8 Days Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Safari
This safari starts in Rwanda and ends in Uganda. It involves gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, crossing the Rwanda-Uganda border to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for another gorilla trekking but this time in Uganda, game viewing and launch cruising on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 1: Meet and transfer to Ruhengeri
Arrive at the Kigali International Airport and carry out some shopping and a visit to the Gisozi genocide memorial centre and later, drive north of the country to Volcanoes National Park. On arrival, you can decide to have an optional community walk for a good cultural experience of true Rwandese culture in Ruhengeri, if time permits.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Have an early morning breakfast and be transferred to the Park headquarters for a gorilla briefing before the trek. After this, you will set out in the forest to search for these rare Mountain Gorillas. The time you will spend in the forest searching for the Gorillas is not predictable as it depends on where they spent the last night. After coming across the gorillas, you will spend one hour in their company while taking their photos, observing their behaviour and feeding patterns, before retracing your way back to the headquarters for certificate issuing. After lunch, proceed to the Rwanda-Uganda border and be transferred to Gorilla Safari Lodge for an overnight while you wait for gorilla trekking in Bwindi the following day.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Go gorilla tracking, walking up steep densely forested hills before finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation. An inspiring moment! (This trek can take from half an hour to 5 hours – a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes) Sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. It’s amazing to think there are only about 700 of these beautiful creatures left
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth is host to a large variety and volume of wildlife. It boasts one o the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park in the world, from the open Savannah to Rain forest, dense swamps and beautiful crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward. Almost 100 species that include Hippos, Lions, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted hyenas and the elusive giant forest hog, there are over 606 species of birds found here including the martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail, Verreaux’s eagle owl and African skimmer to name but a few. The primates include Chimps, Black and white Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black Faced Red Colobus, Red Tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 5: Game drives and launch cruise
After breakfast, your safari guide will drive you to the Kasenyi area of the Park for a sunrise game drive. Here you will be able to see numerous elephants as well as water hog, lion, hyena, Uganda kob, waterbuck and bushbuck. In the afternoon a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippos huff and spray mere feet away from the boat, and buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. After this wonderful afternoon, a slow drive back to Lodge
Day 6: Proceed to Kibale Forest
After breakfast, depart to Kibale National Park after a morning game drive. You will arrive at Fort portal town in the afternoon. Tonight you will sleep at Kyaninga Lodge/Chimps Nest/Ataco Country Resort prior to your chimpanzee tracking in the morning.
Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking and swamp walk
A relatively early morning start, to report to the ranger station in Kibale National Park at 08.00 am to track habituated chimps – these delightful apes, more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. The incredibly diverse forest is home to over 13 species of primates including the red Colobus monkey, the rare L’Hoest, blue monkey, grey mangabey, pottos, black-faced vervet monkeys, baboons and also bush-babies. A network of shady forest trails provides much to delight botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with 335 species recorded including the endemic Prirogrine’s ground thrush. The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier than its savannah counterpart, moves seasonally into the developed part of the park, while other terrestrial mammals include buffalo, giant forest hog and a half dozen antelope species. If you have energy in the afternoon, you will go for a guided walk in Bigodi Swamp to look for different bird species.
Day 8: Reserved for departure
After breakfast, leave Fort Portal and return to Kampala. Later be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to find your departure flight back home
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
