No current dates scheduled
Luxe Uganda & Rwanda: Primates, Big Cats and Lakes
Kigali – Gorillas – Chimpanzees – Tree-Climbing Lions – Safari – Waterfalls – Lakes
Join other Solo Female Travelers on an incredible journey of a lifetime in search of gorillas, chimpanzees and wildlife in the landscapes and the lakes and waterfalls of Uganda in luxury.
Highlights: Gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys | Tree-climbing lions | Crater Lakes | Game drives | Boat cruises | Waterfalls | Batwa pygmies cultural experience | Origin of the Nile | Genocide Memorial
High-end lodges | No single supplements* | 14 spots | Gorilla & Chimp tracking | Local female guide | Photographer
*Prices per person, we pair you with another solo traveler
Trip Overview
No current dates scheduled
Max. 14 guests
Mar Pages, Co-Founder Solo Female Travelers
This trip of a lifetime will run during the high season to ensure the best weather and most optimal wildlife viewing opportunities. Our Luxury Rwanda & Uganda trip will be running at the same time as our Value Rwanda & Uganda trip, with the opportunity to mingle and meet the rest of the guests at welcome and farewell dinners. Click here to view our Value Rwanda & Uganda trip.
Trip map
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive in Kigali
You will arrive in Kigali and be picked up from the airport to drop you off at the hotel.
You will have the day free to relax by the pool and acclimatise until the evening when you will meet the guide and the rest of the group for a welcome dinner.
Overnight at Hotel des Milles Collines
This historic hotel was built in 1972, opened in 1974, and was renovated in 1987 as the leading hotel in Rwanda with large meeting facilities and rooms with balconies over the green hills around Kigali.
Hotel des Milles Collines was the location for the movie Hotel Rwanda and remains an institution in the country.
Day 2 : Kigali
Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretches across undulating lush hills surrounded by towering mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1,850m above sea level. With its interesting architecture and leafy streets, Kigali is said to be one of the most attractive cities in Africa and is definitely worth a visit.
As the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, nowhere else can you understand the country’s nickname better than here: “The country of a thousand hills”.
Kigali is a clean, safe and green space with a number of points of interest.
After breakfast, you get to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial which is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide as well as other genocides in the world. A visit to the Rwanda Art Museum, also known as the former presidential palace, gives you an insight of the life of the then president of Rwanda, whose plane when shot down in 1994, sparked off the Rwanda Genocide.
After lunch, we will depart Rwanda on a scenic drive through thousands of hills, coffee, tea and banana plantations to the border post foothills of the mountains and volcanoes and into the beautiful Pearl of Africa – Uganda. You will see a great countryside of bamboo forests and have great views of the landscape.
In the late afternoon, check into your lodge for relaxation and prepare for your big day the next day.
Overnight at Buhoma Lodge
Buhoma Lodge is one of only two lodges set within the national park, and is the perfect lodge of choice when embarking on your bucket-list gorilla trekking adventure.
Homely and African inspired, the lodge was constructed using sustainable materials. The elevated central lounge, bar and dining area offer a cosy spot for guests to unwind, and amazing uninterrupted views over the forest. The crackling fireplace adds a mystical atmosphere to cooler evenings.
The lodge has just 10 spacious eco-friendly wooden chalets. Fall asleep to the sounds of the forest and awaken to chattering birds and monkeys as day breaks. Enjoy morning tea/coffee on your private verandah with sweeping views over the primal forest – what better way to start the day.
If you are lucky, you may spot the resident L’Hoest’s monkey troupe which visits the lodge gardens daily, or the occasional gorilla.
Day 3 : Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Located in southwestern Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is said to be Africa’s oldest rainforest.
It is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla-sighting opportunities and its thick vegetation that give it its name.
The rugged landscape features dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys and steep ridges.
This untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance.
Aside from the amazing gorilla interactions, there are other drawcards such as a network of forest walks, over 340 species of birds to spot and a variety of butterflies.
Day 3 is the big day.
Prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the rare Mountain Gorilla. For most people, this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.
