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Silverback gorillas up close. Chimps crashing through the canopy. A warthog family trotting past like they're already late for a meeting. This is Rwanda and Uganda and 13 days won’t feel like enough.
We're calling this the trip of a lifetime, and we don't say that lightly. Sitting with gorillas in the Bwindi rainforest is certainly a highlight, but this is a multi-faceted trip: savanna game drives, a boat cruise toward one of Africa's great waterfalls, wetlands thick with birdlife, mountains that shift the view every few hours. Every day looks different from the one before it.
At NextTribe, we believe this stage of life — 45 and beyond — is exactly the moment to say yes to more of it: real connection, unfamiliar ground, a version of adventure most women only dream about. We'll sit with Batwa community members as they demonstrate centuries-old forest skills, visit a cooperative supporting single mothers, and spend an afternoon with women who run a farm from planting to harvest. You come for the animals, but it's the people who will really capture your heart.
You'll travel with two guides: a NextTribe host who makes sure everyone feels welcome and looked after, and a local guide whose knowledge of the land and its people opens doors most visitors never find. And every mile you travel helps fund the conservation that keeps these gorillas — and the communities around them — thriving.
NextTribe members receive a $100 discount on this trip. We also have easy, interest-free payment options.
~ Small groups — women 45+ ~ Solo travelers welcome
~ Guided by local expertise ~ Aging boldly since 2017
An adventure this big can feel like a lot to take on alone. With the right group beside you, it's exactly the opposite.
You won't be the only one. A good number of the women on this trip travel solo. You'll land among women in exactly the same boat, by design.
Two people looking out for you. Your NextTribe host makes sure you're never left out of a conversation or sitting alone at dinner. Your local guide makes sure you don't miss a thing this region has to offer. Between the two of them, you're covered.
Togetherness, with room to breathe. Shared lodges, shared game drives, shared gasps at your first glimpse of a silverback bring the group close fast — but there's downtime built in too, so a quiet afternoon on your own is always an option, not an inconvenience.
Rooming made simple. Travel solo with your own room for a single supplement, or let us know and we'll match you with a roommate from the group.
Activity Level 4: This trip is rated a 4, but not because you will spend every day hiking. The trek to the gorillas is unpredictable in length, but the climb is not very difficult, especially if you hire a porter for $20 to help you step over branches en route. Since we can't predict where the gorillas or chimps will be, those two days of hiking will be the most challenging.
The comfort and care provided by our local partners, who make sure that everyone gets a chance to see, experience, and photograph whatever interests them most.
The number of “pinch myself” moments that happen almost every day on this trip, from our encounters with the animals (particularly the gorillas!) to our conversations with fascinating local women.
How incredibly beautiful Rwanda and Uganda are: not only the landscape but the people, too.
Surprisingly mild weather on most of the trip (at least that’s how it was in 2025). And so few mosquitos. We were expecting hordes of them!
The ability to have an extreme adventure while traveling in affordable luxury and ease. Yes, some of the roads are rough but the drivers are professionals who know how to navigate them, and how to spot wildlife from a mile away!
This trip fulfilled my childhood dreams of seeing the amazing animals of Africa. I couldn’t believe how close we were. The trip was so well planned that I never worried about a thing.
--Tania T.
We thought the gorilla viewing would be the highlight of the trip, but the thrills kept coming. Standing up through the roof of a Nkuringo Safaris truck, we learned about and observed hordes of graceful giraffes, elusive chimpanzees, playful L'Hoest monkeys, black and white colobus, friendly bush hogs, skittish antelope, countless elephants, lions in a tree, lumbering horned water buffalos, soaking hippopotamus, exotic birds, and open-mouthed crocodiles.
–Karen K.
Do I need to come with someone? Not at all. Plenty of NextTribe travelers come solo, and this group bonds fast.
Will I know anyone? At the start, probably not. By day two, for sure.
How physically demanding is this trip? We rate it a 4. The gorilla and chimp treks are the most challenging days — length is unpredictable and depends on where the animals are that day — but the terrain itself isn't extreme, and porters are available to help.
Do I need a visa? Yes, for Uganda. We'll walk you through the process before you go.
What about travel insurance? Required for this trip, including medical evacuation coverage, given how remote parts of the route are. We can point you toward options.
What's included? Lodging, most meals, gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits, domestic flights in Africa, a private guided 4x4, airport transfers, and a NextTribe representative throughout. International airfare is not included.
What if I need to cancel? Full refund up to 90 days out, except for your deposit, which can be applied to a future trip. We highly recommend travel protection insurance, and can point you toward options.
