10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek, Uganda chimpanzees and Golden Monkey Trekking









- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
Overview of 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek, Uganda chimpanzees and Golden Monkey Trekking
Experience the best of Rwanda and Uganda on this 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek, Uganda chimpanzees and Golden Monkey Trekking. Beginning in Kigali, the journey travels east to Akagera National Park for a boat safari on Lake Ihema and a guided game drive in search of lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife. Continue through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside to Volcanoes National Park, where you will trek through the mountain rainforest for an unforgettable encounter with a habituated mountain gorilla family. You will also visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and explore the park’s bamboo forest during a lively golden monkey trekking experience.
After relaxing beside Lake Kivu, travel across the Rwanda–Uganda border to Kibale Forest National Park, one of Africa’s leading chimpanzee destinations. Walk beneath the tropical forest canopy in search of habituated chimpanzees and explore the community-managed Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, known for its monkeys and impressive birdlife. The journey concludes with classic wildlife experiences in Queen Elizabeth National Park, including a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel and a morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains. This well-planned itinerary combines Rwanda’s gorillas and golden monkeys with Uganda’s chimpanzees, savannah wildlife, cultural encounters, and spectacular scenery.
10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek, Uganda chimpanzees and Golden Monkey Trekking Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, meet your professional driver-guide and receive a warm welcome to Rwanda. Transfer to your hotel for check-in and relaxation.
Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a short orientation drive through Kigali or spend the remainder of the day relaxing at your hotel.
Accommodation: Kigali Marriott Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton or similar
Meal plan: Bed and breakfast
Day 2: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, begin your Kigali city tour with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Continue to a local market, an art gallery, and some of the capital’s historical and modern neighbourhoods.
After lunch, travel through Rwanda’s eastern countryside to Akagera National Park. Upon arrival, take a boat safari on Lake Ihema in search of hippos, Nile crocodiles, waterbirds, and wildlife along the shoreline.
Accommodation: Akagera Mantis Game Lodge, Ruzizi Tented Lodge or similar
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Akagera Game Drive and Return to Kigali
Begin the day with an early breakfast before setting out on a guided game drive through Akagera National Park. Explore its savannah plains, woodlands, lakes, wetlands, and rolling hills while searching for the Big Five and other wildlife.
Possible sightings include lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, zebras, topis, impalas, warthogs, baboons, and numerous bird species. Enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to Kigali.
Accommodation: Kigali Marriott Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton or similar
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
Day 4: Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, travel northwest through Rwanda’s scenic hills toward Volcanoes National Park. Upon arrival in Musanze, enjoy lunch and visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Learn about mountain gorilla conservation, scientific research, and the legacy of Dian Fossey. You may also visit the Gorilla Guardians Village for an introduction to traditional Rwandan music, dancing, customs, and community life.
Continue to your lodge for dinner and preparation for the following day’s gorilla trek.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Ingagi Park View Lodge or similar
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
After an early breakfast, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for registration and a briefing. You will then enter the rainforest with experienced trackers in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family.
The trek may take several hours depending on the gorillas’ location. Once the family is found, spend one unforgettable hour observing the gorillas’ behaviour and interactions in their natural habitat.
Afterwards, return to the lodge for lunch and enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Ingagi Park View Lodge or similar
Meal plan: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Day 6: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Lake Kivu
Following breakfast, return to Volcanoes National Park for a golden monkey trekking experience. Walk through the park’s bamboo forest while searching for these colourful and energetic primates.
After the trek, enjoy lunch and travel to Lake Kivu. Check in at your lakeside hotel and spend the afternoon relaxing. An optional sunset boat excursion can be arranged to explore the shoreline and nearby islands.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel or similar
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Lake Kivu to Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda
After an early breakfast, depart Lake Kivu and travel toward the Rwanda–Uganda border. Complete immigration formalities before continuing through Uganda’s southwestern highlands.
The journey offers beautiful views of terraced hills, farms, crater lakes, and rural communities. Stop for lunch along the way before continuing to Kibale Forest National Park.
Check in at your forest lodge and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops, Chimpundu Lodge or similar
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, transfer to the Kibale Forest visitor centre for registration and a briefing. Enter the tropical forest with an experienced ranger in search of a habituated chimpanzee community.
Once the chimpanzees are located, observe their behaviour, communication, feeding habits, and movements through the forest. Kibale is also home to several other primate species, including red colobus, black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys.
In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature and community walk. Look out for monkeys, butterflies, wetland vegetation, and numerous bird species.
Accommodation: Turaco Treetops, Chimpundu Lodge or similar
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Kibale Forest to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, leave Kibale and travel south toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey passes through beautiful crater lake landscapes, tea plantations, and rural communities.
