Itinerary for 7 days Uganda and
Rwanda Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzee trek tour
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kinigi
Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide. Transfer to
Volcanoes National Park with private vehicle and driver.
Ranging in altitude from 2400km to 4,507 the Volcanoes National
Park (French: Parc National des Volcans) is dominated by the
setting of volcanoes after which it is named. Best known to the
outside world as the place where for almost 20yrs the American
primatologist Dian Fossey under took her pioneering studies of
mountain gorilla behaviour. Day hikes to see the gorilla
families can be strenuous on tracks climbing through the forest,
and time is very limited once contact is made with the gorilla
families. It is a rare and memorable experience to visit with
these giant cousins of man.
Our accommodation is ideally positioned for those who want to
watch animals in their habitat, specifically the endangered
Rwanda Mountain Gorillas that still roam these areas. Share in
the cuisine of Rwanda, which is served with the hospitality for
which we all return to African countries. Take walks, learn more
about the gorillas, and absorb the gorgeous surrounding
landscape.
Accommodation options available
Up-market:
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate:
Le Bambou Gorillas Lodge or
La Palme Hotel
Low Budget: Kinigi Guest House
or Muhavura Lodge.
Day 2: Mounain Gorilla
trekking in Pac des Volcanoes,
Rwanda
Have breakfast and go to ORTPN offices for briefing after that
set off in the forest for Gorilla trekking. A thrilling trek
through the refined foothills of the Virungas provides inspiring
views in all directions. Then, suddenly, the trail enters the
national park, engrossing trekkers in the strange closeness of
the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and
chattering of the rare golden monkey, and besieged with fresh
spoor of the mountains' elusive populations of buffalo and
elephant. Through gaps in the forest canopy, the marvelous peaks
are sighted, easily easy to get to and among the uppermost in
Africa, indicating an ascent. Gorilla trekking is quite
strenuous but a worthwhile on encounter of these gentle giants.
The enthusiasm of your coming across with these apes will wipe
away your intricacy of the strenuous trek. Spend time watching
gorillas, watch the adults feeding their young ones, brushing
and resting as the youngsters play from vines in a pleasurably
playful display.
Accommodation options available
Up-market:
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate:
Le Bambou Gorillas Lodge or
La Palme Hotel
Low Budget: Kinigi Guest House
or Muhavura Lodge.
Day 3:
Drive to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
We depart in the afternoon after your breakfast to Uganda’s
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is
incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animals' trails
allowing access to tourists. Of the
exceptional
120 mammals species recorded include 11 primate species - the
endangered Mountain Gorilla, rare golden monkey,
types of
buffalo, elephant, black-fronted duiker, bushbuck, leopard,
giant forest hog and others;
310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 200 trees, 88.
This park is best known for the fascinating gorillas. The time
taken and the terrain vary according to the movements of the
marvelous primates. The thrill of spending time and observing
the gorillas is a rare moving, awesome and exciting adventure.
The gorilla is a shy and peaceful animal and it is an
unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they
interact.
Overnight at
Up-market:
Buhoma Lodge/
Mahogany
Lodge/ Chameleon Hill Lodge/
Trackers Lodge Buhoma
Moderate:
Silverback Lodge /
Nkuringo Gorilla Camp/
Gorilla Mist Camp
Low Budget:
Rushaga Gorilla
Camp or
Ruhija Gorilla
Friends Camp or
Gorilla Valley Lodge
or
Buhoma Community Campground
See other Accommodation & Lodging options in or near to
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
(Driving time ± 4hrs on un-surfaced roads)
Day
4:
Gorilla Tracking Adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today enjoy surely. After breakfast, proceed for the morning
briefing before enjoying the highlight of the trip- Gorilla
trekking, which may last the entire day. We trek through the
rainforest 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. When sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6
metres from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while
gazing into their big round eyes.
Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It's difficult to foresee how
many hours you will hike. The gorilla excursion can take from 2
up to 8 hours. Expect to walk along distance in steep and muddy
conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter
any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For
conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited
to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the
gorillas.
Up-market:
Buhoma Lodge/
Mahogany
Lodge/ Chameleon Hill Lodge/
Trackers Lodge Buhoma
Moderate:
Silverback Lodge /
Nkuringo Gorilla Camp/
Gorilla Mist Camp
Low Budget:
Rushaga Gorilla
Camp or
Ruhija Gorilla
Friends Camp or
Gorilla Valley Lodge
or
Buhoma Community Campground
Day 5: Drive to Kibale National Park
Early morning after breakfast we continue driving through the
undulating highlands of southwestern Uganda on our way to the
greener and beautiful Fort Portal area. Traveling on both
asphalt and unpaved roads, you pass through traditional Ugandan
Villages where you see people at work tending their traditional
crops of millet, sorghum, beans and maize. The lush rolling
hills of this region provide good "photo opportunities". As you
approach Fort Portal in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains,
you enter Uganda's famous tea plantation region. A carpet of
green spreads before you, as far as the eye can see, and seems
an unusual contrast to the countryside through which you have
just passed.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market:
Kyaninga Lodge or
Ndali Lodge or
Primate Lodge Kibale
Moderate:
Kibale Forest Camp
or
Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
(self contained cottages)
Low Budget:
Kibale Forest Camp
(in tents)
or
Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
(shared bathroom rooms)
See other Lodging options in or near to Kibale / Fort Portal
(Driving time ± 5hrs on surfaced and un-surfaced roads)
Day 6:
Chimpanzee/ Primates Trekking In Kibale Forest
In the early morning, we will go Chimp tracking. On your forest
walk in the afternoon, you will look for the fascinating
multi-species troops of monkeys. Various species move through
the forest together, each specie occupying different elevation
in the forest. They understand each others’ alarm calls when
predators are spotted, so when, for example, an eagle soars
overhead, the monkeys at the higher elevation will sound the
alarm and all monkeys will take appropriate evasive action. The
same applies when those at the lowest elevations spot a
ground-dwelling or ambush predator such as a leopard: the
terrestrial monkeys will sound the alarm signal and all monkeys
will rapidly move up to the higher elevation.
Accommodation options
available (all on full board basis)
Up-market:
Kyaninga Lodge or
Ndali Lodge or
Primate Lodge Kibale
Moderate:
Kibale Forest Camp
or
Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
(self contained cottages)
Low Budget:
Kibale Forest Camp
(in tents)
or
Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
(shared bathroom rooms)
See other Lodging options in or near to Kibale / Fort Portal
Meals Included today: Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.
Day 7:
Return to Kigali, visit Gisozi Genocide Memorial and museum,
transfer to airport
Following breakfast, you will leave for Kigali. You have the
opportunity to visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Museum. The
memorial is very moving – the tour takes a couple of hours - and
will be of interest to anyone who has spent some time in this
enchanting country. It is in memory of the multitudes
murdered in Rwanda´s genocide 1994. The Memorial sites and
centres are places of dignified remembrance
for loved ones lost. It is also a place of reflection and
learning for the wider community, both in Rwanda and
internationally.
Afterwards, you will be transferred to the airport.