16 Days Uganda and Rwanda gorilla safari

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the lodge/ hotel in Entebbe or Kampala

You will have a warm welcome by our tour guide/driver at Entebbe airport (EBB) who will take you to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala.

Safari lodges: (Lake Victoria hotel / Boma hotel / Central Inn).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls via ziwa for rhinos viewing.

On this day, you will enjoy your breakfast at your hotel in Entebbe OR Kampala set off for Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. I really advise that you make this stop over since it will give you the complete feel of the “big five” in Uganda. With an en-route lunch, you shall make a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to view the endangered rhinos before continuing to Murchison. Ziwa rhino sanctuary is home to the endangered rhinos that are not found elsewhere in Uganda.You shall then proceed to Murchison Falls National Park. The driver/guide will then transfer you to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Safari lodges: (Paraa safari lodge / Kabalega wildness / Redchill rest camp).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 3: Morning game viewing drive and afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of falls.

On this day, take pleasure in a morning game drive towards the Albert and Victoria Nile and experience a great deal of wildlife and birds. Along the way, look out for herds of elephants, giraffes, antelopes, the Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, waterbucks, lions, and several bird species.  Later on in the day after lunch, embark on a launch cruise to the base of the falls. This 3 hour cruise from Paraa is a rewarding trip that will expose you to many various wildlife species like hippos, crocodiles, elephants (though quite occasional along this side) and a variety of the bird life that may include the African fish eagles. You will then hike to the top of the falls and enjoy the areal view of the falls as well as other flora and fauna. You will then return to the lodge for wonderful dinner and rest. Safari lodges: (Paraa safari lodge / Kabalega wildness / Redchill rest camp).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale forest national park.

After a healthy breakfast, you will be transfer to Kibaleforsest National Park, the capital world of primates.Primates such as chimpanzee, baboons and monkeys.With en-route lunch meals. Upon arrival, you will check in at your lodge for dinner and peaceful rest.

Safari lodge: (Primate lodge / Kibale safari lodge / Chimpanzee guest house).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget )

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and community walk.

On this day, you will rise quite early and enjoy quick breakfast. You will head to the park head quarters for a briefing session regarding chimpanzee tracking code of conduct. Thereafter, you will be guided to the forest and experience tracking of the chimps and other primates in their natural habitant (this is the primate capital of the world). The park’s site guide will take you through this adventurous experience where you may be blessed with enormous encounters of various forest primates like the L’hoest, black faced colobus monkeys, baboons and other forest species. The chief highlight of this day will be the chimps. You will enjoy them as they play, sing, communicate and eat. 1 hour is usually allowed with the Chimps. You may also be rewarded with wonderful sightings of forest bird species like the African broadbill, Ross’ and great blue turraco, butterflies and flora. After your lunch at the park, (you can either enjoy a picnic lunch in the park or return to your lodge for lunch) the driver / guide will reward you with the Bigodi evening tour. This wetland sanctuary near Kibale forest is famed for the colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and a wealth of bird life like the African Broad-bill and the great blue turraco. Retire for dinner.

Safari lodge: (Primate lodge / Kibale safari lodge / Chimpanzee guest house).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget )

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.

After a relaxed breakfast, you will go to QueenElizabeth, if time allows, you will drive through kasese town viewing the mountain rwenzori ranges,

Safari lodge: (Mweya safari lodge / Parkview Safari Lodgelodge / Mweya hostel).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 7: Morning game drive – afternoon boat cruise

Early in the morning set off for the morning game drive in the Northern crater area where there is a lot of dark holes called the black craters with no water. You may be able to see a lot of animal species such as the Elephants, lions, buffaloes, Leopards, monkeys such as the black and white colobus, vervet, patus, red-tailed and the blue monkeys. Other animals that can be seen are the bush pigs and the warthogs, antelopes. This side of the park provides a good view of numerous craters. The activity takes 3-4 hour. Return for lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon go Later after lunch, you will embark on a boat cruise on Kaziga channel. This is very rewarding with the aquatic animals like crocodiles, hippos and many bird species like black bee carmine bee eaters and black bee eaters, Lesser Swamp-Warbler, Striated Heron among others. This takes 2-3 hour.

Safari lodge: (Mweya safari lodge / Enganzi lodge / Mweya hostel).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 8: Going on to Ishasha sector – tree climbing lion zone.

After having breakfast at the lodge, your driver will drive you to the ishasha sector.   You will embark on the game drive that will give you a chance to see tree climbing lions.

Safari lodge: (Ishasha wildness / Ishasha jungle lodge / Ishasha river camp).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Forest National park via ishasha.

On this day, you will rise early and after breakfast, set off for the impenetrable park. Along the way to Bwindi, you will enjoy sightseeing of community home steeds.  Check in at the lodge, and prepare for the next day activity.

