Discover Wild Africa: From Safari to Silverbacks

Join us for an extraordinary 9-day/8-night journey through Zimbabwe, Botswana, Rwanda, and Uganda — four countries, countless wildlife encounters, and experiences that stay with you long after you return home. This retreat blends game drives, cultural immersion, and rare primate encounters into one seamless adventure, with Walker Wellness Retreats handling every detail along the way.

Highlights by Destination:

• Zimbabwe: Your adventure begins in Victoria Falls, where you'll explore one of the world's most breathtaking natural wonders on a guided walk, connect with elephants at Wild Horizons Elephant Wallow, and cruise the Zambezi River aboard the elegant Zambezi Royal at sunset.

• Botswana: Cross into Botswana for a full day at Chobe National Park, home to one of Africa's largest elephant populations. A morning river cruise and afternoon game drive deliver remarkable wildlife encounters on both land and water.

• Rwanda: Fly to Kigali for a guided city tour, including a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, before heading to Volcanoes National Park for golden monkey tracking and a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

• Uganda: Cross into Uganda and make your way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the centerpiece of the journey — gorilla trekking with a habituated mountain gorilla family. The trip concludes at Queen Elizabeth National Park with a Kazinga Channel boat cruise and chimpanzee tracking before your final transfer to Kigali.

Walker Wellness Retreats manages all logistics from start to finish — private transfers, expert local guides, wildlife permits, and curated experiences at every stop — so you can stay fully present throughout.

Please Note:

• Hotels and the itinerary are subject to change based on weather conditions and availability.

• This retreat involves walking through thick brush and requires good balance. It is not recommended for those with mobility issues.

Amy Walker, MSW, LCSW, CCM

Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Owner, Walker Wellness Retreats

Amy Walker is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Walker Wellness Retreats, which she launched in 2016 to combine her passions for travel, mental wellness, and creating transformative experiences. With a deep commitment to helping others, Amy leads 6–10 international retreats each year, providing all-inclusive experiences that foster connection, self-discovery, and personal growth. She loves showing people the world and creating meaningful, unforgettable travel experiences.

When she’s not guiding retreats, Amy works as an online mental health therapist, specializing in helping individuals and couples overcome barriers, improve communication, and build fulfilling relationships. Her approach integrates evidence-based techniques with compassionate, solution-focused support.

An avid traveler, Amy has visited over 80 countries and counting, with a personal goal to reach 100 countries and all seven continents. She enjoys international travel, wine tasting, whale watching, and spending time outdoors. She runs Walker Wellness Retreats alongside her husband, Brian Walker, ensuring each retreat is a seamless and enriching experience.

To learn more about Amy and the Walker Wellness Retreats team, visit our About Us page.

 Payment Policy

All Walker Wellness Retreats require a 25% non-refundable deposit of the total retreat price to secure your booking. Should you need to cancel your trip, your deposit will not be refunded, regardless of the reason for cancellation.

For U.S. destinations, the next 25% is due 60 days before the trip, and the final remaining balance is due 30 days before departure.

For International Destinations, the next 25% is due 120 days before the trip, and the final remaining balance is due 90 days before departure.

Trips can be paid in full at any time. If booking after the final payment deadline, trip payment in full is due at the time of booking. Invoices NOT paid in full within 7 days of the deadlines mentioned above are subject to trip cancellation. No refunds will be issued for trips canceled due to a lack of payment.  

Cancellation Policy

BEFORE the final payment deadline: If you cancel your reservation before the final payment deadline, any additional payments made beyond the non-refundable 25% deposit will be refunded. However, the 25% deposit remains non-refundable. 

AFTER the final payment deadline: If you cancel your reservation after the final payment deadline, all payments made (including the deposit and any additional amounts) are non-refundable due to financial commitments with our retreat venues, guides, and service providers.

In the unlikely event that Walker Wellness Retreats cancels a retreat, you will be given a 100% full refund. 

We strongly encourage all guests to purchase travel insurance to protect their investment in case of unforeseen circumstances. For additional details on travel insurance coverage and pricing, click the link below.

