5 Days Rwanda and Uganda Gorillas Safari

5 Days Rwanda and Uganda Gorillas Safari – Detailed itinerary

Arrival Day at Kigali International Airport – Rwanda

Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be met by our representative for a short transfer to the hotel within the city. With time on your hands, explore the city on foot to feel and enjoy the warm hospitality of Rwandans and appreciate its calmness.
Accommodation and Meal Plan: At your Pleasure (booked for you upon request)

Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes NP and Biking tour or evening cultural experience

The Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Safari will begin with your guide picking you from the hotel to transfer to Volcanoes NP, north-west of Kigali. This scenic 2.5hr drive will take you through the heartland of Rwanda, dotted with terraced highlands, clean and well-organized towns and will arrive at your hotel by the edges of the park in time for lunch. Later in the evening, you will join a cultural experience or take an optional bike tour along the foothills of Volcanoes NP for stunning landscape views.
Accommodation Plan: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, FB

Day 2: Golden Monkey trekking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

This morning after an early breakfast, your guide will transfer you to check in at Volcanoes National Park visitors’ reception where after a short briefing and coffee break you will begin the trek. The guided trek experience sets out towards the feeding range of the habituated community of the Golden Monkey which occur along the bamboo belt from 2600m to 3500m within the Virunga mountain ranges. Here, the golden monkey feed primarily on bamboo shoots, insect larvae and other vegetation. Golden monkeys occur in large troops numbering over 100 individuals and led by a dominant male at the helm.

On locating the monkeys, you will be accorded one-hour to observe, photograph and just sit out as you watch diverse behaviour interaction of the troop.The trek experience lasts anywhere from 4 to 5 hrs but this varies daily.

Be reminded, to dress appropriately in blending colors, good hiking shoes, long pants, garden gloves and pack rain gear and plenty of drinking water on the tracking day. Back at the trailhead you will head out for a hot lunch and transfer to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest via Chanika land border crossing, a drive that should take up to 3 hrs. Accommodation: Icumbi Lodge, Rushaga on FB

Day 3: Gorilla trekking day and transfer to Bunyonyi

This morning, you will check in at Bwindi’s Rushaga trailhead for the gorilla trekking experience. With registration and briefing done, you will be grouped into small units of 8 persons, to trek to any of the designated gorilla family led by seasoned ranger guides. Bwindi rainforest is home to half of the global population of mountain gorillas scattered in small family groups across this vast rainforest. The trek experience will then bring you into a face-to-face encounter with gorilla family as it forages where you get to spend up to one-hour watching the interaction, grooming session and diverse behavior.

Mountain gorillas are sedentary, with a strict vegetarian diet and occurs in small family units of up to 20 individuals headed by a dominant Silverback. The trek experience duration varies daily but anything up to 4-6 hrs is normal. Appropriate dressing is just like on golden monkey trek experience day, packed lunch and plenty of drinking water is recommended. From the trek, transfer to the scenic Lake Bunyonyi, east of Rushaga sector of Bwindi.
Accommodation: Birdnest Lodge, FB

Day 4: Adventure on Lake Bunyonyi

Today while at Lake Bunyonyi, take a lazy day to relax at the lodge or choose to explore around the islands that dot this second deepest on the continent. Adventure activities at your exposal here include community-led moderate hiking experience that takes you past humble trading centers, schools, churches and to the highest peaks for stunning scenery of this island dotted lake and its terraced towering highlands. Other activities include dugout canoe experience around the historical islands, birdwatching, abseiling and kayaking.
Accommodation: Birdnest Lodge FB

Day 5: Transfer to Kigali for a city tour and drop at airport

Today after a lazy breakfast transfer to Kigali City through Katuna/Gatuna land crossing border arriving in time for lunch. Depending on your schedule, with time on your hands visit the Genocide Memorial on a mini–city tour to appreciate Rwanda’s resilience through the most memorable dark time and how it has bounced back to become a beacon of hope in the world. Drive time to Kigali City is up to 3 hrs including border crossing.

Drop will be at the hotel of your choice or airport this evening.

End.