Meet the mountain gorillas in two different regions of in their natural habitats; Virungas and Bwindi of Uganda and Rwanda. This is the perfect trip for you and an experience that creates magical memories that last a lifetime. Combine Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on the same safari adventure and meet these giant creatures in their natural habitat.
Day 1 – Arrival – Transfer
Today you will meet our highly skilled safari guide from 1000 Shades of Green who will welcome you and lead you on this 11 day Safari. You will check in your hotel and depending on your arrival time, we shall have a Kigali City Tour. Return to the hotel for Overnight at Hotel des Millies Collines. B.B
Day 2 – Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National park
From your hotel in Kigali you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park led by our safari guide. You will make en route stopovers to visit the Butare National Museum and the Nyanza king’s palace. Dine and spend the night at Nyungwe top view hotel. B.L.D
Day 3 – Trek Colobus Monkey and Canopy Walk
Very early in the morning you will start trekking as you search for colobus monkey in Nyungwe Forest. You will encounter some other primates including vervet monkeys and baboons, and if lucky may see some chimps, in addition to butterflies and various forest birds. Dine and spend the night at Nyungwe top view hotel. B.L.D
Day 4 – Transfer to Volcanoes National park
Today after breakfast you will drive to Volcanoes national park home to approximately 362 Mountain Gorillas. The drive will reward you with beautiful sceneries ideal for photography. Dine and spend the night at the La Palme Hotel. B.L.D
Day 5 – Volcanoes Gorilla Tracking
By 7:00am, you will assemble at the headquarters of the park where you will be briefed by the park warden. Clad with your trekking gear, a packed lunch and drinking water, you will enter into the forest led by park guides and begin tracking the gorillas. This may take between 1 and 7 hours basing on the gorillas’ movements. Once you meet them you will send an hour in the presence observing and taking photos. Head back to the lodge and relax and in the evening there will be an optional visit to the Ib’iwachu Cultural Village. Dine and spend the night at the Gorilla View Lodge. B.L.D
Day 6 – Golden Monkey Tracking, Dian Fossey Hike
In the early morning, you will assemble at the headquarters of the park for a briefing. Then head into the forest to track golden monkeys and or hike up to Karisoke research centre which was started by Dian Fossey an American primatologist that dedicated her life to researching about the gorillas of Rwanda, and also played a big role in ensuring that this endangered species is conserved. Unfortunately it’s said that she was brutally murdered by poachers and later buried next to her favorite gorilla Digit in this park. Later in the day you will cross borders into Uganda to Bwindi impenetrable national park which is habitat to half of the total number of mountain gorillas remaining in the world. Dine and spend the night at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. B.L.D
Day 7 – Gorilla Tracking
Today morning, we shall have breakfast early in the morning and then transfer to the headquarters of the park where we shall be briefed by the park rangers who will inform us about the gorillas tracking guidelines. Once you enter into the impenetrable forest you will begin looking for the giant gorillas and this will take between 2 and 8 hours, basing on the gorilla’s movement. You will be allowed to spend at most an hour observing the gorillas as they play, feed and care for each other as you take photographs and record videos. Later on in the evening there will be an optional cultural walk to visit the Batwa Pygmies who will also entertain you with traditional dances and songs. Dine and spend the night at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. B.L.D
Day 8 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast drive to QENP going through Ishasha sector searching for tree-climbing-lions. In the evening you will go for an evening game drive and you will see various animals like elephants, numerous Hippos, crocodiles and buffalos, in addition to several types of birds. Dine and spend the night at Buffalo Safari Lodge. B.L.D
Day 9 – Game drive, Transfer to Kibale National Park
Very early in the morning you will have a game drive hopefully to see some of the early risers like jackals, hyenas, lions and leopards just before they head back to their hide-out. After lunch you will drive on to Kibale National Park – home to 13 different primate species. Dine and spend the night at Kibale Guest Cottages. B.L.D
Day 10 – Chimpanzee Tracking, Nature Walk
Today after an early breakfast you will assemble at the park headquarters, be briefed by the park rangers and then transfer to the starting point for this chimpanzee tracking adventure. After this, you will return to your lodge for lunch and then take a nature walk within the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Optionally you will visit the amazing “Amabeere ganyina mwiru,” which is a cultural site having a rock in the shape of a woman’s breasts. Dine and spend the night at Kibale Guest Cottages. B.L.D
Day 11 – Transfer to Kampala, departure
Today morning you will have a nice breakfast at your lodge then transfer back to Uganda’s capital city Kampala from where you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.
Price per person from $3,124 Minimum 2 persons
Price includes
- Airport transfers (pick and drop
- Ground transport per 4WD safari vehicle
- English speaking driver/guide
- Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary, based on double room
- Three meals a day, apart from your stay in Kampala (B&B
- Mineral water in the safari vehicle
- Park entrance fees
- Gorilla permit (USD $800 per permit)
- Gorilla Permit Rwanda $1,500
- Ranger fees
- Batwa cultural tour
All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Price excludes
- International/domestic flights
- Visa (USD $100 per person)
- Meals and drinks not mentioned
- Items of personal nature