Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla trek, Chimpanzee Adventure | 10 Days
From $1,046
2pax: per person sharing
Visiting: Entebbe, Jinja Adventure, Sipi falls, Murchison Falls NP, Ziwa Rhino Santuary.
What to Expect
- Feel power of mighty Murchison falls
- Rich safari experience; learn animal behaviours in the wild as a family.
- Get better insights into animals, birds, and the culture of people
- Immerse in active family adventure activities, games.
- wildlife Safari searching for lions
- Family fun sdventure by sipi falls.
- Optional fun activities in Jinja
Route Map
Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla trek, Chimpanzee Adventure – 10 Days
This Rwanda & Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees adventure tour takes you to visit Rwanda’s memorial museum in Kigali, where 250,000 genocide victims have been buried, and learn about Rwanda’s ‘dark past but bright future’. You simply cannot appreciate this beautiful country and its people if you haven’t visited the Kigali memorial. Kigali is one of Africa’s cleanest and most interesting capitals. Enjoy scenic drives through Rwanda, known as the Land of a Thousand Hills with its beautiful rolling landscapes dotted with tea plantations, rugged mountains, and towering volcanoes. You will cross the border to explore Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla Park & Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to meet a family of mountain gorillas – a wildlife encounter of a lifetime. A close encounter with these amazing animals is simply breathtaking. Uganda is much more than gorillas; you will come face to face with chimpanzees in the Kibale forest. Opt to learn how to cook Ugandan street food – ‘Rolex’. You could add-on a day to visit Jinja adventure capital or for bird watching lovers visit Mabamba bay on lake victoria to track rare shoebill by boat.
This trip starts in Kigali City (Rwanda) and ends in Entebbe City (Uganda)
Summary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali.
Day 2: Kigali City Tour & Transfer to Kisoro/Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Day 3: In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorilla trekking
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 5: In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Second Gorilla Trekking.
Day 6: Bwindi To Kibale Forest national park
Day 7: In Kibale Forest National Park
Day 8: Kibale Forest National Park, Transfer to Murchison falls.
Day 9: In Murchison falls National Park – Safari & Hike to top of falls
Day 10: Murchison falls to Entebbe Airport – Departure.
Important things to know:
- Order of visiting Mgahinga or Bwindi NPS changes depending on the availability of gorilla permits.
- To go on a gorilla trek, you need a gorilla permit/ license – which we can arrange for you. We can only purchase your Gorilla permit after you have made a down payment to us. Gorilla permits are competitive on a daily basis, advance booking is always preferred.
- Mountain gorillas share 98% of our DNA and are prone to catching human illnesses. Please note that if you are unwell with anything contagious, even a common cold, you may be denied any of the treks to ensure the safety of the gorillas. This is a national park regulation, and trekking permits will not be refunded if you are denied entrance due to illness.
- Touching gorillas is not allowed (although in some cases gorillas may come closer to touching you)
- Please note that Gorilla tracking is dependent on the permit/license availability at the time of your booking. Gorilla permits in all parks are always on very high demand, whose availability changes daily. We advise that you book this tour as early as possible (2 to 3 months in advance is recommended) to be able to reserve a gorilla permit in line with your travel dates ahead of time.
- Gorilla trekking can be a strenuous activity and the Minimum gorilla tracking age is 15 years.
- We purchase gorilla permits from the Uganda wildlife authority (UWA). UWA shall not make any refunds of money paid for gorilla permits and chimpanzee tracking permits or habituation experience permits. Hence are non-refundable upon any trip cancellation for any reason.
- What to wear: Hiking shoes/walking shoes, long socks to tuck-in long pants, rainwear, warm clothing, evenings and mornings can be cold/chilly, gloves preferably gardening type are very helpful and insect repellant. Bring sunscreen and a hat as well
- Given the high elevation (over 2000m), to ease your walking, hiring a local helper (porter) is recommended. Porters are hired at a small fee ($15) to carry your backpack along the path. All are hired from local villages and not only can carry your day pack, but assist you with a welcome hand over difficult spots. Regardless of your fitness level, we highly recommend hiring a porter as some tracks can be very muddy and elevation can affect even the fittest person.
- The accommodation mentioned in the itinerary depends on the availability of rooms available at the time of booking. At the time of your booking, in the event that listed hotels are fully booked, we will do our best to inform you and book an alternative hotel in the same class.
Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla trek, Chimpanzee Adventure – 10 Days
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Arrive and transfer to your preferred hotel. If you have some time explore some evening life. Kigali is known for its pleasant, friendly atmosphere.
Accommodation: Chigo Tours can suggest hotel options at the client’s request.
