Set off on a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the lush hills of Uganda and Rwanda to encounter chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in the wild and oh did I mention they are the last ones remaining in the wild? Stay in a stunning Eco-lodge with spectacular views, rewarding game drives in the tropical savannas teaming with numerous wildlife among which are some of Africa’s big five, prolific displays of bird life include the Albertine rift endemics, water birds on the numerous lakes rivers, springs and swamps that characterize the countries and not forgetting spectacular boat rides that are highly rewarding with both bird and animal life.
Come on let’s traverse the hills and mountains, valleys, forest, sparkling lakes and rivers, golden savanna lands and the swamps among other places to experience the glorious splendor of birds and animals that have for long remained a well kept secret. See you there with our friendly, passionate and local safari guide.
Itinerary Summary
- Day 1: Arrival
- Day 2: Primate Safari To Kibale
- Day 3: Biding and Chimpanzee tracking
- Day 4: Birding To Queen Elizabeth
- Day 5: Morning Game Safari and Launch Cruise
- Day 6: Birding to the Gorilla highlands
- Day 7: Gorilla Tracking
- Day 8: Birding Bwindi impenetrable national park
- Day 9: Birding To Volcanoes National park
- Day 10: Golden Monkey Tracking
- Day 11: Transfer to Kigali and Departure
DETAILED ITENERARY
Day 1: Arrival
This day you arrive at Entebbe international airport where you will be met by a Bonita Tour and Travel guide who will lead you through the Primates and birds Uganda- Rwanda Safari. Depending on your time of arrival he/she may brief you about your safari there after transferring you to the lodge for check in. We shall check in at Cassia Lodge or papyrus guest house.
Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Transfer to the Uganda Primate Capital
We will travel to Uganda’s primate sanctuary, Kibale National Park, after breakfast. Travelling on a paved road, the route passes through a variety of habitats such as wetlands, gardens, savannahs, and forests, all of which produce stunning scenery and sightings. Before stopping for lunch en route, be prepared to see primates such as the Varvet, Blue, Red, and Colobus Guerreza. Olive baboons are common as we approach Fort Portal through the Kibale forest-Sebitoli area, which offers abundant birding opportunities, possibly including sightings of the White-Headed Wood Hoopoe, Joyful Greenbul, Yellow Spotted, Yellow Billed, Hairy Breasted and Grey Throated Barbet, Pink-footed Puffback, Dusky and Olive Long Tailed Cuckoo, Black Billed Turaco, Golden Crowned Wood-pecker, Red Headed Malimbe, Luhdur’s Bush-shrike, White Breasted Nigrofinc, keep eyed open in the skies as we might see the Cassin’s and Crowned Hawk Eagle, Later on we continue to the primate capital where we check in at Chimpanzee Guest House.
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 3: Chimp tracking and bird watching
There are thirteen different kinds of primates found in Kibale, in addition to the chimpanzees, our close relations. We may come across these animals while on our trek through the jungle. These include several primate species such as grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’hoest’s, black-and-white colobus, and red colobus.
The best bird to watch out for today is the Green Breasted Pitta! Birding in the forest is also very rewarding; among the species you may see are White-naped Pigeons, African Gray Parrot, Black Bee-eater, Hairy-breasted, Yellow Spotted and Yellow Billed Barbet, Chestnut-winged, Purple-headed, Waller’s and Narrow Tailed Starlings, Blue-throated Brown and Superb Sunbirds, and White-collared Oliveback, among others. After supper, we make our way back to our lodge for the night. Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee Guesthouse
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After breakfast this morning, we make our way to Uganda’s second-largest national park, where we will go bird watching as we approach Lake Edward’s shoreline.
We check into the lodge and then go on an evening game drive in search of a variety of birds that live in the surrounding shrub and lakeshore, such as the African Hoopoe, African Golden Breasted Bunting, and Green Winged Pytilia. Later on in the drive, we search for Black Shouldered, Swamp, Square Tailed, and Pennant-winged Nightjars, among other species, as well as species like the Long Crested Eagle, Brown, and Banded Snake Eagle. On this day, we enter Queen Elizabeth National Park after crossing the equator. Here, in the western portion of the Albertine Rift Valley, we will engage in a Crater Lake drive before checking in to our lodge.
