15 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Adventure

Overview

15 Days Gorilla adventure through Uganda and Rwanda taking you to the very best national parks in the two countries. This adventure includes exploring Kigali city, visit to the Ibyiwacu cultural village and golden monks trekking or Diane Fossey Hike.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes national park

Pick up from either your hotel in Kigali or from the airport by our company representative who will take you on a tour of Kigali city to visit the gisozi genocide site, local markets and later hit the road driving north-wards to Volcanoes national park in Musanze province former Ruhengeri. Arrive late and check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Volcanoes Lodge ( Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge / La Palme (Mid-range), Muhabura Hotel (Basic).

Day 2: Gorilla Tracking – Ibywacu Cultural Village

Up early for breakfast at your hotel, set off with the necessary tracking gear and packed lunch, you will move to the park headquarters for briefing, before proceeding with the ranger guides for the memorable adventure. The time taken hiking for gorillas highly depends on the moment of the gorillas since they are wildlife animals in the jungle. But your ranger guide has a rough idea where they maybe as he communicates with his colleagues who go earlier into the forest to track the gorilla movements. Its much advisable for you to be prepared with necessary gear and parked lunch as you begin the strenuous, but exciting adventure. A maximum of one hour is allowed with the Gorillas.

After the encounter, head to your hotel for lunch, and in the afternoon have a cultural experience at the Ibyiwacu cultural village to lear about the Banyarwanda culture. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Golden Monkey Tracking / Dain Fossey Hike – Transfer to Lake Kivu

In the morning, you will need to go and track the primates like the golden monkeys, the baboons, and many others. Or hike the Dian Fossey tomb and the remains of the Karisoke research center. In the afternoon get ready to transfer to Gisenyi – Lake Kivu. En route visit the Murambi Genocide Memorial Site and the King’s palace reaching Lake Kivu in the evening to relax along the lake shores . Dinner and overnight at Lake Kivu Serena hotel (Luxury)/ Palm gardens resort (Deluxe)/ Paradise marahide (Budget)

Day 4: Lake Kivu Boat Ride – Tour Nyamirundi Island

Have breakfast at the lodge and late embark on a boat ride along Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is the largest fresh water lake offering tourists a relaxing environment while in Rwanda. After an early lunch, embark on a tour of Nyamirundo island, and learn about coffee making in Rwanda. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi Uganda

Early morning after your breakfast be ready to transfer to to Lake Bunyonyi. The journey will offer you with sights of the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape. Upon arrival at Bunyonyi, have lunch and later carry out an afternoon boat ride on the lake which will reward you with sights of different birds on the many small islands on the lake. Dinner and overnight in Arcadia Cottages for Luxury or Bunyonyi Overland Resort for mid range or Bunyonyi overland Camp for budget

Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi Lake Bunyonyi National Park

After breakfast, you will transfer to Bwindi via the Kabale region commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa. Upon reaching Bwindi, have lunch and then spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at your lodge while preparing for your gorilla trek the next morning. Dinner and overnight stay at Gorilla Resort or Mahogany Springs or Gorilla Forest Camp (Luxury)/Lake Kitandara or Buhoma Lodge (Midrange)/Buhoma Community Bandas or wagtail eco safari camp (Budget)

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking

Wake up to an early breakfast at your hotel then proceed with your guide with packed lunch boxes to the Bwindi sad offices for a briefing about how to conduct during your trekking adventure. You will then enter the thick impenetrable forest in search for the rare intriguing giants. After a full hour with them while observing and learning their behavior as you take photos, return to the Camp for dinner and overnight

Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will enter the park via Ishasha sector the commonly known area for the rare tree climbing lions. Have lunch at Ishasha as you spot the hippos in the Ishasha River. You may also spot buffaloes, leopards, Kob and topis on the plains of the area. Proceed to Mweya for dinner and overnight stay at Mweya safari lodge or Jacana Safari Lodge (Luxury)/Hippo Hills camp or Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge (mid range)/ Simba safari lodge (Budget)

