6-Day Hiking Tour Rwanda &Uganda - Gorilla Trekking

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Transfer Kigali – Kibuye & Boat Tour on Lake Kivu

After breakfast, you drive west through Rwanda’s scenic highlands to Kibuye on the shores of Lake Kivu. The lake is an important economic lifeline for the region: fishing—especially of the small sardine-like Isambaza—supports many local communities. Another key resource is the methane gas trapped in the lake’s deep waters. Since 2015, Rwanda has been extracting this gas to generate electricity, which now plays a vital role in the country’s energy supply.
Lake Kivu is also remarkably safe for swimming. Unlike many other regional lakes, it is free of bilharzia parasites and has no crocodiles or hippos.
In the afternoon, enjoy a boat tour on Lake Kivu, including a short hike along the peaceful lakeshore and a visit to a nearby coffee plantation.
Distance: approx. 140 km
Driving time: approx. 3.5 hours
Overnight: Rushel Lodge, Lake Kivu.

Main Destination:

Lake Kivu (Rwanda)

Accommodation:

Rushel Kivu Resort

• Budget resort located at Lake Kivu (Rwanda)

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lakeside Hike & Drive to Musanze

Hike along narrow lakeside trails with sweeping views over Lake Kivu (2–3 hours), and—weather permitting—of the dramatic, active Nyiragongo Volcano in the distance. Afterward, continue your journey north along the breathtaking Virunga Volcano chain toward Musanze. This is more than just a road—it’s a quiet spectacle where sky meets earth, and fire meets life. The scenery leaves a lasting impression. Especially captivating are the volcanic peaks of Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, and Sabyinyo—some dormant, others still active. On clear days, these giants reveal their full splendor, often crowned with clouds or veiled in soft mountain mist. Look closely and you may spot signs of past lava flows or the dark silhouettes of bamboo forests—the natural habitat of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Distance: approx. 110 km
Driving time: approx. 3 hours
Overnight: La Locanda, Musanze.

Main Destination:

Ruhengeri (City, Rwanda)

Accommodation:

La Locanda

• Mid-range lodgein Ruhengeri (City, Rwanda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Optional Tours & Transfer to Kisoro (Uganda)

Today, you can choose from four activities in Volcanoes National Park:

Dian Fossey Tomb Hike (3–4 hrs, moderate):
A scenic forest hike to the former research station and grave of the legendary primatologist—insightful and moving.

Golden Monkey Trekking (2–3 hrs, easy):
Watch playful golden monkeys in the bamboo forest—an entertaining and accessible wildlife experience for all ages.

Bisoke Volcano Climb (6–7 hrs, challenging):
For active travelers: a demanding ascent of the 3,711-meter volcano, rewarded with panoramic views and a crater lake at the summit.

Gorilla Trekking (2–6 hrs, depending on location):
The emotional highlight: an unforgettable hour spent with a gorilla family in the wild rainforest (Optional Permit: $1,500 p.p.).

Distance: approx. 60 km
Driving time: approx. 2 hours incl. border crossing
Overnight: Traveller’s Rest, Kisoro.

Main Destination:

Kisoro (Town, Uganda)

Accommodation:

Travellers Rest Hotel

• Mid-range hotelin Kisoro (Town, Uganda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Trek to Rushaga or Drive

Depending on your preference, you can either enjoy a scenic trek from Kisoro to Rushaga (5–6 hours, approx. 15 km) or travel comfortably by vehicle along winding dirt roads.
The trek is a true highlight for active travelers and offers a rich blend of landscape, culture, and local life. The trail leads through small villages, farmland, and gently rolling hills with panoramic views of Lake Mutanda and the towering peaks of the Virunga Volcanoes in the distance—an unforgettable natural backdrop. Along the way, you’ll gain insights into everyday rural life. Farmers tend to their fields of bananas, beans, sweet potatoes, and coffee. Children wave cheerfully from the path, and you may even stop to taste some fresh seasonal produce.
For those who prefer not to walk, the road transfer offers beautiful views as well and takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Distance: approx. 35 km
Driving time: approx. 1.5–2 hours
Overnight: Rushaga Gorilla Camp.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February (Gorilla trekking is easiest)

High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeRare

ElephantRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Uganda)

+41 Photos

+40 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park

Your gorilla tracking experience begins early in the morning with a detailed briefing at the Rushaga visitor center. Here, you’ll learn about the rules of gorilla trekking, the history of the park, and receive your group assignment. Rushaga is home to several habituated gorilla families, including Bweza, Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, and Kahungye.

Accompanied by experienced rangers, you’ll set off on foot through the dense, misty forests of Bwindi. The trek can take anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours depending on the location and movement of the gorilla group, crossing steep slopes, tangled vegetation, and muddy paths.

Once the trackers locate your assigned family, you’ll spend a magical, unforgettable hour observing the gorillas up close—watching the silverback, playful juveniles, and nurturing mothers in their natural habitat. It’s a deeply moving experience. After your time with the gorillas, hike back to the starting point and return to the lodge to rest and reflect.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge just outside Rushaga (Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Uganda)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Return to Kigali & Departure

The return journey leads you through the scenic highlands of southwestern Uganda and northern Rwanda—a landscape of rolling hills, terraced farmland, and traditional villages. As you leave the Bwindi region, you’ll ascend through lush valleys and winding roads with panoramic views of the Virunga Volcanoes fading into the distance.

The route takes you toward the Katuna border crossing, a busy but efficient point of entry between Uganda and Rwanda. After clearing immigration, the journey continues south through Rwanda’s “Land of a Thousand Hills,” with green tea plantations, banana groves, and eucalyptus forests lining the way.

Depending on your international departure time, there is the option to stop at the Kigali Genocide Memorial—a sobering yet important site that commemorates the victims of the 1994 genocide.

Arrival at Kigali is scheduled for your evening departure flight.
Distance: approx. 180 km
Driving time: approx. 5–6 hours incl. border & breaks.

Main Destination:

Kigali International Airport (Kigali, Rwanda)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.