Kigali Safari Information - Founded in 1907 under German colonial rule, Kigali has been the capital of Rwanda since 1962 when the country gained its independence. An attractive city with few large buildings, it spreads over a number of hills. A Kigali safari is a great introduction to this little known country and a good starting point for a gorilla track into the Volcanoes National Park.
Kampala Safari Information - Kampala is situated 40 km north of Uganda's international airport at Entebbe on Lake Victoria, and is spread haphazardly over seven hills. Its name comes from a Kiganda expression – kasozi k’empala – meaning the hill of antelopes (impala). Kampala is one of East Africa's most laid-back and friendly cities and you will undoubtedly pass through it en route to Gorilla safari in Uganda's national parks.
Gorilla Safaris from Kigali Rwanda
Day1: Kigali to Ruhengeri
Picked from your hotel at your convenient time and mostly after lunch or on arrival at the airport and be driven northwards. The road takes you through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape, gradually climbing to the base of the awesome volcanoes, with many peaks visible on clear days. Continue to Ruhengeri for overnight at Gorilla Nest Hotel or Kinigi Guest House. (Drive takes a minimum of 3 hours).
Day2: Gorilla trekking in Parc de Volcanoes
Morning you will be driven to park headquarters after briefing start off the adventure with trackers. Tracking may take some hours depending on the movement of these primates. A briefing from your local guide and then it’s off! The time taken and the terrain varies (2- 8 hours) this depends on the movement of these gentle giants. The thrill of meeting face to face takes away the pain of some times long and arduous trek. Each encounter is different and has its own rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in delightfully playful manner.Overnight will the at you hotel, dinner and overnight. At your convenience can visit community’s surrounding that is if tracking ends early.
Day3: Ruhengeri tio Kigali
After breakfast drive to Kigali or to the airport with Lunch stop on the way. At request can visit the Rwanda memorial genocide cites on this day.
Gorilla Tracking from Kampala Uganda
Day1: Kampala to Ruhengeri - Rwanda
Picked from your hotel in Kampala in the early morning at 7.00am and be driven from Kampala with lunch stop in Kabale and proceed to Kisoro. Cross the border and drive to Ruhengeri for overnight at Gorilla Nest Hotel or Kinigi Hotel or Hotel |Muhabura in Ruhengeri. (Drive takes a minimum of 10 hours).
Day2: Gorilla Tracking in Parc de Volcanoes
Morning you will be driven to park headquarters after briefing start off the adventure with trackers. Tracking may take 2- 8 hours depending on the movement of these primates. Overnight will the side of Rwanda or after tracking cross the border drive to Kisoro dinner and overnight. Where time does not allow overnight will be Rwanda side.
Day3: Drive back to Kampala
after breakfast drive to Kampala or Entebbe airport with Lunch stop on the way. Will stop at the Equator where the world two hemispheres meet. Take memorable photos as you stand across both hemispheres. Continue to Kampala. END OT SAFARI
We have presented 2 convenient options of tracking gorillas tours in Rwanda and mostly for those with short of time and on budget while visiting the East African region. The other option clients can start their gorilla treks from Kigali and end there (EX- Kigali). While the other option is starting from Kampala and end from there (EX - Kampala). Alternatively it is possible to start in either Kigali or Kampala and in either. We can package for you another Ex Nairobi or Arusha/Kilimanjaro.
Uganda Gorilla Primate tracking safari
Day 1 - ARRIVAL you will be met by our tour guide or representative who will transfer you to your hotel in Kampala. If you arrive in the morning, you will be taken around Kampala for a city tour to introduce to you the beautiful hills of Kampala not leaving out historical sites. Visit some interesting and historical sites, including the Uganda Museum, the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, Kasubi Tombs, and certainly the African Craft Village. Dinner and overnight at Tourist Hotel or Holiday express/ Serena hotel for high end.
Day 2 - KAMPALA - MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK Depart to the most beautiful and largest protected area in Uganda; Murchison Falls National Park! Have lunch en route probably at Masindi then proceed. On arrival you will visit the top of the falls, visit the magnificent falls where you will enjoy and marvel at the mighty Nile. Here you will encounter the Murchison falls as the water is being plunged into a seven meter the famous waterfall is being forced into a seven meter fissure to thunder 45 meters below in a series of falls. This scenery can be spectacle from different points up at the baler's high point. Dinner and overnight at Red Chilli Rest Camp. For upgrade you can stay at Nile Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge.
Day 3 - : MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK Take breakfast and go for an early morning game drive on the northern bank of the Nile. You will encounter Rothschild giraffe, oribis, waterbucks, elephant, lions, Jackson hartebeest and a variety of savannah woodland birds. After lunch we will go for a Nile cruise watch how hippos take a bath, elephants come to drink and crocodiles lying lazy at the shores. Return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 - MURCHISON FALLS - FORT PORTAL we leave Murchison Falls and head towards Fort Portal. The drive is almost eight hours but will provide you with some marvelous views as you pass small African villages and banana plantations. This beautiful town of Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. Dinner and overnight at Rwenzori View Guesthouse, excellent accommodation with view over the Rwenzori Mountains/Primate lodge or Luxury Ndali Lodge.
