16 DAYS Primate Safari Uganda and Rwanda

Meet with an experienced guide in Uganda for pick up and transfer to Kampala, 45 minutes’ drive from Entebbe. Check in at the hotel for relaxation and a night stay: Buziga Country Resort –Budget, Cassia Lodge -Standard and Serena Hotel/Sheraton Hotel –Luxury.

Drive for 1-2 hours to Jinja, the adrenaline adventure capital of the East Africa and navigate via Mabira Forest. Arrive early at Jinja and join other rafters on half day whitewater rafting and the main focus will be to conquer the tough rapids and grades on the Source of the Nile River. After the rafting experience, you will return to Kampala for a night stay: Buziga Country Resort –Budget, Cassia Lodge -Standard and Serena Hotel/Sheraton Hotel –Luxury.

Leave Kampala for 6 hours’ drive along Luweero-Masindi route and at Nakasongola, you will embark on a rhino trekking. Get actual encounter with rhinos in the wild while at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and proceed to Masindi for lunch. Exit Masindi and you will drive up to the top of the falls for a memorable photography experience.

Accommodation

• Basic –Red Chili Rest Camp
• Midrange –Heritage Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
• Luxury –Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge

After breakfast, you will be picked up and embark on an exciting game drive through the park’s Northern game track. In a good 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop up roof, expect to enjoy excellent views of giraffes, lions, buffaloes, elephants, plenty of antelope families, and birds. Drive back to your lodge for lunch and you will be expected at Paraa Jetty for the 2:00 pm launch cruise on Victoria Nile. The Nile boat cruise will be rewarding you with astonishing sights of hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.

Accommodation

• Basic –Red Chili Rest Camp
• Midrange –Heritage Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
• Luxury –Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge

Leave Murchison Falls National Park for Kibale located in Western Uganda, driving via Hoima city. Navigate via the stunning countryside featuring typical African setting and arrive at Fort Portal for lunch.

Accommodation

• Basic –Kibale Forest Camp
• Midrange –Chimpanzee Guesthouse/primate Lodge
• Luxury -Kyaninga Lodge/Papaya Lake Lodge

Heavy breakfast will be followed by briefing about chimpanzee tracking guidelines which starts at Kanyanchu visitor center. Start looking for chimpanzee community passing via the spectacular Kibale Forest NP, and will take 2-4 hours. After finding chimpanzees, you will have one hour of observing how these primates behave with the park guide interpreting to you their body gestures. Return to the lodge for lunch and the next activity includes Bigodi wetland walk to explore the swamp’s abundant primates and birds.

Accommodation

• Basic –Kibale Forest Camp
• Midrange –Chimpanzee Guesthouse/primate Lodge
• Luxury -Kyaninga Lodge/Papaya Lake Lodge

Drive from Kibale for Queen Elizabeth NP via Kasese and settle for a delicious meal at the lodge. At 2:00 pm, proceed for the afternoon launch cruise excursion and expect to see hippos, crocodiles and birds. Return for dinner and overnight stay in the wilderness lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park.

Accommodation

• Basic –Simba Camp/Mweya Hostel
• Midrange –Elephant plains/Buffalo Lodge
• Luxury –Mweya Lodge/Enganzi Game Lodge

A delicious breakfast and you will start your game drive via Kasenyi savanna plains in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Early morning game drive comes with impressive game sights for lions, leopards, hyenas, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes, and bird species. Retreat and proceed to Maramagambo where an afternoon nature walk will be carried out. A lot of primates will be spotted at Maramagambo including colobus monkeys.

Accommodation

• Basic –Simba Camp/Mweya Hostel
• Midrange –Elephant plains/Buffalo Lodge
• Luxury –Mweya Lodge/Enganzi Game Lodge

Pick up at the lodge and you will be transferred to Bwindi National Park and en route includes tree climbing lion watching at Ishasha sector. After the search for tree climbing lions, plus other wildlife proceed to the gorilla lodge in Bwindi.

Accommodation

• Basic: Buhoma community rest camp/Bwindi View Bandas
• Midrange: Engagi/Haven Lodge
• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp

Begin your day at 6:00 am with a briefing from the park official, followed by an 8:00 am start for an exhilarating gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, led by a park guide. This captivating experience, lasting 2-6 hours, grants you a precious hour to observe gorillas up close in their natural habitat. After the trek, return to your accommodation for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, partake in the enlightening Batwa cultural trail to gain authentic insights into the Batwa pygmies’ lifestyles and traditions. Conclude the day by returning to your chosen accommodation, which may include options like Lake Mutanda Resort, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, or Mount Gahinga Lodge, and enjoy dinner to cap off a day filled with wildlife and cultural immersion.

Rise early in the morning, enjoy breakfast at your chosen accommodation, and be transferred to Lake Mutanda, a stunning water body in Southwestern Uganda’s Kisoro district. Here, embark on a boat ride to soak in the lake’s scenic beauty. Afterward, return for lunch at your lodge near Lake Mutanda or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In the afternoon, visit Mgahinga National Park, where you’ll be briefed at Ntebeko visitor center before embarking on a trek to observe habituated troops of golden monkeys and learn about their daily behaviors in the wild. Conclude the day with a relaxed evening at your hotel or lodge in the park or Kisoro, followed by dinner—a perfect combination of nature, wildlife, and relaxation in a single day.

Transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda crossing in Chanika border and continue to Musanze. Volcanoes NP is found in Musanze, northwestern Rwanda and it will be your next gorilla trekking spot.

Accommodation

• Basic: Kinigi Guesthouse
• Moderate: La Palme Hotel/Da Vinci Lodge
• Luxury Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/Virunga Lodge

Embark on a packed and enriching single-day adventure starting with your transfer to Kinigi where the excitement unfolds. At 8:00 am, the unforgettable gorilla trek in Rwanda commences, taking 2-6 hours and dedicating one precious hour for an up-close encounter and capturing photographs of these magnificent creatures. After the trek, you’ll return to your chosen accommodation, whether it’s the basic Kinigi Guesthouse, moderate La Palme Hotel/Da Vinci Lodge, or luxury Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/Virunga Lodge. The afternoon provides well-deserved relaxation. In the early morning of the same day, visit the park offices for a briefing before embarking on a journey to Dian Fossey’s tomb site, where you’ll gain insight into her remarkable contributions to research and conservation alongside her beloved gorillas, including Digit. Return to your lodge for lunch and then venture to the Iby’Iwacu cultural village for an immersive Rwandese cultural experience, learning about traditions, enjoying cultural dances, and music performances. This day is a seamless blend of gorilla encounters, conservation history, and cultural immersion, ending with your chosen accommodation.

Depart for Nyungwe, driving to the Southern Province of Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest National Park is where you over 13 primate species all survive peacefully and the park is popular for its rewarding chimpanzee trekking experiences and canopy walk.

Accommodation

• Gisakura Guesthouse –Basic
• Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel –Moderate
• One and Only Nyungwe House –Luxury

After breakfast, you will set off for a guided colobus monkey trek in the jungles of Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to 400 colobus monkeys. The trek to encounter Nyungwe N/Park’s colobus monkeys comes with a glimpse on other primates such as silver monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and plenty of birds. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a canopy walk with lead of an experienced park guide.

Accommodation

• Gisakura Guesthouse –Basic
• Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel –Moderate
• One and Only Nyungwe House –Luxury

Be up early and you will be picked up from the lodge, drive to Kigali 6 hours. You will make a stop visit at Butare, explore historical/cultural sites and later proceed to the Kigali for a night at The Retreat/Five to Five Hotel.