You will be required to wake up early in the morning then be led to the visitor’s reception centre for a briefing about the park. You are allocated guides before heading into the forest in search of Mountain Gorillas.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boasts both Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees – the only forest in Africa which can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primate, 113 species of mammals, over 200 butterflies and 360 birds.
The Gorillas you will track belong to one of nine habituated family groups that can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day.
Your trek will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the Gorillas’ habitat. En-route, your guide will point out signs of previous Gorilla activity, including dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. The time taken to track the Gorillas can take as little as 2 hours or more.
Once the Gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a Mountain Gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.
Each gorilla trek is different and we cannot predict how long the walk may take. If the family is far away, we may enjoy a snack and packed lunch in the forest, otherwise, we will have lunch back at the lodge. The afternoon is free to enjoy the stunning views of the lodge or relax by the pool.
Overnight at Buhoma Lodge.
Day 4 : Batwa experience
After breakfast, you will go on the Batwa Pygmies Cultural Trail where you will interact and learn about the interesting lifestyle of this community.
The Batwa pygmies are the traditional inhabitants of the Bwindi forest that’s currently occupied by the National Park. The trail exposes you to their in-depth hidden history before the year 1990 when they evacuated the forest area that had become protected as a National Park and gives you an insight into their traditions, and their ways of live which rely on the natural habitat of the forest.
The experience comes along with different unique demonstrations on how the pygmies used to extract local herbs that were used for healing different diseases, traditional ways of fetching water using locally made bamboo mugs and construction of grass huts.
You will then transfer to the beautiful Ishasha plains which are part of Queen Elizabeth National Park – the oldest & second largest National Park in Uganda, located at the base of the massive Rwenzori Mountains, adjacent to lakes Edward & George.
The park is covered by Savannah plains that provide an abundance of game viewing like elephants that trumpet when you get too close, lazy leopards laying in the sun, abundant gazelle and buck, tree-climbing lions, buffaloes, hippos and more.
On our way to the lodge, you will enjoy game drives in the park and arrive at dinner for sunset and an overnight stay.
Overnight at Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Ishasha Wilderness Camp is an idyllic retreat for people who truly enjoy the wilderness, coupled with great accommodation and exceptional service.
The thatched central lounge and dining area provide a cosy and relaxed space for guests, although meals are often served ‘al fresco’ by the river.
In the evening, the outdoor fireplace beside the river is the perfect place for guests to relax over sundowners and share their day’s experiences.
Each of the ten spacious framed canvas rooms, privately nestled along the riverbank, is comfortably furnished and features en-suite bathrooms. Wake to the delicious aroma of morning coffee served on your private verandah.
Resident troops of black-and-white colobus and vervet monkeys abound and if you are lucky you’ll spot Henry, the lone hippo, wallowing lazily below their viewing deck. Game roams freely through camp, with elephant making frequent guest appearances.
Designed to respect and complement the environment, this low impact, eco-sensitive camp is really something special, and after a few days unwinding here, you may well not want to leave.
Day 5 : Queen Elizabeth National Park
Located in southwestern Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the county’s most popular parks.
Volcanic craters, grassy plains, tropical forest and giant lakes connected by a channel inhabited by abundant hippos, are what you will see at the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The park has almost 100 types of mammal and 606 different bird species, including the peculiar shoebill. The 40-kilometre-long Kasinga Channel alone is said to contain the world’s largest concentration of hippos.
Other species to spot include buffalo, the rare aquatic sitatunga antelope, giant forest hog, Uganda kob, Defassa waterbuck and elephants.
On day 5, we will indulge in a morning and evening game drive in time to see the sunrise and watch the sunset over the horizon respectively.
On your game drives through the open savannah of Acacia, on the edge of the Albertine Rift valley, we will go in search of tree-climbing lions and other wild animals.
In the afternoon, we will head for a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel to view the water-dwelling birds and animals such as the pied kingfisher, African fish eagle, herons, darters to mention but a few and see animals such as buffalos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, elephants wallowing at the mud and much more. After the boat cruise, you will proceed for a short game drive as you find your way back to the lodge for dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Overnight at Mweya Lodge
Mweya Safari Lodge is located on a peninsula within the heart of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and surrounded by the magical Rwenzori Mountains aptly described as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’. It overlooks the Kazinga Channel which links two of the Nile’s great lakes – Lake George and Lake Edward.
