Gorilla and Chimpanzees with Volcanoes Safaris

Begin your journey with an overnight flight to Kigali, ready to discover two of East Africa's most rewarding wildlife destinations. Over the coming week you'll combine close encounters with mountain gorillas and chimpanzees with spectacular scenery, luxurious safari lodges and memorable cultural experiences.

Arriving in Kigali, you'll meet your expert guide who will be looking after you throughout your adventure, before setting off towards Rwanda's celebrated Volcanoes National Park. The drive itself offers a wonderful introduction to the country often known as the 'Land of a Thousand Hills', with emerald-green terraces, traditional villages and dramatic mountain scenery unfolding along the way. Your home for the next three nights is the renowned Virunga Lodge, perched high on a hillside with sweeping views of the Virunga volcanoes and the sparkling lakes of Ruhondo and Burera. Take time to settle into your surroundings, enjoy a leisurely lunch and soak up one of Africa's most spectacular lodge settings before dinner.

Today brings the defining experience of your journey. After an early breakfast, you'll head into Volcanoes National Park alongside expert trackers and guides in search of one of the world's last remaining populations of mountain gorillas. Trekking through dense rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes is all part of the adventure. Whether the trek is relatively short or more demanding, every step is rewarded when you finally come face to face with a gorilla family in its natural habitat.

Watching these gentle giants interact, feed and play at close range is an extraordinarily moving experience and one that ranks among the greatest wildlife encounters on Earth. Spend a magical hour sitting with these incredible creatures before returning to the lodge. Enjoy a well-earned lunch and spend the remainder of the day relaxing by the fireplace or admiring the magnificent mountain views.

This morning offers another fascinating primate encounter as you venture into the forest in search of the region's endemic golden monkeys. Less famous than their gorilla cousins but no less captivating, these energetic and colourful primates are known for their playful behaviour and remarkable agility among the bamboo forests. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. Perhaps simply relax and take in the breathtaking scenery surrounding the lodge, or choose to visit the shores of nearby Lake Kivu, one of Africa's Great Lakes. Its tranquil waters and beautiful setting provide the perfect contrast to the excitement of your trekking adventures.

Leaving Rwanda behind, you'll travel to Kisoro before taking a scenic flight onwards to Kasese in western Uganda. On arrival, transfer to Kyambura Gorge Lodge, an elegant safari retreat positioned on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. With superb views across the savannah towards the distant Rwenzori Mountains, the lodge provides an ideal base from which to explore one of Uganda's most wildlife-rich regions. This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to discover the grounds, join a nature walk, visit a nearby village or simply relax before dinner.

Stay: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Today is dedicated to exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda's most diverse wildlife reserves. Venture out across the Kasenyi Plains, where open grasslands support an abundance of wildlife including Uganda kob, buffalo, elephant and, with some luck, lion and leopard.

Beyond its wildlife, the region is also known for its community and conservation initiatives. You may choose to spend part of the day visiting local projects supported by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership, including the Women's Coffee Cooperative Tour, Empundu Playground visit and much more, gaining an insight into how sustainable tourism helps support neighbouring communities and protect the region's remarkable ecosystems.

Stay: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

This morning, descend into the dramatic Kyambura Gorge, often described as a "lost world" hidden beneath the surrounding savannah. Accompanied by expert guides, you'll search for one of Uganda's most important populations of habituated chimpanzees. Listening to their calls echo through the forest before finally encountering them among the trees is an unforgettable experience. Later, enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the wildlife-rich waterway connecting Lakes Edward and George. The channel supports one of Africa's highest concentrations of hippos, while elephants, buffalo and a dazzling variety of birdlife gather along its shores, including great flocks of pelican and the African fish eagle. As the afternoon light fades, it provides exceptional opportunities for photography and wildlife viewing.

Stay: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

After breakfast, transfer from Bwindi Lodge to Kihihi airstrip, arriving at Entebbe in time for your connecting, overnight flight home.

Upon arrival in the UK, continue your onward journey home.