12 Day Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safari

The 12 Day Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Safari takes you to the volcanoes and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which habits the rare mountain gorillas.

The parks have more than 600 species of mountain gorillas which are for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda and after being filled with these unforgettable experiences visit the African wildlife experiences!

Day1: Kigali-Volcanoes Gorilla Park

After breakfast, meet Gorilla Expeditions guide and thereafter transfer to volcanoes national park with en-route stopover at some of Rwanda genocide memorial sites and lunch en-route. After drive to lodge for dinner and overnight at Lebombou Gorilla Lodge/Laplame Hotel/Muhabura Guest House. Meal plan: H/B

Day2: Gorilla Trekking Safari

Have breakfast, after head to the park headquarters for briefing about the mountain gorillas and the park. Thereafter enter into the jungle to search for the shy primates in their mist. It is whole or half day adventurous activity depending on the movement of the gorillas, when meet them it is one hour allowed staying with the primates for the clients to enjoy those playing, take unforgettable photographs. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight, meal plan: F/B

Day4: Dian Fossey Center

After breakfast prepare as yesterday and then trek to the Dian Fossey grave and experience the conservation work that she geared to save the mountain gorillas in the mist and after being filled with this experience return to the lodge. If we have more time visit the Rwanda cultural sites like the Iby’Iwacu cultural center. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight, Meal plan: F/B

Day5: Volcanoes – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, embark the safari truck and transfer to Uganda via Cyanika border and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and then relax at the shores of Lake Bunyonyi staying at Lake Bunyonyi Overland Cottages. Meal plan: F/B

Day6: Lake Bunyonyi – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Have breakfast, and after embark the safari vehicle and transfer to Bwindi Gorilla Park and overnight at Lake Mutanda Resort/Buhoma Rest Cottages/Gorilla Safari Lodge. Meal plan: F/B

Day7: Uganda Gorilla Tracking

Briefing by park ranger guides. Later with picnic lunch, start 30 minutes – 8 hours trek to find the Mountain gorillas. The tracking starts at the area where the gorillas were the previous day. After a full hour with the gorillas return to lodge for dinner and overnight. Meal plan: F/B

Day8: Bwindi – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Take breakfast and set off to Queen Elizabeth Park. The journey takes you through beautiful rolling hills and the Ishasha sector for -Tree-climbing-Lions in the south of Queen Elizabeth. Have lunch at Mweya safari lodge. Proceed to Mweya peninsula and then with time go to Kasenyi for an evening game drive to spot wildlife species. You will also see herds of elephants and buffaloes drinking water on the channel. The boat provides a clear platform for photographing. Dinner and overnight at Enganzi Lodge/Bush Lodge, Meal plan: F/B

Day9: Game Drive & Boat Cruise

After a cup of coffee embark on an early morning game drive along Kasenyi tracks to spot various wildlife species like the African big five (Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards) and other animals, in the Queens’s mile in the park and also enjoy the unique two hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. Return to lodge and relax as you wait for your African cuisine dinner and overnight as above. Meal plan: F/B

Day10: Kyambura Gorge walk – Kibale Forest National Park

Have early breakfast and drive to Kyambura Gorge nearby to track the fast moving and elusive wild chimpanzees, one of man’s closest relations. Kyambura Gorge harbours the only family of habituated chimpanzees in Africa. Lunch, after transfer to Kibale Forest National Park with the fabled view of Mountain of the moon, dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp. Meal plan: F/B

Day11: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Walk

Early morning after breakfast drive to Kanyanchu, Kibale Park Headquarters, before 8.00 am for chimpanzee trekking. Kibale forest harbours other primates including the Red-tailed and grey-cheeked Mangabeys, phoestes, Blue and Red-Columbus’s in addition to chimps, never the less the many beautiful birds species, butterflies plus many small insects as well. A visit to Bigodi swamp Eco-tourism site given its astounding flora and fauna will be a time worth adventure too. Dinner and overnight as above

Day12: Kibale Forest – Entebbe Departure

After breakfast, embark our safari vehicle and drive back to Kampala with lunch en-route and stop to some cultural markets to buy souvenir’s to take home and then transfer to Entebbe airport, End of service. Meal plan: H/B

The package includes:

Ground transportation

Accommodation and meals as per itinerary

Rwanda Gorilla permits $ 1500 USD

Uganda Gorilla permits $ 700 USD

Kibale chimpanzee permits $ 200 USD

Full day English speaking guide fees

Visit to Kigali genocide memorials

Park entrance fees

Car entry

Boat cruise

Mineral water on board

Excludes:

The air fares, Visa, porter fees while trekking the gorillas, laundry, expensive drinks, and other activities not mentioned in the itinerary.

What to wear/bring

Dress codes are informal. Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so bring lots of light clothing, supplemented by light sweaters for the cool evenings and heavier clothing for the higher altitudes especially Bwindi.

When tracking gorillas layering your clothing is the best idea and we suggest: long sleeved shirts, cotton or gore tex trousers, strong walking shoes with ankle support, socks that you can tuck your trousers into, light gloves to protect your hands from thorns and nettles, a hat and sunglasses to provide protection against the sun and a water proof jacket in neutral colors may come in handy in the moist mountains, insect repellents.

Travel light and remember that soft-sided luggage is required. One medium sized duffel bag and one small day pack (carry-on) per person should be adequate. Laundry services are available at most accommodations. You should also pack some zip lock bags for spare clothing, cameras, binoculars and film.

Please note that you are not allowed to use a flash when photographing Gorillas. It is a good idea to take along several different speeds of film (64 to 1000) as gorillas can be found in open sun or in the dark underbrush of the forest.