Uganda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Tracking 4-Day Safari

Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Your Uganda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Tracking 4-Day Safari adventure kicks off with a warm welcome from our professional safari guide who will pick you up from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in Kampala. After a short briefing about the journey ahead, you’ll begin your scenic road transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda. The drive spans approximately 8–9 hours, but the route is filled with interesting stopovers, captivating landscapes, and cultural insights that make the journey feel like an experience in itself.

The first major stopover is at the iconic Uganda Equator Crossing Line in Kayabwe. Here, you can take some memorable photographs while standing on the imaginary line that divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. You’ll also enjoy a brief science demonstration of how water swirls differently in the two hemispheres — an engaging and educational moment.

As you continue through the rolling hills of central Uganda, you’ll pass local farms, rural villages, and verdant tea plantations. Your Uganda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Tracking 4-Day Safari driver-guide will share fascinating stories and local lore, making the ride more interactive and informative. Along the way, you’ll stop for lunch in the town of Mbarara, renowned for its vibrant culture and friendly hospitality.

Reaching Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

By late afternoon or early evening, you’ll arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check in at your selected lodge, nestled in the forest or overlooking lush valleys. Enjoy a freshly prepared dinner and settle in for a good night’s rest in preparation for the gorilla trekking adventure the next morning.

• Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Cross to Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, your Uganda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Tracking 4-Day Safari guide will transfer you to the Bwindi Park headquarters for a pre-trekking briefing by experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers. Here, you’ll learn about gorilla conservation, the rules of gorilla trekking, and what to expect during your time in the forest. You will then be grouped into teams of 8 and assigned a specific gorilla family to track.

The gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a truly magical experience. Trekking can last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family, but the reward is unparalleled — standing just meters away from a group of mountain gorillas as they forage, groom, and play in their natural habitat. You’ll have one full hour to observe and photograph these majestic creatures, an hour that will stay etched in your memory for a lifetime.

Cross to Volcanoes National Park

After the trek, return to your lodge for a well-deserved lunch and some relaxation. Later in the afternoon, check out and begin your road transfer to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, a journey that takes approximately 3–4 hours through scenic landscapes, cross-border towns, and dramatic volcanic views. Upon arrival in Rwanda, check in to your lodge near Volcanoes National Park, enjoy a warm dinner, and relax after a fulfilling day.

• Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

Day 3 is dedicated to the unique and captivating Golden Monkey Tracking experience in Volcanoes National Park. After an early breakfast, your Uganda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Tracking 4-Day Safari guide will take you to the park headquarters in Kinigi, where you’ll receive a short briefing from park rangers before heading into the forest.

Golden monkeys are a rare and endangered species found only in the Virunga Mountains, and Volcanoes National Park offers one of the best opportunities to see them in the wild. These monkeys are characterized by their golden-orange fur, curious behavior, and acrobatic movements through bamboo forests. The trek is usually less strenuous than gorilla trekking and lasts about 2–3 hours.

During your encounter, you’ll spend up to one hour observing these energetic creatures in their natural habitat. Their playful demeanor and vibrant color make for excellent photography and unforgettable viewing. Your experienced Uganda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Tracking 4-Day Safari guides and trackers will ensure you maintain a safe distance while sharing interesting facts about the golden monkeys and the ecosystem they inhabit.

Cultural Safari Experience in Volcanoes

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax or reflect on your primate adventures. In the evening, you can choose to enjoy optional cultural experiences with local communities or take a nature walk around the lodge area. Your overnight stay offers another opportunity to absorb the beauty of Rwanda’s highland landscapes.

• Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Volcanoes National Park to Kigali for a City Tour and Departure

On your final day, enjoy a relaxed breakfast before setting off for a scenic drive to Kigali, Rwanda’s clean and vibrant capital city. The journey from Volcanoes National Park to Kigali takes about 2.5–3 hours, offering beautiful views of Rwanda’s rolling hills, terraced farms, and rural homesteads.

Upon arrival in Kigali, your Uganda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Tracking 4-Day Safari guide will take you on a brief but enriching city tour, which may include visits to key cultural and historical sites. Highlights include the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which offers a sobering yet insightful look into Rwanda’s recent history, and the Kimironko Market, where you can experience local flavors, crafts, and community interactions. If time allows, you may also visit the Inema Arts Center or the Presidential Palace Museum.

After the city tour, your Uganda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Tracking 4-Day Safari guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport for your onward flight, marking the end of your 4-day primate safari adventure. Though the trip is short, the depth of experience — from gorilla trekking in Uganda to golden monkey tracking in Rwanda — will leave you with profound memories and a greater appreciation for wildlife conservation in East Africa.

• Accommodation: none
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Drinking Water