12 days Uganda and Rwanda primates safari
The 12 days Uganda and Rwanda primates safari gives you an opportunity to meet these endangered gorilla species, and other primates like in chimps Ngamba Island. The 12 days Uganda and Rwanda primates safari not only gives you an opportunity to meet these endangered gorilla species, but also in a way contribute to the ongoing great conservation efforts that the countries are putting in. You will get to visit the Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary, Kibale forest, Bwindi park and Volcanoes national park and be part of a great cause in this life time.
Summary of the 12 days Uganda and Rwanda primates safari
- Day 1: Visit Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary
- Day 2: Spend day at Ngamba island
- Day 3: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
- Day 4: Game drives / Transfer to Kibale national Park
- Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking / Afternoon Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park
- Day 6: Game drives/ Boat cruise along the Kazinga channel
- Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura / Afternoon Transfer to Bwindi
- Day 8: Gorilla Tracking
- Day 9: Transfer to Rwanda’s Volcanoes national Park
- Day 10: Gorilla Tracking / Transfer to Gisenyi Lake Kivu
- Day 11; Day in Gisenyi
- Day 12: Transfer back to Kigali/ Catch Flight Back Home.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1; – Transfer to Ngamba Island
A tour Guide from AA SAFARIS AND TOURS will pick you up from your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala and transfer you to the pier. You will take a Boat to Ngamba Island crossing the Equator and then you will arrive at the site . On arrival, you will be briefed about the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary and you will be briefed and then later escorted to the Chimpanzee viewing plat form. You will view mans’ Closest Cousins the Chimpanzee feeding; it is amazing to see that these apes behave just like man – when they scribble and scrumble for food just to feed them selves, their children and keep or even hide some food for later. You will later go for lunch in thee dining area. Dinner and over night at Ngamba Island tented camps.
Day 2-. Half day in Ngamba/ Transfer to Main Land.
Today you will spend half a day in Ngamba island exploring and participating in conservation efforts and then Later in the afternoon, you will get a boat back to the Main Land. Overnight at
Budget – Cycads hotel / Hotel Ruch
Midrange – 2 Friends Entebbe Hotel or Cassia Lodge Kampala
Luxury – Kampala, Serena hotel or Protea Entebbe Hotel.
Day 3- Transfer to Lake Mburo
Wake up early enough and take your breakfast. A tour guide from AA safaris and tours ltd will pick you up from Kampala and drive you south westwards. Take a stopover at the equator and then later transfer to Mbarara. You will then proceed to Lake Mburo NP. Have lunch, indulge in an afternoon canoe ride and then in the evening, go for a nature walk to the salt lick area. A spot light game drive to search for leopards is available at an extra fee.
You will retire for dinner and over night at either ;
Budget – Rwonyo UWA bandas
Moderate- Arcadia Cottages , Lake Mburo safari lodge
Luxury – Mihingo Lodge
Day 4- Game drive and then transfer to Kibale park
Go an early morning game drive before sunrise to search for lions and other wild animals and then later in the afternoon you will embark on the journey to Kibale national park. The drive will take you about 4 hours arriving in the afternoon. Located 26km at the south-east of Fort Portal town Kibale National park is home to over 14 species of primates that include the Colobus monkeys, Chimpanzee, the blue mangabeys, red taild monkeys, baboons to mention but a few. You may stay at either Fort portal town or in Kibale National park.
Dinner and over night at
Budget – Chimps Nest camp / Kibale Forest lodge
Standard – Kibale Tourist Lodge / Rubalika safari Lodge / Mountains of the Moon Hotel
Luxury – Primates Lodge cottages/ Kyaninga lodge / Ndali lodge / Chimpundu Lodge
Day 5 – Chimpanzee Tracking- Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Wake up early in the morning and assemble at Kanyankyu tourist centre for briefing . You will later go for Chimpanzee trekking. Along the trek, you may encounter birds, animals and so much more. The rangers will explain all the details about flora and fauna found in Kibale Forest. Later, you will encounter chimpanzee in the forest. You are allowed to spend 1 hour following the chimpanzees and taking pictures. Later you will return to the start point and then transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP . On arrival at Queen Elizabeth NP, you will take a tour around the crater lakes region after which you will transfer to your lodge for dinner and over night at ;
Budget- Simba safari lodge / Bush Camp
Moderate – Ihamba Lodge / Marafiki safari lodge
Luxury- Mweya Safari Lodge / Park View Lodge / Kyambura Game lodge/ Elephant Plains
Day 6- Game drive and launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth NP
Start your day with a cup of tea or coffee and then transfer to the park for a game drive in the Kasenyi area. The Game drive will take about 3 hours and be sure that on the game drive you will spot, buffaloes, elephants and plenty of other animals. Lions can also be spotted, however we have to warn you that sometimes they hide deep in the savannahs and you might fail to see them. Later in the afternoon you will go for a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel that connects lakes Edward and George.
