The beautiful emerald-green Virunga Volcanoes straddling the Rwanda-Uganda border are the stronghold of the celebrated mountain gorilla.
Along with Uganda's Bwindi National Park, they form the setting for this ultimate mountain gorilla safari. On this extraordinary expedition, you will have opportunities to track gorillas & Chimps in a variety of jungle habitats, from the jungles of Bwindi's Impenetrable Forest to the terrific gorilla observations and an in-depth exploration of their forest environment, joined with chimpanzee tracking in the Kibale Forest (the best in Africa), stunning Rift Valley scenery, and big game viewing at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Entebbe & drive to Kampala
On arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, we are warmly welcome by our Ugandan guide, who will assist us with the border formalities and then transfer to our hotel in Kampala. The rest of the day is free. Overnight: Hotel Serena Kampala. (1 night) (Dinner)
Day 2: Kampala / Kibale (drive)
After breakfast we will leave for Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is a large, protected block of rainforest, which has the highest number of primates in Africa such as Chimpanzees, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Red Tailed Monkey and Red Colobus.
After we arrive, we’ll relax have dinner at our Lodge enjoy the sunset from this stunning location, overlooking a dramatic Crater Lake and the fabled "Mountains of the Moon". Overnight: Ndali Lodge. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Kibale National Park
After a good rest and breakfast, we are off to Kibale Forest National Park, famous for its families of habituated Chimpanzees. The Park it is home to an astonishing number of 12 species of Primates, the highest Primate density in the World! Here, on a guided walk, we’ll encounter families of Chimps and Red Colobus monkeys, all superb photographic opportunities.
In the afternoon we will have another guided walk through the Bigodi Swamps. The Kibale Association manages the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for Rural and Environmental Organization, formed in 1992 with the aim of achieving social and economic development for local communities.
While on our guided walk around the swamps, we can distinguish many from the approximately 137 bird species found here, including the Snowy Headed Robin Cat, Black and White Casqued Hornbill, Emerald Cuckoo and a variety of Weavers, Warblers, Greenbuls and Sunbirds. There is also an abundance of butterflies, and rich in vegetation, such as wild palms, polita figs and the dominant papyrus. For our Dinner and overnight stay, we return to our lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Kibale / Queen Elizabeth NP (drive)
This morning we will leave Kibale and drive to another amazing NP, the Queen Elizabeth National Park. After entering the Park we’ll have our first game drive of the day, but will be arriving to our Lodge by lunchtime. We’ll then relax around the pool and later have an early evening game drive.
It is a little wonder how Queen Elizabeth NP boasts one of the highest bio diversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world; from the open Savannah to Rain Forest, dense Papyrus Swamps and brooding Crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward.
Almost 100 mammal species that include Lions, Hippos, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Elephants and the elusive Giant Forest Hog, plus a remarkable 606 bird species that include the Black Crested Eagle, the Swallow Tailed Bee Eaters - to mention but a few – can be seen here.
The Primates we will encounter include Chimps, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black Faced Red Colobus, and Red Tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons. Among the reptiles are the amazing huge Rock-Python, Puff adders, Spitting Cobras, Gabon Rippers, Green Mambas, and Turtles. All these wilds are regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula and all this makes this area a superb safari territory. Overnight: Jacana Safari Lodge. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth NP
Early in the morning we will have a game drive to the Kisenyi area to look for Lion prides and for the Uganda Kob, that mate around this area, and other wildlife before returning to the Lodge for breakfast. Then we go for a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel.
Here Hippos huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, Buffalo linger in the shallows, a tremendous variety of birds grace the grasses on the shores. Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, Great and Long-Tailed Cormorants, Open-Billed Stork, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers are commonly seen. We later return to our Lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth NP / Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (drive)
Time for Gorillas! We leave this morning for the most famous Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Best known for its Mountain Gorillas and for the Montane Forest, the NP also attracts with its spectacular birds. There are 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics, including the African Green Broadbill, the Bar Tailed Trogon and other beautiful forest species.
