Enjoy the primates of the Pearl of Africa and The land of a thousand hills on one tour package. This 8 days Uganda and Rwanda primates safari takes you to Kibale National Park that boasts with 13 primate species which is one of the highest diversity and concentration of primates in Africa, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park a haven to half of the world’s remaining gorilla population and Volcanoes National Park a home to 5 out of the 8virunga mountains where the golden monkeys prosper and flourish. Get indulged into Uganda and Rwandese diverse cultures as you make visits to several cultural villages and fishing villages as you have cruises on Lakes like Lake Kivu and Lake Mutanda.
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Kibale National Park
Our professional driver guide will be waiting to receive you upon your arrival at the airport. He will brief you through your travel plan and immediately set off for Kibale National Park with a stop-over at the equator line in Kayabwe to have an experience where the earth is divided into two equal parts. Embarking on your drive, you will have your lunch en-route in Mbarara proceeding while traversing through rolling hills, meandering roads and colorful road markets. Arrival will be in the afternoon to check in at a lodge for relaxation, have dinner and an overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trek – Bigodi nature walk
Wakeup to a scrumptious breakfast, meet your driver guide and be driven to Kanyanchu visitors’ center for a briefing about the chimpanzee trekking rules and regulations. The ranger guides will lead you into the rainforests to locate the endangered chimpanzees as you have sightings of other primates such as colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and several bird types. Upon locating them, you will enjoy an hour as you watch them feed, groom and play. Return back to the lodge for lunch before you head for a nature walk around Bigodi wetland. This sanctuary is a home to several bird types, primates and other mammals that will all be spotted along the pathways and up in tree canopies. Get back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have your breakfast, check-out and meet your driver guide to embark on your drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with a lunch en route along the way. This is a 6 to 7 hours’ drive that takes you through the beautiful landscape of Kigezi region also referred to as the Switzerland of Uganda with winding and terraced hills arriving in the late afternoon to check-in at your reserved lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 4: Gorilla trek – Lake Mutanda canoe ride
Wakeup very early to have a hefty breakfast and immediately transfer to the park headquarters to have a briefing about what is required of during gorilla trekking. The ranger guides will lead you to start on the search for the gentle giants in their natural habitat while you enjoy the sights and sounds of several other animals and bird species. The trek may last for 1 to 6 hours depending on their location and movement. An hour will be allowed with the gorillas as you capture your finest moment with the gorillas before you trek back at the lodge for lunch. Proceed to have a great experience on Lake Mutanda as you take on a canoe ride to explore the beauty of the islands, meet the local people and have a glance at several bird species.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda – Gorilla guardians village
Today starts with a morning breakfast, check-out to catch your 2 to 3 hours’ drive to Rwanda as you wander through beautiful rolling hills and valleys arriving to check-in at a reserved lodge in Musanze for your lunch before you proceed for a cultural tour to the Gorilla guardians village. Visiting this cultural village, you will have an insight into her cultural traditions, history and the people as you get to experience how life was like in a typical African village setting. Return to the lodge for lunch and an overnight.
Day 6: Golden monkey trek – Transfer to Lake Kivu
Have an early breakfast and be to driven to the Park headquarters in Kinigi for a briefing about the golden monkey trekking rules. The ranger guides will lead you to a hike up the mount slopes in search of these cheerful primate species. Locating a troop may last for 3omintaes to 4 hours depending on their movement. After you have located them, you will have a remarkable hour as you watch them feed on bamboo shoots while others jump from tree branch to another. Descend back to the lodge for lunch after which you will check-out to embark on your drive to Lake Kivu. Arrival will be in the afternoon to check-in at a lake-view lodge for your dinner and an overnight.
Day 7: Lake Kivu exploration
This beautiful day starts with a morning breakfast and later proceed to have a relaxed day at the lake after your various treks. You will have time to enjoy at the sandy beach of Gisenyi after which you will have a cruise on the Lake’s waters to islands such as Amahoro and Munini also known as the Napoleon Island that is a haven to large colonies of bats as well as bird species. Lunch will be at the lake side as you may also engage in several other activities if time allows such as sport fishing, biking and hiking, island hopping and coffee, kayaking to mention but a few. You will retire back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 8: Kigali city tour – Departure
Have your breakfast very early in the morning, check-out of Kivu to embark on your 2 hours’ drive to Kigali. Upon arrival, proceed for a city tour to genocide memorial sites, museums, artisan centers and Kimironko market to purchase some souvenirs to take back home. You will have your lunch at a restaurant in the city center after which you will be either dropped off to a hotel of your choice for relaxation or to Kigali international airport to catch your outbound flight.
