Known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’, Rwanda is a lush and hilly country, home to the endangered mountain gorillas who live amongst the bamboo-covered slopes of the Virunga Massif in Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda is a safe and peaceful country and one of the cleanest on the African continent. Innovative conservation programs have been very successful, with wildlife numbers increasing every year

Uganda is an impressive destination in the heart of East Africa. It is a land characterised by great lakes, waterfalls, dramatic mountains and thriving wildlife populations. Home to the source of the Nile River, the continent’s largest lake, Africa’s tallest mountain range, fabulous national parks and wildlife reserves, including the highest concentration of primates on earth, Uganda has so much to offer its visitors

• Official name: Republic of Rwanda
• Local name: Rwanda
• Population: 13,462,000
• Population per km²: 511.1
• Area: 26,340 km²
• Capital: Kigali
• Bordering: Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, Uganda

• Official name: Republic of Uganda
• Local name: Uganda
• Population: 45,854,000
• Population per km²: 189.8
• Area: 241,550 km²
• Capital: Kampala
• Bordering: DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania

Rwanda has a year-round tropical highland climate. Rain is commonplace in Rwanda, with the driest months being June to mid-September and the wettest from mid-February to May and mid-September to mid-December

Uganda enjoys a tropical climate with most temperature variations determined by elevation and presence of lakes. Rain showers are commonplace, with the dry seasons being December to March and June to August

Rwanda is home to 4 national parks including Volcanoes, Akagera, Nyungwe and Gishwati Mukura. The country has no Wildlife Reserves or Wildlife Sanctuaries

Uganda has 10 national parks including Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley. The country also has 11 Wildlife Reserves and 1 Wildlife Sanctuary

Akagera is the only national park in Rwanda which is home to the Big Five. In partnership with African Parks, Akagera has successfully reintroduced lions and rhinos into the national park

Apart from rhinos, which can only be seen in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the other members of Uganda's Big Five can be spotted in Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley and Queen Elizabeth national parks

604 mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Massif, an area which encompasses Volcanoes NP (160 km²) in Rwanda, Virunga NP (7,900 km²) in the DRC, and Mgahinga NP (33,7 km²) in Uganda:

Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)

• 96 permits per day (12 groups with 8 permits per group)
• Permit price: $1500
• 10% of permit price goes to the communities bordering the parks

459 mountain gorillas live in the Bwindi-Sarambwe ecosystem, an area which encompasses Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP (321 km²) in Uganda, and Sarambwe Reserve (9 km²) in the DRC:

Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Uganda)

• 184 permits per day (23 groups with 8 permits per group)
• Permit price: $800
• 20% of permit price goes to the communities bordering the parks

Mgahinga National Park (Ugandan side of the Virunga Massif) is home to 1 group of habituated mountain gorillas and offers 8 permits per day, at $800 per permit

Chimpanzees in Rwanda are found in Nyungwe National Park as well as Gishwati Mukura National Park. Golden monkeys are found in Volcanoes National Park as well as Gishwati Forest

Chimpanzees in Uganda live in Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest, Budongo Forest and in the Semliki Valley. Golden monkeys are found in Mgahinga National Park

There are approximately 703 Bird species in Rwanda, predominantly located in Nyungwe NP in the west of Rwanda and Akagera NP in the east of the country

There are approximately 1090 Bird species in Uganda. The best parks for birding are Murchison Falls NP, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP, Mgahinga Gorilla NP and Semuliki NP

A snapshot of some of the wildlife organisations operating in Rwanda:

• African Parks
• African Wildlife Foundation
• Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
• Gorilla Doctors
• International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP)
• Save the Chimps
• The Gorilla Organisation
• Wildlife Conservation Society

A snapshot of some of the wildlife organisations operating in Uganda:

• African Wildlife Foundation
• Born Free Foundation
• Gorilla Doctors
• International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP)
• Jane Goodall Institute
• Save the Chimps
• The Gorilla Organisation
• Wildlife Conservation Society

Listed below are a selection of some of the activities available in Rwanda:

