This 10 Days Gorillas and Chimps tour is a first class ticket for you to experience and compare primate adventures in Uganda with that of Rwanda. The main highlight is the visit to Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, both of which offer outstanding gorilla adventures. This will be followed by a worthwhile chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park and later Nyungwe forest, a destination where you will also pursue an exhilarating canopy walk.
Day1: Kampala-Kibale forest
After your breakfast at a hotel of your choice in Entebbe or Kampala, our driver guide will pick you up for a safari to Fort portal, a district in Western Uganda that lies at the foothills of Mountain Rwenzori. You will have lunch en-route at Garden Restaurant, a dine-out that specializes in local Uganda cuisines.
Dinner and overnight at Kyaninga lodge/Ndali lodge/Kibale safari lodge (Luxury) Fort Motel/Kibale safari camp. Meal plan: H/B
Day2: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi walk
Breakfast, after head to the park head quarter for briefing about the park and chimps rules and regulations. On average, it takes about two hours for visitors to encounter the chimps. In an effort to ensure that your pursuit is fruitful, a team of trackers will be sent prior to your arrival at the starting point. Their task is to locate the random setting where the chimps are dwelling and keep track of the direction towards which they are moving. The ranger leading your group will get real time updates so as to avoid the possibility of taking you in circles.
It is hard to walk out of the forest without encountering at least five species of primates. Common sightings include black and white Colubus, vervet monkeys, managabey. Return to the lodge for lunch and thereafter proceed to the Bigodi wetland to search for the rare shoe bills, Sitatunga and much more primates. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight, Meal plan: F/B
Day3: Kibale-Bwindi Gorilla Park
Have breakfast, after embark our safari vehicle drive to Bwindi national park where the mountain gorillas are tracked in the mist. Thanks to the priceless dedication of ranger guides to protecting wildlife, the gorilla population in this park has consistently increased over the years, currently numbering 459.
Lunch en-route; arrive at evening at your lodge for check in. dinner and overnight at Buhoma lodge/Mahogany springs. Meal plan: F/B
Day4: Gorilla trekking adventure
Breakfast, after head to the park headquarters for gorilla trekking. Due to their critically endangered state, tourists are advised to keep a seven meter distance from gorillas so as to minimize the possibility of transmitting any possible air borne diseases. However, its quite common for their babies to draw so close to visitors out of curiosity. If this happens, don’t panic. Rather, live in the moment and seize the opportunity to take that lifetime selfie. While at it though, try to minimize unnecessary contact as these are wild animals. While the baby might not mind you playing about, its untrusting mother is suspicious of everything ongoing.
Try to avoid wearing clothes with shouting colours like red. The gorillas find it disturbing as red is associated with violence and bloodshed.
Spend the evening visiting the local communities around the park-like the typical Bakiga homes, local breweries, traditional healers, Batwa cultural performances, local schools and art and craft shops. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight, Meal plan: F/B
Day5: Bwindi-Volcanoes national park safari
After cup of coffee, embark our safari truck and take the scenic drive enjoying the undulating landscapes forms of Uganda and Rwanda. Lunch at the lodge; spend the evening at the lodge enjoying the beautiful hills endowed to Rwanda. Dinner and overnight at Volcanoes safari lodge/Sabyinyo lodge/Gorilla nest camp/Kinigi guest house. Meal plan: F/B
Day6: Rwanda Gorilla trekking
Take breakfast, after head to the park headquarters for the briefing about the dos and don’ts with the mountain gorillas in their mist.
In an effort to afford you a quality experience and at the same time avoid stressing out the apes, there is a limit to the number of tourists who can see a particular family in a day, 8. Not only does this enable the ranger guide entrusted with looking after you to answer all questions without feeling overwhelmed, it enables you to take so many pictures without any interruptions. While at it though, avoid using your flash. It irritates the gorillas, making them restless and sometimes violent.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight, Meal plan: F/B
Day7: Volcanoes gorilla park-Lake Kivu vacation; safari
After early coffee, embark our vehicle and take scenic drive via the amazing undulating hills that makes Rwanda to own the name “thousand hills”. Drive to Lake Kivu with lunch en-route and upon arrival enjoy the beautiful white sand bathing. Dinner and overnight at Lake Kivu Serena hotel, Meal plan: F/B
Day8: Lake Kivu boat ride-Nyungwe forest
Breakfast, thereafter take an amazing boat cruise along the Lake to different fishing villages, expect to spot variety of birds and over this cruise be steady to take unforgettable photographs of birds and local fish mongers from villages. Return to lodge for lunch and thereafter drive to Nyungwe forest and retire at Nyungwe forest lodge/Nyungwe hill hotel house. Meal plan: F/B
Day9: Chimpanzee trekking & Canopy walk
Have breakfast, thereafter head to the park headquarter for briefing about the forest and the chimps.
You will love every minute of trekking these primate species which share 98.7% common DNA with man. They are more vibrant and entertaining than gorillas due to their curios nature. The trek to their territory is much shorter compared to gorilla trekking. You will see a whole host of different species close up.
Also, expect to watch more primates like the white and black Columbus, vervet monkeys, manageably and birds, butterflies. Return to lodge for lunch and after prepare for the evening of canopy walk to spot much primates, birds and butterflies at closure point. Return to lodge for the dinner and overnight, Meal plan: F/B
Day10: Nyungwe forest-Kigali
After breakfast, embark our safari vehicle and drive back to Kigali with en-route lunch and visit to other cultural markets to shop curious to take home as remembering mark from the thousand hills a small region but perfect for tourism at one would not miss. Drive to airport for your return flight back home-End of services
The package includes:
Airport transfers
Accommodations and meals
Transportation by safari vehicle
Game drive
Boat ride
Park entrances
2 Gorilla permits for Uganda and Rwanda
Golden tracking
Visit to the Dian Fossey graves
Boat ride along Lake Kivu
Bird watching
2 Chimpanzee permits for Uganda and Rwanda
Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest
Visit cultural museums and local cultural markets
En-route lunch
The package excludes:
The expenses of personal nature like: Air fare, Visa, Luxury drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, and porter fee while trekking, personal insurance, personal shopping bills.
