12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari – Overview

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari is a two country combined safari package that starts in Kigali Rwanda and ends in Entebbe Uganda. It features double Mountain Gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park, wild game viewing including tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, game walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park, Prime Safaris Africa home experience in both Rwanda and Uganda, golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and historical tour to the Gisozi genocide memorial.

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari – Highlights

]Day 1 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Arrive at Kigali International Airport – Rwanda & connect to the Hotel

Day 2 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Tour Gisozi genocide memorial & drive to Volcanoes National Park

Day 3 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Prime Safaris Africa Home Experience: Whole day authentic exploration of Rwandan homestead with a home stay Day 4 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Do Mountain Gorilla trekking & transfer to Uganda – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Day 5 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Do golden Monkey tracking & transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Day 6 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Do Mountain Gorilla trekking & evening Batwa Community tour Day 7 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Undertake an en route game drive in Ishasha Sector in search of tree climbing lions along with other wildlife

Day 8 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Undertake morning game drive in Kasenyi Plains, Kazinga Channel launch cruise in the afternoon & evening game drive along the channel track Day 9 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Undertake Chimpanzee trekking in either Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest Reserve & connect to Lake Mburo National Park

Day 10 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Prime Safaris Africa Home Experience: Whole day authentic encounter in the home of a Munyankole Pastoralist with a home stay

Day 11 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari: Undertake game walking Safari in the Savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo NP & drive to Kampala

Day 12 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari:  Departure.   If the flight is the late afternoon, visit the Christ Our Vision International Children Ministries – the company supported Orphanage & School

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport – Rwanda & Connect to The Hotel

You land at Kigali International Airport the main gateway to destination Rwanda. Our representative will offer you a courteous welcome to the land of a thousand hills after which you get in the vehicle and transfer to the respective hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:

Mid-range / Standard: Hotel Chez Lando

Budget / Basic: Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel

Day 2: Tour Gisozi Genocide Memorial & Drive to Volcanoes National Park

Settle for breakfast at the hotel after which you connect to Gisozi genocide memorial to explore the living testimony of the ethnic conflict that befell Rwanda in the year 1994 leaving 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead. The account of the tragic incident is detailed in the series of writings, audio presentations and the human remains at the museum. Retreat from the tour and settle for lunch in Kigali after which you set off for the 116km about 3 hours’ transfer to Volcanoes National Park to the North east of Rwanda. The fascinating Rwandan hillsides en route will form part of your lasting memories. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation

Mid-range / Standard: Hotel La Palme

Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel

Day 3: Prime Safaris Africa Home Experience

Connect early at 6am to the home of the traditional Rwandan to catch up with them as they set out on their daily routine. This presents an opportunity to explore the in-depth authentic experiences of what actually transpires in the society of Rwanda. You can choose either to team up with females or team up with males since their roles at home differ. The activities for men would include; Milking, live stock rearing, cultivating and construction to mention but a few while female roles include food preparation, cleaning of the homestead including houses, craft making and cultivation among others. You enjoy the local cuisine, the traditional Kinyarwanda performances and an overnight with the family.

Accommodation: Home stay

Day 4: Do Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Transfer to Uganda – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park 

Wake up for an early breakfast after which you gather at Kinigi Park Headquarters to catch up with briefing at 8am. However, there are always traditional Kinyarwanda performances before 8am at Kinigi thus an earlier arrival offers you an exciting morning cultural experience. You attend to briefing in the respective groups as per the gorilla family allocated after which you drive to the trail head to commence the trekking experience. It is an adventure walk through the forested slopes of gorilla highlands marked by lush flora and great scenery of the Volcanic Mountains in the area.  You eventually come across the Mountain Gorillas busy consuming their preferred diet and they can choose to welcome you or ignore you altogether. The silver-back is the dominant member and will be identified by the silver patch on his back. The actual viewing is limited to one hour for conservation purposes but the entire trek can last from 2 – 8 hours. You retreat from the activity and embark on the drive to Uganda crossing at Chanica boarder with good views of Virunga highlands. Proceed to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:

Mid-range / Budget: Travelers Rest Kisoro

Day 5: Do Golden Monkey Tracking & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gather at Ntebeko Visitor Center at 8am for briefing and eventual set off to the forest in search of Golden Monkeys. Golden Monkeys are unique species limited in range to the Virunga massif and are endangered. The habituated troop in Mgahinga thrives in the Bamboo zone of the slopes of Mount Gahinga. You are mesmerized by their playful tactics and the golden patch on their back. The actual viewing is limited to one hour and photos can be taken. The entire golden monkey trekking normally lasts about 4 hours after which you will settle for lunch before transferring to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park driving through the scenic Kigezi Highlands.

Accommodation

Mid-range / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp

Budget / Basic: Broad-bill Forest Camp

Day 6: Do Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Evening Batwa Community Tour

Connect to the respective park headquarters for briefing at 8am before heading to the mist covered Impenetrable forest of Bwindi in search of the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas. This will be your second Mountain Gorilla trekking adventure after Rwanda but the experience is likely to be different. The terrain of Bwindi is very rugged marked with steep hills and narrow valleys all covered by dense vegetation that would even require a machete to forge the way through. The moment with the gentle giants will also be a lasting one as you follow them to the dark places of the forest.  The duration lasts 2 – 8 hours but the actual viewing is limited to one hour. You retreat to the lodge for relaxation. In the afternoon, you take a community tour of the Batwa people exploring their way of life and their traditions. The Batwa are former inhabitants of the forests and used to live a hunter gatherer culture before they were evicted to pave way for conservation. They are among the last groups of short people in the world. A traditional performance can be arranged.

