7 DAYS CHIMPANZEE AND GORILLA TOUR. (UGANDA & RWANDA)
DAY 1 TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NP
You will be met by a tours representative from AA safaris and tours Ltd who will brief you. Shift to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way, you will take a stop over at the Equator or the Mpigi Mpambire drum makers before you proceed. Take a game drive en route in search for wildlife. In the park you will have views of a beautiful panorama of the great lakes of lake Edwards and lake George, then also their gutter the great Kazinga channel. Drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight at either
Budget – Institute of Ecology / Simba safari lodge
Moderate – Hippo Hill Lodge / Ihamba Lodge
Up Market – Mweya safari lodge/ Jacana safari lodge/ Katara Lodge / King Fisher Resort .
DAY 2 GAME DRIVE AND LAUNCH CRUISE
This morning you will leave for an early morning game drives. You will search for lions, buffaloes, kobs, the Python,Elephants , hyenas, warthogs, birds’ hippos and many other savannah wildlife. We will return to the lodge for mid morning breakfast and lunch and a chance to relax. Take an afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga channel. At either 15.00 hrs or 5pm. The Kazinga Channel is a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George., expect to get exposed to a bird scene with abundance of both typical and migrants species of bird and the highest concentration of hippos in Africa! The bird species on this channel include; pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others. After this wonderful afternoon, a slow drive/ walk back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 CHIMPANZEE TREK IN KYAMBURA GORGE AND TRANSFER TO BWINDI
Take your breakfast and assemble at the Kyambura Gorge to start the chimpanzee trek. The trek takes 3-4 hours. This gorge lies south of Lake George and east of Queen Elizabeth National Park where the Kazinga Channel leaves the lake, flowing towards Lake Edward. Although it has similar ecosystems to QENP, the natural barriers created by the Kyambura Gorge and Kazinga Channel make it possible to manage the area as a separate entity. Kyambura gorge serves as a bumper for the north-eastern part of Queen Elizabeth Np . There is no land connection between the reserve and the park, animals simply crossing the Kyambura river where it is shallowest during the dry seasons to move between the protected areas. The river gorge chains a high-canopy tropical forest which scores to a swamp-forest and papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) swamp near the river mouth. The eastern border follows Buhindagi river from Lake George, south-east to Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserve (a moist semi-deciduous forest not presently included within the IBA) where the boundaries of the Forest and Wildlife Reserves adjoin. The reserve is a home both fresh and saline volcanic lakes, in the reserve, the most significant of which are the saline Bagusa, Lakes Nshenyi and Maseche; Lakes Kararo, Kinera, Chibwera and Kyamwiga have fresh water and more to see.
Later, you will leave for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Driving through the seasonal southern sector of Queen Elizabeth called Ishasha. Found of tree climbing lions the Ishasha sector gets its name from the Ishasha River from intensively cultivated steep sided hills, and as a result carries a high runoff load from the fields. You will later drive to Bwindi, home to the few remaining mountain gorillas. Bird life and primate life in Bwindi is quite superb, and there is an incredible variety of flora. Bwindi is the Bird watchers paradise! It holds 348 species of birds and supports 24 of 26 Albertine Rift Endemics that occur in Uganda; and seven red data book species. Once continuous with the forests of the Virunga Volcanoes (Dian Fossey’s stomping ground), Bwindi is now an ecological island, surrounded by cultivation on the rich volcanic soils. Dinner and overnight at
Budget accommodation package- Buhoma Community bandas or Bwindi View bandas or Nkuringo campsite tents or Virunga Hotel or Nkuringo safari centre
Moderate- accommodation package- Lake Kitandara camp or Nkuringo camp site or Wagtail Eco lodge or similar
Upmarket accommodation package- Engagi lodge or Buhoma lodge or Gorilla Resort camp or Traveler’s rest camp or Silver back lodge
Luxury accommodation package- Gorilla Forest Camp or Clouds Lodge or Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge , or Volcanoes Bwindi safari Lodge
DAY 4 GORILLA TREK AFRICA
Wake up for an early morning breakfast to give you the energy you need for this gorilla trek in Africa. You will be taken to the starting point for briefing and the ranger guides will lead you through the forest pushing your way through the bushes, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. (This trek can take from 1 hour to 10 hours and a rational amount of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of hiking boots). On encounter , you will stay in the forest among the gorillas for 1 hour , listening to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male- the silverback! It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas in the World. It’s amazing to think there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left. Overnight at your lodge.
DAY 5 TO RWANDA – VOLCANOES NP
After breakfast, cross the border then you will be driven to Musanze.
Ruhengeri which is also known as Musanze is the pedestal of Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda. Within Musanze , town there are small basic hotels like Urumuli. The main attractions in Musanze include ; the Volcanoes National Park, Virunga mountains with their four peaks- Bisoke, Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Karisimbi. Karisimbi is the highest peak which can be climbed in two days. An easier climb can be done on Bisoke-one day. Other attractions include; the natural bridge, lakes Burela and Ruhondo. Dinner and over night at ;
Budget – Kinigi Guest House
Standard – Moutain Gorilla Nest Lodge / Mountain gorilla View Lodge/ Hotel Gorillas
Luxury – Volcanoes Lodge / Sabinyo Silver Back lodge
Day 6 GORILLA TREKKING AFRICA
After breakfast, go gorilla trekking in Parc National des Volcans. Trekking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virungas is a magical experience. The walks might be strenuous but an encounter of a family of gorillas is rewarding! Spend an hour with them, and be back at the base in time for a late lunch! Some gorilla families however are more elusive and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy. Transfer to Kabale for your dinner and over night at
Budget – Bushara Island camp
Standard – Bunyonyi Overland camp
Luxury – Habuharo Island Camp/ Arcadia cottages
DAY 7 L. BUNYONYI- KAMPALA
Take break fast and then Visit the museums in Kabale from where you will be transferred to Kampala or Entebbe for your next flight back home.
