Trip highlights: 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Primates itinerary will take place in Uganda and Rwanda and you will encounter the Primates. Arriving in Uganda via Entebbe International Airport and departing through Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. In Uganda, you will visit Kibale Forest and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and take part in the Chimpanzee and Gorilla Habituation experience in both parks. In Rwanda you will visit Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Park and trek the Gorillas, Golden Monkeys, Chimpanzees and enjoy a canopy walk too.
Uganda Rwanda Primates Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival
After arriving Entebbe International Airport, you will clear with immigration, proceed to the arrivals where you will meet your driver guide who will transfer you to your hotel for overnight stay.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe (high-end), The Boma Guest House (medium) or 2 Friends Entebbe (budget). Meal Plan: B
Day 2: Drive to Fort Portal
Drive to Fort Portal Town / Kibale National Park. Fort Portal was founded as a garrison for British soldiers by Gerald Portal from whom the town derives its name. And is the only town with an English name in Uganda. Here you will see many tea plantations producing high quality tea for local and export market en-route.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (high-end), Kibale Forest Camp (medium) or Chimpanzee Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 3: Chimpanzee Habituation in Uganda
On this day, after an early breakfast, you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing. Along with an experienced ranger guide and researchers you will search for Kibale Forest’s resident Chimpanzees spending the whole day in the forest with chances of seeing other primates such as Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Red Colobus, Red-tailed and Blue monkeys. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge (high-end), Kibale Forest Camp (medium) or Chimpanzee Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 4: Kibale – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will be assisted with checking out and start your drive to the South Western part of Uganda; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the great apes the Mountain Gorillas.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (high-end), Mantana Engagi Lodge (medium) or Buhoma Community Bandas (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 5: Gorilla Habituation in Uganda
After an early breakfast; you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and thereafter go to the start points and enjoy the highlight of the safari. Gorilla Habituation is different from trekking because it’s a full day experience. Along with researchers, conservationists, rangers and other environmental experts you will be taken through the raw process of habituating a Gorilla family. This experience is restricted to a few people per day. Dinner and overnight stay at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (high-end), Mantana Engagi Lodge (medium) or Buhoma Community Bandas (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 6: Bwindi – Musanze (Volcanoes National Park)
Breakfast at your hotel, along with your driver guide you will start your drive to Rwanda crossing via the Cyanika border. After dealing with the immigration formalities you will proceed to Musanze town to your lodge. Lunch and dinner at the Lodge.
Accommodation: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
After a very early breakfast at the lodge, you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and thereafter drive to the trail heads the start point for your amazing adventure.
You will be trekking the Great Apes, the Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. This activity could take between 2-6 hours. Rwanda has 12 habituated groups of Mountain Gorillas scattered all over the Park. You will spend an hour watching the habituated group going about their normal day playing, eating… etc
Upon return from your trek, you will be driven back to the lodge where you will have lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the lodge facilities.
Accommodation: One and Only Gorillas Nest (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 8: Rest Day
You will spend this entire day at leisure enjoying the lodge facilities.
Accommodation: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking
After breakfast at the Resort, proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and thereafter drive to the trail heads for another highlight of the Volcanoes National Park. Trekking usually takes 4 hrs. When you encounter the habituated primates you will spend 1 hour with them as they go about their normal day. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive by nature hence spend their day leaping from bamboo branches. Upon return from your trek, you will be driven back to the Resort where you will have lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying their facilities.
Accommodation: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 10: Musanze – Drive to Nyungwe National Park
After breakfast start your drive to Nyungwe National Park passing via Gisenyi having lunch en-route. Arriving your lodge in the evening. Dinner at your lodge.
Accommodation: One&Only Nyungwe House (high-end), Mantis Kivu Marina Bay (medium) or Gisakura Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 11: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
On this day you will depart the lodge with packed breakfast and drive to the park headquarters for briefing and then proceed to the starting points into the forest. During this trek you will see a variety of bird species and the Primates. You will be allowed to stay in the presence of the Chimpanzees for an hour as you enjoy watching them go about their normal day. You then return to the lodge to rest and have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will once again proceed to the park headquarters for a canopy walk briefing. Experience the forest from a dazzling perspective on the canopy walkway the only one of its kind in East Africa. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: One&Only Nyungwe House (high-end), Mantis Kivu Marina Bay (medium) or Gisakura Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 12: Departure
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you will be assisted with checking out; then you will start your drive to Kigali International Airport to catch your departure International flight.
Uganda Rwanda Primates Inclusions and Exclusions:
Includes
- Return airport transfers
- 11 nights’ accommodation with meals as indicated in the itinerary above
- Activities shown in the itinerary
- Park fees
- Chimpanzee Habituation permits
- One Uganda Gorilla Habituation permit $1,500 per person
- One Rwanda Gorilla permit $1,500 per person
- Golden Monkey trekking permit
- Canopy walk
- Services of an experienced English speaking driver guide
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Government taxes
Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Insurance
- Optional activities
- Tips
- Drinks
- Items of personal nature
