2-Day Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Golden Monkeys in Rwanda

Wake up: 3:30 am, and have your breakfast packed.

Meet: Meet your driver-guide.

Transfer: Drive from Kigali from your preferred hotel in a 4x4 TXL Land Cruiser and embark on a transfer with a border crossing to reach Cyanika Border Post as it opens.

Visa: Ensure you have your East Africa Tourist Visa ready for a smooth transition into Uganda.

Arrival: Arrive at the Mgahinga National Park office for the gorilla trekking briefing and meet your guides for the day.

Activity: After completing the park formalities, embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience of trekking mountain gorillas.

Gorilla viewing: Once you spot them, you are allowed to spend one hour watching your closest long-lost cousins.

Note: The trekking may be fairly strenuous, lasting up to six hours or longer at a relatively high altitude.

Note: We've had people as old as 70 years old do gorilla tracking, so this should not be a problem. All you need to do is ask your driver-guide to request a shorter group for you if you cannot trek far.

What to bring: Good hiking boots, long trousers, gloves for protection against stinging nettles, some snacks & sweets (for you, not the gorillas), as well as sufficient water.

Lunch: After the trek, have lunch in Kisoro.

Transfer: Return across the border to Musanze.

Accommodation: Stay overnight at Isange Paradise Resort.

Activity: Enjoy golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park.

Drive: Take a 20-minute drive from the hotel to the headquarters for the briefing.

Drive: After the briefing, drive for 25 minutes to reach the trek starting point.

Walk: Take a 30-minute walk to get to the park.

Golden monkey viewing: Though viewing is kept to a maximum of one hour, travelers can get an up-close look at the golden monkeys in their natural habitat.

Visit: Visit Gorilla Guardians Cultural Village, formerly Iby'Iwacu Cultural Center.

Activity: Tour a replica of an ancient Rwandan King's palace.

Activity: Learn about traditional medicine from a local healer.

Activity: Try your hand at archery.

Activity: Join in the thundering drums and the iconic Intore warrior dance celebration.

Lunch: Stop in Musanze for a hot lunch.

Transfer: Later, drive back to Kigali, with drop-off at your hotel of residence or Kigali International Airport according to your flight details.