Kigali City Tour, Music, Fashion & Style, Museums, Art Galleries, Canoeing, Kayaking, Boat Cruises, Gorilla Tracking, Colobus Monkeys, Ellen DeGeneres Campus, Dian Fossey Grave visit, Chimpanzee Tracking, Golden Monkey Tracking, Congo Nile Trail, Big 5 spotting, Game Drives, Hot Air Balloon, Volcano Summit, Birding, Community Walk, Canopy Walkway, Karisoke hike, Kwita Izina baby gorilla naming ceremony, Chimpanzee Tracking, Imbabazi visit, Dian Fossey events, Behind the Scenes, Horse Riding, Cycling Tours, Cooking classes, King's Palace, Intore Dancers, Umuganda, Zipline, Craft distilleries,

Tea Plantation visit, Genocide Memorial sites, Sports Tourism

Listed below are a selection of some of the activities available in Uganda:

Kampala City Tour, Kampala Motorbike Tours, Art Galleries, Museums, Fashion & Style, Music, Tea Plantation visits, Canoeing, Kayaking, Boat Cruises, Gorilla Tracking, Chimpanzee Tracking, Golden Monkey Tracking, Colobus Monkeys, Big 5 spotting, Game Drives, Tree Climbing Lions, Hot Air Balloon, Volcano Summit, Birding, Community Walk, Waterfall walk, Horse Riding, Chimpanzee Tracking, Behind the Scenes, Tea Demonstration and tasting, Whitewater rafting, Cycling Tours, Sports Tourism, Cooking classes, Street Food Tour, Murchison Falls, Source of the Nile,

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Community Experiences, Kings Palace, Mountaineering, Zipline, Equator Tour

Rwanda's Nyungwe National Park and Genocide memorial sites (namely Nyamata, Murambi, Bisesero and Gisozi) are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list

Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP, Rwenzori Mountains NP and Kasubi Royal Tombs are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, with an additional 5 sites on the tentative list

Although less expensive accommodation options are available, Rwanda markets itself as a high-end luxury destination, which is reflected in the price level of it's lodges and tented camps

Uganda offers a wide choice of accommodation options, from mid-range to luxury properties. The luxury lodges and tented camps are not as expensive as the ones in Rwanda

Beans, bananas, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and sorghum are the most common foods in Rwanda. Dairy products are also widely consumed, particularly a traditional drink of curdled milk. Meat, primarily beef, goat, and chicken are also on the menu, as is freshwater fish. Sorghum and banana beers are common. The national drink is Urwagwa, a banana beer

Popular dishes in Uganda include Matoke (a staple made from bananas), millet bread, cassava, sweet potatoes, chicken and beef stews, and freshwater fish. White potatoes, yams, corn, cabbage, pumpkin, tomatoes, millet, peas, sorghum, beans, groundnuts, and goat meat are also consumed. Dairy products are popular. The national drink is Waragi, a banana gin

The network of roads and highways in Rwanda comprises of a total length of approximately 4,700 km. The condition of the roads are generally of good standard

(Source: WorldData info)

The network of roads and highways in Uganda comprises of a total length of approximately 20,500 km. In many places in Uganda, roads are not as well maintained as in Rwanda

(Source: WorldData info)

In today's Rwanda, the population are encouraged to recognise only one ethnicity; namely 'Rwandan'

Uganda is home to over 57 ethnic communities, each with their own unique language, food and culture

Since the Rwandan Ministry of Health’s Marburg virus outbreak declaration statement, cases have been contained within the hospital environment mainly affecting frontline healthcare workers. The rest have been linked to the index case (a cave miner) and there is currently no evidence of community transmission.

Marburg is not an airborne illness. The WHO have published a helpful article advising that travel and trade restrictions should not be put in place with Rwanda

At present, there are no reported Marburg virus cases in Uganda or the rest of East Africa.

The Ministry of Health's department of epidemics monitoring and response has confirmed that Uganda is on high alert to prevent the cross-border spread following the outbreak in neighbouring Rwanda.

