The gorilla trek in Rwanda is among the most thrilling safari experiences you can have anywhere in the world. It gives you the opportunity to become close to the mountain gorillas, which are in danger of extinction that live within the Volcanoes National Park.
It is part of Virunga Mountains which stretch across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To go on a gorilla trek in Rwanda it is necessary to purchase a permit which cost $1,500 per individual.
Permits are restricted to the number of permits per day and they’re sold out fast It is recommended to make reservations well in advance. The permits are assigned to any of the twelve habituated families of gorillas in the park, comprised of at minimum one silverback, and a few females and young ones.
Nyungwe forests is one of the mountainous rainforest located in the southwestern part of Rwanda located near the border between Burundi as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is among the most biodiverse and oldest forests in Africa that includes more than 1,000 species of plants including 85 mammal species 32 amphibian species 38 reptile species along with 275 birds species including 27 endemic species.
One of the major highlights in Nyungwe forests is chimpanzee trek, which permits tourists to witness the largest concentration of chimpanzees with a home found in East Africa. There are approximately 500 chimpanzees within the park, which are divided into two communities, one in Cyamudongo forest, and another in Uwinka. The trek starts in the early morning hours and lasts for several hours to all day long dependent on the movement and location of the animals. The trekking can be restricted to eight participants per group, and each participant is given an hour of viewing time.
Culture in Rwanda is an intricate fabric of vibrant traditions and distinctive customs that reflect its long history and diverse ethnic communities. Traditional Intore dancing is an engaging display found at celebrations and festivals; known for its graceful leaps and rhythmic movements. By 2021, approximately 74% of its inhabitants worked in agriculture – making this predominantly rural society.
Ubuntu, an important part of Bantu philosophy that emphasizes community and mutual respect, plays an essential part in everyday living and relationships in Rwanda. Plantains, sweet potatoes and beans are staple foods found across Rwandan cuisine – integral parts of its culture as a result – with baskets symbolic of peace and love representing longstanding basket weaving and pottery traditions being popular as symbols to express Ubuntu values in everyday living and social interactions.
Akagera National Park is a truly remarkable place, filled with a wide array of creatures big and small. It is home to over 12,000 large mammals and an impressive 482 species of birds. This special park is the only one in Rwanda where you can find the magnificent Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses, alongside many other fascinating animals. Other residents included giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, monkeys, and hyenas, just like in one of those wild African safaris.
Akagera National Park is a truly remarkable place, filled with a wide array of creatures big and small. It is home to over 12,000 large mammals and an impressive 482 species of birds. This special park is the only one in Rwanda where you can find the magnificent Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses, alongside many other fascinating animals. Other residents included giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, monkeys and hyenas.
Find the best safari destinations in Rwanda.
Ideally, June to September is the best and perfect time for visiting Rwanda. This is because you not only will experience ideal weather but it is the best opportunity to spot mountain gorillas as well as perfect conditions for an African safari in Rwanda with lower risks of malaria.
Do not fret if you can’t visit during these peak months; an incredible safari awaits regardless. Just bear in mind that more rain or challenging muddy paths may arise during your safari tour which only adds to its fun! Also be sure to bring along adequate fitness levels; trekking through Rwanda’s lush tropical jungles requires physical exertion!
on average, a safari to Rwanda costs from $2000 to $10,000 dollars for a 3 day safari involving gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
Booking a Safari to Rwanda involves several steps.
Research and Plan: When planning to visit Rwanda, keep this year-round destination in mind when selecting an ideal time and season to travel. Gorilla trekking should take place during either June-September or December-February when weather is dry enough; while wildlife safaris at Akagera National Park can occur any time during the year but animals tend to be easier spotted during dry spells.
Select a Safari Tour Operator: Rwanda offers numerous tour operators offering safari packages that range from gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and game drives at Akagera National Park to cultural experiences and gorilla viewing trips at Volcanoes. Prices typically depend upon length, level of luxury and activities included with safari experiences; my research indicated prices ranging anywhere between $1,000 for budget safaris to over $10,000 for luxury experiences (my knowledge cutoff being September 2021).
Once You Select A Safari: Once you’ve decided upon an itinerary that meets both your budget and interests, booking can usually be completed directly through a tour operator’s website or over the phone; most require an advance payment with deposits set aside when making their reservations.
Permits Needed for Gorilla Trekking: To secure gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda at $1,500 per trek (as of 2021) typically this will be handled for you by your tour operator.
