9 days Chimps, Gorillas & Lions From Rwanda

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will have a meet & greet by our driver guide followed by an exclusive transfer to the hotel. Check in & spend the rest of the day at leisure.

OVERNIGHT: Flame Tree Village / Kigali Serena Hotel – Or similar

Today you will have a detailed city tour of Kigali through the historical landmarks with a visit to: Kigali Genocide Memorial Site, which offered a place in which the bereaved could bury their families & friends, now over 250,000 victims are buried at the site. This site also includes three permanent exhibitions, the largest of which documents the genocide of April 1994. There is also a children’s memorial, and an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world.

Your tour of Kigali extends to Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre (with twin churches), just 30km outside the capital city. Many Tutsi people gathered here as churches were a place of solace & safety, about 10,000 people locked themselves in the church.

The church walls today show how the murderers made holes into the church walls for grenades to be thrown in & the people inside were shot or killed with machetes. Today the church ceiling shows bullet holes & the altar cloth with blood stains of the deceased victims. Most of the remains have been buried but clothing & identity cards are still on display.  People in the surrounding area were also killed after the church massacre & their remains (50,000 people) are buried here.

After this memorable excursion, transfer back to the hotel & spend the rest of the day at leisure enjoying your stay in Kigali.

OVERNIGHT: Flame Tree Village / Kigali Serena Hotel – Or similar

Journey time: 3-4Hours

At 331 sq.km, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to half the world’s mountain gorillas, over 346 bird species, 202 butterfly species, 400 plant species, 63 tree species, 120 mammal species & 27 frog species. It is the only gorilla conservation area in Africa with the highest population of Gorillas.

On this day your driver guide will pick you up for your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through Cyanika Boarder to Uganda. On arrival, check into your lodge and recuperate from the journey.

OVERNIGHT: Mahogany Springs / Trackers Safari Lodge – Or similar

After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for briefing at exactly 8:00am with Gorilla tracking commencing in the next 30 minutes after registration and briefing by the ranger guides.

Gorilla tracking is a very captivating and unforgettable experience which more than repays the effort needed to reach Bwindi. This starts at 8:30am & can last a few hours to a whole day depending on where the gorillas were left previously. After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch with optional activities thereafter.

Optional activity: The Batwa pygmy cultural trail & Community / Nature walk: You will get to know all the cultural details of the short men of the forest ranging from hunting, cultural dances & songs, herbal medicine knowledge, dressing to family setting & lineage. This is a great opportunity to exchange cultural experiences with the local people of the forest.

OVERNIGHT: Mahogany Springs / Trackers Safari Lodge – Or similar

Journey time: 4-5Hours

After an early breakfast depart for another amazing scene of unique flora & fauna. Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for diverse ecosystems which include sprawling savannah, shady humid forests, sparkling lakes, wetlands & amazing craters. Ideal for big game, primate species to include Chimps with over 600 bird species. It has a superb scenic view of Kazinga Channel, the Rwenzori Mountains and crater lakes which are home to a wide variety of birds.

By taking the southern route to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will traverse Ishasha Sector, offering you an unforgettable of experience. Ishasha is composed of riverine & open savannah kind of vegetation with acacia & fig trees. The undulating landscape provides a clear view of wildlife & the entire National Park.

Encounter the Tree climbing lions; the most exciting experience in Ishasha, thus its popularity in the entre national park. Tree climbing lions that reside up in the acacia or fig trees are spotted each & every time hanging up in the trees, as they try avoid tsetse flies & other ground insects’ bites, usually enjoying their prey high up in the trees. See other animals like elephants, buffalos, antelopes, Uganda Kobs, impalas, waterbucks, warthogs, elands among others.

Thereafter proceed to the lodge within the park for refreshment & relaxation.

In the evening go for a Dusk Game Drive (depending on your ability); see various animals towards the night time to include bushbucks, elephants, warthogs, hippos and some nocturnal animals. Thereafter, return to the lodge for a dinner.

