11 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla trekking safari Highlights
The 11 DAYS UGANDA RWANDA GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI is a double Gorilla trekking safari with tracking Gorillas in both Uganda at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. You will start your trip by visiting Kibale National Park known for its high concentration of chimpanzees totaling over 5,000 individuals. Proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel which connects the water flow from Lake George to Lake Edward. Acclimatization will be done at Lake Bunyonyi one of the deepest lakes in Africa.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport and transfer to Kampala (2 hours drive)
Upon your arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be welcomed by our office representative and later you will be transferred to Kampala for dinner and overnight at a hotel/lodge of choice. Overnight at Latitude 0 Degree/ Speke Resort and Conference Centre/ Mestil Hotel Kampala/ Speke Hotel/ Dolphine Suites/ Bushpig Backpackers. Meal Plan: Dinner.
Day 2 of the 11 Days Uganda Rwanda gorilla trekking safari: Kampala – Fort Portal / Kibale National Park (6 hours drive)
Drive through Mityana and Mubende along are the community homesteads, forests and tea plantations to Kibale Forest National Park with your lunch en-route. Kibale forest National Park is one of the biggest forests in Uganda with more than 1,000 chimpanzees and 13 species of primate. The afternoon will be spent on a crater lakes Nature walk nearing outstanding community culture. The views up there are breathtaking. Overnight at Kyaninga Lodge /Primate Lodge Kibale/ Fort Motel/ Chimpanzee Guest House. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 3: Kibale Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (3 hours drive)
You will be driven to Kyanyanchu UWA headquarters for briefing before you are assigned a ranger guide to start your Chimpanzee trekking at 8:00am. Enjoy seeing the closest creatures to human beings; sharing more than 98% of our genetic blue print. The activity is half day but once you locate these chimpanzees you will stay with them for 1 hour viewing them. It is also an opportunity of seeing other primates like Grey cheeked Mangabeys, Colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys and butterflies and different bird species. Later you will be driven to Queen Elizabeth National Park with the en-route game drive.
Queen Elizabeth NP is the second largest national park in Uganda with 95 species of mammals and 600 species of bird. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge/ Elephant Plains Lodge/ Kyambura Lodge/ Enganzi Lodge/ Buffalo safari Lodge/Bush Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4 of the 11 Days Uganda Rwanda gorilla trekking safari: Game drive and Boat safari on Kazinga Channel
Leave your accommodation in the morning. Drive through the vast savannah, and look for your favorite animals, with a help of an experienced park ranger. Enjoy observing the animals in vast savannah at the foot of Rwenzori Mountains. You will be able to spot leopards, elephants, lions, Uganda kobs, Topi, hyenas, and big herds of buffaloes, large families of banded mongoose, warthogs, bushbucks and waterbucks. The afternoon will be spent on a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel which connects the water flow from Lake George to Lake Edward. The channel attracts a varied range of animals and birds, with one of the world’s largest concentration of hippos and numerous Nile crocodiles, It is also an opportunity of to see the elephants, Buffaloes and many antelopes on the its shores quenching their thirst and cooling their bodies. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge/ Elephant Plains Lodge/ Kyambura Lodge/ Enganzi Lodge/ Buffalo safari Lodge/Bush Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (6 hours drive)
Have early morning breakfast ready for your second game drive on the Kasenyi plains as you proceed for another mini game drive at Ishasha sector. This sector of the park is famous for tree climbing lions on the acacia.Later you will proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is famous for its Mountain Gorillas. It has rich ecosystem, 95 species of mammal and 345 species of bird. Overnight at Buhoma Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge/ Chameleon Hill Lodge/ Lake Mutanda Lodge/ Silverback Lodge/ engage Lodge/ Rushaga Gorilla Camp/ Gorilla Valley Lodge/ Trekkers Tavern Lodge/ Buhoma Community Bandas or a similar lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 6 of the 11 Days Uganda Rwanda gorilla trekking safari: Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
