overview
With 8 Days Rwanda & Uganda Primate Safari gives a chance to meet face-to-face with mankind’s closest relatives in the animal Kingdom in both destinations. The 8 Days safari is purely for primates by visiting the Primate Capital of the World chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. Mountain Gorilla trekking is the main reason why thousands of travelers make their way into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park each year and with over 20 habituated gorilla families here. Golden monkey tracking offers a lifetime opportunity to Rwanda safari travelers to immerse themselves into the wild to explore more about golden monkeys. Gorilla trekking is the leading experience that most tourists come to enjoy in Volcanoes National Park.
Day 1:
Kibale National Park.
Get a warm welcome into Uganda – The Pearl of Africa by your driver guide and later, briefing about what your primate safari Rwanda & Uganda is all about. After, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park. Straddling Uganda’s lush equatorial rainforest known as Kibale Forest National Park located in Kabarole district, Western Uganda. Your journey to Kibale takes you via Hoima city to Fort Portal know as a striking designated tourism city of Uganda that rests in the Western Region of the country for lunch break and then after embark on your drive to explore the enchanting Crater Lakes around the park then after you will drive to lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight and Dinner:
- Papaya Game Lodge Luxury
- Tabebuia Resort– Mid-Range
- Turaco Tree Tops – Standard
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Travel Time: +6 Hour Drive.
Day 2:
Queen Elizabeth National Park
A special day in Kibale starts with a briefing about chimpanzee tracking rules after you have enjoyed breakfast. Tracking chimpanzees in Kibale begins at 8:00am with a guide on lead taking you in a group of 6pax to see the chimp community in the wild. This will take 2-4 hours and includes one hour with chimpanzees in Kibale forest- take as many pictures as you can and return with a deep understanding on behaviors of these massive apes.
In addition, lots of other primates will be sighted including colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, etc plus birds. Lunch at your lodge and after, you will drive to Kasenyi Sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park-one of the most popular parks in Uganda, that lies in the western region of the country. You will have an opportunity to visit craters, lakes, and the top of the world. Later, drive to the lodge for dinner & relaxation.
Overnight and Dinner:
- Kikorongo Lodge– Luxury
- Buffalo Safari Lodge– Mid-Range
- Enganzi Game Lodge– Standard
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Travel Time: + 6 Hour Drive.
Day 3:
Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise.
Grab a cup of coffee or tea and hop on the safari vehicle for an in-depth game drive tour of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Gazetted in 1952, this Protected Area is a gem for game viewing and other remarkable activities. The game drive through Queen Elizabeth National park’s Northern Plains will last 3-4 hours and increase chances of sighting lions, Defassa waterbucks, bushbucks, elephants, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, Cape buffaloes, leopards, spotted hyenas, Topis, Hippos, the Banded mongoose, to mention but a few.
You will have a proper breakfast or brunch after this informative game drive, rest and have lunch. In the afternoon, take a boat ride on Kazinga Channel, spotting different wildlife species that include hippos, Nile crocodiles, and sometimes buffaloes as well as elephants. This Boat ride is a perfect birding opportunity with sights of African fish eagles, African skimmers, great white and pink-backed pelicans and if lucky the shoebill storks.
Overnight and Dinner:
- Kikorongo Lodge– Luxury
- Buffalo Safari Lodge– Mid-Range
- Enganzi Game Lodge– Standard
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4:
Bwindi National Park via Ishasha
Today, you will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is the “ultimate gorilla trekking destination”. First, take a game drive through the Northern Plains, head to the southern plains Ishasha sector) where the tree-climbing lions are found. You could be lucky to see them lazing on the fig tree branches, spotting lots of other wildlife species (Topis, elephants, buffaloes and duikers). Lunch will be at Ishasha and leave for Bwindi, arriving late afternoon to dine and rest.
Overnight and Dinner:
- Gorilla Forest Camp– Luxury
- Mahogany Springs– Mid-Range
- Gorilla Leisure Lodge– Standard
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Travel Time: +4 Hour Drive.
Day 5:
Bwindi Gorilla Tracking
After breakfast, you will head to the Park Headquarters for the mandatory registration and briefing before starting the gorilla trek. After 30 minutes of entertainment from the local community group, you will be introduced to the trekking rules and regulations by the Park Ranger, grab a walking stick, wear a mask and start the walk-through Bwindi Forest. Be prepared to walk for 1-6 hours while sighting different primates, remarkable tree species, colorful birds, and butterflies before finally coming across the Giant Apes.