For those who wish to participate in Lon tracking with the researchers , this too can be organised at an extra fee.
Dinner and Overnight at your previous hotel.
Day 7 – Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge – Transfer to Bwindi park
Today, after an early breakfast, you will transfer to Kyambura sector where chimpanzee tracking is done, for you to participate in Chimpanzee tracking, The trek takes between 2 to 4 hours and therefore, you should be back from the forest in the early afternoon hours. You will then have lunch and drive to transfer to Bwindi National park.Deoending on where you will be tracking the go
Budget accommodation package- Buhoma Community bandas or Bwindi View bandas or Gorilla Valley Lodge
Moderate- accommodation package- Ichumbi gorilla lodge
Upmarket accommodation package- Nkuringo safari lodge , Gorilla Leisure lodge , four Gorillas lodge
Luxury accommodation package- Gorilla Forest Camp or Clouds Lodge or Buhoma lodge
Day 8; Gorilla Tracking Safari
Take breakfast and later go for briefing from rangers . Start your trekking of gorillas in Africa. You will then be led through the forest pushing your way through the bushes, passing through thick creepers, to track the gorillas. Once you encounter the gorillas, you will spend 1 hour, following them and learning about their individual characteristics. There are few mountain gorillas left, in the world and therefore, conservation efforts are underway to protect them in all the three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and DR. Congo. Overnight at your lodge. After meeting the gorillas you will return to the start point, where your guide will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel for dinner. Dinner and overnight at yur previous hotel.
Day 9; – To Rwanda – Volcanoes Np – Time changes to GMT+02:00 Uganda is GMT+03:00
Wake up early for breakfast and then later have a Kabale city before you proceed to the south western corner of Uganda where Ruhengeri lies. You will clear visas at the border. Note that you must check with your Rwanda embassy or consulate in your country to ensure that you have the right documents to use to cross the boarder. We shall advise about any updates concerning visas to Rwanda before you start your trip.
Dinner and over night at
Budget accommodation in Muhabura Lodge / Kinigi guest house
Moderate accommodation in Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge / MT Gorilla View lodge
Up market accommodation in Volcanoes Lodge / Sabyinyo Silver back lodge / One and Only GorillA Nest / Bisate Lodge
Day 10; gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Take breakfast and report at 0700hrs to the Parc National des Volcans Headquarters in Kinigi office for registration, briefing and formalities. (your driver-guide will take care of all the formalities ). He will then drive you along the brim of Parc National des Volcans to the actual start point of your allocated gorilla group. Thereafter, you will start gorilla tracking through the par .The time taken to look out for these gentle apes will vary with how close they will be and it is unpredictable because the search is in their natural habitats. The gorilla safari here commences at about 2000 meters above sea level in the up most slopes of the Volcanoes. After tracking and encountering your assigned group you will spend one hour in their company before tracking your steps down the volcanoes. An en-counter after a strenuous walk is worthwhile!
If gorilla tracking ends early, visit of the Iby’Iwacu traditional village (a community based tourism scheme set by the local people to display their traditional ways of living).
In the evening hours you will transfer to Gisenyi one of the districts on shores of Lake Kivu. The drive takes about one hour and a half. Have fun at the magnificent Lake Kivu surrounding! (B-L-D)
Dinner & Overnight at either;
Standard – Malahide Paradise
Luxury – Kivu Serena Hotel
Day 11: Day in Gisenyi
Today you will go visit the hot water springs, the fishing villages and then return to the lodge to relax for the rest of the after and you go through your pictures. Enjoy a swim this afternoon. Dinner and overnight at previous lodge.
Day 12: Transfer to the airport.
Early in the morning right after breakfast, you will depart Gisenyi to transfer to Kigali. Arrive Kigali in the early afternoon hours. Visit the souvenir shops and then later on drive to transfer to the airport to catch your onward flight back home. End of 12 days Uganda and Rwanda primates’ safari.