8-Day Uganda & Rwanda Ultimate Gorilla Expedition

Tour Overview

AA Safaris has designed a safari which combines enjoying nature’s beauty on land and water. Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive and a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel to view wildlife including hippos, elephants and buffalos. Then head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to track the remarkable mountain gorillas and continue to Rwanda to track mountain gorillas in the lush forest of Volcanoes National Park – a truly exceptional adventure.

General Information

Safari types:

Gorilla Safari, Guided Safari, Primate Safari, Trekking Safari, Wildlife Safari
You will visit:

Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wildlife:

Mountain Gorilla, Golden Monkey, Chimpanzee, Colobus Monkey, Elephant, Lion, Antelope, Birds, Hippo, Leopard, Buffalo, Hyena, Red-tailed Monkey, Ugandan Kob, Crocodile, Duiker, Bush Buck
Activities:

Game Drive, Trekking, Boat Cruise
Getting around:

4x4 Safari Vehicle, Transfer Vehicle
Start/end:

Start in Entebbe , end in Kigali
Minimum age:

15

Overview

Day 1: Welcome to Uganda

Day 2: Journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking and Boat Safari

Day 4: Game Drive/ Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 5: Gorilla Tracking

Day 6: Enter Rwanda / Travel to Volcanoes National Park

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes National Park

Day 8: Return to Kigali

Day by Day Overview

Day 1

Welcome to Uganda - Entebbe - Kampala

An AA Safaris guide/driver will warmly welcome you to the ‘Pearl of Africa’, Uganda. Then drive through lively Entebbe town to your hotel in Kampala where you will stay for the night.

Overnight: Kampala hotel

Speke Resort Munyonyo Superior Room Wide 720x360

Day 2

Kampala - Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Set off early in the morning on a drive to Fort Portal to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park is very scenic because it combines bushland, savannah plains, forests and wetlands with the Kazinga Channel flowing through the park connecting to Lake George and Lake Edward thus attracting wildlife and birds to it due to the water it offers for survival. The park has one of the largest hippo concentrations in the world. On arrival have a rest then in the afternoon you set off for an evening game drive.

Dinner & overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 3

Chimpanzee Trekking - Boat Safari

Breakfast before daybreak then go for a hike in the ‘valley of apes’, the Kyambura Gorge, a geological feature which is home to several primates including vervet monkeys, chimpanzees, baboon and red-tailed monkeys. Then go for an afternoon boat ride when the sun is hot so that the Kazinga Channel turns into a drinking spot for many animals, especially crocodiles, hippos and buffalos that immerse themselves in the water to cool off. The animals are often undisturbed by boats so you can take photos of them up close.

Dinner & overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 4

Game Drive - Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Your morning starts with an early game drive during the “golden hours” to enjoy watching the savannah land inhabitants wake up such as elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, kobs and antelopes. In Chambura Gorge, look out for the tree-climbing lions. Afterwards set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. If time permits we shall go on a community visit when on the outskirts of the Bwindi Forest and see the local way of life, take part in arts and crafts, buy some handicrafts, have lunch from there then head to your lodge for the evening.

Day 5

Mountain Gorilla Tracking

Uganda has 50% of the world’s mountain gorilla population living in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Arise early (before 8:00 am) so you can have breakfast before the AA Safaris tour guide drives you to the park headquarters where you will be briefed on the trekking experience; what to expect and dos and don’ts while in the midst of the mountain gorillas. Together with a park guide you start down well-maintained paths into Bwindi Forest to track one of the 13 mountain gorilla families. When the family is sighted, you will be guided to a distance of 6 meters from where you will sit in silence and observe the gorillas as they go about their day. Watch them feed, hunt insects, eat tree bark and fruits, play, climb trees, groom one another. Remember – don’t mimic the sounds they make, no flash photography and no feeding the gorillas. Lunch will be packed for the day and stay hydrated throughout the day with the long walk and energy you need to move through the thick bushes.

Day 6

Enter Rwanda - Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Today you set off in the morning to the Uganda- Rwanda border so make sure all your travel documents are in order. Enjoy the captivating scenery of the mountainous landscape of this part of Rwanda as you drive to Volcanoes National Park to your lodge for the evening. This park is home to mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, spotted hyena, bushbuck and black-fronted duiker.

Day 7

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Rise early for the drive to the park headquarters for a briefing. Afterwards head off with your park ranger down the trails of the rainforest until you find the gorilla family you will be tracking for the day. Sit in silence and enjoy the forest with the gorillas as they go about their daily routine in their natural habitat. If this tour is during September, you can attend the gorilla baby-naming ceremony

Day 8

Golden Monkey Tracking - Return to Kigali

After breakfast head off on your golden monkey tracking experience to look for these fascinating primates. Afterwards, drive to Kigali city to be dropped at Kigali International Airport or your Kigali hotel.