After lunch, enjoy a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. Look for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, monitor lizards, and waterbirds along the shoreline.
After the boat excursion, take a short evening game drive before transferring to your lodge.
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge or similar
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Entebbe
Begin the final day with an early morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains. Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, hyenas, leopards, and other savannah wildlife.
Return to the lodge for breakfast before beginning the journey to Entebbe. Stop for lunch along the way and continue to Entebbe International Airport for your departing flight. A late-evening departure is recommended because of the driving distance.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
Includes in 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek, Uganda chimpanzees and Golden Monkey Trekking
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Nine nights of accommodation
- Meals indicated in the itinerary
- Rwanda gorilla trekking permit
- Rwanda golden monkey trekking permit
- Uganda chimpanzee trekking permit
- Akagera National Park entrance fees
- Akagera game drive
- Lake Ihema boat safari
- Kigali city tour
- Ellen DeGeneres Campus visit
- Bigodi Wetland guided walk
- Queen Elizabeth National Park entrance fees
- Kazinga Channel boat safari
- Queen Elizabeth game drives
- Border-crossing assistance
- Bottled drinking water
- Applicable government taxes
Excludes in 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek, Uganda chimpanzees and Golden Monkey Trekking
- International flights
- Rwanda and Uganda visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Porter services during primate trekking
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Optional Lake Kivu activities
- Activities or services not mentioned in the itinerary
Important: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is available to visitors aged 15 years and above. A late-evening flight from Entebbe is recommended on Day 10; otherwise, an additional night in Entebbe should be arranged.
What Our Clients Say
Verified
Aucun regret Nous avons passé une journée incroyable avec Félix, pick-up très tôt pour arriver a l'heure du lever du soleil a Akagera. Et franchement l'excursion a duré bien plus longtemps que ce que j'imaginais par rapport au prix. Je recommande a 200% !Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Virginie DVerified
Experience of a lifetime with fantastic operator The day began at 4:30 AM when Dodos picked us up from our hotel in Kegali, we arrived at the briefing at about 7 AM where we had a nice cup of tea and were assigned our guide and group of 8 people for the day. The hike itself was more strenuous than I expected, and unfortunately, my daughter was sick so they ended up asking the local village to provide a stretcher to carry her with a rotating group of about 9 guys. It was an extra $200 but well worth it given how challenging it was to navigate the trails. A couple of guys lead with machetes, making space for us to travel about 3 miles uphill. Seeing the gorilla was incredible, it was beyond words to experience them in their natural setting for an hour. I know there are several different operators who organize these tours but I would highly recommend Universal Ventures due to their personal attention and going above and beyond when my daughter was sick. We ended up getting back to the hotel at about 8 PM, so a very long day, but one that we will never forget.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
erg2222Verified
Perfect Rwanda tour that worked around our flight issues We had a fantastic experience in Rwanda with Dodos our guide and Emmanuel from the office! We had to deal with 2 cancelled flights and delayed baggage, and Emmanuel helped us reconfigure our itinerary so that we were still able to see the Genocide Memorial and go gorilla trekking. Dodos patiently waited for us at the airport even until 3am and helped us shop for clothes due to our baggage delay. He saved us quite a bit of money by bargaining with the locals. The arranged accommodations were very nice. Gorilla trekking is a lengthy hike but gratifying with the hour we had to hang out beside the family. Overall, Dodos and Emmanuel made Rwanda one of our most favorite countries we visited, even though our 5-day tour became 3 days. We highly recommend doing a tour with Universal Ventures Rwanda.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
DK Travels the WorldVerified
Magical experience and lovely tour operator I would definitely recommend this experience in general and this operator specifically. They contacted me quickly to discuss arranging for the permit to see the gorillas (and extra fee paid directly to the Rwandan authorities). They also advised on how to prepare and answered my questions. On the day of, a really lovely driver picked me up from my hotel in Kigali on time in a luxurious jeep. He was friendly and encouraging as I was a bit anxious about the hiking which can be intense but my one wasn't that strenuous. It depends what the gorillas are up to and the park guides try to sort people loosely on fitness levels, I think. I hired a porter to carry my bag, and they also helped with uneven ground, which was not needed in this case but could have been very very essential if we had to walk through a steeper part of the park. The park staff then led my small group of tourists to see the gorillas, which was one of the most magical things I have experienced! The family of gorillas were very tolerant of us and we spent the full hour allotted with them (longer can stress them). After the walk back, Dodos, my driver, greeted me with a fancy drink and flip flops so I could get out of my hiking boots. We then had lunch at a restaurant o. The way back to Kigali. Overall, I felt very safe as a single female traveller and there were no unexpected costs.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Rosie HVerified