Mweya Safari Lodge offers visitors a spectacular experience of luxury in the wilderness. All of the rooms have wonderful views of the channel. The Lodge offers a range of activities and attractions: game drives, boat trips, wildlife viewing and more.
Day 6 : Kibale National Park
Located in southern Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park is said to be home to the highest density of primates in Africa.
Although the highlight of the park is the habituated chimpanzees, the treetops are alive with all manner of monkey including: red-tailed monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, red colobus and black and white colobus monkeys are all spotted here. When you’re not searching for monkeys there are over 300 bird species and an incredible 250 species of butterfly to keep you busy.
After early morning breakfast, you will head off for a game drive in search of the early raisers where you have a great chance to spot more wildlife before you depart Queen Elizabeth N.P heading to Kibale Forest National Park driving through a scenic lush green countryside.
On arrival at Kibale Forest, you will enter a completely different world… some serious monkey business!
The forest is home to at least 12 Primate Species including The Red-tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon, Black and White Colobus plus Blue Monkeys. The birdlife in the forest is also prolific and includes the beautiful Great Blue Turaco. If you are very lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the meandering herd of Forest Elephant.
In the late afternoon, transfer to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Crater Safari Lodge
The well-appointed Crater Safari Lodge is situated in a prime location on a hill overlooking the second largest crater lake in Uganda. The views from the lodge are breathtaking, and rooms either have a full or partial view of the crater lake below.
Crater Safari Lodge has been designed in such a way that it doesn’t intrude on its pristine surrounds. Thatched chalets with expansive wooden balconies provide the perfect luxurious jungle escape. Hammocks and garden swings on the grounds of the lodge add an extra element of tranquility to your remote safari experience.
There are 11 thatched stand-alone wooden cabins and 10 standard pool facing cabanas, each catering for a different style of guest.
The main lodge houses the restaurant, intimate bar area and lounge. The boma area is the perfect place to relax around a roaring and crackling fire; and share stories about the day’s activities. The sparkling swimming pool adorning the manicured lawns is the perfect place to soak up the African sun and enjoy panoramic views of the sublime crater lake.
Day 7 : Chimpanzee tracking
This morning at 08:00 am, your Chimpanzee tracking excursion will commence.
Kibale Forest boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including our delightful cousins, the Chimpanzees. At this moment, in Uganda, there are approximately 4,950 Chimps left in the wild, which makes this forest a perfect place to spot chimpanzees in Africa!
During the excursion, your ranger will point out the other species living in the forest, including birds, flora and fauna.
In the afternoon you embark on a nature excursion. Your swamp walk (1- 2 hours) will take you through grassland and some beautiful scenery.
It is usual to spot 3 or 4 different primate species during this walk though the highlight is catching a glimpse of the Great Blue Turaco bird.
In the late afternoon, return to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight at Crater Lodge.
Day 8 : Murchison Falls
Bid farewell to Kibale National Park after breakfast and head out for the mighty Murchison Falls National Park, the largest national park and Uganda’s flagship with exceptional wildlife.
The meandering Victoria Nile and the dramatic Murchison Falls neatly bisecting Uganda’s largest park, where you’d expect a wide range of animals and you’d be right. It’s a stunning habitat for wildlife and it’s where to go in Uganda for classic big game species.
We will go on game drives and wildlife sightseeing as we make our way to the lodge for the evening.
Optional – Sunset or Sunrise hot air balloon
Experience the wildlife of Murchison Falls NP in a, unique way. Wake up early to catch the sunrise, as you silently fly over the plains of the Park, or join a sunset ride. Admire the herds of buffaloes, elephants and enjoy the serene tranquillity of the African bush… After a smooth landing, you can celebrate this amazing adventure with a bush breakfast.
Hot Air Balloon Flights schedule: Sunrise: 5:00am — 9:30am (includes bush breakfast) Sunset: 4:00pm — 6:30pm. Price: $494 (subject to change).
