Uganda & Rwanda
January 25 - February 3, 2027
10 Day Primate & Wildlife Safari
“A sense of calm came over me. More and more often I found myself thinking, ‘This is where I belong. This is what I came into this world to do.”
– Jane Goodall
Join us January 25 - February 3, 2027 for an unforgettable 10-day adventure through Uganda and Rwanda. This is a rare opportunity to trek with endangered primates, explore breathtaking landscapes, and connect deeply with the heart of East Africa.
The journey begins in Kampala, Uganda, where you’ll meet your fellow travellers and settle in for the experience ahead. Over the next ten days, you’ll encounter playful chimpanzees, sit quietly with mountain gorillas in the rainforest, and take in the beauty of savannahs, lakes, and volcanoes. Along the way, you’ll meet inspiring women, visit conservation hubs, and learn from the communities who call this region home. Every day will offer new discoveries, from wildlife sightings to meaningful cultural connections. By the time we gather for our farewell in Kigali, you’ll leave with a heart full of wonder and the kind of memories most people only dream of.
Trip Highlights
Trek with the Primates
Embark on two extraordinary gorilla treks: first in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and later in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
Each trek offers a chance to sit quietly with a different gorilla family — observing their tender bonds, playful energy, and the commanding presence of the silverbacks.
Chimpanzee Encounters
Trek through Kibale Forest in Uganda to meet lively chimpanzees.
Watch their expressive behaviour — from grooming rituals to bursts of mischief — that reveal their close kinship to us.
Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari
Game drives across savannahs where tree-climbing lions, elephants, and hippos roam.
A women-led cultural experience nearby, connecting with local artisans and storytellers.
Tranquil Water Journeys
Float down the Kazinga Channel on a boat safari surrounded by elephants, hippos, buffalo, and vibrant birdlife.
Absorb the stillness of Lake Bunyonyi, dotted with islands and local canoes.
Women’s Voices, Women’s Work
Stay in and support women-owned lodges, restaurants, and craft collectives.
Learn about traditional life, weaving, and community projects powered by women.
Rwanda’s Story
Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to honour lives lost, reflect on the nation’s resilience, and witness Rwanda’s bright future built on peace, safety, and unity.
Spend time at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, where science, conservation, and community come together to protect gorillas and empower people.
Two Countries, One Journey
Cross from Uganda into Rwanda, experiencing the blend of cultures, landscapes, and rhythms that make this corner of Africa so unforgettable.
What’s Included
• All accommodation in carefully selected lodges and guesthouses, including women-owned and eco-conscious options where possible. These are Mid to Luxury accommodations.
• TWO gorilla treks with professional guides (Bwindi, Uganda & Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda): Cost: $4000 CAD
• Chimpanzee trek with professional guides in Kibale Forest: $400 CAD
• Safari drives and permits in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Guided walk and cultural experiences.
• Boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel and canoe ride on the Twin Lakes
• Guided cultural experiences and visits to local communities. We pay appropriately instead of the community relying on tips and you needing to reach into your wallet each day.
• Park entry fees and conservation levies
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners including tips
• Ground transportation within Uganda & Rwanda, including a professional driver/guide
The Itinerary
This is a preview of our itinerary, and while there's some flexibility, any adjustments or additions will only enrich our adventure.
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe, Uganda
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Kampala. Settle in and enjoy a welcome dinner while meeting your fellow adventurers.
Overnight at Serena Hotel or similar.
Meal: Dinner
Day 2: Journey to Kibale Forest National Park
Embark on a scenic drive to Kibale Forest National Park, renowned as the “Primate Capital of Africa.” This lush rainforest is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species, including the endangered red colobus and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey.
Optional Activity: Crater Lakes Hike
Enhance your experience with a hike to the Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes, located approximately 25 km south of Fort Portal. This tranquil trail meanders through verdant landscapes, offering panoramic views of the crater lakes, tea plantations, and the distant Rwenzori Mountains area.
Conclude your day with a restful evening at your lodge, reflecting on the day’s adventures and the natural wonders encountered.
Day 3: Kibale Forest National Park Chimpanzee Trekking
After breakfast, set out with expert trackers into the emerald tangle of Kibale’s forest trails for an unforgettable chimpanzee tracking experience. Watch habituated chimps squabble, groom, leap and play — up-close moments that are equal parts hilarious and heart-stopping. Bring your camera and a sense of wonder.
Later, wander the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, alive with birdsong, orchids and quiet pools — a living classroom of biodiversity. This visit also supports local conservation and community projects, so your footsteps help sustain the people who care for this land.
In the afternoon, meet the beating heart of rural life on a guided village walk. Depending on your interests, visit a traditional healer to learn about plant medicines and local remedies, step into family homes to hear stories of birth, marriage and clan life, and gain perspective on the hopes and challenges of this resilient community. Time permitting, we’ll also visit a local school, a welcoming church, and Bigodi’s bustling trading centre — a warm, colourful hub of daily life.
