Gorilla Encounter Safari

Early breakfast at 6:30 AM, then transfer to the park headquarters for the 7:30 AM briefing. Groups of a maximum of 8 guests are assigned to a habituated gorilla family — each family has been habituated to human presence over several years by park rangers. The trek begins through dense Afromontane forest, guided by expert trackers who have been monitoring the gorillas since dawn. Trekking duration ranges from 45 minutes to 8 hours depending on where the gorillas have travelled overnight. One precious hour spent face-to-face with these magnificent primates — watching them feed, play, nurse infants and interact — is among the most profound wildlife encounters on Earth. Return to lodge for a late lunch. Evening at leisure. Overnight at gorilla lodge.

Morning optional golden monkey tracking in the bamboo forests of the Virunga volcanoes — these brilliantly coloured primates are found only in the Albertine Rift and are listed as endangered (golden monkey permit is an extra cost). Afternoon community visit featuring traditional Batwa cultural performances in Uganda — the Batwa were the original forest-dwelling inhabitants of Bwindi — or Intore traditional dance performances in Rwanda. These cultural encounters provide important context for the human and ecological history of the region. Evening back at the lodge for a farewell dinner. Overnight at gorilla lodge.

Final breakfast with spectacular views of the volcanic peaks. Return drive to Kigali or Kampala for your international departure flight. This safari can be extended with a Rwanda highlights tour, Lake Kivu beach stay, or combined with a Tanzania wildlife safari.