This will be Jeannie Ralston’s first trip to Rwanda and Uganda–though she went on safari in Tanzania and Kenya several years ago (with her sons, as pictured above)–and had a surprising reaction to her experience. “I knew I would love seeing the wildlife. But on the day we were leaving I sobbed because I would miss the people so much–all the wonderful, warm, open-hearted people I met.”
Visiting the gorillas is on her bucket list and she would have gone on our Gorilla trip in June 2025 but her son’s wedding occurred at the same time. (Girl’s got priorities straight.) So she’s beyond excited to have this chance in 2027 with a group of fun, adventurous women–and is sure that she’ll fall in love with the locals all over again.
A driver will be waiting for you outside of the Kigali International Airport, just after you exit customs. He'll have a sign with NextTribe (or your name) on it, and he'll take you to our hotel.
Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, stretches across lush undulating hills surrounded by mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali. Since the city's elevation is 5,000 feet above sea level, temperatures are very mild this time of year.
ThIs a free day to rest, shop, or gather in small groups to visit local entrepreneurs or NGOs. A group welcome dinner is included.
Morning at Leisure and Kigali City Tour. The Kigali city tour includes a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a deeply moving experience, and tribute to resilience of the Rwandan people. As we drive around the city today, this visit will give you an appreciation for how far the country has come in just 30 years.
After lunch we'll visit Nyamirambo women Center to support local female entreprenuers. Depending on the group's interests, we can make a stop at a local market or a visit to an Art Gallery the Inema Art Centre, or a local NGO that helps women and children, the Root Foundation.
After an early breakfast, we'll make the 2.5 hour drive to the Rwanda / Uganda border (Katuna border), have snacks (and always, plenty of pit stops along the way,) and travel another 3 hours to the northern sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest (Buhoma).
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an African adventure that should be on every traveler's bucket list. The park is home to almost half of the world's remaining population of mountain gorillas, making it one of the best destinations for gorilla trekking.
We'll arrive in time for a late lunch at our gorgeous home for the next three nights, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge
We'll have an early, hearty breakfast to give us the energy needed for gorilla trekking. Before 8:00 am, we'll report to the ranger station for registration and a talk by one of the rangers. The guides will then take us through the bush, pushing our way through the undergrowth to track the gorillas. Porters will be available for hire to help carry our packs, our water, or help us over logs and push us up hill when we need it! (Please note this trek can take from 30 minutes to 5-6 hours).
We'll sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them ‘talk’ to one another, and marvel at the size of the dominant male, the Silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. There are only about 880 of these beautiful creatures left on Earth.
We'll spend a full day in the park, with a visit to the Batwa community. Batwa are forest-dwelling hunter-gatherers based in Central Africa and are widely accepted as the original inhabitants of the region. Community members will show us how they hunt, cook, and gather leaves from the forest to use in cooking and for medicine.
We'll also visit a local cooperative that helps single mothers (who are rejected by their families in this culture) provide food, clothing, and shelter for their children.
After an early breakfast, we'll take a 2-hour ride to Kihihi Airstrip to catch a scheduled flight to Kasese. There, we will be met by drivers who will take us past farms and villages to the Turaco Treetops Lodge
In the afternoon we can relax at the lodge, swim, play board games, or opt for nature walks around the lodge.
After an early breakfast, we'll drive 15 minutes to the visitor center for a briefing and group assignments (faster or slower) before starting our trek.
We are allowed to spend 1 hour with the chimps and the time spent trekking can be anywhere from 2 - 5 hours. The density and diversity of primates in Kibale National Park is the highest in the whole of Africa. Kibale’s 1,450 chimpanzee population is Uganda’s largest.
Additionally, Kibale is home to the uncommon I’Hoest’s monkey as well as East Africa’s biggest population of the endangered red colobus monkey. The black & white colobus, red tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, grey cheeked mangabey, bush baby and potto are among the other primates.
We'll walk along a boardwalk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a great example of a community-based approach to natural resources management which helps the local economy as it welcomes visitors. It is a fifteen-minute drive from the hotel.
This sanctuary is a haven for bird watchers - skilled birders can spot up to 50 new species on a bird list. Today 138 species of birds have been recognized within the sanctuary, among them Great Blue Turaco. Bigodi is also regularly visited by a diverse number of primate species from the nearby national park.
That afternoon we'll visit a prominent local farm to learn about farm life from the women who manage everything.
This morning, we'll drive back to Kasese Airstrip to take a bush plane to Murchison Falls National Park.