Overnight at Paraa Lodge
Established in 1954, Paraa Safari Lodge is located in the north west of Uganda over looking one of nature’s best kept secrets, the River Nile.
On its journey from its source at Lake Victoria to join Lake Albert the river is suddenly channeled into a gorge only six meters wide, and cascades 43 meters below. The earth literally trembles at Murchison Falls – one of the world’s most powerful flows of natural water.
Paraa Safari Lodge offers a unique blend of comfort, relaxation and adventure. Each of the rooms is a haven of style and serenity, complete with balcony and private bathroom.
The safari décor of the lodge still reflects the bygone era of early explorers, enshrined with a modern touch. The luxurious pool overlooks the winding River Nile below, which was the setting for the classic Hollywood movie “The African Queen” (starring Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart).
Enjoy a variety of excursions and activities; from exhilarating Safari drives to boat trips along the River Nile, ending at the foot of Murchison Falls.
For the more adventurous, one can trek up to the top of the falls and marvel at the views through the mist. A variety of ecosystems and an impressive 451 species of birds awaits.
Day 9 : Murchison Falls
After an early breakfast, you will head out on an early game drive while the animals are the most active since it’s not yet so bright and temperatures are cooler. This is the best time to spot wild animals.
A drive through the park brings you eye-to-eye with the African animal kingdom: elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different species of antelope and many tropical birds. They are all there in Murchison Falls National Park!
In the afternoon, a 3-hour Boat Cruise along the Victoria Nile will lead you to the base of the Murchison Falls. Along the way, you will be able to view a wide variety of birds and wildlife; numerous hippos, elephants and crocodiles, as well as breathtaking scenery.
Overnight at Paraa Lodge.
Days 10 & 11 : Murchison Falls & Entebbe
At 7:00 am, a morning trip to the Lake Albert Delta is a must for any bird and wildlife enthusiast.
The Victoria Nile delta, a 20 km voyage downstream from Paraa, is home to rare wetland birds including shoebill and papyrus endemic species.
You will depart Murchison Falls National Park and head to Entebbe for refreshments and an overnight stay as you relive your safari highlights.
Tonight, there is a special Farewell dinner where all group members will be invited to a unique dining setting at the nearby restaurant. We will toast to a great experience with a glass of wine or your favorite drink.
On Day 11, you will wake up and check out. At the time of your departure, you will be taken to the airport.
Overnight at Hotel no.5
Nestled in the leafy suburbs of Entebbe, is the new and stylish boutique hotel, Hotel No.5. From the moment you arrive, you are warmly welcomed and cared for. With luxurious rooms opening onto the garden and swimming pool, we will spend the last few hours of the trip relaxing at the garden or pool.
Make yourself at home – unwind beside the swimming pool, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or work up a sweat in the hotel gym. For one of the most flavoursome dining experiences in Entebbe, carefully planned menus are paired to an international wine list, and served with pride.
Attention to detail and an attentive guest experience are synonymous with Hotel No. 5, making it the perfect choice for a restful stay in this busy town.
About Your Host
Mar is a former telecoms management consultant and xGoogler turned content creator and online entrepreneur. She is the Editor of Once in a Lifetime Journey and the Co-Founder of Solo Female Travelers.
She has lived in 8 countries, visited 120, 40 of those on her own, and spent 5 years working across Eastern and Southern Africa including Uganda where she led a project supporting the launch of a new telecom operator.
I’m excited to return to Uganda and Rwanda and share my love for this part of Africa with all of you.
Exclusive: Mar will take photos of the group and guests as a memento of this once in a lifetime trip.