Accommodation

Mid range / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp

Budget / Basic: Broad-bill Forest Camp

Day 7: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Start off the journey at 7am to Queen Elizabeth National Park 218km about 8 hours drive (if slept in Ruhija) inclusive of the lunch stop and game drive in Ishasha sector. The two hour game drive in the Ishasha sector offers chances of viewing the tree climbing lions that tend to hang on the branches of fig trees in the mid morning sun. In the afternoon, you proceed to Mweya side for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation

Mid-range/standard:  Enganzi Game lodge

Budget/Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages

Day 8: Undertake Morning Game Drive in Kasenyi Plains, Kazinga Channel Launch Cruise in The Afternoon & Evening Game Drive

Take up a morning game drive in the Kesenyi sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park marked with beautiful Savannah landscapes. The 3 – 4 hour activity offers possible sights of wild game including; Defassa Water-buck, Elephants, Buffaloes, Topis, Uganda Kobs, Lions, Leopards, Spotted Hyena, Side stripped jackal among others. The park is also home to 606 species of birds and sights of some of these species may not be missed. You settle for short relaxation and lunch after which you connect to Mweya Jetty for an afternoon boat cruise along the 45km long Kazinga Channel. The 2 hour cruise offers possibilities of viewing Nile crocodiles, the Hippos, wild game drinking on the channel shores and birds like Great Cormorants and African skimmers. The evening game drive along the channel track as you connect back to the lodge brings in more wild game views.

Accommodation

Mid-range/standard:  Enganzi Game lodge

Budget/Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages

Day 9: Undertake Chimpanzee Trekking in Either Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest Reserve & Connect to Lake Mburo National Park

Transfer to Kyambura gorge for a morning Chimpanzee trekking experience commencing at 8am. You descend down the 100m deep gorge marked with lush tropical forest that sustains populations of Chimpanzees. Trekking through the gorge is an attraction itself and thus adding the encounter with Chimpanzees as they feed, socialize, copulate, patrol and make their pant hooting calls definitely makes the adventure very memorable. From this 2 – 5 hour trek with one hour of chimp viewing, you undertake 180km about 3 – 4 hour transfer to Lake Mburo National Park.  A stop will be made at Igongo Cultural Center 12km from Mbarara town for late lunch and a tour to Igongo Museum can as well be incorporated to explore to cultures of south western Uganda. Continue 33km transfer to Lake Mburo National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation

Mid-range/standard:    Rwakobo Rock

Budget/Basic:   Eagles Nest

Day 10: Whole Day Authentic Encounter in The Home of a Munyankole Pastoralist With a Home Stay

Connect to the identified homestead as early as 6am to catch up with them as they get out of their beds to embark on the daily routine. You can opt to team up with men or women depending on your gender and preference. The masculine activities include;  traditional hand milking, taking milk to the collection center / milk cooling plant, grazing cattle in the wilderness, smearing the handmade soil watering trough  with red soil and watering the cattle, spraying cows if its spraying day, sick animal treating among others while the feminine roles include; home cleaning including sweeping the courtyard, churning milk, making crafts, food preparation including the unique sauce called Eshabwe that is prepared without fire among others. The evening is marked with general entertainment including citations, singing and dancing.

Accommodation: Home Stay

Day 11: Undertake Game Walking Safari in The Savannah Landscapes of Lake Mburo NP & Drive to Kampala

Lake Mburo National Park offers very exciting game walking safari where the wildlife is explored on foot. You traverse the moist Savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo NP starting at 7am from Rwonyo Tourism Center gaining possible views of water-bucks, elands, Impala, Bush buck, Topis, buffaloes, Klipspringer, Rothschild giraffe, wart hogs and Burchell’s Zebra among other species. The activity lasts 2 hours after which you transfer to Kampala 240km about 3 – 4 hours’ drive. A stop can be made at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for souvenir purchase, photo shoots and water experiments.

Accommodation

Mid-range / Standard: Cassia Lodge

Budget / Basic: Banda Inn

Day 12:  Departure.  

This is dedicated for your flight back home. But if the flight is in the late afternoon, you can pay a visit to our company supported orphanage in Kalagi Mukono spending time with the children and rejuvenating their hope for the future.

• Prime Safaris & Tours Ltd offers scheduled departure safaris commencing from Kampala or Kigali on the specific dates mentioned.
• These are fixed for groups who would like to join other people traveling on these tours with the minimum number of participants being two (2).
• Where gorilla tracking is involved, this will depend on the availability of gorilla permits at the time of booking. Because of the scarcity of gorilla permits, our programs have been standardized to allow tracking in either Bwindi or Mgahinga parks or Rwanda – De Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. However tracking Rwanda (Park Volcanoes) this will need a top up of permits, visa entry, accommodation and border crossing fees if the itinerary didn’t feature this arrangement initially.
• The Safaris departing during the festive seasons like Christmas will be subject to supplements imposed by the lodges.
• Clients are advised to book early latest one month in advance to allow proper planning and avoid missing out on permits and accommodation
• The minimum number is two (2) and the maximum is nine (9) for a safari van. Each person will be communicated the standing number of persons to join and how many are confirmed for the trip.
• A top up will be required from the already confirmed members if the intended number for the group trip does not reach at the time of departure.
• In an event where the client fails to top up, he / she will be refunded the safari money less of transfer charges. Our normal cancellation policy will apply http://www.primeugandasafaris.com/about-us/terms-and-conditions.html
• The company is obliged to supply what is listed as inclusions on the price list and is not responsible for anything listed under exclusions on the price list unless it has been agreed upon.
• 30% deposit will be made in reservation of the safari and this will be on top of the gorilla and chimpanzee permit fees.

End of  The 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife & Culture Safari