You will have the most unforgettable one hour of your life to observe them go about their daily routines, and also take photos. Having had your fill of the forest and spent time with the mountain gorillas, it is now time to have lunch and rest for the remainder of the afternoon. Later, visit the indigenous Batwa pygmies living around the Forest to learn about their thrilling ways when they still lived in the jungles and these include hunting, making fire from sticks and use of traditional medicine among others.
Overnight and Dinner:
- Gorilla Forest Camp– Luxury
- Mahogany Springs– Mid-Range
- Gorilla Leisure Lodge– Standard
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6:
Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy a morning breakfast and after driving to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda via the Cyanika border. Enjoy opportunities for photos as you drive through the winding roads in the southern part of Uganda. You will arrive at your lodge in time for lunch or it will be a picnic en-route.
Overnight and Dinner:
- Virunga INN– Luxury
- 5 Volcanoes– Mid-Range
- Mountain Gorilla View Lodge– Standard
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel Time + 4 Hours.
Day 7:
Volcanoes National Park - Guardian Village Visit
Leave the safari lodge in the morning and make your way to Kinigi Park Headquarters, for briefing and allocation into any of the 12 habituated gorilla groups. You will first be driven to the gorilla trekking starting point then start walking through the forest while spotting different animals and birds along the way. You will walk for 1-4 hours and finally meet the endangered mountain gorillas to spend one hour observing their behavior and taking photos & videos.
After the magical hour fun, you will head back to the lodge for lunch and relax for a short while. The afternoon, you will enjoy a rewarding cultural encounter within the Gorilla Guardians’ Village. Visit the traditional healer and learn about plants used in treating common ailments, go through banana beer brewing, be entertained in traditional dances, visit the local school and visit the King’s Palace replica among others.
Overnight and Dinner:
- Virunga INN– Luxury
- 5 Volcanoes– Mid-Range
- Mountain Gorilla View Lodge– Standard
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 8:
Departure
Following a delicious breakfast, make your way back into Volcanoes National Park for the golden monkey tracking adventure. Like the previous day’s activity, this one also begins with a briefing on the guidelines to be followed by tracking and interacting with these primates. Golden monkey treks are shorter and last 1-3 hours and once spotted you will have one hour to watch and take photos of these frisky creatures as they jump from one tree branch to the other, feed, and rest. After this shorter and less strenuous activity, get back to the Lodge for lunch and later drive to Kigali airport for the evening departure flight.
Package Includes
- Meet & Greet Service
- Airport transfers.
- Transportation by a 4×4 Safari Jeep.
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
- One Gorilla permit per person to be secured and paid for in advance US$ 800.00.
- Kibale Chimpanzee permit US$ 250.00.
- One gorilla permit in Volcanoes National Park US$ 1500 Per Person
- One Golden Monkey permit US$ 100 Per Person
- Guardian Village visit in Rwanda.
- Crater Lakes visit & top of the world.
- Services of English-speaking Driver/guide.
- Bwindi Community visits/Batwa.
- All Park fees.
- 1 Game drive in Ishasha sector searching tree climbing lion.
- Boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth
- 1 Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth
- En-route lunches.
- Bottled drinking water and coke zero
- All government taxes.
- Our assistance.
Package Excludes
- International and domestic airline tickets unless where indicated,
- All extra activities, visits, entrances and extra meals/drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Entry visa fees,
- Optional extras whilst in Kigali
- Drinks throughout the trip,
- Tips and gratuities,
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, mini bar, porter-age, travel insurance, etc
Below is the Net Cost for 8 Days Primate Safari Uganda & Rwanda per person respectively.
| 8 Days Primate Safari Uganda & Rwanda | 2 PAX
US$ PP |
4 PAX
US$ PP |
6 PAX
US$ PP |
SRS
US$ |
Luxury Lodge facility. |
8,424 |
7,619 |
7,400 |
1,863 |
|
Mid Lodge facility. |
6,905 |
6,025 |
5,740 |
1,140 |
Standard Lodge facility. |
5,145 |
5,140 |
4,868 |
794 |
Note:
- We recommend the East African Visa-enables you cross border without hustling.
- The passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure.
- Above is just a quote and no services are confirmed at present.
- Confirmation of Hotels and other services is subject to availability.
- Rates are subject to availability at the time of booking.
Passenger Information
- In case of non-availability, we may have to reroute and provide alternative accommodation at lodges of similar category.
- Passengers should bring only soft sided bags on safaris as our vehicles have limited luggage space
- All the passengers must have Identification Card/Passport with them throughout their travel.