Book Flights: There are multiple international airlines operating flights into Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. Prices depend upon where and when your trip departs from and whether or not a stopover is planned.
Travel Insurance: For optimal protection during any vacation or business trip, travel insurance that provides coverage against unexpected incidents like cancellation fees and medical costs as well as emergency evacuation is recommended.
Get Vaccinated and Pack: Once again, before setting out on any journey it is wise to ensure all necessary vaccinations, such as Yellow Fever are up-to-date and complete. Your packing list may differ depending on what activities are part of the itinerary but generally, should include items like safari clothes, binoculars, cameras, sunglasses a hat sunblock sunscreen insect repellent are among others.
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Jessie M2024-03-10The trip of a lifetime We loved the trip Insight Safaris planned for us through Uganda. From Murchison Falls to Lake Mburo, it couldn’t have been a more delightful mix of game drives, boat tours and primate treks. The lodging selections were well suited to our comfort level. The people at all of them were friendly, helpful, professional and courteous and the food was (mostly) wonderful. At first, I was worried that we would be spending more time driving than experiencing, but I was wrong. Even the drives between the other events were an experience I wouldn’t want to have missed. We loved the fact that we saw cities, towns and villages; we experienced savannah, jungle, forest and wetland ecosystems. And the whole time, we had answers to any question we could pose right in the driver’s seat. We saw birds, ungulates (antelope, elephants! giraffes! rhinos! hippos!), and primates—oh my gosh—the primates were amazing! After the chimpanzee trek, we couldn’t imagine better, but then there were the gorillas. We were pretty sure that would be the pinnacle, and when the forecast was 80% rain for the Golden Monkey Trek, we considered that we would be OK if it were cancelled. As it turned out, the Golden Monkey trek was the highlight of the whole trip. It was marvelous! We were especially fascinated by the cultural aspects of this tour. Uganda is an affirmation that humans don’t need machines and technology to thrive. Americans are preoccupied with fiscal prosperity and personal comfort, but I don’t think we are as healthy and as happy as Ugandans. For our trip guide, Insight Safaris managed to find the best match in Uganda for us. He was a walking encyclopedia about Uganda. He was good-humored and cheerful under all conditions, helpful, accommodating, interesting, intelligent, and most important, patient. He listened to what interested us and added a few excursions—vanilla bean and coffee bean cultivation/production as well as elephant-dung paper manufacturing. We are birders and he managed to find guides who were especially suited to our interests so that our game drives and boat trips seemed to be reserved especially for us—so much better than we could have expected. We both shot more than 4,000 photos and he accommodated our voracious appetite for snapshots to take home whenever and wherever it was safe. He narrated every part of the trip without being too chatty or intrusive. In short, it was the experience of a lifetime!
Robyn Campos2024-03-10Rwanda and Uganda (Bwindi) Adventure Our trip to Rwanda/Uganda with Insight Safari Holidays was an amazing experience. The initial contact and coordination of our itinerary with Calah was easy and she was always available for questions. She was also super accommodating when we had a change in travel plans. All of the chosen parks, lodges/hotels and cultural opportunities were beyond fantastic. And none of this could have been accomplished without our trusted guide Steven. He safely drove us from one side of Rwanda to the other with insight, humor and professionalism. He took us on safari in Akagera, coordinated all of our activities in Nyungwe, crossed into Uganda flawlessly (where he easily switched up driving direction and language) and stopped at every opportunity for my photographer husband to get the best picture. He allowed us to experience this beautiful part of Africa in ways we will forever be grateful. We look forward to our next visit!!!
Karin2024-02-06Amazing journey through Uganda We booked with 3 friends a 9 days tour through Uganda. The country is very beautiful and safe and the people very welcoming. The communication with the agency through WhatsApp was very easy and they adapted the tour according to our wishes. We spent all 9 days with the same guide called Ayub. He was extremely nice and always made sure we would have the best experience possible. A big thank you to him for making our stay amazing. I would recommend Insight Safari Holidays to anyone seeking for an authentic journey in Uganda.
placestodiscover1112024-02-05Amazing experience We booked a nine-day tour with Inside Safari and had the best experience ever! Starting in Entebbe, our journey led us to Queen Elizabeth National Park, then to Bwindi, where we had a unique gorilla tracking experience. We continued to Kisoro near Mount Sabinyo and then to Lake Bunyonyi. Our tour guide, Ayup, was incredibly friendly, attentive, and thought of everything! The places we visited were breathtaking, the people incredibly friendly, and the accommodations positively surprised us. The entire trip felt truly authentic. Highly recommended and would gladly do it again!