No Meals: included.
Day 2: Kigali City Tour & Transfer to Kisoro/ Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After breakfast, head out for Kigali City Tour. The Kigali City tour offers you the true heartbeat of the city. The nation’s recovery is incredible and a testimony to a dark past but a bright future.
You will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum at Gisozi. Learn how an estimated one million Rwandans were killed in nearly 100 days of genocide. The memorial museum is where the remains of 250, 000 victims of the 1994 Genocide are buried. It has a cemetery, a genocide exhibition section & a library. A visit to this memorial center is not only an educational experience that will offer you a thorough insight into the country’s painful past but also provides a truly moving experience.
The memorial is moving – the tour takes two to three hours – It is in memory of the multitudes murdered in Rwanda´s genocide in 1994.
Pass by the Hotel des Mille Collines (where the 2004 movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’ was filmed based on events relating to families that took shelter in this 5-star hotel during the genocide) in Kigali. Later we travel to the Volcanoes National Park driving through the stunning scenery of flourishing green hills and valleys.
You could opt to try local lunch. After transfer to Kisoro town on the way to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Drive to Rwanda/Uganda land border. After border immigration/customs, proceed to Kisoro Town. Enjoy this scenic route, dotted with impressive landscapes. Approximate driving time: 4-5 hours, border crossing time: 1 hour.
- Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort or Ikoro Hotel
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner Included
Day 3: In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorilla trekking
Today is the big day… our guide will pick you up from your hotel, for your mountain gorilla encounter. After transfer to the Mgahinga National Park office (approximate transfer:1 hour), you will meet up with excellent local rangers and trackers, who will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. In Mgahinga NP (Uganda), there is 1 habituated gorilla family for tourist viewing.
An advance party of rangers (known as trackers) will have gone ahead into the forest to locate where the gorillas slept the previous night and will have begun to track their movements. These trackers will keep communicating with your head guide via a radio talkie and the trek into the forest will begin.
The tracking can last from as little as 45 minutes to as much as 10 hours. The activity depends on the location of the gorillas the previous day. Visitors, therefore, are supposed to move along with a packed/ picnic lunch and water, should be equipped with strong water-proof clothing, and must be averagely healthy. After finding gorillas, you will spend a maximum of 1 hour viewing them. The terrain can get tough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. It can rain at a few minutes’ notice; hence waterproof clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras. It is important to take plenty of water.
HOT TIP: Hire a porter at the briefing point. Your porter will carry your backpack and help you as you traverse the forest and is so completely worth it. You’ll be supporting a local family and this allows them to continue being part of community gorilla protection cooperation, which is essential in Mountain gorilla conservation. After this exciting experience, it’s time to relax at the lodge and view your photos.
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today our driver guide will transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable National. Enjoy spectacular landscapes & Ugandan hospitality.
- Accommodation: Ride4woman or 4gorillas Lodge
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner Included.
Please note that the final choice of accommodation will be determined by the location of gorilla permits available in Bwindi at the time of booking.
Day 5: In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Second Gorilla Trekking
Today you have second Gorilla trekking. A wildlife encounter of a lifetime to meet a family of mountain gorillas up close.
In Bwindi NP (Uganda), there are 23 habituated gorilla families that can be viewed by tourists.
In order to minimize animal stress and exposure to possible human disease, daily visits are limited to a maximum of 8 people and viewing lasts only one hour. This rule still allows you adequate time for photography and viewing these great primates in their natural habitat.
- Accommodation: Ride4woman, 4gorillas lodge or Mahogany Springs
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner Included.
Day 6: Bwindi To Kibale Forest national park
Today we shall transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. We look out for spectacular crater lakes around this route. We check into your lodge. There is a good forest walk in search of primates and birds around the lodge.
- Accommodation: Turaco Tree Tops, or Chimpundu Safari lodge
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
Day 7: In Kibale Forest National Park
Activities: Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi swamp walk and community life tour.
After early breakfast, we transfer to Kanyanchu gate, from where you will begin chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest national park. Kibale National park is an extension of the great rainforests of central Africa. It is inhabited by three large “communities” of chimps, with over 120 individuals. Only one community is allowed to be visited by tourists.
In Kibale, here you will find one of the largest populations of chimpanzees in Africa – about 1450 individuals. This activity can take between 2 to 4 hours.