Leave your room and drive to UWA briefing point ready for the Gorilla trek starting at 8:00am. This great ape is endangered and only 1,063 individuals remained in the whole world. Bwindi is a home for its ¾ world population. It takes between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the Gorillas from the previous day trek. Remember to carry the rain jacket, drinking water, jungle boots and your packed lunch and every moment of the Gorilla trekking is unique and amazing as you watch them playing, eating, coupling, and the youngsters swinging on the tree branches. This is a lifetime experience and incomparable with any other East African adventure. Overnight at Buhoma Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge/ Chameleon Hill Lodge/ Lake Mutanda Lodge/ Silverback Lodge/ engage Lodge/ Rushaga Gorilla Camp/ Gorilla Valley Lodge/ Trekkers Tavern Lodge/ Buhoma Community Bandas or a similar lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 7 of the 11 Days Uganda Rwanda gorilla trekking safari: Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi
Relaxation and leisure at Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale District. Overnight and meals at Birdnest Resort Lake Bunyonyi/ Bunyonyi Safari Resort/ Arcadia Cottages/ Overland Camp Bunyonyi. Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Optional activities
Boat trip for sightseeing and birding along Lake Bunyonyi, Zip lining, and village walk to share the life style of the local communities.
Day 8: Lake Bunyonyi – Rwanda Parc Volcano (4hours drive)
After breakfast, drive to Rwanda Parc Volcano. Volcanoes National Park is located at north-west corner of Rwanda, north of Virunga Mountains and It is famous for Mountain Gorilla and Golden Monkey. Enjoy the rolling hills for which Rwanda is well known as you proceed to Ruhengere via Musanze. Thereafter drive by the lakes (Ruhondo and Mulera) arriving at parc Volcanoes in the afternoon. The evening is spent on sightseeing and relaxation around the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Davinci Gorilla Lodge/ Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking and IbyIwacu Cultural experience at Volcano National Park
This huge cross-border forest is another home for Mountain Gorilla. It is thought that these Gorillas have created different developments in an isolated environment. You will be briefed from the park headquarters and later you will be escorted by the ranger guides into the park to search for the rare Mountain Gorillas. Watch the Gorillas feeding, playing and so often they are inquisitive. They also spend their time leaping from bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor. Return to the lodge and get ready for the afternoon village foot safari, to explore the indigenous local life with a taste of the traditional performance at IbyIwacu cultural center. Dinner and overnight at Davinci Gorilla Lodge/ Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 10: Visit Dian Fossey tomb and transfer to Kigali city (2.5 hours drive).
After breakfast, transfer to Dian Fossy Centre, this is the legendary researcher of Mountain Gorilla who was killed by poachers in 1985, sleeps next to Gorilla Cemetary at the former Karisoke Research Camp. Walk to Dian Fossey tomb where you are to learn more about this primatologist who dedicated her time to conserving the mountain gorillas. Spend 4 to 5 hours on this trek and be able to see Dian Fossey house where she used to live, many animal and bird species can also be seen. After lunch drive to Kigali city. Overnight at Hotel chezLando/ Onomo Hotel. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 11: Kigali city tour and transfer to Kigali Airport, end of the 11 Days Uganda Rwanda gorilla trekking safari
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the genocide museum. It was inaugurated in 2004; the Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Meal Plan: Breakfast. End of service.
The above safari package includes;
- Airport transfers.
- Transportation by a 4wd vehicle.
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
- Boat trip at Kazinga Channel.
- Two Gorilla permit per person to be secured and paid for in advance.
- Park entrance and ranger guide fees.
- Kibale Chimpanzee tracking Permit.
- Nature Walks and game drives.
- Dian Fossey tomb visit and the genocide museum.
- IbyIwacu cultural visit in Rwanda.
- Services of English speaking Driver/guide.
- En-route lunches.
However, the package excludes: expenses of personal nature like: laundry, tips to local guides,cigarettes, telephone and alcoholic drinks, and other expenses like flights, Visa into both countries, Golden Monkey, Pygmy village walk, porter fee bills.