When we land our driver/guides will take us to the top of Murchison Falls before proceeding to Entikko Safari Lodge, another full board lodge, this time with a spa and wellness center.
The whole day is dedicated to exploring this unique national park, home to 76 species of mammals and over 451 bird species. The landscape varies from dense rainforest to undulating savannah, with a diversity of abundant wildlife.
After a quick early breakfast, we'll go out for a (very early) game drive along the Buligi Circuit. This part of the Nile Delta gives us the best chance to see lions, elephants, Cape buffalo, antelopes, and giraffes.
After lunch, we'll relax, then take a late afternoon cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls (not too close!), always on the lookout for hippos, elephants, alligators and exotic birds. Our river captains are excellent at spotting these animals and birds, and will pull our private boat close enough to the shore to observe and photograph them.
This morning we'll take a bird-focused river cruise en route to a very special breakfast in the bush. We'll come back to the lodge for lunch, and go out on another game drive in the late afternoon, hoping to spot the elusive leopards, more baboons, warthogs (with their babies, if we're lucky) and more big game.
After an early breakfast we'll depart to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for 1-2 hours and then continue on to Entebbe.
This is the only place in Uganda where southern white rhinos can be tracked. . In 1983 both black rhinos and northern white rhinos were declared extinct throughout Uganda. The purpose of the NGO Rhino Fund Uganda is to return rhinos back into the country, through a program of breeding and release.
Have a relaxing morning, play a round of golf, check out the Marina. Anything to distract from what will likely be an evening flight home! Transfers back to the airport are included if you leave this day. But you may never want to leave!
Inclusions:
12 Nights Lodging
10 Dinners
11 Lunches
11 Breakfasts
Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking Permits
Domestic Flights in Africa
Private 4x4 Landcruiser with English Speaking Guide
Airport Transfers
All activities described in itinerary.
A NextTribe representative through out the tour
A specially curated Enrichment Guide to help you prepare for the trip.
Exclusions:
Roundtrip Airfare
Alcohol not mentioned above
Travel Insurance
Visa Fees
Tips and Gratuities
Any activities not described in itinerary.
Fly Into Kigali International Airport
Fly Out of Entebbe International Airport
You will be met at the airport by our professional guide
A visa is required for entry into Uganda. We will walk you throught it.
Your passport must be valid for at lease six months after the last day of your trip
We require all international travelers to purchase travel insurance. For this trip, we also require medical evacuation coverage. You can find out more about insurance here.
We strongly recommend trip protection insurance to safe-guard your investment. If you have to cancel your trip for any reason after March 5th, NextTribe will not be able to refund any of your payments.
You will be receiving periodic communications from us leading up to departure with other important details included. If you have any questions, you can contact our travel manager, Marcy, at travel@nexttribe.com
Legal Stuff: For complete terms of service, see below
Next Tribe requires all international travelers to purchase travel insurance.
Travel insurance can be a helpful and valuable resource to pack! It can protect the investment of your trip and you while traveling.
We partner with Wanderwell, a Certified B Corporation travel insurance provider that makes it as simple as possible by not overwhelming you with options.
They offer just a few modern, benefit-packed trip protection plans that can cover the most common travel perils related to trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, travel Medical Expenses, baggage & personal effects, Emergency Medical Evacuation, and more.
Click Here to create quotes and purchase a plan through Wanderwell from our partner page.
If you prefer to talk to someone, please email support@gowanderwell.com. They will set up a phone call with you and can answer your questions.
On this trip, we require evacuation insurance. We are also an affiliate of Global Rescue. They offer comprehensive evacuation insurance if you feel you need more than what your standard policy will cover. This is extra coverage, in addition to your travel insurance.
For most of history, women past child-bearing years were basically put out to pasture. This was happening even in our mothers’ time. We call bullshit on that. We believe we are at a peak in so many ways and are devoted to helping women our age live the richest, most kick-ass lives possible.
We do that by informing, promoting and connecting women–through our magazine, through our member community and through the transformative experiences of travel.
So many travel choices…so little time. You could spend days and days trying to put together just the right combination of destination, activities, and price.
Or you could stop shopping and start traveling with us for something that feels like the greatest girlfriend trip ever–even if you come solo. We specialize in experiences that deeply connect you to other women–travelers and locals–and create life-lasting memories. Experiences you can’t get on your own. And do it all with flexible payment options.
This video will tell you if you’re a good fit for a NextTribe trip. We are proud that we’ve become known for how quickly and deeply our groups of women bond on our trips. One of our rules: No divas, please.
For more information, please contact our travel manager at travel@nexttribe.com