Inclusions
✔️ Arrival & Departure Transfers
✔️ 10 Nights High-end Accommodation (double occupancy)
✔️ Full Board throughout: 10 Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners
✔️ Non alcoholic and house pours during meals while on safari
✔️ Ground Transportation in 4WD open-top cars
✔️ Local Drivers & Guides
✔️ National Park Fees ($1,132)
✔️ 1 Gorilla trekking permit and 1 Chimpanzee tracking permit ($900)
✔️ 3 Boat Cruises – Delta & Kazinga
✔️ Batwa trail experience
✔️ Kigali city tour
✔️ Visit to the genocide memorial
✔️ Free Wi-Fi wherever available, charging stations and a stocked fridge in your Land Cruiser
Exclusions
✘ International flights to Kigali and departure from Entebbe
✘ Travel & Medical Insurance (Required)
✘ COVID Vaccinations Pre Arrival (Required)
✘ Hot Air Ballooning in Murchison Falls (Optional Extra)
✘ Additional Snacks & Meals on Day 1 before dinner and Day 11 after breakfast
✘ Alcoholic drinks unless otherwise mentioned
✘ Souvenirs
✘ Tips for Drivers and Guides (At your discretion)
✘ COVID Testing which we can help organize (available in Entebbe before your departure)
Payment Info
$6,799 USD
Only 14 Spots Available
Payment Plan:
$300 USD per person to reserve your spot*
30% non-refundable deposit due 210 days before departure
Final balance due 120 days before departure
*If the trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, it will be moved to a date in the future and all payments will be carried forward. By joining our trips you agree to our T&C.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a trip of a lifetime and we know there are many things you’d like to know more about.
The itinerary itself is the same and guests on both trips will have the opportunity to mingle at the welcome and farewell dinners. The price difference comes down to travel style and inclusions.
Our Value trip features 3.5 star accommodation, and is full board excluding alcoholic drinks, while the Luxe trip features 4 to 4.5 star accommodation and includes house pours at meal times. Additionally, the Luxe trip will be accompanied by a photographer who will take candid pictures of the group and has an extra boat excursion a part of the program.
Once the trip is confirmed, all payments become non-refundable. This is why we require all guests to purchase travel insurance that covers unforeseen circumstances which would prevent them from traveling.
The $200 deposit will be refunded if we decide to cancel or postpone the trip because it does not reach the minimum number of guests. In the event that the trip needs to be postponed for reasons beyond our control after the 30% deposit has been made, any payments made will be put towards a similar itinerary in the future.
We care deeply about the wellbeing of our guests and our trip follows all local regulations. We require our guests to be fully vaccinated to join the tour so that we ensure the safety of everyone on the trip. Safaris are uniquely designed for social distancing and isolation as they guarantee that you will only be interacting with the other guests in your group and with the guides.
As of June 2021, the entry requirements for Rwanda state that any tourist/traveller coming into the country has been tested within 72 hours of arrival at Kigali International airport. The clients are required to fill in the passenger locator form with all the requested details and submit before travel to Rwanda. Here is the corresponding link. The guests will then get tested a 2nd time upon arrival in Kigali and results will be shared within 24 hours. Of late the results have been arriving in 3 – 4 hours.
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport and at land border crossings, travellers will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued no more than 120 hours before departure to/from Uganda. Airlines have been directed not to allow passengers without a negative test certificate to travel. Foreign national passengers who arrive without a valid negative test certificate will be denied entry. No other test is required upon entry, so guests are free to visit any park.
Please note that a curfew remains in place in both Rwanda and Uganda from 10pm to 5:30am. We will update guests on changes in these requirements as the travel date approaches.
This Luxe trip is all inclusive, that means all meals, excursions as noted in the program, entry tickets, park and conservation fees and gorilla + chimpanzee tracking permits are included. A sunrise or sunset hot air balloon in Murchison Falls is the only optional activity on the program. House pours are also included while on safari.
All costs above are considered on a sharing basis with two guests per room in twin bedding; we will pair you with another solo female traveler on the trip. If you wish to have your own room, that is absolutely possible, and $900 supplement will apply.
This is a female-only small group trip specifically designed for women traveling on their own. If you wish to travel with a female friend, they are most welcome, however we are not able to book male travelers on this trip.
How wonderful! If your daughter is above the age of 16, we will be glad to have her with us. Note that the minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years old.
Yes, this trip will be escorted by Mar, Co-Founder of Solo Female Travelers. Where possible, we will engage the services of local guides at each stop, however female representation at the lodges and reserves is minimal and this may not always be possible.