Safari lodges: (Gorilla resort / Silverback lodge / Buhoma rest camp).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 10: Gorilla tracking in bwindi – Life-time memorable experience.

You are now in Bwindi and this is the moment you have been waiting for! After very early breakfast, you will be guided to the park headquarters for the briefing session about the gorilla trackers code of conduct from the park’s guides. Thereafter, you will get ready, along with your packed lunches to embark on the lifetime memorable experience in this magnificent forest for gorilla tracking. The trail you use may reward you with exciting moments of the giant mountain gorillas ‘this will be a reward of the ultimate gorilla experience’ as well as other primates that inhabit the forest. The trek may be tough and slippery at some points but it all supersedes the excitement of viewing the gorillas at the end of the forest tour (This may probably be the highlight of the whole safari for you!). If you are a Keen birder, you will look out for various species of forest birds.

Safari lodges: (Gorilla resort / Silverback lodge / Buhoma rest camp).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 11: Going on to LakeBunyonyi – second deepest lake in Africa.

After breakfast, we will make our scenic journey through the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape to Lake Bunyonyi, Given the inevitable rigorous day at Bwindi, most clients will cherish some relaxing moments on the shores of this peaceful lake. You will enjoy an evening canoe ride on the lake. dinner and peaceful overnight stay at the lodge besides lake Bunyonyi.

Safari lodges: (Birdnest resort / Bunyonyi safari lodge / Overland resort camp).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 12: Border crossing to Rwanda from Uganda. 

Transfer to Rwanda for the following day’s tracking. These groups of gorillas in Rwanda are easier to track and so will reward you with a more interesting experience without much trouble. The driver will drive with you to your lodge for your dinner and wonderful overnight.

Safari lodges: (Gorilla view lodge / Lebabou lodge / Kiningi guest house).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 13: Extra ordinary gorilla tracking in Rwanda OR Visit Diana fossey grave.

On this day after enjoying a very early breakfast, the driver/ guide will be ready to drive you to the headquarters of ParcNationale des Volcans for the memorable gorilla tracking experience. Tracking in Rwanda is a much rewarding experience especially when combined with a visit to the Dian Fossey cave. Brief update on Dian Fossey: she was an American zoologist who had committed all her life to Gorilla conservation and habituation in Rwanda. She is famously known for her work in habituating gorillas (you might want to see “Gorillas in the Mist movie”). She was murdered in Rwanda in the Volcano Mountains believably by Gorilla poachers and was buried in a cave beside “Digit” her Gorilla friend who passed on in 1977. A visit to this cave will probably be a major highlight while in Rwanda. After the briefing from the ranger guides at the park, you will start the gorilla trekking (with your packed lunch) through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga. Hiking and tracking gorillas may take 1-8 hours or less and this mainly depends on your physical ability and stamina (it can be shorter). The driver will return with you to your lodge for your tasty dinner and wonderful overnight.

Safari lodges: (Gorilla view lodge / Lebabou lodge / Kiningi guest house).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 14: Going on to Lake Kivu for relaxing

Lake kivu is the largest, is like a giant inland sea with some interesting lakeside towns. Kibuye, two hours from Kigali, is a relaxing retreat for swimming, canoeing and water-skiing. Gisenyi, a famous resort in the past, now has a sleepy forgotten air with some fine but neglected buildings from the Belgian era. Dinner and wonderful overnight at the booked lodge/hotell.

Safari lodges: (Lake kivuserena hotel / Paradise hotel deluxe rooms / Paradise hotel standard rooms).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 15: Full day relaxing at gisenyi beach relaxing at the hotel.

Enjoy a full day relax at the beach, a boat ride can be hired from kivu, to enrich the leisure.

Safari lodges: (Lake kivuserena hotel / Paradise hotel deluxe rooms / Paradise hotel standard rooms).

Accommodation type: ( Luxury / Mid-range / Budget ).

Day 16: Drive to Kigali city heading to Kigali Airport.

After a healthy breakfast, you will drive towards Kigali city, if time allows, you will take a city tour.Later proceed for departure at Kigali airport. END.

PRICE WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

* Gorilla Permit each person in Uganda

* Gorilla permit each person in Rwanda
* Car hire transportation in 4WD tourist car
* Fuel for the entire trip
* Park entrance fees in the parks
* Bird watching while on tour

* Kigali city tour

* Visiting lake kivu in Rwanda
* Guided game viewing in all parks
* Launch cruise in all National parks
* Warm lunches during transfer days
* Chimpanzee permits at Kibale park
* Canoe ride in Lake Bunyonyi

* Safe drinking mineral water in car full time
* Meals at the lodges
* Services of English speaking driver-guide
* Accommodation for  15 nights on full board meals
* Airport /Hotel transfers

PRICE WILL EXCLUDE:
* Airticket and visa fees
* Soft sodas and alcoholic drinks
* Extra activities out of itinerary
* And other personal items/expenses