12 Day Gorilla Trekking – Uganda – Rwanda Wildlife & Primate safari
The 12 days Uganda Rwanda combined safari starts in Kigali Capital and ends in Kampala, the Capital city of Uganda. This safari offers you a great opportunity to track gorillas twice in both countries birding, incredible primate trekking experience, boat trips, Cultural Excursions, City tours, and big game drives among others.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali- Parc National des Volcans
Upon arrival in Kigali, you will meet your driver-guide at the airport and transfer to Parc National des Volcans. If time allows, we can take a tour of Kigali city; visit Genocide memorial site, local markets, local art and crafts among others. The 2 hours journey to PNV goes through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape, check-in Muhabura Hotel / Amahoro Guest House / Mountain Gorilla’ View Lodge / Le Bambou Lodge / Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking Rwanda
Wake up early and prepare for today’s incredible experience of Gorilla trekking adventure. We shall assemble at Park Headquarters with packed lunch, attend a briefing on the Dos and Don’ts while with Gorillas. Tracking gorillas take 1-6 hours depending on their movements. You will stay with these Giant apes for 1 hr for observation and photographing. Descend to the hotel for a rest and if the evening is free, we can have a walk to nearby communities, interact with them and learn more about their culture. Dinner and overnight stay at DAY1.
Day 3: Excursion to Diana Fossey’s Graves
Have breakfast at the lodge and start our excursion to the grave of Diana Fossey; the American primatologist. This is situated at the former Karisoke Research Center where Diana spent about 20 years studying and habituating the Mountain Gorillas. The trek to the site is quite spectacular through bamboo forest and thick Afro-montane habitats crisscrossed trails with tracks of forest buffalo and elephants. You will be exposed to several primates and birds as you make your way up and down to Karisoke, nestled between the volcanic peaks of Karismbi and Visoke. Overnight as on DAY 1.
Day 4: Transfer to Uganda – Lake Bunyonyi
Have breakfast, depart Volcanoes National Park Rwanda for Lake Bunyonyi in southwestern Uganda; famous for its beautiful islands and prolific birdlife, settle into Arcadia Cottages or Bird Nest Resort, and relax as we wait for lunch. Join a canoe ride in the afternoon that exposes you to excellent bird watching, and visit the beautiful Islands of Lake Bunyonyi. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Breakfast followed by a scenic drive to Buhoma in the north of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Keep your eyes out for beautiful scenery and take fantastic photos, arrive at the lodge for lunch and enjoy entertainment from the Batwa people (Pygmies), dinner, and overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, 4 Gorillas Lodge, Gorilla Resort, or Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
Day 6: Second Gorilla tracking Expedition Uganda
After early breakfast, we shall proceed to park offices with packed lunch for a briefing about the Dos and Don’ts while with gorillas. Gorilla Tracking can take 2-9 hours depending on their movements. Tracking involves walking up steep and densely forested hills before finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation. You will stay with these Giant apes for 1 hour for observation and photography. Relax in the evening as we wait for dinner and overnight stay as on DAY 5.
Day 7: Bwindi Forest – Queen Elizabeth National park
Take breakfast and set off to Queen Elizabeth Park. The journey takes you through beautiful rolling hills and the Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth; a home for tree-climbing lions. Lunch at Mweya and proceed for a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel, famous for the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa. Birdlife is prolific with over 610 species and hundreds of Nile crocodiles. You will also see herds of elephants and buffaloes drinking water on the channel. The boat provides a clear platform for photographing. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge / Mweya Hostels / Katara Lodge / Enganzi Lodge / Twin Lake Lodge.
Day 8: Chimpanzee tracking & Game drive
Breakfast at your lodge and proceed for Chimps tracking in Kyambura Gorge. The activity starts at 08:00hrs ends in the afternoon. The afternoon shift starts from 14:00hrs to 17:00hrs. Chimps here are quite mobile and viewing is unpredictable but the walk is enchanting. During the trek, expect an encounter with other primates such as Baboons, Red-tailed monkeys, Black and White colobus monkeys, Vervets, Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, and Giant forest hog among others. Return to the lodge for lunch and proceed for an evening game drive along Mweya peninsular before sunset. Dinner and overnight as on DAY 7.
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth – Kibale Forest National Park
Wake up early for a cup of tea or coffee and take a morning game drive to Kasenyi plains to catch up with early raisers and predators returning to their hideouts. You will be exposed to a large variety of animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, and several Antelope species, Lion, leopards, and many more. Return to your lodge for full breakfast and relax as we wait for lunch.
Depart Queen Elizabeth for Kibale forest following the Rwenzori ranges. The journey will reward you with big game viewing en-route. Dinner and overnight at primates lodge or Ndali Lodge / Kyaninga Lodge / Turaco Treetops Lodge or Chimpanzee Guest House.
Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking – Kibale Forest
Have an early breakfast and assemble at Kanyankyu Park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. This is a home to 13 primate species such as Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Red Tailed Monkeys, Mangabeys, Giant forest hogs, Olive Baboons, and Blue Monkeys among others. BirdLife is prolific with about 350 bird species. Lunch at Chimp Nest Restaurant and proceed for a nature walk around Bisgodi Swamps for antelopes like the sitatungas, 8 primates species, and about 200 bird species including the rare shoe-bill. Dinner and overnight as on DAY 9.
Day 11: Birding in Bigodi swamps – Kampala
Get to Bogodi swamps after breakfast for a nature walk. Here you will see several antelopes like the sitatungas, 8 primates species, and 200 bird species including the rare shoe-bill. Return to your lodge, relax as you wait for lunch, and set off to Kampala with lots of scenic viewing en-route. Dinner and overnight stay at Holiday Express hotel or Kampala Forest Cottages.
Day 12: Kampala City tour – Departure
Depending on your time of flight, you may have a city tour in Kampala, visit Kasubi Tombs, Bahai temp or Nakasero fruits Market before connecting to Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled flight.
End of the Safari
This safari quotation includes;
– Airport transfers
– Full Board Accommodation throughout the trip
– All Park entry fees and activities as per the itinerary
– Gorilla permits (US$700 each)
– Chimpanzee Permits
– Private transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for excellent game viewing and photographing.
– Services of a professional English-speaking guide.
EXCLUDED ARE;
– Flights, Visas, Extra night accommodations in Kampala, personal expenses like tips for staff, Laundry and beverages
