9 Days Great Apes of Uganda and Rwanda – Tour Overview

This 9-day great apes of Uganda and Rwanda adventure starts in Uganda and ends in Rwanda. The trip begins at Kibale national park which is home to chimpanzees and is considered the best place to track wild chimpanzees on earth. The safari will continue to Bwindi impenetrable national park in western Uganda. This park has got over 340 mountain gorillas making it half of the mountain gorillas remaining in the whole world. You will continue to Mgahinga gorilla national park where you will do golden monkey habituation. Golden monkeys are subspecies of blue Monkeys. This safari will continue to Volcanoes national park and while there, you will have a great time meeting with the mountain gorillas! Lastly, you will be transferred back to Kigali international airport for your flight back home.

THE GREAT APES- 9 DAYS UGANDA AND RWANDA SAFARI | mountain gorillas, chimpanzee, golden monkeys.

Detailed Itinerary of the 9 days great apes of Uganda & Rwanda.

Day 1: Transfer to Kibale national park

On the first day after an early breakfast, your private Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour guide/driver will transfer you to Kibale forest national park, this is the primate haven of Uganda with 13 primate species recorded including chimpanzees, red Colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys red-tailed monkeys On and potto’s of different types in the evening relax overnight stay at;

Accommodation: Guereza canopy lodge (Midrange)/ Kibale forest camp (Budget)

Day 2: Chimpanzee habituation

Leave for the morning chimpanzee habituation experience which will make you stay longer with the chimps than the normal chimpanzee trekking, you enjoy an almost full day with these great apes right from the time when they are still in their nest up to the time they will be breastfeeding their young ones and other daily activities, you stay with them for 4-6 hours, after proceed to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Guereza canopy lodge (Midrange)/ Kibale forest camp (Budget)

chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

On this day after morning breakfast, you will transfer to Bwindi forest national park home to the endangered gentle giants.

Accommodation: Four gorillas lodge (Luxury)/ Ichumbi gorilla lodge (Midrange)

Day 4: Gorilla tracking adventure in Bwindi impenetrable

After an early morning breakfast with packed lunch, the Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour adventure excitement builds up. This is when you experience your first gorilla trek adventure. Your guide will take you to the headquarters of the park for a Gorilla tracking briefing about the dos and don’ts.

The gorilla tracking will take you between 3 -10 hours depending on the movements therefore go prepared for either a short walk or a long walk, after finding them, spend approximately 1 hour with them.

Accommodation: Ichumbi gorilla lodge (Midrange)/ Rushaga gorilla havens lodge (Budget)

Day 5: Gorilla Habituation Day

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla habituation. After the briefing, you will head to the starting point for your trek through the densely, steep jungle forest.  One has to be physically fit for a successful trekking experience and this may take 3/8 hours or the whole day.  Depending on where you will be allocated for your trek, you may start the trek from the park headquarters or drive to a starting point in the forest.  After finding the gorillas, you are only allowed to view them for 1 hour and you can take videos or photos of your encounter with the gorillas. Take note that feeding mountain gorillas is prohibited and flash photography is.

After the experience, you will make the trek back through the forest as you reminisce about this once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter.   A leisurely evening at your lodge and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Ichumbi gorilla lodge (Midrange)/ Rushaga gorilla havens lodge (Budget)

mountain gorillas in Uganda

Day 6:  Transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge with the help of your guide and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Accommodation: Ikolo hotel (Midrange)/ Traveler’s rest hotel (Budget)

Day 7: Golden monkey habituation

Leave for the morning golden monkey habituation experience which will make you stay longer with the golden monkeys than the normal golden monkey trekking, you enjoy an almost a full day with these great apes right from the time when they are still in their nest up the time, they will be breastfeeding their young ones and other daily activities, you stay with them for 4-6 hours. After the golden monkey habituation, you will transfer to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda via the Chanika border post. Upon arrival, you will check in at the lodge for relaxation, an overnight stay, and dinner.

Accommodation: Five volcanoes (Midrange)/ Da vinci lodge (Budget)

Day 8: Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes national park

Another exciting Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Tour adventure day, after early breakfast head to the park offices in Kinigi ready for tracking gorillas for the 2nd time, here you will be briefed about the tracking formalities, be split into small groups get allocated to the gorilla family, and head to the park for your memorable gorilla adventure. Later when you return back

Depending on the time and fitness, go for cultural entertainment in Iby’Iwacu cultural village and meet the Banyarwanda people as you feel their unique culture return back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Five volcanoes (Midrange)/ Da vinci lodge (Budget)

Rwanda Gorilla Trek

Day 9: Kigali city tour and departure

On this day have your relaxed breakfast, and thereafter you will be taken on a Kigali city tour with a visit to the Gisozi genocide memorial and museum, craft village, Nyamata church, Hotel Rwanda, and other local markets later you will be transferred to the Airport for your departure back home.

End of the 9 Days Great Apes of Uganda and Rwanda.

Inclusions

• Transportation
• English speaking driver guide
• Full board meals
• Gorilla permits
• Golden monkey permits
• Chimpanzee habituation permits
• Accommodation as stated above
• All entrance fees
• All activities mentioned above

Exclusions

• Air tickets
• Visa fees
• Tips & gratuities
• Items that are not mentioned above