8 DAY GORILLAS UGANDA / RWANDA

Day one 

Arrival at Entebbe International airport and transfer to Kampala. Kampala is the capital of Uganda and it’s just a 30minutes drive away from the airport. Check in Fang -Fang Hotel located in a Kampala’s prime area. It’s a 3 * hotel with, restaurant and bar, lounge, business centre. 

The hotel has an assorted array of rooms from which are self contained and most are air conditioned. At the back of the hotel is a lovely flower garden where there is a restaurant on lawn. Trees along with flowers surround it. With the business centre you can send your email and surf the net at ease. Dinner and overnight.

 Depart early morning at 7.00am to Kibale National Park, after breakfast. This will take you about 4 hour drive from Kampala. You will Escape the city in the morning and extend to western Uganda through lots of tea plantations and later to Kibale.

This park is East African world of Chimpanzee. Check in Travelers Inn, After lunch move to park headquarters and start your trek in search of Chimpanzee. The park is organized into trails that will help you walk well in a very fresh environment. The tour guides will show you the chimpanzee but other primates exist in the forest. This can take you up to 4 hours. Return to Travelers inn relax in the African Wild, dinner and over night

Depart early morning after breakfast and head to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This journey will take us 3-4hours. Queen Elizabeth N.P. is one of the outstanding treasures of Uganda.  QENP has recently been designated a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity under UNESCO.  The park covers a remarkable variety of eco-systems; from semi-deciduous tropical forest to green meadows, savannah and swamps.  It is the home of the famous tree-climbing lions, the Uganda kob and other antelope as well as elephant, buffalo, hippos, baboons, and chimpanzee.

Over 500 species of birds have been recorded here making it prime target for birdwatchers.  Species recorded include the shoebill stork, black bee-eater, 11 types of kingfishers and a variety of raptors including several falcons and eagles.  In the crater lakes, spectacular flocks of flamingos gather, creating the image of a moving pink carpet The launch trip along the Kizinga Channel between Lake George and Edward is a memorable way to view the variety of game in Queen Elizabeth.  North of the main gate is the crater area, one of the most scenic parts of the park. In the more isolated Ishasha sector of the park, search the woodlands for the tree-climbing lions perching on the boughs of ancient fig trees.  To the Southeast, travelers can explore newly opened trails in Maramagambo forest.
Lions

Crocodile on the Launch Cruise
Arrive in the park early afternoon and check in Mweya Hostel. After Lunch, at 3.00 pm, head to shores of Lake George to take one of the most fascinating boat cruise in the park. This Launch trip starts on Lake Edward and moves along Kazinga water channel. Other tourists from other countries will join you. 

A guide will be on the trip to answer every question. Lots of water animals, e.g. Crocodiles, Hippos, beautiful water birds, water buffalos, 65 year old Elephants, drinking water by the shores. You will have a chance to see a hippo at a closer range and say hello.  This will be a perfect chance to record your African experience. The cruise takes two hours after which you will come back, and if time allows take an evening game drive. Drive back, relax, dinner and overnight.

Wake up early morning, by 6.30 am, the African experience rocks again.
Today, we look at chimpanzee and the baboons. Baboons are quite very interesting animals. We head to Kyambura Gorge in the morning; In this area visitors can climb through tropical forest and catch a glimpse of a variety of primates. We trek Chimpanzee and other cats that exist in this area for about 3 hours. Return for Lunch. 

In the afternoon, we transfer to Bwindi impenetrable park the home of the famous mountain Gorillas. Every year thousands of people from around the world flock to this area to see the famous Gorillas.

You will pass through western part of Queen Elizabeth National park and will definitely get a little feel. You will just go through the park and will arrive in Bwindi late afternoon.
Bwindi is located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the western rift valley covering 331 sq. kms.  It is one of the largest natural forests in East Africa, supporting large number of plants and animals not found elsewhere. About half the world's population of 630-mountain gorilla resides in Bwindi.

