9 Days Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Adventure
Overview
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport – Entebbe Hotel (Approx. 10-30 mins drive)
Upon your arrival at Entebbe Airport, our representative will warmly welcome you. This representative will be your tour and driver guide for the duration of your stay. After a brief introduction, you will be transferred to your chosen hotel in Entebbe for an overnight stay. Bed and Breakfast
Accommodation: Best Western Hotel or Similar BB
Day 2: Departure for Kibale Forest National Park (Approx. 6-7 hrs drive)
Start your day with breakfast at the lodge, and then depart for Kibale National Park. The journey will take you through the Western Rift Valley’s Albertine Escarpment, showcasing the green countryside and traditional homesteads of the local people within the Bunyoro and Toro Kingdoms. On arriving in Fort Portal, clear days will offer a glimpse of the legendary snowcapped Mountain, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon” (Mt Rwenzori). Kibale Forest National Park is home to 13 primate species, including our closest cousins, the chimpanzees. The forest also hosts over 325 bird species, including the rare Green Breasted Pitta. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon, check in, and later embark on a nature and bird walk within the Bigodi Swamp. This wetland project is run by local communities and is renowned for its rich diversity of bird species and other primates. It also provides employment opportunities to local youth through tour guiding. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Turaco Tree Tops or Similar BLD
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have breakfast at your lodge and set out for a half-day chimpanzee tracking experience. Transfer to the park headquarters at Kanyanchu for a 30-40 minute briefing to learn more about chimpanzees and their ways of living in the forest. Afterward, embark on your journey to search for these primates through the forest. On spotting the chimps, you are allowed one hour to observe and take videos and pictures. Along the way, other primate species can be spotted, such as L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Red-tailed Monkeys, Blue Vervet Monkeys, and Black & White Colobus Monkeys, among others. Other animals that can be seen include Forest Elephants, Buffalos, and various bird species. After tracking, return to your lodge for lunch and afternoon transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the country’s best wildlife national parks. It boasts over 600 bird species and mammals like Lions, Leopards, Elephants, and Buffaloes.
Accommodation: Park View Safari Lodge or Similar BLD
Day 4: Game Drive and Boat Ride along the Kazinga Channel
After an early morning breakfast, depart for your morning game drive in Kasenyi areas. Look out for wildlife such as Lions, Leopards, Buffalos, Elephants, Antelopes, Warthogs, Waterbucks, and Bushbucks, among others. Have lunch and in the afternoon, set out for the launch cruise along the Kazinga channel, connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel is home to one of Africa’s largest hippo populations and diverse bird species. This 3-hour boat cruise will enrich you with views of water-loving animals like Hippos, Elephants, Buffalos, Crocodiles, and other antelopes, as well as bird species. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Park View Safari Lodge or Similar BLD
Day 5: Ishasha Sector and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (Approx. 5 hrs drive)
After breakfast, leave the northern side of the park and transfer to the southern sector of Ishasha. Enjoy a mid-morning game drive, searching for the rare tree-climbing lions. In the afternoon, embark on your journey to the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, known for being a habitat for the endangered species of Mountain Gorillas. Check in at your lodge. Full Board
Accommodation: Gorilla Safari Lodge or Similar BLD
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
The day has arrived for your unforgettable lifetime experience of meeting face to face with the giant mountain Gorillas. Start your day with an early breakfast at your lodge and then transfer to the Park headquarters (Depending on which location you have booked your accommodation) for a briefing. There are four sectors in which Gorilla trekking takes place within Bwindi Forest. The northern side of the park comprises Buhoma and Ruhija Sectors, while the southern side comprises Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. After the briefing, start your day’s trek. Searching for the gorillas may take 2-5 hours, depending on where they were last spotted the previous day. Once they have been spotted, you will be given one hour to take videos, photos, and ask the rangers and guides any questions about these giant apes. Besides the great apes, the forest is also home to other wildlife and bird species, such as butterflies, primates, mammals, frogs, and more, which can all be seen along the way to the Gorillas. After seeing the Gorillas, head back to your lodge and retire for the rest of the day. The whole day activity can take between 5 to 9 hours. Packed lunch and hiring porters are highly recommended. If time permits, visit the Ride 4 A Woman project in Buhoma and get a chance to interact with local women and learn about their variety of handwork crafts made out of local materials like basket weaving and knitting.
Accommodation: Gorilla Safari Lodge or Similar BLD
Day 7: Drive to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
Have breakfast and set out for a community walk and Batwa cultural experience activity. Later, continue your journey by crossing the border of Uganda and Rwanda via either Cyanika or Katuna and transfer to Volcanoes National Park, home to endangered species of Mountain Gorillas and the very landscape that makes Rwanda the “Land of a Thousand Hills.
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Similar BLD
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Community Walk
This morning, after breakfast, you will be transferred from your lodge to the park headquarters for the day’s briefing about Gorilla trekking activity. It’s advisable to pack your lunch, drinking water, and hire porters, as the time taken in the jungle is unpredictable. After the briefing from the park rangers, you will be allocated your Gorilla family and then head into the forest to search for the gentle jungle giants. Tracking the Gorillas may take a few hours to a full day, depending on where they were last seen the previous night. Physical fitness is highly recommended, but those who are not fit enough have the chance to hire human helicopters (Sedan chair). Upon seeing the gorillas, you will be allowed to stay with them for one hour maximum (Take videos and photographs). Then, later, return back to your lodge and evening visit the Ibwachu Cultural Village (Also known as the ex-poachers’ village) for entertainment and cultural experience.
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Similar BLD
Day 9: Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Kigali
After morning breakfast, head back to the park offices for your briefing about the morning activity. This time, it will be Golden Monkey tracking. These endangered monkey species are found within Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Unlike the Gorillas, Golden monkey trekking will not take long and is easily located. Return to the lodge for an early lunch and afternoon transfer to Kigali city.
Accommodation: Mille Collienes Hotel or Similar BLD
Day 10: Kigali City Tour and Departure
Have breakfast at your hotel in Kigali and set out for a half-day Kigali city tour. The tour includes a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site and Museum, Nyamata genocide Church, local markets, and more. Later, depending on the time of your departure flight, have lunch and then transfer to the airport for your departure from Kigali. BL
- Included
- Accommodation and full board basis
- One Gorilla Permit per person
- Park Entrance Fees
- Internal local flights
- Sightseeing with a private guide as per the itinerary
- Transfers as detailed
- Not Included
- Drinks
- Gratuities
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Visa