Dinner and overnight at Marafiki Lodge
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 5: Morning game safari and afternoon boat cruise.
After having some coffee this morning, we head to the Kasenyi sector for a wildlife drive where we look for buffalo, kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, and, on lucky days, cats like lions, leopards, and hyenas, among other creatures.
Following that, we return to the hotel for breakfast in order to get ready for our afternoon boat trip across Kazinga Channel. The forty-kilometer channel connects the two lakes, George and Edward, which are located on the floor of the massive East African Rift Valley
Dinner and overnight at Marafiki Lodge
Meal plan: FB
Day 6: Transfer to the Mountain Gorilla Sanctuary
We will travel to the mountain gorillas’ home, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, this morning after breakfast. We will be traveling via Queen Elizabeth National Park, where we will see numerous incredible animal encounters en route to the Ishasha sector, where we will be hunting for the renowned tree-climbing lions. As such, we plan to prepare a packed lunch for the trip.
Today’s birding will introduce us to several savanna rarities, and the sky serves as a large habitat for a variety of eagles, including Lappet Faced, Plain Backed, Yellow Throated Long-Claw, Banded, and Brown Snake Eagles, Tawny and Martial, and Yellow Throated Long-Claw.
Dinner and Overnight stay at Gorilla Mist Camp or Buhoma Community Bandas.
FB
Day 7: Gorilla Tracking Day
Since it could take two to eight hours to find the gorillas, the entire day will be devoted to tracking them. We will gather at the briefing location with a packed lunch to learn the dos and don’ts of gorilla tracking and gain additional knowledge about these gentle giants and their habitat prior to our interactions with them.
Depending on the day’s chance, the hike to find these near relatives can take up to two hours. After you are located, you will spend an entire hour feeling as though you are in a dream, but it is a real experience. Afterward, we will withdraw, leaving the mountain gorillas in their safe haven, and return to where we began.
Not everyone makes it there; following the tracking, a congratulatory message will appear, and following the tracking, we eventually arrive at our lodge, where we will spend the night. You can go on a community stroll to see the Batwa if you have time.
Dinner and Overnight stay at Gorilla Mist Camp or Buhoma Community Bandas.
FB
Day 8: Birding watching in Bwindi impenetrable
We will begin our early birding trip to Mubwindi swamp, assuming we spent the night in Ruhija. Our main goal will be to find the Albertine Rift Endemics, with a special emphasis on the African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Collard Apalis, Stripe Breasted Tit, Strange Weaver, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Purple Breasted, Regal, and Blue Headed Sunbird, among other species.
Keep a watch out for the Mountain Buzzard and Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, which are high on our list for today. They can be seen whenever the sky is clear. We later get back to our lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 9: Transfer to Rwanda – Volcanoes national Park
We start early on this day for more forest species we might have missed the previous day as we transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, there are lots of secret birding spots known by your guide before you get out of the forest and you will be looking out for the Bar Tailed Tragon, Barred Long Tailed Cuckoo, Doharty’s Bush-Shrike, Black Billed Weaver, Sharpe’s Starling, Black Headed Waxbill and further up the road, cultivated areas provide feeding opportunities for many seed eaters like the Streaky and Thick-billed, African Citril and Cape Canary. We have many chances to see primates like the I’heost, Red Tailed, Blue and the Black and White Colobus Monkey
We drive through the Kanab Gap because there are so many unique birds at these heights that we don’t want to rush through. Common and Lesser Moorhen, Hottentot Teal, and African Rail can be found in a healthy marsh habitat. Enjoyable vistas of what is known as the “Switzerland of Africa” can be seen. After crossing the border, we’ll stay at the Gorilla Hotel or Mountain Gorilla View Lodge in Musanze.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day 10: Volcanoes National park
We depart early today for Volcanoes National Park in order to track golden monkeys. Afterward, we return to our accommodation to unwind and get ready for our tour to the Iby’wachu village cultural center.
Dinner and overnight Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Gorilla Hotel in Musanze
Meal plan: FB
Day 11: Transfer to Kigali and Departure
We make our way to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, where we visit the museum dedicated to the genocide and shop in the local markets before catching our flight back home from Kigali International Airport.