Travel Insurance 

The deadline to book an international retreat is 30 days before the retreat begins; however, some exceptions can be made based on availability. Please email us at info@walkerwellnessretreats.com to inquire about booking after the deadline has passed.

Arrival & Accommodation: Upon arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, Amy Walker will be waiting with a Walker Wellness Retreats sign. After a warm welcome, enjoy a short 20-minute private transfer to Pamarah Lodge.

Main Activities:

• Zambezi River Sunset Cruise — In the afternoon, board the Zambezi Royal, a custom-built luxury cruise vessel, for a two-hour guided cruise along the Zambezi River. Enjoy five-star service with imported wines, spirits, and gourmet hot and cold canapés while watching for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and diverse birdlife along the upper river. Dress in layers and bring binoculars (included)

Evening Notes: Gather with the group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant — a great chance to meet fellow travelers and ease into the spirit of the retreat.

Meals:

• Dinner: Welcome dinner at a local restaurant (included)

Overnight: Pamarah Lodge, Victoria Falls

Main Activities:

• Luxury Elephant Encounter — After breakfast, head out for an intimate morning with elephants at Wild Horizons Elephant Wallow. Expert guides walk you through the elephants' histories, behaviors, and the conservation efforts behind the program while you observe them up close in their natural habitat. Light refreshments are served on-site before returning to the lodge (included)

• Victoria Falls Guided Walk — After lunch, explore one of the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders on a guided walk along the trails surrounding the Falls. Feel the mist, hear the roar, and take in the sheer scale of the cascading water as it plunges into the gorge below (included)

Evening Notes: The day wraps up with dinner in an elegant setting — a quieter close after a full and memorable day.

Meals:

• Breakfast: At Pamarah Lodge (included)

• Lunch: At a scenic viewpoint overlooking Batoka Gorge (included)

• Dinner: At Pamarah Lodge (included)

Overnight: Pamarah Lodge, Victoria Falls

Main Activities:

• Chobe River Cruise — After breakfast, depart for Chobe National Park in neighboring Botswana. Travel to the Kazungula Border, clear immigration, and cross into Botswana — have your passport ready and bring layers and binoculars. Upon arrival, a local guide leads you on a scenic boat cruise along the Chobe River, where elephants wade into the water, hippos surface nearby, and crocodiles bask along the shoreline. Lunch is served at a relaxed riverside setting before the afternoon adventure begins (included)

• Chobe Game Drive — Head deeper into the park for an afternoon game drive through Chobe's diverse terrain. Home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, the park also offers excellent sightings of lions, leopards, buffalo, and a wide variety of antelope (included)

Evening Notes: Cross back into Zimbabwe and transfer to Victoria Falls. Back at the lodge, settle in for a relaxing dinner after a big day in the field.

Meals:

• Breakfast: At Pamarah Lodge (included)

• Lunch: At a riverside setting in Chobe National Park (included)

• Dinner: At Pamarah Lodge (included)

Overnight: Pamarah Lodge, Victoria Falls

Arrival & Accommodation: After breakfast at the lodge, transfer to Victoria Falls International Airport for your flight to Kigali, Rwanda. Upon arrival, a private transfer brings you to the iconic Hotel des Mille Collines for check-in. The drive offers a first glimpse of the city's lush rolling hills and lively atmosphere. For those interested in the history behind the hotel, its story adds a meaningful and moving layer to your stay.

Evening Notes: Once settled, the afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace — whether that means relaxing at the hotel, wandering the surrounding neighborhood, or simply taking in the rhythm of this dynamic capital. In the evening, gather with the group for a welcome dinner at the hotel's restaurant to unwind, connect, and begin immersing yourself in the spirit of Rwanda.

Meals:

• Breakfast: At Pamarah Lodge before departure (included)

• Dinner: Welcome dinner at Hotel des Mille Collines (included)

Overnight: Hotel des Mille Collines, Kigali

Arrival & Accommodation: After breakfast, check out of the hotel and set off for a guided tour of Kigali. The tour includes a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. This powerful and deeply moving site offers important insight into Rwanda's history, honoring those lost while reflecting the country's remarkable journey toward healing and unity. Following the tour, depart the city and journey toward Volcanoes National Park, passing through Rwanda's rolling green hills and vibrant rural landscapes. Upon arrival in Kinigi, settle into Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.

