SVAU 015: Gorilla Tour in Uganda, Rwanda

Day 1: Kampala

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be met by our Uganda representative and be transferred to your hotel in Kampala. If time allows, we’ll take you to Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, an animal orphanage opened in 1952. The centre specialise in conservation education, rescue and rehabilitation of injured and rescued wildlife, centre for captive breeding and research on wildlife. About 250 individuals wildlife of 50 species are found here.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Serena Hotel/Tourist Hotel/ Cassia Lodge

Day 2: Kampala – Bwindi Forest

After breakfast, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the home of Mountain Gorillas to start your Uganda gorilla tour. It’s estimated half of the world’s surviving population of mountain gorillas, estimated to be 300 live within Bwindi boundaries. The drive is long but enjoyable with lunch stop on the way.

Bwindi National Park is located in the southwestern part of the country, the Kigezi Highlands once known as Switzerland of Africa. Bwindi National Park offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. Four gorilla families have so far been habituated for tourism and eight are allowed to visit them per day.

Although trekking may be strenuous, the viewing of the gorillas in their natural habitat is an experience long to be savored. Apart from the mountain gorillas, there are a variety of other primates to be seen including the blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and black and white Columbus monkeys. The great blue tauracos are often seen and even for a non-bird watcher they are a marvelous sight.

You arrive at your lodging during late afternoon. Rest and take dinner at your Bwindi lodging preparing for the Uganda mountain gorilla tracking experience the next day.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge/ Gorilla Resort/ Kitandara Lodge/ Engagi Lodge/ Mahogany lodge/ Buhoma Community Rest Camp Bandas/ Buhoma View Bandas

Day 3: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Forest

There is an early morning entry into a gorilla sanctuary. The rainforest is spectacular as it offers a dramatic, heavily forested and dense landscape crisscrossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access for tourists. Recorded mammals here include the endangered mountain gorilla, the rare golden monkey, buffalo, elephants, black-fronted duikers, bushbucks, leopards, giant forest hogs as well as other animals.

This park is best known for the fascinating gorillas, where the time taken and terrain varies according to the movements of these marvelous primates. The thrill of spending time with and observing these gentle giant gorillas is a rare, moving, awesome and exciting adventure that will leave you with long-lasting memories of a truly unique experience. The gorillas are shy and peaceful animals and it is an unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact with each other.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge/ Gorilla Resort/ Kitandara Lodge/ Engagi Lodge/ Mahogany lodge/ Buhoma Community Rest Camp Bandas/ Buhoma View Bandas

Day 4: Bwindi Forest – Cross to Rwanda

After breakfast, drive to Kisoro and cross the Rwandan border to Ruhengeri.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla Nest/ Kinigi Guest House

Day 5: Gorilla Tracking in Parc National des Volcanoes

You will be early for briefing by the guide at Ruhengeri Park headquarters in Pac de Volcanoes. The tracking begins early. The time spent trekking depends on the movement of these wonderful giants. After sighting gorilla families, drive back to Uganda.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Kabale White Horse inn

Day 6: Game Viewing in Lake Mburo

After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Mburo National Park and enter the park through the Nshara Gate. Take a game drive or guided nature walks along the lakeshore. Here you can find herds of zebra, cape buffalo and eland, and Pribi and topi are easy to approach.

Apart from game drives, take a boat trip in Lake Mburo and self-guided nature trails. Bird watchers will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found in Lake Mburo including Papyrus Gonoleks, Brown-faced Lapwings, Caruthers’s Cisticolas, the extraordinary White winged Warbler and Bare-Faced Go-away bird.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge/ Mantana Tented Camp/ Arcadia Cottages/ Rwonyo Camp

Day 7: Game Drive Lake Mburo – Kampala

Take a cup of coffee and leave for the morning game drive to see zebras, Buffaloes, Impalas, Topis, Warthogs and different bird species. Return to the lodge for lunch and transfer to Kampala. Lunch en route in Mbarara and a stopover at the Equator for photography.