9 Day Wildlife and Gorilla Safari in Rwanda and Uganda

Day 1

Upon arrival, you will be met by your representative from Oikos Safaris at the hotel, depending on the preparations, who will assist you with customs and immigration clearance. Thereafter, your driver or guide will transfer you to your hotel overnight at Chez Lando.

• Meals: Breakfast

Day 2: City tour and transfer to Volcano National Park

This morning after breakfast, you will drive to Kigali town for a city tour where you will get to know Rwanda’s most beautiful and amazing city. You also get to learn about the country’s culture and history by visiting the cultural and historical sites of Kigali. Kigali is Rwanda’s capital city and was named by Doctor Richard Kandt in 1907, the first colonial governor of Rwanda. The city is built on several hills and valleys, thereby gaining the title "the land of a thousand hills" or Hilly City.

Places of interest include the Genocide Memorial Center and the Church Genocide site, to mention but a few. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in town. Later in the afternoon, you will drive to Ruhengeri. The two-hour drive through the rolling hills of Rwanda takes you via the base of the magnificent volcanoes of the Virunga mountain range. Overnight at Danvichi Lodge or similar.

Day 3: Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

This morning after breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken on a golden monkey tracking experience. This rare species is listed as endangered and there are currently two troops of the monkeys which have been habituated to be visited by tourists in the park, both of which number around 80 members. The golden monkeys live in the bamboo vegetation towards the base of the volcanoes and have overcome their initial shyness to accept their daily visit by researchers and tourists. You will trek to find the golden monkeys in a similar way to the gorilla trek - in a small group of no more than eight people.

You can spend one hour with the monkeys once you find them. They are very sprightly creatures, and leap from tree to really entertaining tree, if a little difficult to photograph. Oikos Safaris recommends setting your camera to a fast shutter speed to allow for low light in the dense undergrowth and to better your chances of capturing the golden monkeys on film. After your tracking, you will drive to the Rwanda and Uganda border at Cyanika and then head to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for two nights. Overnight at Bweza Gorilla Lodge.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 4: Gorilla tracking

This morning you will set off for gorilla trekking. Hiking through the thick, verdant rainforest to eventually come across the gorillas in their natural habitat is an amazing and unforgettable experience. Actual trek times can vary; these are wild animals after all. If time permits, there is a diverse range of activities that are unique to Bwindi, which you can participate in during the afternoon. Optional activities can be chosen as below:

• Batwa trail: During this moving tour, the Batwa demonstrate hunting techniques, gather honey, point out medicinal plants, and demonstrate how to make bamboo cups. Guests are then invited to the sacred Ngarama Cave, once home to the Batwa King, to be entertained by traditional music and dance.
• Village walk: Overlooking the imposing hillsides of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with the mist swirling over the summits, this is one of the most dramatic settings for your cultural tour. Among others, meet a traditional healer who not only treats the sick but uses his knowledge to conserve and educate about the various medicinal plants.
• Bwindi Community Hospital: Started by a Canadian doctor, BCH revolutionized healthcare for the Batwa and the Bwindi community. This free hospital tour provides insight into the region and issues that the local community faces.
• Waterfall walk: Walk along the Congolese border and Bwindi to see the magnificent waterfalls and the incredible scenery.

Overnight at Bweza Lodge or similar.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After your breakfast, you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for two nights. You will arrive in the evening and overnight at your lodge. Overnight at Bush Lodge or similar.

• Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel

In the morning, you will have a game drive to the Kisenyi area to look for lion prides and other wildlife like the Uganda Kob, before returning to the Lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon, take a cruise along the Kazinga Channel. Overnight at Bush Lodge or similar.

• Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

This morning, you will have breakfast, and you will proceed to Kibale forest for two nights. Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or similar.

• Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi swamp walk

After breakfast at the lodge, you will go for chimpanzee tracking along the network of forest trails. Seeing habituated chimps squabbling and swinging from the trees is an exhilarating experience. Later in the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is rich in bird species, vegetation, and wildlife. This is also a great opportunity to support local tourism initiatives that benefit social and economic development in the area. Overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or similar.

• Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Transfer to Entebbe for your next destination

This morning, you will have breakfast, proceed to Entebbe, and have lunch en route. You will stop at the Equator where you will be able to stand in both hemispheres simultaneously arriving in Entebbe just in time for your outbound flight.