Lorrie G2024-01-09Our Ugandan Adventure We just finished a 25 day tour of Uganda and would like to thank Calah and her team in the office for putting together an amazing itinerary. Calah organized all the lodges and possible activities to do at and around each lodge. Each lodge we stayed at were first rate with the services and meals provided. Calah was very good with requests or questions we had during the planning process of our trip. She was quick to respond to our messages with positive feedback or suggestions. And, of course, a special thank you to our guide/driver and friend Edmund, who made the tour special. His skill as a driver was phenomenal as the roads in Uganda are challenging. We always felt safe travelling with Edmund. We appreciated his knowledge and experience on all the game drives he took us on. We found the stories about his country, the history and current situations most interesting, broadening our own knowledge of Uganda and it people. Uganda is so much more than gorillas and chimps. There is the whole Eastern side of Uganda to explore from Sipi Falls, Pian Upe, Moroto (the Karamajong) and Kidepo Valley still raw and pristine, the Africa of years ago. Of course we did Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Bwindi but take a look at those other places you won’t be disappointed. We even took a side trip to see the famous bee lady of Uganda in Lira with the added bonus of one of the best African massages of the whole trip. Thanks Edmund your massages were the best. If anyone is thinking of a trip to Africa consider Uganda and Insight Safari Holidays. You won’t be disappointed! Uganda has everything: fantastic people, big mountains, the Nile, open Savanna, rivers, falls and lush forests, and, of course, all the animals and birds you could imagine. We will never forget Uganda and the amazing adventure we had there!
Cave fish2023-10-26Gorillas and Lions made possible by an extremely professional operation Before departure: From the outset Calah was extremely helpful. Providing a number of potential itineraries for us and letting us know about the availability for dates that would work for us. From then on it was all plain sailing. We were sent the full outline of our trip and given a check list of items we’d need for the gorilla trekking. The trip itself: We booked a 4 day trip from Kampala to do the gorilla trekking in Bwindi and also to see the tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. We were picked up bang on time by Moses. He was very smart and professional. The van was immaculately clean and there was water available for the journey. Throughout, Moses made us feel comfortable and at no point, even during many hours on the road through Uganda, did we feel anything other than totally safe. He also explained the various interesting things we saw from our window as we crossed Uganda. The places we stayed along the way were really nice and the gorilla trekking was excellent! I don’t need to say much more really. We saw the gorillas, it was incredible. In Queen Elizabeth National Park Moses turned from driver into expert nature spotter. We were lucky to come across the lions pretty much immediately but he also spotted us a leopard that we’d never have seen. We also had the Kazinga Channel boat cruise on our itinerary. This was brilliant as we saw an elephant in the water, hippos and various birds including fish eagles and kingfishers. Everything we wanted to get from this trip we got. We’d definitely recommend Insight Safari. Thank you so much Calah and Moses for your professionalism and for making our gorilla dreams come true.
4dchops2023-10-15Holiday of our Dreams. We want to thank Calah and her team for arranging our 2 week trip through Uganda. We were able to work our own itinerary with them and they arranged all the accommodation and permits for the Trekking we did. Communication was clear, swift and regular and gave us confidence when organising and booking. Payment was in 2 reasonably easy international transfers, but we also had the option to take the balance with us as cash if that was more convenient. We were met at the airport as arranged and had our own guide and vehicle the whole trip. We had an amazing time and saw so many wonderful things and met so many wonderful people. Ayub was a wonderful guide and driver and really looked after us so well. We could not fault anything and would not change anything (except maybe to spend more time there!) We would of course recommend Insight to anyone who will listen! All the accommodation was amazing and although we booked as 'basic' we felt we were in luxury with the best service and food we could have wished for. Would highly recommend contacting Insight for your African adventure.Victor R2023-09-26Incredible Experience led by a Wonderful Guide My wife and I had an amazing vacation in Uganda because of the fantastic service provided by Insight Safari Holidays. We did a six-day tour which included gorilla habituation, chimpanzee trekking, and safari game drives. Our guide, Jacob, was so incredibly friendly, kind, knowledgeable, helpful and skilled as a driver. He had answers to every single question we asked - even anticipating our questions before we asked them a number of times. His connections all across the country, in every park we visited or every lodge we stayed in was invaluable. When we went on game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Jacob was the first to get us to see a pair of lionesses stalking a herd of cape buffaloes, he was the first to spot a leopard walking along the savannah, he was the first to get us to a hyena skulking amongst antelopes; each time, we'd get there first and then other Land Cruisers would follow. When we went chimp trekking, Jacob made sure we were connected with the most experienced guide in the park, Jasper. On our anniversary, Jacob had the staff at the Twin Lakes lodge set up our dinner table outside the restaurant with a gorgeous view overlooking Queen Elizabeth National Park. When we went gorilla trekking, Jacob got us set up with one of the Bwindi rangers that he knew personally, making for an unforgettable hike and experience with the gorillas. After our tour was over, he also got us back to Entebbe early enough to check into a hotel there and relax for five hours before our flight home. It was a perfect tour, and we can't thank Jacob enough for making it so. We booked the tour in January 2023, and we worked with Calah to do so. She was so helpful, and so quick to respond to all of our inquiries, and made the process of booking so smooth. We checked in with Calah periodically in the eight months leading up to our tour, and she made sure to keep us up to do on all the documents we needed and when we needed them, what to pack, what to expect on our tour, and when we landed in Uganda, she kept us informed as to when to expect Jacob to pick us up. If you're considering a trip to Uganda for any reason, I can not emphasize enough how much I recommend working with Insight Safari Holidays!
Philip2023-09-21Excellent and efficient safari company We booked our 4 day gorilla and chimp safari with Insight and they have been excellent in every way. We booked with them direct from the UK and they were always efficient and helpful in replying to my emails. Making the payment to them was also very easy. When we arrived in Uganda everything worked very smoothly. We were picked up promptly at 7am from our hotel and driven by our very competent driver Jack (driving in Kampala was not for the faint hearted!) to Bwindi. The two lodges where we stayed were fantastic and both the gorillas and the chimp visits were amazing. I could not fault any part of our trip and would wholeheartedly recommend Insight to anyone thinking of visiting Uganda for a safari
Christopher2023-09-17A truly life changing adventure This was the adventure of a lifetime, and a huge part of that is thanks to Edmund and the incredible team at Insight Safari Holidays. My wife and I had been wanting to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda for several years. We finally started to plan the trip, and got a recommendation from a friend to look at Insight Safari Holidays. This was hands down the best decision we could have made. From the beginning, they put together a detailed itinerary that ended up being just about flawless. Calah was incredibly helpful and attentive, from making sure we had all of the necessary documentation, to booking permits, stays, and everything we needed; this made what was a pretty complex trip so easy that all we had to do was show up. But above all, I want to give a huge and heartfelt thank you to our guide and driver Edmund. He is by far the most skilled, considerate, friendly, and entertaining tour guide you will ever met. From his superhuman wildlife spotting skills, to his skilled driving, to the fact that he is friends with absolutely *everyone*, this is someone who is clearly so passionate about his country and his work. Edmund went above and beyond every day to make sure our holiday was incredible - his vast knowledge and experience guiding meant he knew every park ranger, every secret lookout to get a better view, and even what time of day to circle back to see a leopard while everyone else was rushing to the lodge for a boat tour. This is already too long of a review, but I mean it when I say I could write a book about our experience there. I tell everyone I meet that travelling through Rwanda and Uganda this is a must-do, life-changing adventure, and I wouldn't do it with anyone other than Edmund, Calah, and the Insight team. To Edmund if you're reading this - thank you for making this the trip of a lifetime. While obviously the wildlife and the country was incredible, some of the moments we looked forward to the most - and the memories we look back on most fondly, were sitting down at dinner with you each night. Thank you!
Chris Goldsmith2024-04-02I have booked a family holiday for later in 2024 and I have been dealing with Calah who is the head of reservation at insight safaris and she has been absolutely amazing with all questions and requests. I am also dealing with other companies in south Africa and Zimbabwe and Calah is by far the most accommodating to our requests and nothing seems like too much trouble.
Richard Dimblebee2024-02-06Our unbelievable once in a lifetime trip in Uganda was brilliantly organised by Calah. She was so responsive to us by email and extremely helpful. Once we arrived in Entebbe, we were welcomed by Godwin, our tour guide. You will struggle to find a better tour guide anywhere in the world, extremely knowledgeable about his country and also a fantastic human being. Such an incredible experience. Thank you so much Insight, Calah and Godwin!