One can decide to relax in the afternoon or take a guided nature walk, which will lead you to the Munyaga Waterfall and have the chance to see primates such as the Grey Cheeked Mangabey Blue Monkeys and others species. After dinner we will need to have a good night’s rest to get ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking. Overnight: Mantana Tented Camp. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Bwindi NP
Early in the morning we start the Gorilla Tracking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We’ll have to take our lunch boxes and all the necessary gear to track the rare Mountain Gorilla, perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on Earth. There are now only 650 left at large on the Planet!
The tracking may take between 2 and 6 hours but its well worth the effort. There are always park guides with us who interpret the flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas. In the afternoon we will relax and later go for a Village walk to visit the Local Batwa Community. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: Bwindi / Kabale / Rwanda (drive)
After breakfast we will depart Bwindi and drive to Kabale (the little Switzerland of Uganda), where we have lunch. We’ll then leave Uganda and after a smooth border crossing entering Rwanda, arriving in the evening to our ‘Nest’. Our overnight stay will be at the ‘Gorilla’s Nest’, strategically located near the park entrance.
Gorilla’s Nest consists of comfortable bungalows, situated on a hillside overlooking a school and farmland. The entire property is surrounded by trees, has magnificent views of the Virunga Mountains on three sides – an idyllic location to start our gorilla trek in the morning. Overnight: Mountain Gorilla Nest. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9: Volcanoes National Park / Kigali - Rwanda (drive)
After breakfast, it’s just a short drive to the park headquarters at Kinigi. Registration is a simple process and it is here where the park staff will determine which group of Gorillas we will visit.
The park staff will discuss our fitness level and will advise us of the trekking times and conditions to reach the various Gorilla groups, based upon their location in the park from the previous evening. There are a total of 32 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting in one group!
Once we are assigned to a group, each group’s lead-guide will advise the group of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, we start with the nearest Gorilla group, Sabinyo, which can take up to 2 hours, but can also take up a little more (or less) time, if the gorillas have moved after the park rangers have previously located them. The guides stop frequently to allow us to rest and take photos along the way.
After this memorable Gorilla trek, we will return to ‘Gorilla’s Nest’ for lunch. After lunch we’ll drive to Kigali. Here we first check in to our Hotel, then have a good opportunity to visit the local market for souvenir shopping. Overnight: Intercontinental Hotel, Kigali. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Kigali / Nairobi (flight)
Enjoy an early breakfast before being transferred to the airport for our morning flight to Nairobi and back home. After what will have been an interesting game, gorilla and chimp viewing experiences on these Lands, we bid farewell to this unique African journey, as we take off with our plane. (Breakfast)
Price includes:
- All Meals and accommodation as per the itinerary
- All ground transportation in a comfortable 4x4 vehicle
- Park entrance fees & game drives
- Services of a full time English speaking driver/guide
- Water, coffee or Tea while on safari
- All boat trips
- Two Gorilla permits per person worth USD 500 each
- All airport transfers
- All activities as stipulated in the itinerary
- All government taxes/levies
Price does not include:
- International airfare and all airport taxes
- Bar Bills, Phone calls, Laundry
- Personal insurance
- Tips / driver’s & guide’s gratuity
- All other Services of a personal nature
Tour highlights:
- Kibale Forest National Park
- Queen Elizabeth NP
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Important note: Please note that all Gorilla tracking in this itinerary (for both Uganda & Rwanda) can be only done if permits & accommodation are available at the time of your booking.
Gorilla tracking is dependent on the permits availability at the time of your booking. Gorilla permits in all parks are on a very high demand and we advise that you book them as early as possible.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour prices for 2008
USD: 4,485.00 / CAD: 4,710.00 – per person in double occupancy, when two people travelling; USD: 4,015.00 / CAD: 4,215.00 – per person when four participants and USD: 3,635.00 / CAD: 3,810.00 – per person when six or more are travelling together.
Single supplement is USD: 550.00 / CAD: 580.00
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Uganda
Rwanda
National Parks
Wildlife Viewing
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