Uganda & Rwanda Gorilla Trek & Safari

Here you can be confident of seeing elephant, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, waterbuck, hartebeest, oribi, Uganda kob, crocodile and a good range of aquatic birds. With a bit of luck you might also encounter lion, leopard, Patas monkey and the bizarre stork-like shoebill.

Animals are out and about, the light is often perfect, and temperatures are cooler when you join us on our evening game drive in Murchison Falls National Park.

Accommodations: Chobe Safari Lodge

This afternoon you will join a boat trip along the Nile to Murchison Falls. In addition to the tropical African riverine scenery, expect to see plenty of wildlife on the way.

On our guided walk in Top of Murchison Falls, you’ll walk without the safety of a vehicle and understanding it all through the eyes of our professional guide.

Accommodations: Chobe Safari Lodge

It’s time for you to go on a guided game drive in Murchison Falls National Park this evening. No matter how many times you go, you’ll never grow tired of the experience.

Accommodations: Chobe Safari Lodge

The thrilling opportunity to track rhinos on foot is the main attraction of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a non-profit organization that protects 7,000ha of dense African bush also inhabited by a wide variety of antelope, small mammals and birds. Starting with six animals relocated from outside Uganda in 2005–6, the white rhinos of Ziwa have now bred up to more than 20 individuals. The long-term plan is to reintroduce rhinos into national parks where they are now locally extinct, but for now, Ziwa is the only place in Uganda where you can see Africa’s second-bulkiest land mammal in the wild.

This evening is set aside in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for relaxing. After all, you are on holiday.

Accommodations:  Amuka Safari Lodge

Kibale National Park is best known for its population of around 1,000 chimpanzees, man’s closest genetic relative. The park is home to a dozen other primate species, including Uganda mangabey, a type of monkey that is unique to Uganda and difficult to see anywhere other than Kibale. It supports a dazzling forest birdlife, with 370 species recorded, ranging from the outrageously colorful great blue turaco to the secretive green-breasted pitta.

After lunch we will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and check into our Safari Lodge.

Accommodations:  Buffalo Safari Lodge

Protecting 95 mammal and 610 bird species, more than any other location in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park ranks among Africa’s most biodiverse safari destinations. Lions prey on the antelope that graze the grassy plains. Hippos and elephants are prolific around the larger lakes and waterways. Salt-encrusted crater lakes provide a seasonal feeding ground to flamingos and other wading birds. There are also large tracts of rainforest inhabited by chimpanzees, giant forest hogs and various monkeys.

This afternoon we take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel which often results in exciting encounters with hippo, elephant, buffalo and more occasionally lion or leopard.

Accommodations: Buffalo Safari Lodge

This afternoon we will go out for a guided game drive. We love showing off the landscapes and wildlife of Ishasha Sector, and part of the excitement is about never quite knowing which animals are going to appear.

Accommodations: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Supporting almost half the world’s mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is arguably the best place anywhere in the world to track these charismatic gentle giants through their misty forest home. But there is far more to this UNESCO World Heritage Site than just gorillas. The lush forest interior is also home to a diversity of other mammals, ranging from L’Hoest’s
monkey and chimpanzee to elephant and the yellow-backed duiker. A total of 350 bird species, 23 of which are unique to the Albertine Rift Valley, ensure that Bwindi ranks among East Africa’s most rewarding birdwatching destinations.

Accommodations:  Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

After breakfast you will meet with the ranger and hire your porter at the entrance to the park.  You will then set off to track your gorilla family, you can expect the trek to take 4 to 6 hours.  Once you find your gorilla family you can spend an hour with them, observing and taking photos.  This is truly a magical moment, the efforts to get here will evaporate the instant that you see them.  This is one of Africa’s most profound wildlife encounters that few in the world get to experience.

Accommodations:  Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Volcanoes National Park protects the Rwandan portion of the Virungas, a chain of nine freestanding volcanoes that includes Africa sixth-highest mountain Karisimbi and supports over half the world’s mountain gorillas. The jagged outline of the volcanic peaks dominates the skyline in all directions, and may seem familiar if you’ve seen the movie ‘Gorillas in the Mist’, which was filmed
here. In order to protect the park’s unique highland habitats, access is limited to a menu of thrilling guided foot excursions that leave in the morning. These include tracking to see habituated groups of mountain gorilla or golden monkey, and hikes through the jungle to the lofty volcanic calderas.

Accommodations: Virunga Lodge

There is also the option this day to do a second gorilla trek at Volcanoes National Park (cost is $1500 USD).

Accommodations: Virunga Lodge

Golden monkeys are known to have unique characters and are a rare species that are endangered at the moment and they are currently found in the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda. They are easily recognized due to the yellow patches that can be seen all over their bodies. The Golden monkeys are also known as ‘the Old world monkey’ and the only way to separate these primates from others is by their noses. There is a unique character about the golden monkeys and that is most of the monkeys have their nostrils pointing to the sides but if you look closely at the golden monkeys, their nostrils face upwards.

Accommodations:  Virunga Lodge

Situated on a forested saddle separating two of the volcanic Virunga peaks, the abandoned Karisoke Research Center, founded by the primatologist Dian Fossey in 1967, and now the site of her grave, is the goal of today’s scenic hike into Volcanoes National Park.

Later in the afternoon we will transfer to Kigali.

Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel