigali–Musanze is about 25 minutes by helicopter against two hours by road, and a Kigali–Kisoro leg removes the border crossing entirely. Ask us for the supplement.
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Enquire
Request the 7-day luxury gorilla safari
Send your dates and we will confirm what permits exist, then come back with a costed, dated version of this itinerary.
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