14 days Great apes in Uganda and Rwanda
On this trip, you will experience the beauty of Rwanda – the “land of a thousand Hills” and Uganda “The pearl of Africa “Enjoy the different backdrops and Landscape of Rwanda and Uganda as you turn along the hilly roads. The parks are a mixture of Savannah, forest, and mountainous. You will trek Chimps in Nyungwe forest & Kibale Forest national park and gorillas in Volcanoes national park & Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Safari Highlights,
- Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest & Kibale forest
- Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest
- Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes
- Kigali city tour
- Gorilla guardian’s village
- Batwa community walk
Day 1: Arrival to Kigali
Welcome to Rwanda the land of “a thousand hills.” Our guide/ representative staff will be at the airport to pick you and transfer you to the hotel for overnight. If you arrive in the morning or early afternoon, you will enjoy a short tour of Kigali City visiting the genocide memorial.
Accommodation at Kigali Serena Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
This morning transfer to Nyungwe forest national park. We shall stopover in Huye for lunch and a visit to the national museum to learn more about the history and traditions of the Rwanda people. We arrive in Nyungwe forest later in the evening.
Accommodation at Nyungwe Top View Lodge
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk in Nyungwe forest
After an early breakfast, we leave for Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest. The forest is rich in botanical diversity and home to 13 species of primates including Chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, and Columbus monkeys with 300 bird species. Your tour guide will transfer you to the briefing area where you will meet your community guide and receive briefing before you start your trek.
Return to the lodge after the chimp trek or you can choose to do the Canopy Walk immediately so that you rest once. The canopy walk allows you beautiful views of the forest from above as you admire nature.
Accommodation at Nyungwe Top View Lodge
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
We leave for Volcanoes national park after breakfast. Enjoy the different sights and winding roads in the land of a thousand hills. You will have opportunities to have different stopovers for pictures and stretching depending on your needs.
Accommodation at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Day 5: Gorilla trekking and gorilla guardian’s village
Meet the mountain gorillas in the dense jungles of the Virunga ranges. The trek to the gorillas starts with a briefing at the park headquarters in Kinigi where you are assigned a ranger and gorilla family to trek. After briefing, your ranger guide leads you to the starting point of the trek. You might need to drive to the starting point of the trek depending on location of gorilla group you are trekking. The trek can last from a few minutes to several hours depending on where the gorillas nested the previous night. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.
After your lunch to visit the gorilla guardian’s village where you will learn more about the Rwandan culture.
Accommodation at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Day 6: Second gorilla trekking
You will wake up and follow the same program like that of day 2. However, this time you will be assigned a different gorilla family to enable you have a different experience. Try to hire a porter for gorilla trekking after the briefing to help you carry extra luggage or equipment. Porters are often students and former poachers. By supporting them you help them raise money for their families and school fees.
After your lunch, you can choose to relax or walk around the community with your tour guide.
Accommodation at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Day 7: Transfer from Volcanoes national park to Bwindi impenetrable national park
You will be picked up by your tour guide after your breakfast. You will start your journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will be tracking mountain gorillas the following day.
Accommodation at Four gorillas Lodge
Day 8: Gorilla trekking and Batwa community visit
After breakfast, proceed for the morning briefing before the highlighting of the trip. We trek the gorillas through the rain forest and bamboo-covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family, the walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten.
Expect to walk long distances in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas.
After your lunch, you will visit the Batwa community for a cultural experience and later return to your hotel to rest.
Accommodation at Four Gorillas Lodge
Day 9: Second gorilla tracking
You will have breakfast and then transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the gorilla tracking. You will be tracking a different gorilla family this time.
After your tracking, you will return to your hotel for lunch and relaxing.
Accommodation at Four Gorillas Lodge
Day 10: Transfer to Kibale national park
After Breakfast, you will bid farewell to Bwindi impenetrable National Park and drive to Kibale Forest National Park on this third day of your 5-day gorilla habituation and chimp trekking safari. You will arrive late afternoon, check in at the lodge for relaxation followed by dinner and overnight since lunch will be served en route.
Accommodation at Chimpundu Lodge
Day 11: Chimpanzee Habituation
After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park for briefing about the dos and don’ts while with a community or party of chimpanzees. After briefing, you will start your trek in the forest with chances of seeing other 11 primates in the forest. You will spend the one hour in the forest with guides for observation and photography. Return to the Lodge for Dinner and overnight.
Accommodation at Chimpundu Lodge
Day 12: Chimpanzee tracking
After a quick coffee, head to Kibale National Park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. The park Warden/Guides will provide essential details about the trek and conduct guidelines. Unlike gorilla tracking, chimpanzees are highly mobile and vocal, creating dynamic interactions within their groups. The trek, which can last 3-5 hours, allows only one hour with the chimps. Afterward, return to your hotel for lunch and rest. In the evening, enjoy a nature walk along the Bigodi Swamp, where you’ll spot various primates and a rich array of bird species.
Accommodation at Chimpundu Lodge
Day 13: Transfer to Entebbe
After breakfast and you will drive 5-6 hours to Kampala/Entebbe marking the end of your. On arrival, you will check in and spend the rest of your day at the hotel.
Accommodation at Best Western Premium Hotel
Day 14: Transfer to the airport
You will wake at your prepared time for breakfast. Your tour guide will then pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. Depending on your flight departure time, the tour guide will take you around Entebbe to shop for souvenirs.
End of Safari
The safari includes,
- Park entry fees
- En route meals
- Chimpanzee permits
- Gorilla permits
- Accommodation on full board arrangement
- An English-speaking guide
- Cultural visits
- Gorilla guardian’s village
- Transportation
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Porters
- All meals
The safari excludes,
- Visas
- Domestic flights
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips to local guides