This 10 Days gorilla safari starts from Kigali Rwanda and proceeds to Uganda. The trip offers you best wildlife experiences including gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest and game viewing /launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth national Park.
10 Days Gorilla Safari - Trip Summary
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali & transfer to Nyungwe forest
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and afternoon Canopy walk
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 4: First Gorilla trekking
Day 5: Golden monkeys tracking / Dian Fossey hiking & Transfer to Bwindi
Day 6: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi national park
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park via Ishasha for tree climbing lions
Day 8: Game drive & transfer to Kibale Forest national park
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking
Day 10: Departure
10 Days Gorilla Safari Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes NP.
Your tour guide will pick you from the airport on arrival or Hotel in Kigali and take you for a city tour. Visit the genocide memorial, Nyamata church, local markets among others. You will then drive northwards to Volcanoes NP with en route views of the Virunga mountains. Overnight at Muhabura hotel (budget)/ Davinci lodge (deluxe)/ Gorilla Solution lodge /Five Volcanoes hotel (luxury).
Day 2: 1st Gorilla Tracking Adventure and cultural walk.
Take your early breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing before entering the bamboo forest. You will spend a maximum of one-hour taking observations; photographs and watching them feed or play around. In the evening, you may go for a community walk to the neighbouring village. Dinner and overnight stay at day 1
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Bwindi NP
In the morning, you will go for golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes NP and on return, transfer across the border to Bwindi NP in Uganda. Dinner and overnight stay at Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)/ Bwindi Jungle Lodge(Deluxe)/ Gorilla Mist camp (budget).
Day 4: 2nd Gorilla Tracking and transfer to Ishasha sector.
In the morning, you will gather at the park headquarters for a briefing, and go straight into the forest to search for the gentle giants. You will be allowed one hour to stay in the presence of the gorillas, as you observe and take photographs. On return, you will transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP. Dinner and overnight at your Ishasha Wilderness Camp (luxury)/ Ishasha Jungle lodge (deluxe).
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and boat cruise.
In the morning, you will go for a game drive in the Ishasha sector of the park for a chance to see the tree climbing lions. You will later drive northwards to kazinga channel for the afternoon boat cruise. Dinner and overnight at Mweya safari lodge / Katara lodge(luxury) /Park View Lodge(deluxe)/ Enganzi lodge (budget/deluxe).
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale Forest NP and chimp tracking.
In the morning, you will drive to Kibale Forest NP. In the afternoon, go for chimp tracking experience. If lucky, you may see other primates like several species of monkeys. Dinner and overnight at Crater Safari Lodge(Luxury)/Primates Lodge (deluxe)/Chimpanzee guest House(budget).
Day 7: Transfer back to Kigali/Kampala and departure.
In the morning after a relaxed breakfast, transfer to Entebbe airport passing through Kampala and departure.
Included in this tour package;
• Hiking permit fee
• Park Ranger Fees
• Relevant Government Taxes
• Full Board Accommodation
• Full-time English speaking Driver/Guide
• Ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends.
Exclusions:
• Airfares
• Visa Fees
• Personal Insurance
• Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.
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Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park is located in northwest Rwanda and it is part of the larger Virunga massif, a conservation area that extends into Uganda and DR Congo as well. The park was first gazetted in 1925 with the major aim of protecting gorillas from poachers. Gorilla conservation in the park was enhanced the more by the arrival of American primatologist Dian Fossey in 1960s.
She set up a gorilla research centre in the park known as Karisoke where she based to study and protect these primates. With intensified conservation efforts, the gorilla population in the park started to increase rapidly after eliminating threats like poaching and habitat loss. The population of mountain gorillas is estimated to be over 1,000 animals a significant increase from about 2500 that were in the wild in 1970s.
Today there are 12 habituated gorilla groups in Volcanoes national park that are visited by tourists every day. Each gorilla family is visited by a group of 8 trekkers per day for one hour. Trekking gorillas in Volcanoes national park requires a permit which is sold at $1,500 per person. Travellers are advised to book their gorilla trekking permits at least 6 months in advance due to their limited availability.
Safari Vehicles