Day 9: Game drive and afternoon Launch cruise

After your breakfast, you will go for the morning game drive in Kasenyi area to search for different wildlife animals missed out in the previous game drive. Later visit the Katwe explosion craters. Here you will spot Kitagata Lake and the enormous Kamengo Crater and this will give you clear view of different wildlife around the Park. In the afternoon, go for the launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel where you will be rewarded with wildlife sights of species like the Hippopotamuses, Waterbucks, Crocodiles and a variety of Water Birds like the black bee- eater, several species of falcons and the raptors. Dinner and overnight stay at Mweya safari lodge or Jacana Safari Lodge (Luxury)/Hippo Hills camp or Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge (mid range)/ Simba safari lodge (Budget)

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, you will leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park which is the most popular area for Chimpanzee tracking and also a good habitat for a lot of bird species and other primates. En route to the Park you will enjoy a game drive that will expose you to different wildlife species such as Elephants, Buffalos, Uganda Kob and if you are lucky, you may also spot the Hyena, Lions, Leopard and perhaps the Giant Forest Hog. Reach Kibale in the afternoon where you will check in to your lodge and later go for the evening nature walk around the Lodge. Dinner overnight at Primates lodge (Luxury)/ Chimp’s nest (Midrange)/Chimpanzee Guest house (Budget).

Day 11: Chimp tracking and Bigodi Swamp walk

Upon having breakfast in the morning at your lodge, you will go for the life time Chimpanzee tracking experience in their natural environment and habitat. You will first report to the Park Headquarters at Kanyachu for a briefing about the chimp trackers code of conduct by a UWA official and then later go for the morning chimpanzee tracking experience. You will penetrate into the forest under the guidance of an armed ranger for the tracking. Besides the chimps, you may spot other primates and these include: Varvet Monkey, L’hoest, Blue Monkey, Red-Tailed Monkey, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Black And White Colobus Monkey and many more. Return back to the lodge for Lunch and later go for the afternoon Bigodi swamp walk to search for different bird species. Dinner and overnight at Primates lodge (Luxury)/ Chimp’s nest (Midrange)/Chimpanzee Guest house (Budget).

Day 12: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

After a morning breakfast, you will drive to Murchison falls with lunch en route in Hoima. The journey will reward you with spectacular views of the magnificent scenery as you drive through the traditional homesteads and farms on your way to Murchison. Reach Masindi town in the evening and then proceed to the Park for dinner and overnight stay at Paraa Safari Lodge or Chose Safari Lodge or Nile Safari camp for Luxury/ Sambiya River Lodge for Mid range/Red chill campsite for Budget

Day 13: Game drive and launch cruise along the Albert Nile

After breakfast, you will set out for game drive on the northern sector of the Park. Here you will search for the early risers where you will be able to spot animals like Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, baboons, Giraffes, Water bucks, bush bucks and so on. If you are a lucky visitor, you can also spot the Leopard. The game drive can take like 4-5 hours and this is the longest game drive in all Uganda’s game parks. Return to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will set out for the launch cruise along the Albert Nile where you will enjoy the cruise and can be able to spot animals like hippos, crocodiles, Oribis, buffalos and the wonderful bottom of the falls. Return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Paraa Safari Lodge or Chose Safari Lodge or Nile Safari camp for Luxury/ Sambiya River Lodge for Mid range/Red chill campsite for Budget

Day 14: Chimpanzee tracking and top of the falls

After breakfast, you will go for chimpanzee tracking in Kaniyo Pabidi area within Budongo Forest. There are a number of chimpanzees as well as other primates. Have lunch at Kaniyo Pabidi and in the afternoon, visit the top of the falls where you will be rewarded with sights and sound on the Albert Nile crashing through the chasm. The water forces its self in a narrow gap in a rock only 7 meters wide pouring into a gorge 43 meters down thus making a thunderous roaring sound. Return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Paraa Safari Lodge or Chose Safari Lodge or Nile Safari camp for Luxury/ Sambiya River Lodge for Mid range/Red chill campsite for Budget

Day 15: Transfer to Kampala

After breakfast, you will transfer back to Kampala reaching in time for Lunch. Drop off will be at your Hotel or at the Airport for your travel back home

End of Safari