Along with the gorillas, there are nine other species of primates including chimpanzee, blue monkey, red tail monkey, L'hoest's monkey, black and white Columbus, potto, demidoff's and needle - clawed galago.
 Gorilla
Three hundred and forty-seven species of birds have been recorded in Bwindi; seven species are listed as endangered.  Species of particular interest include the Kivu ground thrush, white-bellied robin chat, red-throated ale the, collared apallis, short-tailed warbler, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, blue headed sunbird, strange weaver and the Shelley's crimson wing.  Over 200 species of butterflies have also been recorded here.
You will check in Buhoma Lodge, dinner and over night.

Wake up early morning, by 6.30 am and Breakfast will be ready at 7.00 a.m. At 7.30 am, your Gorilla trekking Guide will conduct a brief lesson on Gorilla trekking with other trekkers before you set off.

Enter the sanctuary and enjoy the beauty and freshness of the forest, home of the mountain gorillas.  Proceed through dense bush to trek for these endangered animals. 

You will move further and enter this unspoiled thick environment to discover the African natural treasures. Tour Guides will discover gorilla and you will indeed enjoy them. Their behaviors are unique. Looking deep into the expressive brown eyes of these gentle giants is surely the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter that Africa has to offer - but we should not let it distract from Bwindi's broader biodiversity, a result of its immense antiquity and an altitude span from 1,160 to 2,607m Gorilla trekking may take 3-6 hours. 

As you are moving in the trails, you will listen to music of nature. Birds will be flying and singing, butterflies of different colors will say hello. Your guide will be with you all the times to answer any question you may pose and of course to tell you the dynamics of nature that goes on in Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Other primates also live in the forest including the black-and-white Columbus monkey, red tail monkey and chimpanzee. Return to Buhoma Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Wake up early morning and head to Mgahinga National park. This park is part Virunga conservation Area and equally hub Gorillas, and Golden Monkeys. You will enter the sanctuary to trek the Golden monkeys. This will take about 4 hours, return for lunch.
In the afternoon depart to Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda through Kisoro. This area is probably has the best scenery in the whole of Uganda. Lots of hills and terrains. 

We pass via Kisoro and proceed to Uganda/Rwanda Boarder. The Parc National des Volcans (PNV) is part of the Virunga Conservation Area and covers more than 125 km². PNV is home of five Virunga volcanoes: Sabyinyo (3.674 m), Gahinga (3.474 m), Bisoke (3711 m), Muhabura (4.127 m), and the Karisimbi, the highest volcano with an altitude of 4.507 m. All five volcanoes are extinct; the active ones are located in Congo. Two of them erupted recently; the Nyiragongo erupted in January 2002 and Nyamulagira in July 2002. 
The Virunga ecosystem is composed of 4 major vegetation zones: bamboo (base altitude), Hagenia and Hypericum forest (2600-3300m), Sub-alpine (3300-4000m), and Afro-alpine (4000m+). 

The mountain gorillas spend most of their time in the hagenia woodlands and bamboo forests. During the rain season when new bamboo shoots are growing, the gorillas spend more time foraging in the bamboo forests (base altitude). The climb to the natural habitat of bamboo forest and Hagenia woodlands offers fantastic views. We arrive at the park and check in Kinigi View Guest House, relax dinner and overnight.

Depart After breakfast take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with excellent local guides and trackers who will a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. 

We then hike into the forest where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet.  The terrain is rough and at times muddy.  Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. 

Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. Picnic lunches will be provided and it is important to take plenty of water. Cameras and plenty of fast speed film are recommended. It can rain at a few minutes notice; hence waterproof
clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras and film.
Return to accommodation, dinner and overnight.

After Breakfast we prepare to go to the airport in Kigali. The journey will take 2 hours to Kigali airport and take a flight home.

Tour Price: USD 320 per person per day. (Based on Minimum 2 people)
 

This cost includes:  All park fees Transport- 4x4WD Gorilla permits Budget Accommodation Meals Airport transfers English speaking tour guides

Excludes: Shopping Accommodation Air Fare Tips Airfare Visa fees Alcoholic drinks