Main Activities:

• Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund — Learn about the ongoing efforts to protect mountain gorillas and the enduring legacy of Dian Fossey (included)

• Kinigi Women's Group — Spend time with local women and experience Rwandan traditions through storytelling, demonstrations, and handcrafted goods (included)

Evening Notes: Return to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful evening in the region's beauty. Rest well — gorilla trekking awaits tomorrow.

Meals:

• Breakfast: At Hotel des Mille Collines before departure (included)

• Lunch: At Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge upon arrival (included)

• Dinner: At Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (included)

Overnight: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Kinigi

Main Activities:

• Golden Monkey Tracking — Start the day with an early breakfast before heading to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing. From there, venture into the forest with your guide in search of these lively and endangered primates. You'll have the opportunity to observe and photograph the monkeys up close as they move through their natural habitat — an energizing and memorable start to the day (included)

Arrival & Accommodation: After the tracking experience, return to the lodge to freshen up and enjoy a well-earned lunch. Soon after, depart for the next chapter of the journey, crossing into Uganda at the Cyanika Border and continuing through scenic countryside toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Upon arrival in the southern sector of Bwindi, settle into Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge and take in the peaceful surroundings.

Evening Notes: The evening is yours to unwind and recharge. Enjoy dinner at the lodge and rest well — tomorrow is gorilla trekking day.

Meals:

• Breakfast: At Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (included)

• Lunch: At Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge after tracking (included)

• Dinner: At Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (included)

Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi

Main Activities:

• Gorilla Trekking — After an early breakfast, set out for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters with a packed lunch in hand. Upon arrival, receive a detailed briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers covering rules, safety protocols, and what to expect on the trek. From there, head into the dense rainforest with experienced guides who navigate the steep hills, thick vegetation, and winding animal trails. Trekking time varies depending on the location of the gorilla family, but the reward is extraordinary — once found, you'll spend a full hour quietly observing as they feed, play, and interact in their natural habitat (included)

• Batwa Community Visit — If time and energy allow after the trek, visit the Batwa community for a glimpse into the traditions, music, and storytelling of one of the region's oldest cultures (add-on)

Evening Notes: Return to the lodge for dinner and a well-earned rest. Take time to reflect on a day that few experiences in the world can match.

Meals:

• Breakfast: At Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (included)

• Lunch: Packed lunch during the trek (included)

• Dinner: At Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (included)

Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi

Arrival & Accommodation: After breakfast, check out of Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge and set off on a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey winds through Uganda's lush countryside, rolling hills, and rural villages — a peaceful transition from the dense forests of Bwindi to the open savannahs and waterways ahead. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge and enjoy a leisurely lunch before the afternoon's adventure begins.

Main Activities:

• Kazinga Channel Cruise — Head to the Mweya Peninsula for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel offers exceptional wildlife viewing — large herds gather at the water's edge while hippos and crocodiles rest along the banks and birdlife fills the trees above (included)

Evening Notes: Return to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful evening, reflecting on the day's journey and everything the week has brought.

Meals:

• Breakfast: At Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge before departure (included)

• Lunch: At the lodge upon arrival (included)

• Dinner: At the lodge (included)

Overnight: Elephant Hab Lodge or Mweya Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth National Park

Main Activities:

• Chimpanzee Tracking — Begin your final morning with an early breakfast before heading out for a chimpanzee tracking experience in either Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest, depending on permit availability. After a briefing from your guide, venture into the forest on foot in search of a chimpanzee community. Once located, spend a remarkable hour observing them in their natural habitat — watching their interactions, learning about their behaviors, and soaking in one last extraordinary wildlife encounter (included)

Departure Details: After your time in the forest, return to the lodge for lunch before beginning the journey back to Kigali. The drive offers one last look at the region's rolling hills and rural landscapes as you cross the border back into Rwanda. Upon arrival, transfer directly to Kigali International Airport for your onward journey home.

Please Note: Accommodation in Kigali is not included this evening. If you would like to extend your stay, additional nights can be arranged upon request.

Meals:

• Breakfast: At the lodge (included)

• Lunch: At the lodge before departure (included)