Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes national park.
You will be picked from your hotel in Kigali or the airport on arrival by our driver guide and drive northwards to Volcanoes national park in Ruhengeri a home to over 360 Mountain Gorillas.
Volcanoes national park is also an ecologically diverse destination and it is no surprise that tracking mountain gorillas remains the most popular activity. A wide variety of other hikes and activities are offered thus making it possible to spend several days in the area without running out of what to do.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
Accommodation options:
Upmarket: Mountain Gorilla view Lodge
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla lodge
Budget: Muhabura Hotel
Day 2: 1st Gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park.
In the morning at 7:30am, you will assemble at the park headquarters for a briefing in the morning together with your trekking gears and drinking water and packed lunch.
After briefing you will begin the trekking. The trek can be quite tough that it takes a lot of time usually 2-8 hours and that is why we emphasize physical fitness making the entire encounter with these unique species an unusual experience. The hike amidst the jungle while viewing the lovely Rwandan flora and fauna, the impressive panoramic views and magical scenic landscapes of the Virungas will surely leave you mesmerized. The 1 hour direct contact with the world’s rarest animals is worth remembering and getting attracted to their thick beautiful fur while being entertained by the playful young gorillas puts your stressful minds and thoughts into a state of relaxation and happiness, worth the expensive price of a gorilla ticket.
Return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. Dedicate your evening to nature walk or visiting the Ib’yiwachu Cultural Village for Rwanda’s cultural heritage and practices.
Accommodation options:
Upmarket: Mountain Gorilla view Lodge
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla lodge
Budget: Muhabura Hotel
Day 3: Golden Monkeys trekking in Volcanoes national park and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable NP.
In the morning, you will gather at the park headquarters for briefing. You set for golden monkey tracking. Trekking golden monkeys and gorillas is a similar experience; in a small group of not more than eight people, and visitors are allowed a maximum of one hour to spend with the monkeys once they find them.
They are very active creatures that keep jumping from tree to tree. This is really interesting, though a little difficult to photograph.
On return from this activity, you may cross over to Bwindi in Uganda for your first gorilla trek the following day.
This “impenetrable forest” harbors an approximate number of 400 Mountain gorillas–including several habituated groups, which can be tracked quite easily.
Apart from the mountain gorillas, this region is biologically diverse as it shelters over 120 mammals, including various primates including baboons and chimpanzees, as well as forest elephants and antelopes. There are approximately 350 bird species in this forest, including 23 Albertine rift endemics.
Arrive in Bwindi late in the evening for an overnight stay and dinner at your lodge.
Accommodation options:
Upmarket: Chameleon hill lodge
Midrange: Gorilla mist camp
Budget: Broad bill forest camp
Day 4: 2nd Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable NP and transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP.
In the morning, assemble at the park headquarters for briefing from the park rangers about the do’s and don’ts while tracking and amidst the gorillas. Proceed for the memorable adventure in the forest; an activity that may take 2-6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas in the wild.
Once a habituated gorilla family has been located by the guides, you can settle down for 1 hour to observe them as they feed and groom while their babies tumble about the undergrowth – all under the watchful gaze of the great silverback male. Sitting only a few meters from a gorilla and looking into its soft brown eyes is a spine-tingling experience not easily forgotten.
As you exit the forest, your tour guide will be waiting to transfer you to the lodge for relaxation / lunch. Afternoon, you proceed to queen Elizabeth national park via the southern sector of Ishasha to see the elusive climbing lions.
Accommodation options:
Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Budget: Simba Safari Camp
Day 5: Game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Early game drive after a morning cup of hot tea; drive in the main camp at Mweya peninsular which is attractively positioned. It separates Lake George from Lake Edward by Kazinga channel. Stretch to the Kasenyi plains; the reknown mating ground offers you a lifetime opportunity of encounter a variety of wild game families at a glance including; elephants, buffaloes, water bucks and Kobs along with predators like lions, leopards and jackals. The game drive takes 3 – 4 hours before you retreat back to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon head for a fantastic launch cruise on the Kazinga channel, with an amazing bird viewing experience and wonderful game like buffaloes, hippos, Elephants, crocodiles, among others. Dinner and overnight at the lodge
Accommodation options:
Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Budget: Simba Safari Camp
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale Forest national park for Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon.
After an early morning breakfast, transfer to Kibale Forest national park for an afternoon Bigodi wetland Sanctuary nature walk and community tour.
This park boasts to be the primate capital for Africa with over 13 noticeable species of primates including the popular chimpanzee and the white and black colobus monkey.
The park also accommodates a total of 70 mammal species. About 351 tree species have been registered in the park. Some trees rise as far as 55m and are over 200 years old and it also harbors over 375 diverse species of birds.
After lunch, you will embark on a historical afternoon wetland walk in the nearby Bigodi wetland. The Bigodi wetland walk allows you to have an encounter with nature, the local people and a great deal of wetland biodiversity. The swamp has numerous populations of birds including; the Great Blue Turaco, swamp animals like Sitatunga antelope and an encounter with the community where you visit the traditional healer and the community development projects makes it more interactive. Retreat from this as activity and return to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options:
Upmarket: Primate Lodge
Midrange: Kibale Forest Camp
Budget: Rwenzori view guest house
Day 7: Chimps trekking and transfer to Kampala / Entebbe airport.
Following your breakfast at the lodge, assemble at the park headquarters; Kanyanchu Tourism Center at 8 am for briefing and set off. The park staff will take you through this session and clarify on the chimpanzee trekking code of conduct and the trekking instructions; after which you proceed to the forest in search of our closest cousins.
The hike through the jungle with sights of birds, impressive flora and other primate species like; the Black and white colobus monkeys and eventual encounter with the chimpanzees as they roll themselves in their natural habitat gathering fruits, socializing and making pant hooting calls. All these combine to make your chimp tracking experience memorable. The Chimpanzee trekking experience tends to last 2 – 5 hours and 1 hour to interact with them. You will retreat to the starting point for a short relaxation and lunch; before you travel to Kampala / Entebbe airport for departure marking the end of your safari.
End of Safari with Love Uganda Safaris
