Tour summary
Day One: Pick up in Kigali and drive to Kibale Forest National Park
Day Two: Tracking chimpanzees & drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day Three: Game drive and boat cruise
Day Four: Journey to Volcanoes National Park
Day Five: Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup in Kigali & drive to Kibale Forest National Park
A company representative will pick you from your hotel or the airport in Kigali, after which you will embark on a scenic journey to Kibale Forest National park. The drive takes about 6 hours passing through the beautiful hills of southwestern Uganda also known as the “Switzerland of Africa”. Accommodation ranges from luxury lodges like Ndali Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge or Mountains of the Moon; mid-range lodges such as Chimps Nest, Primate Lodge or Isunga Lodge; and budget facilities like Chimpanzee Guest House or Rweteera Safari Camp.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking & journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will wake up early for breakfast at around 6 am, and then transfer to the park headquarters at Kanyanchu for a briefing. After meeting with other tourists, we shall be led into the forest by our knowledgeable guide who will help us track down these chimps that share about 98% DNA composition with humans. Tracking can take between 2-8 hours depending on where they spent their last night because these creatures are always moving looking for fruits and other foods. Besides primates there many other mammals plus birds which you may encounter while on this activity. Later return back at the lodge refresh have lunch before we go Bigodi wetland sanctuary community walk which is very rewarding with several primates’ species including red colobus monkeys, black-and-white Colobus monkeys among others before driving to Queen Elizabeth NP for overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge or Enganzi Lodge.
Day 3: Wildlife safari and boat excursion
We shall wake up early in the morning have breakfast then go for game drive along Kasenyi track known as kob mating ground where we expect to see various animals like elephants, buffaloes, lions, warthogs plus different species of antelopes. Depending on our luck we may also spot some leopards which are known to camouflage themselves so well within grasslands this that they become invisible even when you are just meters away from them. After lunch take a two hours boat cruise along Kazinga channel connecting Lakes Edward and George. While on the boat trip be sure not miss out seeing hippos resting lazily in mud banks or crocodiles basking under sunshine as well many water birds species including African skimmers Rwenzori Turaco among others. Later return back at the lodge refresh yourself before dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge or Enganzi Lodge.
Day 4: Voyage to Volcanoes National Park
We shall set off after having breakfast with picnic lunch through the legendary hills of Rwanda – thousand hills as described by many travelers which will offer us scenic view over Virunga volcanoes while driving towards Volcanoes national park headquarters. On arrival check into your pre-booked accommodation Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Hotel Muhabura/La Palme Hotel/Sabinyo Silverback Lodge depending on budget plans but if money is not problem try out Virunga/Karisimbi lodges which are more luxurious compared others around this area.
In conclusion, visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of activities such as tracking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, game drives and boat cruises in Queen Elizabeth NP and gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking Tour in Volcanoes National Park
The final day of this five-day Rwanda Uganda gorilla safari is the most exciting as tourists will have an opportunity to go for gorilla tracking at Volcanoes National Park. They meet at Kinigi park offices in the morning ready to embark on this amazing adventure of tracking gorillas. An hour is given to watch these gentle giants in their natural habitat after which visitors return back to the lodge for lunch and then transfer to Kigali city with a city tour and later a moving visit to Gisozi Genocide Memorial Site before being dropped off at the airport by our guide who sees them off as they take their flight back home marking end of this unforgettable safari experience! Tour ends.