We believe that travel can be a force for good and wherever possible, we work with local travel companies in the country who can help us make a difference and ensure that the tourism dollars benefit local communities. For this trip, we have partnered with Wito Safaris, a Tanzanian-owned business founded by Abdullie who has personally put together this trip with us.
While the company is Tanzanian headquartered, the entire guide, driver and team will be local from Uganda or Rwanda, this is not only a legal requirement to obtain permits but also a decision that aligns with our values. Additionally, all the businesses that we will be visiting (restaurants, lodges, etc.) are locally owned and the trip cost will directly contribute to the local communities.
You should make an appointment with your doctor to confirm any travel inoculations and other medications that you may need to take before and during the trip, including those to prevent malaria or yellow fever. If your onward travel includes other African nations, you may also require a Yellow Fever certificate, you can check the CDC website for more details.
Gorilla and chimpanzees are wild animals and while they have been habituated to seeing humans, sightings can never be guaranteed. However, almost all visitors who purchase a permit will get to see them, the question is how long they may have to trek to find the assigned family.
Every day, visitors are assigned a gorilla family to spend time with. The gorilla trackers will go earlier in the morning to find the family, based on the sightings from previous days and the knowledge of the animals, and when they find them, they will communicate with your ranger to facilitate the trek.
For your own and the animal’s safety, there are strict regulations around how close and how long you may spend with the animals. Your ranger will provide details during the morning briefing. Visitors spend a maximum of one hour with the gorillas.
A minimal level of mobility and fitness is required to participate in the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking activities. However, every morning, the rangers will assign gorilla families to guests based on their interests and level of fitness. If possible, those with physical limitations may be offered a gorilla family that is closer to the ranger station, however, this cannot be guaranteed because it will depend on where the gorillas are on that day and they have free range to move about inside the entire perimeter of Bwindi Forest.
Gorilla trekking may include crossing streams, walking up the steep side of Bwindi Forest, ducking down under tree branches, walking on mud, etc. You can hire porters on the day to help carry your backpack.
Once your trip is confirmed, we will send you a detailed packing list with everything you need to take. In general, the number one rule on safari is to blend in, that is, avoid colors that do not naturally occur in the bush (eg. red, blue, white) and go for earthy tones like brown, green, etc. Black is also a color to be avoided because it attracts mosquitoes.
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking have a separate set of regulations for you to stay safe and for the animals to be protected from human diseases. You can read more about packing here.
The prospect of getting sick while alone in a foreign country is daunting, and this is why we require all our guests have comprehensive travel and medical insurance that includes international evacuation. Should you fall sick, our local partner’s team will escort you to the nearest medical facility so you can get the help you need, and will stay with you if needed.
We recommend you get the most comprehensive travel and medical insurance that would cover you in the event that you need to be evacuated to Kampala, Entebbe, Nairobi or back home. We recommend checking with an aggregator such as Travel Insurance Master to compare quotes and coverages.
You do need a visa to enter both Uganda and Rwanda. To avoid paying twice for a single visa for each destination, an East African Tourist Visa is the way to go.
The East African Tourist Visa is valid for travel within Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. You can submit your visa application online or obtain one upon arrival. For both Uganda and Rwanda, we recommend getting your visa upon arrival, it is the easiest and the process is straightforward.
Our payment plan includes 3 instalments: a $300 non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot, a 30% payment 210 days before the trip and the balance 120 days before departure. Should the trip not reach the minimum number of guests, all balances will be carried forward to a date in the future. It the trip needs to be cancelled for reasons beyond our control after the 30% payment has been made, there may be additional fees required to change the date of the gorilla and chimpanzee permits as imposed by the Ugandan authorities. These fees currently stand at 30% of the cost of the permit.
We offer the option to pay via bank transfers as these are the most cost effective bank charges. However, if you wish to use a credit card, we use Paypal and will need to add around 4% for bank fees.
All the accommodation we will be staying at has WiFi but in most cases this is only available at the main common area or may be limited in speed and bandwidth. This is because camps try to keep impact to a minimum and because connection in the bush is challenging. We invite you to take this opportunity to be in the moment and disconnect from your always-on life.