OVERNIGHT: Buffalo Safari Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge – Or similar

After an early breakfast, go explore the highlights of this wonderful national park. Dawn Game Drive; explore the park’s flora & fauna to include the elusive bird species & various animals like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, impalas, waterbucks,  Kobs, warthogs & the rare big cats. Enjoy a scenic view of several crater lakes like Nyamunuka (medicinal to the animals) & Munyanyange (frequented by flamingoes)

Proceed to Lake Katwe (salty lake); meet the local people at the salt works & learn about local salt mining at Lake Katwe, taking you through the whole process with cultural interactions. Thereafter return to the lodge for lunch.

Boat cruise (after lunch); head to the dock & embark onto the boat for another wonderful experience. This boat cruise is spiced up with a stunning view of the Mweya peninsular & a local fishing village along the shore.

Spot various birds like; the African fish eagle, pelicans, flamingos, Hammerkop, egrets, the African fin foot, pied kingfishers, marabou storks, migratory flamingoes, vultures, kites & many more, together with animals like hippos, buffalos, warthogs, crocodiles & waterbucks as most visit to water & cool off.

Visit Mweya Museum; after the boat cruise, with this visit learn more about the parks history, animals & physical features. After the day’s adventure, return to the lodge & enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure with dinner at the lodge.

OVERNIGHT: Buffalo Safari Lodge / Mweya Safari Lodge – Or similar

Journey time: 2-3Hours

Enjoy breakfast on a leisurely morning & later start off your journey to Kibale National Park. This trip is composed of a scenic view of the Rwenzori Mountains & a brief stopover at the Equator (photo opportunity) in Kasese.

Upon arrival at the lodge in Kibale National Park, enjoy lunch & spend the rest of the day at leisure or have a sundowner walk around Kibale communities, with dinner in a serene atmosphere.

OVERNIGHT: Primate Lodge / Papaya Lake Lodge – Or similar

At 795 sq.km, this is home to over 351 tree species some over 200 years old, famous for 13 primate species including Chimpanzees, 70 mammals species & over 375 bird species. In the morning, start off the day with breakfast and get ready for the day’s adventure.

Go for Chimpanzee tracking combined with an all green forest walk where you will see various bird species (great blue turaco), & more primates like the black & white colobus, encounter other animals like bushbucks and the mongoose. Right after this activity, return to the lodge for refreshment and stay at leisure with lunch in time. In the afternoon visit to Bigodi Community where you will be interacting freely with the locals.

Proceed to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a nice spot for birds like; the African hobby, great blue turaco, Black kite, Swamp flycatcher, Scarlet-chested bird, Grey-crowned crane, Herons, Weaver birds and many more. Later in the evening, return to the lodge & refresh for dinner in a peaceful forest atmosphere.

OVERNIGHT: Primate Lodge / Papaya Lake Lodge – Or similar 

Journey time: 5-6Hours

After an early breakfast, depart Kibale via Fort Portal and Kampala City straight to Entebbe International Airport, so as to check in for your outbound departure flight. This road trip offers you an opportunity to shop for souvenirs in Fort Portal town (the most scenic town in Uganda) with a view of the largest tea plantation (Rwenzori Commodities). Enroute meals are on client’s own cost but mineral water is fully provided at any time.

END OF SAFARI

DISCLAIMER:       1. The journey time stated in the itinerary is an estimation and it is subject to variation depending on traffic and road conditions.

2. Listed accommodation options are subject to change for similar ones depending on availability per destination visited.

Tour Rates: Quoted in USD per person sharing.

INCLUSIONS:

• Meals on a full board basis
• Daily mineral water on safari
• 8 nights’ accommodation
• All park entry fees & cruise fee
• Gorilla & Chimp Permits
• Game drives & the Katwe experience
• Transport in a 4X4 land cruiser (Window seat guaranteed)
• AMREF health evacuation cover
• Services of an English–speaking driver guide
• Fuel for the round trip

EXCLUSIONS:

• Meals & snacks outside accommodation
• En Route–lunches
• All optional activities
• Extra nights at a fee
• Medical & travel insurance
• All drinks alcoholic & nonalcoholic
• Expenses of a personal
• Tips & gratuities