8 Days / 7 Nights Uganda Primate Trek & Wildlife tour

Upon arrival at Kigali International airport, disembark from the aircraft; all arrivals will be proceeded to the migration for visa process, collect luggage and exit into arrivals area where you will be welcomed by our driver-guide who will shortly brief you about your tour then immediate transfer to your Hotel in Kigali City.

Hotel Des Milles Collines is a 4*- star property located in the natural business hub and in the suburb area of the city – KIGALI. This Hotel has been extensively famous known for the Movie Hotel Rwanda. The drive from the airport to your Hotel will take approximately 15 minutes.

Kigali was founded in 1907 as small colonial outpost by Dr. Richard Kant, the first German colonial resident of Rwanda. The city has made tremendous progress since 1994 genocide. Considered one of the safest and friendliest of African capitals, Kigali is blessed with a moderate high altitude climate. It is inhabited by approximately 1 million people who now enjoy the benefits of peace. You will be pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it feels to be among the gentle people of Rwanda who will be delighted to welcome you to their beautiful, exceptionally friendly country.

Upon arrival to your Hotel you will immediately check in to your room for dinner and overnight.

 Meals Plan: Hotel Des Mille Collines – https://www.millecollines.rw/, Meals Plan: Breakfast. 

alk through Switzerland’s most charming lakeside town, and get acquainted with one another over dinner together. Sleep in Luzern (2 nights). No bus. Walking: light.

After a leisure morning breakfast at around 9:00 am, Transfer to Uganda/Bwindi National Park in the south western part of Uganda/Rushaga Sector. Cross through Kyanika Boarder points which is a 30 minutes’ drive from Ruhengeri. You will need an East African Visa that you will have obtained at the Kigali International airport for a fee of $100.  After the boarder clearance you will proceed through the hills of Kisoro. You will witness spectacular views of the terraces and lake Mutanda. The journey to Bwindi from Musanze takes around 3 Hours.

Arriving in Bwindi you will check in to your Hotel, have lunch and after lunch in the afternoon at around 3:00 pm you will take a short walk to the Batwa trail. The Batwa Experience begins with a nature-walk, hike through the forest seeing the forest in a new way, through the eyes of the original people of the Forest. Local community visits through local villages provide insights into the lives of the Bakiga and Batwa pygmy people living beside the Bwindi Forest.

Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Meals plan: Dinner

Wake up for an early morning breakfast and at around 7:00 am, we head to the BWINDI National Park Head quarter for the briefing from the park rangers about the dos and don’ts while with the Gorillas.

You will then enter the juggle to meet the silverback. Move in a company of experienced ranger guides through the forest while searching for mountain gorillas. Only eight people are able to track each habituated group. Time taken while searching for these great apes, rangers between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla groups as their territory can range up to 40km. The park rangers and guides will clear the way and assist you through the forest. Once the gorilla group is located you will spend an hour with them as they feed, rest and play.

Habituation of a gorilla group takes a minimum of two years, with daily visits to allow the gorilla group to tolerate human presence. It is only when the gorillas are completely comfortable with human presence that tourists are allowed to share the daily hour of contact with them.

Sitting with the mountain gorilla is one of the most amazing wildlife experiences you will ever have. A dominant male silverback can weigh over 200 kilos and is the largest living primate. He will control our meeting as well as deciding when his group will eat, sleep and move on. His females care for their young with affection and playfulness but also with discipline. They are very curious, and are capable of making over 25 different vocalizations, including chuckling and purring. Communication also includes posturing, chest beating and if all else fails – the charge! The privilege of spending an hour with this family group is an experience that will never leave you. After your hour is up, you wind your way slowly out of the forest and back to the camp to swap stories about your amazing experience.

After the Gorilla trekking, you will return to your Hotel refresh a bit and the reminder of your day at leisure.

Overnight: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Meals plan: Full Board

After a morning breakfast, we dive to Queen Elizabeth National Park through Ishasha sector in the southern part of this Park. The Ishasha sector is notably known for its resident Tree Climbing Lions that are an exceptional attraction and one among the highlights on all safaris taken within the park. We shall proceed to northern part of this park in Mweya and the journey will take around 6 – 7 hours. You will keep your eye open as we drive to North since It is a habitat for elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Lions, Leopards, hyena and over it is a home for more than 600 species of bird species.                                             

 Overnight at Buffalo Savannah Lodge, Meals plan: Full Board

Be up for a cup of Tea/coffee at 6:00 and start the morning game drive at 6:30 am, you will go for game drive to catch up with early risers before returning to their hiding places. It is a good opportunity for great wildlife sightings. Drive along the Kasenyi game trails. You will encounter game as lions, hyenas, bush bucks, elephants among others. After more than three hours of great wildlife sightings return to the lodge to relax and have lunch. Thereafter, you will go for the boat ride on Kazinga Channel.

The Kazinga cannel connecting lake George to Lake Albert. It is where many buffaloes rest in the water while big herds of elephants and different bird species can be seen enjoying themselves along the channel shores. There is also a concentration of hippos, crocodiles and birds. In short, this water cruise offers an admirable stage for clear photography, extensive bird-watching and an all embracing game viewing. You will then return to your Hotel for Dinner and overnight.

Overnight at Buffalo Savannah Lodge, Meals plan: Full Board

After an early morning breakfast at around 9:00 am, you will depart from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale Forest NP, known as Africa’s capital of primates through Kasese.

Kibale National Park is a national park in southern Uganda, protecting moist evergreen rain forest. It is 766 square kilometers (296 sq. mi) in size and is located between 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) in elevation. Despite encompassing primarily most evergreen forest, it contains a diverse array of landscapes.  Kibale is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests. In eastern Africa, it sustains the last significant expanse of pre-montane forest and this is a home for primates including the close relatives “Chimpanzees”.

The whole journey will take you around 4 Hours and probably stopover a bit in fort Portal town for a cup of coffee or tea (on your own account); This is famously known for mount Rwenzori with its crater valley also called “The Best in the West”.

Arriving at your Lodge in the early evening, check in and the reminder of your day at leisure.

Overnight: Primate Lodge – https://isungalodge.com/, Meals plan: Full Board

After early breakfast, we will head off to the park offices at 7am to meet the ranger guides for pre-trek briefing before setting off into Kibale Forest to find our closes relatives – the chimpanzees.

Up to 3 large communities of Chimpanzees have been habituated for the tracking adventure. We will locate the Chimps without so much straining since the territory of each Chimp community is known before hand by advance trackers and communicated to our guides.

After a while of hiking through the beautiful rain forest, the loud screams of the Chimps can be heard from a distance and will lead us directly to their location. As soon as we reach them, we will spend one hour observing and following in the forest. The Chimps which will be swinging through trees with so much speed, pant hooting, slapping the tree barks and screaming to locate each other – a truly adrenaline giving atmosphere and a memorable experience.

After Chimpanzee Tracking, we will return to the lodge to have lunch. Afternoon at Leisure or optional activities to visit the Bigodi Swamp.

Overnight: Primate Lodge, Meals plan: Full Board

Today is your day for packing your staff, and possibly some last shopping on the way and heading to Entebbe airport for your out bound flight.

This Journey from Kibale takes around 5 Hours though Kampala the Capital city of Uganda.

You will enjoy the scenic drive with a stopover at the Equator, and proceed to Entebbe International for your out bound flight.

Meals Plan: Breakfast.

End of the Tour – Welcome back