Day 5 - SEMLIKI NATIONAL PARK we take breaks fast and proceeds to Semliki National Park. The picturesque, snaky road will lead us through the green mountains and offers you a superlative outlook at the River Semliki and Congo. On arrival in confined area, a ranger will accompany us on a stunning nature walk through the Ituri Rainforest. Take pleasure in the passivity of the forest, search for the bird species at the swamp and don’t forget to move with a row egg that will boil in the hot springs for illustration that proves how hot the water from these hot springs is . This has become an interesting natural charm. A picnic lunch provided by the guide, while you delve into the real Africa is enjoyable. Later in the afternoon we return to the service of Rwenzori View Guesthouse for dinner and overnight. For upgrade you can stay at Ndali Lodge.
Day 6 - KIBALE NATIONAL PARK & BIGODI SWAMP This day begins with a sensational chimp tracking. Kibale Forest is the most reliable park if you wanted 100% chances of watching the greatest diversity and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Indulge in the nature guided walks in this tropical rainforest in search for the wild chimpanzee, black-and-white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, and many others. After a hearty lunch we transfer to the Bigodi Swamp for another, totally different nature walk. The Bigodi Swamp Walk is an initiative of the local community and takes approximately two hours. The swamp is known for its rich diversity of birds and primates. Dinner and overnight at Rwenzori View Guesthouse. For upgrade you can stay at Ndali Lodge.
Day 7: KIBALE - QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK We transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is a beautiful route via Kasese, with the Rwenzori Mountains on your right side and the green valley on the left. A game drive on our way to the accommodation in the middle of the national park gives us the chance to spot waterbucks, warthogs and other wildlife. After lunch we take on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. Thanks to the elephants, buffaloes and hundreds of hippos, this cruise will definitely be one of the highlights of your safari. Dinner and overnight at Institute of Ecology Hostel. For upgrade you can stay at Jacana Safari Lodge or Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 8: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Wake up very early in the morning and head to the mating ground of the Uganda kobs along the kasenyi track. We look for buffaloes, lions, elephants, and other wild animals in their natural habitat, before returning for lunch. In the afternoon you will have the chance to indulge in a nature walks in the Maramagambo tropical forest. Here you will find the blue lake which got its name Kimera Njojo (meaning the shallower of the Elephant) after it had drowned an elephant. This is a small lake and you may be not believe that it might have drowned a big elephant. The Hunters Cave is another interesting scene which will expose you to bats and the Rock python that preys on them. You will get the chance to have a close look at the bats and maybe even the rock python and forest cobras that feed on the bats. The same walk will provide you with views of primates, different bird species and beautiful fauna. Dinner and overnight at Institute of Ecology Hostel. For upgrade you can stay at Jacana Safari Lodge or Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 9: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - BWINDI After breakfast you may choose for the optional activity of exploring Kyambura Wildlife Reserve (not included). Driving through a grassland area, all of a sudden we come across an amazing gorge of one hundred meters deep, covered with tropical rainforest. You will hike into the gorge of the Kyambura River in search of the wild chimpanzees. It is a beautiful walk through the river valley, home to many birds and butterfly species. Later we will leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and head towards Bwindi. The scenic route runs through a verdant countryside while you pass traditional homesteads and farms. In Bwindi dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Bandas. For upgrade you can stay at Lake Kitandara Luxury Tented Camp.
Day 10: BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK another highlight of your safari: a meeting with the gentle giants of Bwindi! Especially hikers will love the tracking in the beautiful ecosystem of the park. It is difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike; it may take two to eight hours. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. But it will definitely be worthwhile as you observe them closely while they eat, play and rest. A unique and unforgettable experience! For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. The ranger guide always briefs you on how to behave with these giant apes. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Bandas. For upgrade you can stay at Lake Kitandara Luxury Tented Camp.
Day 11: BWINDI - LAKE BUNYONYI After breakfast you can choose to have a guided village walk for a closer meeting with the local community. Learn about their way of living as you walk through coffee, tea and banana plantations. Afterwards we depart to Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest lake in Uganda. This area is often called "Little Switzerland of Uganda" and boosts one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Relax or go for a canoe trip while you watch the beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Camp. For upgrade you can stay at Arcadia Cottages.
Day 12: LAKE BUNYONYI After the challenging and strenuous hike in Bwindi, some relaxing moments on the shores of this peaceful lake are most welcome. The options here are birding, nature walks, swimming or canoeing (not included). Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Overland Camp. For upgrade you can stay at Arcadia Cottages.
Day 13: LAKE BUNYONYI - LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK After breakfast we drive to Lake Mburo National Park which takes us about four hours with lunch en route. As we enter the park and head towards the accommodation it is likely that you will see some wildlife, like impalas, topis, warthogs, zebras and buffaloes. After checking in you will go on a boat ride on the lake and enjoy the rich birdlife and the hippos that are cooling off. Dinner and overnight at Rwonyo Camp. For upgrade you can stay at Mantana Tented Camp.
Day 14: LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK - KAMPALA Early start of the day as we will go for a nature walk guided by a ranger. Lake Mburo is the only national park where you can experience a safari on foot. After breakfast we transfer to Kampala with a stop at the equator for photos or shopping. Arrival late in the afternoon in Kampala. Dinner and overnight at Olympia Hotel. For upgrade you can stay at Speke Hotel Kampala.
Day 15 - DEPARTURE Enriched with an experience of a lifetime and unforgettable memories you will say goodbye to the Pearl of Africa. Depending on the time of departure you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.
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