Return to your lodge as the light softens, share stories over dinner, and sleep well — the forest’s chorus lulling you into the next day’s adventure. Overnight at Chimpundu Lodge or similar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, drive south to Uganda’s most iconic reserve—Queen Elizabeth National Park. With sweeping savannah, crater lakes, and rainforest, this park shelters elephants, lions, hippos, buffalo, leopards, and more.
Begin with a game drive across the Kasenyi plains, where you may spot antelope, elephants, and predators on the hunt. In the afternoon, enjoy a wildlife cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George. This stretch is alive with activity: hippos jostling in the shallows, crocodiles sunning on the banks, and elephants gathering at the water’s edge. The channel is also a birding haven, with everything from colourful kingfishers to soaring African fish eagles.
End the day with another evening safari, golden light and cooling air bring the bush to life — offering quieter game viewing, a higher chance of predator activity, and wonderful photo moments that make the experience truly unforgettable.
Overnight at Elephant Plains Lodge or similar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Journey into the scenic highlands of southwestern Uganda, passing terraced hillsides and villages along the way. By afternoon, you’ll arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa. This ancient rainforest is home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, as well as chimpanzees, monkeys, forest elephants, and over 350 species of birds.
The rest of the day is yours to relax and prepare for tomorrow’s trek. Take in the views from your lodge, surrounded by dense forest and alive with the calls of tropical birds.
Optional Bike tour may be available.
Overnight at Four Gorillas Lodge or similar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: First Gorilla Encounter and Batwa Village Visit
In the morning we enter the misty, primeval rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your gorilla trek. The activity begins at 8:00 a.m. and you’ll walk with experienced ranger-guides in a small group (maximum 8 people) as you search for the habituated gorilla family assigned by permit. Bwindi is home to roughly 420 mountain gorillas — about half the world’s population — and sightings are wonderfully intimate but always unpredictable; the time it takes to find the group varies day to day. Once located, you will have one hour to quietly observe and photograph these remarkable animals.
Later, meet members of the Batwa community, the forest’s original inhabitants. Learn about their traditions, history, and the resilience of a people who once lived side by side with the gorillas. This cultural encounter provides a meaningful balance to the day’s wildlife experience.Embark on your second gorilla trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
Overnight at Four Gorillas Lodge or similar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Crossing into Rwanda - Ruhengeri
After breakfast, cross the border into Rwanda, a country of rolling green hills and warm hospitality. Arrive in Ruhengeri, the gateway town to Volcanoes National Park, where you’ll spend the next two nights.
This afternoon, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, a world-class centre for conservation, research, and education. Here, Dian Fossey’s groundbreaking legacy of protecting mountain gorillas lives on, expanded by a modern hub that connects science with community empowerment. You’ll learn how local partnerships, education initiatives, and research are working hand in hand to secure a sustainable future for Rwanda’s wildlife and people.
Optional: Glide across Rwanda’s Twin Lakes, Burera and Ruhondo, in a traditional dugout canoe. With volcanoes rising in the distance and fishermen at work along the shores, it’s a peaceful pause to take in the beauty of daily life.
Overnight at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Tilorenza Eco Lodge or similar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today brings your second gorilla trek, this time in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, where rainforest cloaks the slopes of ancient volcanoes. Every gorilla trek is a unique adventure—different gorilla families, behaviours, and personalities await. You may observe playful infants exploring under the watchful eyes of their mothers, silverbacks asserting their gentle authority, or family groups resting and interacting in ways you could never anticipate. Each encounter offers new insights into gorilla social life, making every trek a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Optional activity: Cycling tour maybe available pending on timing. With this, you get to explore the areas rich culture and beautiful countryside with options ranging from leisurely rides to more demanding mountain bike adventures.
Overnight at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or similar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Rwandan Culture & Kigali Genocide Memorial
Begin at the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village, where traditional music, dance, and crafts showcase Rwanda’s rich heritage. Connect with artisans and performers, learning how community creativity drives local empowerment.
In the afternoon, explore Kigali, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a space of remembrance and education that honours those lost while reflecting Rwanda’s extraordinary recovery. Witness the city’s growth through thriving markets, women-led businesses, and innovative community projects—a testament to Rwanda’s resilience and its role as a model of possibility in Africa.
Farewell Dinner — Hôtel des Mille Collines
Conclude your journey with an elegant farewell dinner at the iconic Hôtel des Mille Collines — a place that carries deep history and also offers a refined, welcoming setting for your final evening together. This dinner is an opportunity to celebrate the shared experiences of the trip, acknowledge the people and places you’ve met, and reflect on the themes of resilience, conservation and community empowerment that have shaped your safari.