In past years there have been 3 Marburg outbreaks in Uganda. In 2012 with 15 reported cases in Kabale, 1 case in 2014 in Kampala, and 4 cases in 2017 in Kween

Rwanda Tailor-made

- In the Footsteps of Dian Fossey -

- The Old Kingdom of Rwanda -

- Rwanda's Picturesque Lakes -

- In Search of Rwanda's Big 5 -

- Rwanda's Oldest Rainforest -

Uganda Tailor-made

- Uganda's Gorillas and Chimps -

- The Highlights of East Africa -

- Uganda's Mountain Gorillas -

- The Highlights of Uganda -



Rwanda Small Group

- In the Foosteps of Dian Fossey -

- Primates, Migration & Big 5 -

- The Highlights of Rwanda -

- Gorillas, Big 5 & Zanzibar -

Uganda Small Group

- Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda & Uganda -



Rwanda FAM

The Volcanoes National Park segment of this trip will be guided by Ian Redmond. Ian worked with Dian Fossey at the original Karisoke Research Center in the 1970s, introduced Sir David Attenborough to the mountain gorillas, and taught Sigourney Weaver to grunt like a gorilla for her award-winning role in 'Gorillas in the Mist'.

Site inspections will include luxury properties in Kigali, Akagera NP and Volcanoes NP (including The Retreat, Magashi, Kwitonda Lodge, Bisate, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge and Gorilla's Nest).

Uganda FAM

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park segment of our two trips will be guided by Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. In the legacy of the late Dian Fossey, Gladys has become one of the leading conservationists and scientists working to save mountain gorillas. Gladys is the founder and CEO of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH).

Site inspections will include luxury properties in Entebbe, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Tour Leaders who lived and worked with Dian Fossey

Travulous' Tour Leaders are the former research staff and colleagues of gorilla primatologist, the late Dian Fossey. Our Tour Leaders lived and worked with Dian at the original Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda in the 1970s and 80s. Today they work for, and advise, leading conservation organisations including the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Born Free Foundation, and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Dian Fossey inspired Tailor-made itineraries & Small Group tours

Led by our specialist Tour Leaders Craig Sholley, Ian Redmond, John Fowler and Peter Veit, you will hear the stories, first-hand, from the very people who worked with Dian to make it possible. There is no better way to learn how mountain gorilla conservation has evolved from the 1970s to the present day, and what it must have been like for Dian and our Tour Leaders living in the remote location of Karisoke Research Center all those years ago.

Travulous' CEO worked for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

Did you know, prior to co-founding Travulous, Richard operated as the the exclusive Travel Provider and Tour Consultant for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGFI) in Rwanda? He created specialist mountain gorilla itineraries for DFGFI customers visiting East Africa, escorted by specialist Tour Leaders including Clare Richardson, President Emeritus of DFGFI, and John Fowler. Richard also partnered with the Born Free Foundation and the Jane Goodall Institute in East Africa.

20+ Years of Safari experience in East Africa

Working in the region since 2003, Travulous is the creation of Kristin and Richard. With over 20 years of experience in the travel, tourism and events industries, they have extensive experience of designing one-of-a-kind luxury travel experiences in East Africa, for both the travel trade and customers who book direct with us. From the provision of ground services to flights and accommodations, we take great pride in executing every trip in East Africa to perfection.

Your One-Stop-Solution

Protected Trust Services

Travulous is a member of Protected Trust Services (PTS). Regardless of your location, book with confidence knowing all monies are fully protected and safely held in a separate trust account, managed by independent trustees, with the funds only used to pay for your booking. All business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) customers of Travulous benefit from its PTS trust account and insurance model.

Singita Kilima

Serengeti NP

Wilderness Bisate Reserve

Volcanoes NP

&Beyond Mnemba Island

Zanzibar Archipelago

SanctuaryGorilla Forest Lodge

Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Osonjoi Lodge

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Visit our website or contact us if you would like more information about these new or soon-to-be refurbished properties, or if you would like us to incorporate any of them into your next safari itinerary to East Africa:

Anglican Business Centre, Giporoso, Kigali, Rwanda



+250 786 415 499

Plot 2321, Kyadondo Block, Kigowa, Kampala, Uganda



+256 742037702

Nairobi

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