7-Day Rwanda & Uganda Primate Safari: Gorillas, Golden Monkeys & Chimps.
Golden Monkeys • Mountain Gorillas • Chimpanzees | Kigali Round Trip
Logistics note: This itinerary fits golden monkey tracking (Volcanoes NP), gorilla tracking (Bwindi), and chimp tracking (Kibale) into 7 days by giving 2 nights in Volcanoes NP and Bwindi, and a tighter 1–2 nights in Kibale, with a return flight from western Uganda to Kigali on Day 6/7 to avoid an 8–9 hour final road transfer. Three back-to-back parks in 7 days is genuinely ambitious — if you can stretch to 9–10 days, you’d get a full 2 days in Kibale too and a much more relaxed pace.
Day 1 — Arrive Kigali → Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Arrive at Kigali International Airport, met by your guide/driver
- Scenic drive (~2.5–3 hrs) north to Musanze/Kinigi, gateway to Volcanoes NP
- Optional: Kigali Genocide Memorial en route if your flight timing allows
- Evening at leisure, briefing for the next day’s golden monkey trek
Overnight: Volcanoes National Park Midrange lodge options:
- Mountain Gorilla View Lodge — Kinigi, volcano views, solid value
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel — comfortable rooms, good food, close to park HQ
Day 2 — Golden Monkey Tracking, Volcanoes NP
- Early breakfast, briefing at Kinigi park headquarters
- Golden Monkey Tracking in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes NP (typically 2–4 hrs round trip, ~1 hr with the troop)
- Afternoon free, or add an optional activity:
- Dian Fossey Tomb / Karisoke hike (half-day, moderately strenuous)
- Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village visit
- Twin Lakes (Burera & Ruhondo) scenic drive
Overnight: Same lodge, Volcanoes National Park
Day 3 — Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda)
- Early departure, cross the Cyanika or Katuna border into Uganda
- Drive to Bwindi (~3.5–4.5 hrs depending on sector — Rushaga/Nkuringo in the south are closest to the Rwanda border)
- Afternoon arrival, rest and acclimatise
- Briefing for gorilla trek
Overnight: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Midrange lodge options:
- Gorilla Safari Lodge (Buhoma sector) — comfortable cottages, forest-edge setting
- Engagi Lodge (Buhoma) or Bakiga Lodge (Ruhija) — cosy, good value, great hospitality
Day 4 — Gorilla Tracking, Bwindi
- Early briefing at park headquarters (sector depends on your permit allocation)
- Mountain Gorilla Trekking — can range from 1–6+ hours of hiking depending on where the gorilla family is, plus 1 hour with the gorillas
- Afternoon at leisure — optional Batwa cultural walk or community visit
- Celebrate your trekking certificate in the evening
Overnight: Same lodge, Bwindi
Day 5 — Transfer to Kibale National Park
- Long but scenic drive (~4.5–6 hrs) north through Queen Elizabeth NP en route to Kibale (Fort Portal area)
- Optional short game drive or boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel if timing allows (adds time but worth it for wildlife)
- Arrive at Kibale in the late afternoon/evening
Overnight: Kibale National Park Midrange lodge options:
- Primate Lodge Kibale — located inside the forest, closest to the trekking start point
- Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse — relaxed, garden setting just outside the park
Day 6 — Chimpanzee Tracking, Kibale → Fly to Kigali
- Early morning Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest (one of the best chimp habituation experiences in East Africa, ~2–4 hrs)
- After the trek, transfer to Kasese or Entebbe airstrip for a scheduled domestic/regional flight back to Kigali (recommended over the 8–9 hr road option). Aerolink and similar operators run scheduled flights connecting Kasese/Entebbe to Kigali via connections — your ground operator can book this with your permits.
- Evening arrival in Kigali
Overnight: Kigali Midrange option:
- Discover Rwanda Boutique Hotel or Hotel Villa Portofino — comfortable, centrally located
Day 7 — Kigali → Departure
- Free morning — optional city tour, Kigali Genocide Memorial, or local craft markets (Caplaki Craft Village)
- Transfer to Kigali International Airport for the departure flight
Trip Summary
| Day | Location | Key Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kigali → Volcanoes NP | Arrival & transfer |
| 2 | Volcanoes NP | Golden Monkey Tracking |
| 3 | Volcanoes NP → Bwindi | Border crossing & transfer |
| 4 | Bwindi | Gorilla Tracking |
| 5 | Bwindi → Kibale | Transfer (via Queen Elizabeth NP) |
| 6 | Kibale → Kigali | Chimp Tracking + flight back |
| 7 | Kigali | Departure |
Permits to Book in Advance (often sell out months ahead)
- Golden Monkey Permit (Rwanda):
- Gorilla Permit (Uganda)
- Chimpanzee Permit (Kibale, Uganda)
Prices are approximate and change periodically — confirm current rates with a local operator or the respective wildlife authority (Rwanda Development Board / Uganda Wildlife Authority) before booking.
Honest Trade-offs of This 7-Day Version
- Kibale only gets one night — you arrive in the evening and trek the next morning, with no buffer day
- Long driving day on Day 5 (partially offset by a possible Queen Elizabeth NP stop)
- Whether or not border delays have little slack to absorb
- A 9–10-day version would let you add a buffer day in Bwindi or Kibale, include a full Queen Elizabeth NP game drive, and avoid same-day trek-then-fly scrambles
Popular safari packages to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda:
Short Duration Packages
1-Day Gorilla Safari from Kigali The shortest option includes departing Kigali very early in the morning and getting to Volcanoes National Park. This is ideal for those with very limited time.
2-3 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari A 3-day gorilla trekking safari is a short but effective option where you arrive in Kigali, go to Volcanoes National Park, do trekking, and return. The cheapest 2-day, 1-night gorilla trekking safaris out of the Rwandan capital Kigali start at around US$2,000 per person, usually inclusive of transport from Kigali, a transfer to the trailhead, accommodations, meals and the US$1,500 trekking permit.
Medium Duration Packages
3-Day Gorilla and Golden Monkey Trekking Safari This package gives you a chance to track mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in their natural habitats.
3-Day Gorilla Trek and Dian Fossey Hike An affordable option that includes trekking the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park as well as hiking the Dian Fossey grave.
5-Day Rwanda Safari A 5-day Rwanda safari includes gorilla trekking, golden monkeys, and city tour.
Low Season 4-Day Package Rwanda Safari & Akagera Safari offers a Low Season 4-Day Safari & Gorilla Trekking package which includes low season discounts on accommodation and park permits, with travelers spending a minimum of two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe National Park before trekking to see mountain gorillas.
Longer/Luxury Packages
6-Night Luxury safari holiday; A 6-night luxury journey through Rwanda combines a private Akagera safari with a stay in the Volcanoes region for mountain gorilla and golden monkey trekking.
8-Day Volcanoes and Nyungwe Park Safari This safari offers the opportunity to see primates and gorillas in Volcanoes National Park as well as combine visits to Nyungwe Park.
Key Activities Included
Beyond gorilla trekking, Volcanoes National Park offers diverse adventures including golden monkey tracking through bamboo forests, volcano hiking to Mount Bisoke’s crater lake at 3,711m, and Mount Karisimbi at 4,507m.
Most packages operate year-round, though between November and May, visitors can receive a 30% discount on Rwanda gorilla trekking permits from the Rwanda Development Board.