An Amazing Holidays in Rwanda and Uganda We took a wonderful 19-day trip through Rwanda and Uganda with the travel agency Universal Ventures—a trip tailored specifically to our family. We started planning the entire trip about three months in advance, and communication with the agency was excellent from the very beginning. It was a trip full of powerful experiences, beautiful nature, encounters with local people, and moments we’ll remember for a long time. The agency’s owner, Emmanuel, was very helpful, communicative, and patient from the very beginning, and he always helped us choose the best options for activities and accommodations based on what was most suitable for our family. The agency arranged a car with a driver and guide for us, as well as some of the activity bookings during the trip. We visited Akagera, Volcanoes, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Nyungwe National Parks, as well as Lake Kivu. Our driver (guide) was John Bosco, whom we can highly recommend. He was not only a great driver but also an excellent guide, thanks to whom we experienced the trip much more intensely. He has a vast knowledge of the local flora and fauna, and his knowledge of local birds was truly impressive. We were equally fascinated by his excellent knowledge of the local area—he was able to drive to any location or hotel without using a map or a GPS on his phone. We also greatly appreciated his punctuality: the car was always ready even before the agreed-upon time. The car remained tidy and clean throughout the entire trip, even after driving on dusty roads. John also provided us with valuable information about the duration of each leg of the journey, helped us plan our itinerary better, and thanks to him, we felt safe and well taken care of the entire time. The agreement with the agency was clear and easy to understand. We had the option to choose from several pricing options, and the one we selected was the final price—we weren’t charged any additional fees. The deposit we paid to Universal Ventures in advance was properly accounted for. Any minor issues that arose during our long trip were quickly resolved. We definitely recommend booking a car with a driver for a vacation in Rwanda and Uganda: finding your way around isn’t always easy, the quality of the roads is often very poor—especially in Uganda—and it’s also better to cross the Rwanda/Uganda land border with someone who knows the local conditions. In addition, the driver can help you organize visits to local cultural centers, which will allow you to get to know the country much better. This vacation was unforgettable for us, and we feel that it was thanks to Emmanuel, John Bosco, and the entire Universal Ventures agency that we were able to experience Rwanda and Uganda in such a beautiful, safe, and in-depth way. Thank you so much for the excellent organization, care, and all the experiences that will stay with us for a long time to come. We can wholeheartedly and with great pleasure recommend this agency for a trip through Rwanda and Uganda.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Lenka NVerified
Amazing time seeing Gorillas We had the best time with Mupenzi and Dodos! They made the whole trip unforgettable! There is nothing like seeing Gorillas up close in the wild!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Joel SVerified
Majestic Experience Today was such an amazing day of adventure! Volcanoes National Park is an amazing and ethical way to see these beautiful creatures. Our trekking guide Mupenzi was so kind, fun, and knowledgeable. And our driver, Dodos was phenomenal. He is such a lovely person and incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommended!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Sami MVerified
Absolutely breathtaking experience! My experience was seamless from the coordination of my pick up and drop off, to the actual excursion! Hands down one of the best experiences of my life! Christian was extremely helpful and welcoming throughout our entire trip, it would not have been the same without him. Seeing the gorillas after the trekking through the thick brush, was absolutely breathtaking! I will definitely be recommending this trip to all my friends and family!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Greg VVerified
100% recommended I was originally in Tanzania for a safari but decided to add the gorilla trek at the end of my trip because the flight was too long to fly to Africa from California again at my age. I booked through Viator. From the beginning, communication with Universal Adventures was positive. They were prompt to answer any questions. And a few days before the excursion, they sent me my driver's name and WhatsApp number. His name is Christian.We communicated through WhatsApp, and he was very prompt to reply back. He was early to pick me up at 4:30am. I had another person in the car. The car was clean. Its a long drive to the meeting place. We stopped for breakfast pastries at a local shop( they take credit cards and had a clean breakfast. We then drove to the meeting place where we met up with our group. There they had hot drinks like coffees, lattes, teas, etc. We then had to drive to the beginning of the mountain. It was a long drive as the roads are not paved. My group was assigned the Isimbi gorilla family and our guide was Jolie. My porter was Adolf. I was the least active one in the group but the crew never made me feel bad. After what I thought was a 4 hr hike (it was really 1 hr and 26 minutes) we found our gorilla family. We had plenty of time to take pictures with them. After we were done, Christian took us to a rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious! I recommend this excursion 100%. The company is awesome and very professional.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
patty eVerified
Gorilla Experience in Rwanda! Easy ride, the trip was one in a life time experience. The driver (Christian) was very nice and kind and made the trip smooth! Everything was great.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Juliet K