Today after the lunch break, you can opt to explore the Bigodi Swamp sanctuary trail (2hrs) or head out on a community life tour in a village walk (2-3 hours). Bigodi Swamp sanctuary trail is a guided circular trail through the swamp and is also one of the best locally guided primate-bird trails in East Africa as well as offering a realistic opportunity to see 4 to 6 different primate species in a space of a few hours. This walk is excellent for viewing bird life and seeing primates at close quarters. Search primates like I’hoestes, red colobus, blues, red-tailed and gray-cheeked mangabey, bird species like the Great blue Turaco, bees’ eaters, and many more. In the Bigodi community life village trail, you’ll experience, amazing farm life experiences, notably traditional local banana beer/gin making, basket weaving, learn cooking local Ugandan cuisine, or simply roast & brew coffee by yourself. Or simply do both activities.
- Road type: Mostly paved and dirt limited to some sections.
- Accommodation: Turaco Tree Tops or Chimpundu Safari lodge
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
Day 8: Kibale Forest National Park, Transfer to Murchison falls National park
Today our guide will transfer you to Jinja City, located on the banks of the River Nile.
Jinja is the adventure capital of Uganda.
In terms of local cuisine, you could opt to have a ‘Rolex’ Stop! Stop by the street, visit a street stall, and learn how to cook Ugandan street food – ‘Rolex’, freshly done by the roadside by yourself. Check into your Lodge.
- Accommodation: Lemala Wild waters lodge or The Haven lodge
- Meals: Breakfast, and lunch included
Day 9: In Murchison falls: Game viewing safari & Hike to Top of falls
Today’s activities: Game drive safari, boat safari trip.
Today we head out early (6.30 am) for morning game drive to the northern side in the open savannah. Enjoy a 3-hour game safari, keep an eye out for the elephants, leopards, lions, warthogs and giraffes as well as large herds of antelopes; oribi, Hartebeets, Kobs. Please note – some wild animals like leopards, lions can be elusive! – our guides will maximize chances of these cat sightings! You’ll stop for your lunch.
At 1:30pm, you drive to view the Top of Murchison falls – the point where River Nile is squeezed through such a tiny space (7m gap) plunging 42m deep making one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. What a stunning sight, foaming, crashing white water rushing through narrow channels of stone and plunging down into a curving stretch of river below, silvery in the mid-day light. The payoff is a killer view back toward the falls, and down the Nile in another direction as your eye can see. Enjoy this breathtaking scenery. After you will drive back to your lodge on time for an evening sundowner by River Nile. Road type: Both Paved and dirt in Nat park.
Accommodation:
Murchison River Lodge / Twiga Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, and lunch included
Day 10: Murchison Falls to Entebbe Airport – Outbound Flight
Activities: Boat ride to delta & Transfer to Entebbe.
You will be picked at 7am and head out on boat ride on Victoria nile to Delta. Highlights include, stunning birdlife, fishermen on the Nile, hippos, elephants and fishing life. On lucky day you could spot the rare shoebill. There after transfer by road to Entebbe.
TIP1: You could opt to forego this boat ride and drive this morning to pass via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Here you can walk on foot with expat rangers to see Rhinos in the wild. There after continue transfer to Entebbe.
TIP2: If you like bird watching you could add on, one day in Entebbe and go for a shoebill excursion (2-4 hours) in Mabamba bay on Lake Victoria, the following morning at extra cost and transfer (1.5hours) to Entebbe airport thereafter.
End of Tour.
Price Includes
- X1 Pick-up transfer at Kigali Airport
- X1 Drop-off transfer in Entebbe Airport
- All National Park entrance fees
- 9 nights’ accommodation
- 8 Lunches
- 7 dinners
- Transportation in 4×4 Toyota Safari Vehicle
- English-speaking driver-guide in Rwanda & Uganda.
- X1 Gorilla trekking permit – Uganda (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park) (US$700 per person)
- X1 Gorilla trekking permit – Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park) (US$700 per person)
- x1 Chimpanzee trekking permit per person at Kibale forest NP Forest (US$200 per person)
- Water rafting in on River Nile – Jinja.
- City tour of Kigali, Kigali memorial museum,
- Full Board (Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch as indicated on itinerary)
Price Excludes
- Visa for Rwanda/ Uganda (East Africa tourist Visa – $100)
- International flights.
- Yellow fever inoculation certificate or an exemption letter from your doctor – COMPULSORY!
- Arrival/ Departure covid19 tests and Vaccinations Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Meals and drinks not specified
- Laundry services
Tips/ Gratuities to the driver/ guide, trackers, hotel staff, and porters.
All expenses of personal nature
Optional activities
- Optional accommodation on the last day (1)
- Optional activities in Jinja City.
- 1 Shoebill canoe ride on Lake Victoria – USD $60 per person.
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