11 Days Rwanda Primate Safari

Day – 1 Arrival Entebbe International Airport
Arrival at Entebbe International Airport transfer to your accommodation.

Day – 2 Kibale Forest National Park)

After an early breakfast pick up by the driver. Travel to Western Uganda Fort Portal. This lively town is the base for activities around Kibale Forest National Park. The national park offers one of the most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda, 70 mammal species and 13 primate species. The drive takes 5 to 7 hours so we will arrive in Fort Portal in time for lunch. After lunch check in at the lodge. And then shake off the long drive, with a walk to the “top of the world” along crater lakes. Later continue to Bigodi wetland swamp; home of different aquatic and birds.

Day – 3 Habituated Chimpanzee tracking
After an early breakfast, transfer to the pack for a briefing before proceeding to the habituation. This interesting activity takes a full day of interaction with the chimps with a lunch break in between. Later transfer to the lodge for an overnight.

Day – 4 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have an early breakfast after which each one will be equipped with a packed lunch for the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is the most popular park in Uganda as it offers variety of diverse ecosystems, classic big game, 10 primate species and over 600 bird species. You will drive leisurely southwards; explore the park through an extensive game drive. After lunch enjoy an afternoon launch cruise on Kazinga channel.

Day – 5 Game drive
After an early breakfast, with your packed lunch drive to the park for an early game drive, spend the whole day exploring the park further. Continue southwards to the Ishasha sector which is re-known for its tree climbing lions. Then further to kasenyi sector, enjoy the scenery comprising of the beautiful crater and the endless green vegetation

Day – 6 Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast travel further south to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda´s oldest, largest, magnificent and most diverse rainforests. This “impenetrable” forest is also home to more than 320 mountain gorillas, 400 species of plants, 120 species of mammals and over 350 species of birds. Continue to the lodge, check in, and after lunch a ranger guide will escort you on a nature walk.

Day – 7 Gorilla Tracking
This is the climax of this safari, briefing is done before tracking. It takes a few minutes but you leave with gorilla etiquette. Comfortable shoes and clothes are advised along with packed lunch and a walking stick. Walk and hike this steep and slippery terrain until you meet the family gorilla. Enjoy this one hour allowed in the company of the brilliant giants! Looking into the eyes of one of the magnificent creature brings home the distressing fact that they are on the edge of extinction, and that your presence contributes to ensuring their continual survival
Depending on the duration of the track you can either relax in the afternoon at the lodge or enjoy another walk around the village or hike up to the highest football field with the breath taking view ever!

Day – 8 Volcanoes National Park
Proceed via Cyanika border to Rwanda, proceed to Volcanoes National Park; in the afternoon visit the Karisoke Research centre learn more about Dian Fossey’s work in the National Park and history of Gorilla conservation.

Day – 9 Gorilla tracking Volcanoes National Park
With an early breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for gorilla briefing. When venturing into this gigantic forest, a packed lunch, comfortable clothes, shoes and a walking stick is a must before gorilla tracking. The time spent gorilla tracking is unpredictable, it varies from 2-8 hours before an encounter with the family of these gentle creatures. The location of each gorilla family depends on temperature, their feeding range and movement of the previous day.
Enjoy this1 hour (only time allowed in the company of each gorilla family a day) watch and capture this memorable experience as they go about their day to day activities; the young ones playing around the old ones, feeding each other and eating foliage. The sight of these outstanding creatures is the climax of this entire safari. Later retire for an overnight at the lodge.

Day – 10 Musanze to Gisenyi – Lake Kivu
After breakfast, transfer to Gisenyi town which is located on the shores of Lake Kivu. On arrival, check into the hotel and later relaxing activities; swimming, sport fishing and boat cruise. The cruise will provide you with a spectacular view of Kibuye and Gisenyi towns

Day – 11 Musanze to Gisenyi – Lake Kivu
Transfer to Kigali from Gesenyi, visit communities en-route and continue to the Genocide memorial centre, before proceeding to the airport for your departure flight.