Journey to the jungles of Rwanda and Uganda

This morning after breakfast, you will drive to Kigali town for a city tour where you will get to know Rwanda’s most beautiful and amazing city. You also get to learn about the country’s culture and history by visiting the cultural and historical sites of Kigali. 

Kigali is Rwanda’s capital city and was named by Doctor Richard Kandt in 1907, the first colonial governor of Rwanda. The city is built on several hills and valleys, there by gaining the title- “the land of a thousand hills” or Hilly city.

Places of interest include; Genocide Memorial Centre, Presidential Palace Museum, andNyamata Church Genocide site to mention but a few. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in town.

Later in the afternoon, you will drive to Ruhengeri. The two-hour drive through the rolling hills of Rwanda takes you via the base of the magnificent volcanoes of the Virunga mountain range.  You will arrive at the Hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Overnight at Gorilla Solutions Lodge or similar (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast)

After an early breakfast you will be collected from the hotel and driven to Volcanoes National Park Head Quarters for the start of your gorilla tracking experience. Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting; raising their young. Coming face to face with a giant silverback must truly be one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth!

Returning in the afternoon you can go for the optional Ibyiwatu Cultural group performance, where you will be entertained, and learn more about Rwandan culture, music, dance, and drama. Or take a visit to the twin lakes before returning to the lodge in the evening. 

Overnight at Gorilla Solutions Lodge or similar (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast)

This morning after breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken on a golden monkey tracking experience. This rare species is listed as endangered and there are currently two troops of the monkeys which have been habituated to be visited by tourists in the park, both of which number around 80 members. The golden monkeys live in the bamboo vegetation towards the base of the volcanoes and have overcome their initial shyness to accept their daily visit by researchers and tourists.

You will trek to find the golden monkeys in a similar way to the gorilla trek - in a small group of no more than eight people, and you can spend one hour with the monkeys once you find them. They are very sprightly creatures, and leap from tree to tree which is really entertaining, if a little difficult to photograph! We recommend setting your camera to a fast shutter-speed to allow for low light in the dense undergrowth and to better your chances of capturing the golden monkeys on film!

This is a great way to spend an extra day in the Volcanoes National Park and if you're interested in wildlife, this is a rare and delightful experience not to be missed!

Optional activities: 

1. Visit to the Musanze caves. Found On the outer side of Ruhengeri, these caves are a geological treat. These caves go 2km and are covered in the lush greenery and the inside of it are the homes for the bats. In case you are not brave enough to adventure inside, this beautiful vegetation around these caves make for the good pictures and are also good to explore.

2. Visit to the Diane Fossey’s grave at Karisoke Research centre. Here, Guests will set off from the park headquarters and drive around thirty minutes to the trailhead to access the Karisoke Research Camp. Here, you walk for around ten minutes to reach the park boundary, passing through farmland on the way. The trek through the forest takes between an hour and a half and three hours, depending on your fitness levels and how often you stop to take in the scenery. Forest hogs, buffalo and various species of monkey live in the forest, so keep your eyes peeled as you trek! Once you get to the Karisoke Research Camp you will be shown around, and can see Dian Fossey's grave as well as the hut where she spent so many years living close to the gorillas, which is now something of a ruin. The descent back to the trailhead takes around 1 to 2 hours.

Overnight at  Gorilla Solutions Lodge or similar (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast)

This morning after your breakfast, you will drive to the Rwanda and Uganda border at Cyanika and then head to Bwindi impenetrable forest for two nights. Home to over half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Interacting with these gentle giants is one of the most moving experiences that Africa has to offer and should not be missed! The ancient rainforest of Bwindi spans 321 sq km and   boasts 90 mammal species, including a range of primates, as well as 23 Albertine Rift endemic bird species, including the African Green Broadbill, the Bar Tailed Trogon and many others.

Relax in the evening and get ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking.

Overnight at Rushaga Havens  Lodge or similar or similar (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast)

This morning you will set off for gorilla trekking. Hiking through the thick, verdant, rainforest to eventually come across the gorillas in their natural habitat, is an amazing and unforgettable experience. Actual trek times can vary; these are wild animals after all.  If time permits there are a diverse range of activities which are unique to Bwindi which you can participate in during the afternoon.

Optional Activities:

Batwa Trail: During this moving tour, the Batwa demonstrate hunting techniques; gather honey; point out medicinal plants and demonstrate how to make bamboo cups. 

Guests are then invited to the sacred Ngarama Cave, once home to the Batwa King to be entertained by traditional music and dance.

Village Walk: Overlooking the imposing hillsides of Bwindi Impenetrable forest, with the mist swirling over the summits, this is one of the most dramatic settings for your cultural tour! Among others, meet a traditional healer, who not only treats the sick, but uses his knowledge to conserve and educate about the various medicinal plants.

Bwindi Community Hospital:  Started by a Canadian doctor BCH revolutionized health care for the Batwa and the Bwindi community. This free hospital tour provides insight into the region and issues that the local community member’s face.

Waterfall Walk:  Walk along the Congolese border and Bwindi to see the magnificent waterfalls and the incredible scenery.

Overnight at Rushaga Havens Lodge or similar (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast)

After your breakfast, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National park for two nights in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world.   Uganda’s second largest National Park, the 1,978 sq km has everything from open savannah to rain forest.   Queen Elizabeth has over 100 mammal species, and an astounding 606 bird species, making it a premier safari destination.  Arrive in the evening and overnight at your lodge.

Overnight at Bush lodge or similar (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast)

In morning, you will have a game drive to the Kisenyi area to look for lion prides and other wildlife like the Uganda Kob, before returning to the Lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon take a cruise along the Kazinga Channel, home to one of the largest concentrations of hippopotamus, as well as herds of elephants, buffalo, and other wildlife that come to drink from the river. The Kazinga also attracts a tremendous variety of bird species including the African Eagle, Open-Billed Stork, and Pied Kingfishers.

Overnight at Bush Lodge or similar (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast)

This morning you will have breakfast, you will proceed to Kibale forest for two nights.  Kibale is home to an extraordinary thirteen species of primates, including chimpanzees, red colobus, and L’Hoest monkeys. Kibale National Forest has also recorded over 355 bird species, and a range of other mammals including the elusive forest elephant.

Overnight at Kibale forest lodge or similar (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast)

After breakfast at the lodge, you will go for Chimpanzee tracking along the network of forest trails. Seeing habituated chimps squabbling and swinging from the trees is an exhilarating experience. Later in the afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is rich in bird species, vegetation, and wildlife. This is also a great opportunity to support local tourism initiatives which benefit social and economic development in the area. 

Overnight at chimpanzee forest Lodge or similar (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Entebbe international airport for your flight home.