Overnight: Hôtel des Mille Collines or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Kigali Women’s Initiatives & Departure
Spend your final morning engaging with women-led initiatives, such as the Nyamirambo Women’s Center, where creativity, entrepreneurship, and empowerment flourish. Visit local craft markets before making your way to the airport, taking with you memories of Rwanda’s wildlife, culture, and inspiring journey toward a sustainable and hopeful future.
Meals: Breakfast
Trip Cost
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$295 CAD for optional early arrival. 1 night stay in shared room, breakfast plus shared transport from the airport (EBB) to the hotel.
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Initial Deposit: CAD 1,000 — secures your place in your priority group. It is non-refundable after 48 hours.
• Second Deposit: CAD 6,500 — March 1, 2026 due when primate and safari permits need to be purchased. This deposit covers: USD 3,200+ Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Safari permit fees charged in USD and a portion of lodging, guides, and transportation costs to ensure your key arrangements are secured early.
• Final Deposit: Remaining balance due 90 days prior to departure.
Cancellation Policy
We know life happens and plans can change. Here’s how we handle cancellations:
• Cancel within 48 hours of booking: you’ll receive a 100% refund.
• After March 1, 2026, many of the costs (like gorilla permits and certain lodge deposits) are non-refundable. In these cases, we will only return any refundable amounts but please have proper travel insurance.
• 90 days prior to travel, after final payment, it is 100% non-refundable.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance with cancellation and interruption coverage is required. Standard Canadian policies cover illness, injury, or family emergencies. For extra flexibility, consider Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage.
We want you to feel confident booking your adventure — we’ll be with you every step of the way!
Important Notes
Deposit
The schedule for deposits will be as follows:
Initial Deposit: CAD 1,000 — secures your place in your priority group.
Second Deposit: CAD 6,500 — due March 1, 2026. This deposit covers: USD 3,200 Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Safari permit fees charged in USD and a portion of lodging, guides, and transportation costs to ensure your key arrangements are secured early.
Final Deposit: Remaining balance due 90 days prior to departure.
Gorilla Permit
Please note the following:
Gorilla tracking is dependent on permit availability at the time of booking. Permits will only be secured after the trip has reached the minimum number of participants and the second deposit has been received.
Small Group Travel
Frequently Asked Questions
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The cost of this journey reflects the extraordinary experiences it holds. Just the required gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits add up to more than $3,200 USD per person. On top of that, the trip includes carefully selected accommodations, expert guiding, meals as outlined in the itinerary, and the kind of behind-the-scenes details that make travel seamless.
With Ember and Earth, fair pricing matters. In many trips, travellers are asked to give daily donations—often $20–$80—for community visits, artisan workshops, or cultural demonstrations. We’ve built these contributions into your trip cost so you can fully enjoy the experiences, knowing that local women and communities are valued and supported with dignity.
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We’ve chose mid to luxury lodges and boutique retreats that are both comfortable and culturally grounded. Whenever possible, we partner with women-owned or women-run lodges to keep your travel dollars uplifting women in the tourism industry. In a few locations, that option isn’t available—but rest assured, every stay has been chosen with intention for quality, location, and warmth.
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Yes! We’re exploring a partnership with a bike tour company to offer optional guided cycling for those who’d love to experience East Africa from a different perspective. This won’t be required, but it’s a wonderful add-on if you enjoy cycling.
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Throughout our journey in Uganda and Rwanda, we may have the chance to add in some extra adventures. Because the various length of time for gorilla and chimpanzee treks, border crossings, or road travel, these activities aren’t guaranteed and are not included in the trip price. If the opportunity arises, you can choose to join in and pay separately. Examples may include a Crater Lake hike, a biking or even e-biking experience (we’re working with a partner to bring bikes into Rwanda—an incredible bonus if it comes together!), or other unique add-ons along the way. These options give our days a little more flexibility, while keeping the focus on the core experiences of the trip.
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We’re proud to work with a woman-owned tour company in East Africa. This ensures that your travel not only supports conservation and local communities but also uplifts women leaders in the tourism industry—helping to rebalance an industry where women are still underrepresented at the ownership level.
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At Ember and Earth Travel, we weave journeys that go deeper than sightseeing. Our trips are designed by women, for women, centering connection, laughter, and exploration. We partner with women-owned accommodations, guides, and artisans so that every step of your adventure supports and uplifts local women.
We believe in fair pricing over tipping, valuing cultural experiences for the skill and heritage behind them. Our travellers return home with more than photos—they return with friendships, meaningful encounters, and the joy of knowing their presence made a positive impact.
What’s Not Included
• Optional activities listed or beyond the main itinerary
• Alcoholic beverages
• International flights and visa fees
• Tips for the Drivers, Trekking Guides and optional Porters (recommendations will be provided)
• Pre-arrival extra night (recommended if you want a relaxed start)
Let’s adventure together
Interested in joining us on this journey?