8 Days Primates of Uganda and Rwanda
Day 1
Airport Transfer – Kigali– Ruhengeri
On arrival at the airport you will be met by your driver guide on your flight, who will drive you to Kigali for dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Budget :
Moderate: Hotel Chezlando
Up market : Manor hotel
Luxury :Serena Kigali Hotel
Day 2
Kigali – volcanoes
Morning after breakfast at you leisure visit the Genocide memorial center to have your own account as to how the genocide was carried out in 1994 where many people perished. After, will be driven to Parc de Volcanoes National Park the home of Mountain Gorillas shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Congo under the Virunga massif . The drive is short but enjoyable with lunch stop on the way.
The Park offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape and not incredibly dense like the Bwindi in Uganda, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. Here are families of gorillas that have been habituated for tourism and each is visited by 8 people per day. Although trekking may be strenuous the viewing of the gorillas in their natural habitat is an experience long to be savored.. Apart from the gorillas, there are a variety of primates to be seen including the blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, and black & white Columbus monkeys. The great blue turacos are often seen and even for a non bird watcher they are marvelous sight.
Arrival at Ruhengeri will be in the evening. You will then settle at your lodge for dinner and overnight as you prepare for the tomorrow’s event!
Day 3
Gorilla Tracking
Morning after breakfast with packed lunch, you will be driven to the park offices for briefing. You will be allocated family to track. Your will then be off from the park offices to begin your adventure. A briefing from your local guide and then it’s off! The time taken and the terrain varies (2- 8 hours) this depends on the movement of these gentle giants. The thrill of meeting face to face takes away the pain of some times long and arduous trek. Each encounter is different and has its own rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in delightfully playful manner.
You will need to carry long pants like light type, sturdy shoes to help you hiking steep and slippery slopes, long sleeved shirts and blouses to protect your bodies from thorns and itching plants. You may not rule out raining on you and at least a rain coat is needed to protect your bodies and any equipment carried along with like cameras. Also carry insect repellants and sun cream. Dinner and overnight at your lodge
Day 4:
Kigali – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Morning after early breakfast will depart for Queen Elizabeth Park – going through Kabale where will stop for lunch break. After proceed to Queen Elizabeth while viewing the terraced picturesque of Kigezi highlands.
This park includes predator’s lion. leopard and other game. Over 500 bird species have been identified here, making it a Mecca for bird-watchers. They include the black bee–eater, 11 different species of kingfisher and several falcons, eagles and other raptors. Queen Elizabeth National is one of the most outstanding treasures of Uganda, and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity under UNESCO auspices. It borders on Lake George and Lake Edward as well as Kazinga Channel in the western area of the Great Rift Valley escarpment.
Over night stay at your lodge
Budget : Albertine Camp: Farmland Resort/
Moderate: Hippo Hill Camp:Simba Safari Lodge: Bufallo Safari Lodge: Bush Lodge
Up market: Mweya Lodge standard rooms: Katara Lodge
Luxury : Mweya Safari lodge:Jacana safari lodge: Wilderness Safari Camp
Day 5:
Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After breakfast, you will go for Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge where you will see not only the chimpanzee but also other primates like the colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys plus baboons.
Then take an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel where you will see a variety of game mostly marine animals. This waterway joins Lake Edward and Lake George and it is filled with schools of hippos, crocs , with elephants and buffaloes at the banks and a wonderful diversity of birds. Because of the different habitats of the lakeshores and the broad Savannah, the variety seems endless. Catch a glimpse of water birds diving for fish, the Marabou stork, bee-eater and cheeky bronze-tailed starling as well as the majestic crowned crane. Retire to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight
Day 6
Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast carryout game drive viewing herds of elephants, buffaloes and antelopes and some predators- lions leopards hyenas etc. Watch different species of birds. Over 500 species have been identified here making it a Mecca for bird -watchers. They include Black-bee eater, 11 different species of Kingfisher, several falcons, eagles and raptors. Depart this interesting unique part of the world and head to Kibale Forest National Park another primate concentrated families. Check in at your Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Luxury: Ndali Lodge : Primate Lodge Kibale : Kyaninga lodge
Up market : Fort Motel : Mountains of the moon Lodge : Kibale Guest Cottages
Moderate: Ruwenzori view guest house: Ataco
Budget :Toro Resort: Nyinabulitwa Country Resort
Day 7:
Kibale Forest – Chimpanzee tracking
After an early breakfast you will be driven to Kanyanchu park headquarters. With local guides track chimps Kibale National Park in their natural habitat nestled in the shadows of the Ruwenzori Mountains (the famed mist shrouded “Mountains of the Moon”) Kibale Forest is rich in animal life, including an astonishing 12 species of primates including chimps in this park have been recorded, the very localized red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys. Tracking the chimpanzee our ‘cousin’ is a very interesting experience. The way they feed, climb trees, respond to humans, caring for their young ones leaves an imaginative dream to tell.
In the afternoon visit the surrounding- Bigodi swamp eco tourist site to view more primates including baboons, different species of monkeys and lots of birds or enjoy unique view of crater lakes and other volcanic features. Overnight will be at your lodge.
Day 8:
Kibale – Kampala – Entebbe
After breakfast at your leisure will be driven to Kampala or Entebbe via Mubende stopping at interesting forest and swamp spots with lunch on the way. End of Safari.
