Please note that when booking an independent tour you will need to contact a sales representative and provide the information for your first night hotel.
Gorilla Trek Independent Adventure
3 days, Kigali to Kigali
When arranging your transportation, such as flights, please take into consideration the below time restrictions for joining and departing from your group. With these times, we have taken into account travel time to/from the airport in the given destination and required time for check-in or baggage collection/immigration.
Itinerary
Day 1Kigali/Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Depart Kigali after a brief welcome meeting and drive through magnificent countryside to the border of Uganda. Once across the border, it is a short drive to Bwindi Impenetrable NP, where you can relax for the remainder of the afternoon, and prepare for tomorrow's Gorilla Trek.
The tour begins at 8am in the morning of Day 1 at your Kigali hotel (not included). Please be on time to meet your driver/guide at the front entrance of the hotel. A brief departure meeting will be held in the hotel reception area about general and specific aspects of the trip before setting off to Bwindi.
We strongly recommend arriving the day before as this trip does not include a night in Kigali.
We are happy to assist with booking pre- or post-tour accommodation to ensure you are on time for departure on Day 1.
Meet and Greet Hotel Welcome Meeting
On Day 1 of the tour, a G Adventures representative will meet you at the hotel to go over the details of the tour, providing a schedule, documentation/vouchers, and pick-up times for all included activities. The representative can also answer any questions about the tour or the general area.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Gorilla Valley Lodge (or similar)
Day 2Gorilla Trek
Follow experienced guides trekking deep into the forest on the slopes of the volcanoes in search of a family of mountain gorillas for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bwindi's Impenetrable Forest is a true African jungle. About half of the world's mountain gorillas live here.
Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure and permit only a maximum of 8 passengers per day (currently) to visit the gorillas.
Start with a short drive to the park headquarters and meet with your excellent local guides. The guides will provide a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. The trekking group will then head into the forest where the gorillas were the night before and track from that point. If desired, porters can be hired and will carry your personal items and assist you during the trek.
Mountain gorillas share 98% of our DNA and are prone to catching human illnesses. Please note that if you are unwell with anything contagious, even a common cold, you may be denied any of the treks to ensure the safety of the gorillas. This is a national park regulation, and trekking permits will not be refunded if you are denied entrance due to illness.
Proper hiking attire must be worn – you will be trekking in a rainforest with lots of vegetation, undergrowth, nettles and normally a rather muddy terrain. Minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years old.
Please note that depending on the size of your group and when permits are confirmed, you may be trekking with non-G travellers.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Mountain Gorilla Trek
Embark on a trek though the lush highland rainforest. (The length and difficulty of the hike will vary, depending on the location of the gorilla family.) Spend 1 hr observing (and often following) these beautiful and endangered creatures, a truly privileged experience. Watch as the gorillas go about their daily business, unconcerned about their admirers, grooming each other, eating bamboo shoots, lounging, and, often in the case of babies and juveniles, playing. It is truly amazing to observe how similar they are to their human cousins.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Porter Hire
20USD per personHire a local porter to carry your day pack throughout the trek, giving you more ease on your journey.
Accommodation
Gorilla Valley Lodge (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Bwindi Impenetrable NP/Kigali
Cross the border into Rwanda, then head to Kigali. Visit the genocide museum to learn more about the dark history of this fascinating country. Tour ends on arrival at hotel.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Border Crossing (Uganda - Rwanda)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport?
Kigali Genocide Memorial Visit
Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, which serves as a permanent memorial to those who fell victim to the genocide in 1994. The centre opened on the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, in April 2004, and was built on a site where more than 250,000 people are buried.
Please note that content at the Memorial Centre shows the harsh reality of the genocide.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.