8 Days Chimps, Gorillas & Culture

This 8-day Rwanda Uganda safari is an exceptional package for memorable double gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey trekking, and a hike to Dian Fossey’s grave Yard with African Jungle Adventures
Trip Summary
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk
Day 3: Nyungwe Forest to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking – Parc National des Volcans
Day 5: Hike to Diane Fossey Tombs OR Golden Monkey Tracking OR Bisoke Volcano Trekking
Day 6: Transfer to Southern Bwindi National Park
Day 7: Second Gorilla Tracking Expedition, Uganda
Day 8: Kigali city tour, departure

Detailed Itinerary

Have breakfast at the hotel and proceed to Nyungwe National Park. En route visit to the Rwanda National Museum in Butare, the Murambi genocide memorial site, lunch in Butare, and dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge.

Have breakfast, then enter Nyungwe Forest in search of 13 primate species and over 300 bird species, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise! There are large concentrations of habituated chimpanzees, with troops numbering 400 to 500 individuals! Return to your lodge for lunch.

You can relax after lunch, or go for a canopy walk or a cultural walk among local communities, where you will be entertained by local dance and drumming and get to know more about the local cultures. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe forest lodge.

Take breakfast in the morning and drive to Volcanoes National Park; overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Have an early breakfast, then transfer to Kinigi station for a briefing on mountain gorilla tracking. Tracking Gorillas is very strenuous and tiring, but meeting and spending time with these giant apes is worth the effort. You will be allowed to stay with the gorillas for 1 hour for observation and photographing.

You can take a walk to Ruhengeri Market, where you can see and buy local Rwandan fabrics, food, arts, and handicrafts. Or we can drive to see the beautiful twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Dinner & overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Breakfast at your lodge, followed by any of the activities above. Relax at your lodge in the evening, have dinner, and overnight.

Breakfast at the lodge and hit the road to Southern Bwindi National Park (Kisoro), another home to mountain gorillas in Uganda. Check in at Gorilla Safari Lodge, have lunch, and take a nature walk to the Snake Caves, Lake Mutanda, and the Batwa (pygmy) people. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Mist Camp, Chameleon Hill Lodge, or Lake Mutanda Resort.

After an early breakfast, we shall proceed to the park offices with a packed lunch for a briefing on the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ for gorilla encounters. Tracking can take 2-8 hours, depending on their movements. Tracking involves walking up steep and densely forested hills before finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation. You will stay with these Giant apes for 1 hour for observation and photography. Relax in the evening as we wait for dinner and an overnight.

Breakfast at the lodge and hit the road back to Kigali (3hrs). Take a city tour to the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Museum, local art and craft shops, and local markets, and do last-minute shopping. Depending on your scheduled departure flight, you will be transferred to Kigali Airport.

Tour exclusions
Gorilla trekking permit
Chimpanzee permit
Golden monkeys permit/Dian Fossey graveyard hike
Full-time English-speaking guide
Ground transport
Accommodation and meals
Park entrance fees
All activities in the itinerary
Game Viewing
Bottled Mineral Water for Refreshment

Tour exclusions
Visa fees
International flights
Alcoholic beverages
Extra activities not in the itinerary
Tips
Porters