Karin Namba2024-02-06We booked with 3 friends a 9 days tour through Uganda. The country is very beautiful and safe and the people very welcoming. The communication with the agency through WhatsApp was very easy and they adapted the tour according to our wishes. We spent all 9 days with the same guide called Ayub. He was extremely nice and always made sure we would have the best experience possible. A big thank you to him for making our stay amazing. I would recommend Insight Safari Holidays to anyone seeking for an authentic journey in Uganda.
P. Schmidt2023-08-17Our visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Murchison Falls National Park with Insight Safari Holidays was outstanding! Calah was easy to work with and patiently answered questions and provided new quotes as we sorted through where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see. Our guide, Godwin, was knowledgeable about not just the animals, but also history, industry and culture. He went out of his way to make sure we had a great experience. We were impressed with how much we were able to see in just three days, without ever feeling rushed.
Abigail Stallworth2023-07-303-Day Murchison Falls Safari - one of the best trips of my life! A friend and I (two women) had an amazing experience with Insight Safari. Calah was very communicative and transparent about the trip, including logistics and costs. Our guide Jones was nothing short of outstanding - warm, friendly, funny, and intelligent. The game drives were beautiful and fun, the Nile river cruise exciting, and the top of the Falls just an indescribable place.
Bronte Forsgren2023-07-21Insight Safaris planned our three day Gorilla Trekking experience from Kampala to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We had an absolutely fantastic experience and cannot recommend them more! In particular, our driver Jones was excellent, friendly, safe, personable, and fun. They coordinated everything well for us, and each stop was easy, including (more importantly) the gorilla trekking itself. Cannot recommend more!
Linn Tomasdotter2023-05-25Thank you Edmund and Calah for the best service one can get, You enabled experiences that I will never forget. Edmund went above and beyond to a true Ugandan adventure create, Met friendly honey makers and the most delicious fruit & food we ate. Learn from lodge managers, locals & rangers, About nature, birds and how Ugandan excel in making friends from strangers. Encounter the beautiful gorillas - from silverback to babykid, Was one of the best thing I ever saw & did. Feel the breeze of the Bwindi mountain woods, The busy markets and Western UG community neighborhoods. Edmund showed plantations for banana, coffee, ground nut and passion fruits, He shared insights into country development & found the right & effective routes. He is so knowledgeable, kind, flexible, service-minded & fun, If you like a booker who answers you rapidly, Calah is number one. Communication with Insight was accommodating, nice, efficient & clear, They will your wishes to the best of their ability adhere. The lodge staff & people we met was welcoming & friendly, We had interesting and insightful conversations unendly. I highly recommend Insight for those looking for relaxed, personal and unforgettable moments, I hope you after times of pandemic challenges get many safari enrollments. Again, appreciation and thank you of all my heart, I really don’t want from you incredible country depart.
Matt Lanigan2023-05-02Insight brought myself and a group of friends on an incredible (custom-crafted) trip through Uganda - which included setting up a surprise birthday party for a friend and accommodating us wanting to meet up with another group during our trip. Edmund was a great tour guide - knowledgeable and fun! I would absolutely book a tour with Insight (especially with Edmund) again!
Joy and Dave Temple2023-04-12Our Insight Safari Holidays was a magical tour of the southwestern national parks in Uganda. It exceeded my expectations from our fabulous driver Edmund, to the accommodations and meals, to the spectacular animals we saw in the parks. Edmund was not only a fabulous driver, he knew so much about the areas, and the animals and their behaviors and we learned so much from him. He had an uncanny ability to locate where the animals were so we saw so many animals. Everything went smoothly from the excellent communication and payment processes with Calah in the office to our excellent lodging hosts and most importantly to our fabulous guide Edmund. We even got him to join us on our white water rafting trip on the Nile at the end of our trip since he had never experienced such a thing!
Matt Temple2023-04-11We had a lovely time with Insight Safari Holidays. The tour that Calah helped plan out was lovely. I really appreciate all of the help sorting out the details. And spending time with Edmund (our tour guide and driver for the week) was an absolute treat. He is such a lovely man and a wonderful host. Thank you both so much for making our holiday wonderful!
Tel : Office +256392613687
Mobile / Whataspp: +256774382674
Box 8753, Plot, 19 Bukoto Road,Kampala, Uganda
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