Great Apes Of Uganda And Rwanda | Who are the African great apes?

The 10-day Great Apes of Uganda and Rwanda safari starts in Entebbe and ends in Kigali. During the 10 days of this trip, you will explore 3 of Uganda’s primate national parks and 1 primate national park in Rwanda. The trip will take you to Kibale Forest National Park which is famously known as the primate capital and while there, you will do chimpanzee habituation. The trip will take you to Bwindi impenetrable national park for single gorilla trekking. While at Bwindi, you will have fun meeting the mountain gorillas that share 99% of DNA with humans. The trip will proceed to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for golden monkey habituation. You will also have a chance to meet the trekking gentle giants of Volcanoes National Park. Finally, you will have a wonderful time meeting the golden monkeys of Volcanoes National Park.

Detailed Itinerary:10 Days Great Apes Of Uganda And Rwanda

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Upon arrival, you will be met and greeted by your English-speaking driver guide who will briefly take you through the trip plan. He will then transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe for relaxation and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Lake Victoria Serena hotel (Luxury)/ 2 friends Entebbe (Midrange)

Day 2: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After an early breakfast, you will check out of the lodge for the transfer to Kibale Forest National Park with an en-route lunch. Kibale is famously known as the primate capital and the transfer to Kibale Forest National Park takes approximately 6 hours. Upon arrival at the park, you will check in at the lodge for relaxation and an overnight stay as you contemplate the chimpanzee trekking adventure that lies ahead of you.

Accommodation: Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)/ Turacco treetops (Midrange)

Day 3: Chimpanzee habituation experience

Leave for the morning chimpanzee habituation experience which will make you stay longer with the chimps than the normal chimpanzee trekking, you enjoy almost a full day with these great apes right from the time when they are still in their nest up to the time, will be breastfeeding their young ones and other daily activities, you stay with them for 4-6 hours, after proceeding to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Chimpanzee habituation experience

Accommodation: Chimpundu Lodge (Luxury)/ Turacco treetops (Midrange)

Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi NP

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge for the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is a big habitat for mountain gorillas in Uganda (harboring an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population) including several habituated groups, which you will trek. With a strenuous day ahead, you will do less on arrival but just check in your accommodation, and relax as you prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Accommodation: Gorilla leisure lodge (Luxury)/ Ichumbi lodge (Midrange)

Day 5: Gorilla trekking

On this day, you will have a great time encountering the mountain gorillas of  Bwindi National Park! After a tasty breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the lodge and transfer you to the briefing point for a briefing by ranger guides at 7:30 and at 8:30 am about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. With a packed lunch, you will start the trek to track the gorillas and after locating them, you will only spend a maximum of 1 hour. This walk can take approximately 4-5 hours depending on where the gorillas slept the previous night.

Accommodation: Gorilla leisure lodge (Luxury)/ Ichumbi lodge (Midrange)

Day 6: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge with the help of your guide and transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with beautiful views of the countryside. Upon arrival, you will check in at the lodge for lunch as you contemplate the adventure that lies ahead of you.

Accommodation: Mount Gahinga lodge (Luxury)/ Ikoro hotel (Midrange)

Day 7: Golden monkey habituation

Leave for the morning golden monkey habituation experience which will make you stay longer with the golden monkeys than the normal golden monkey trekking, you enjoy almost a full day with these great apes right from the time when they are still in their nest up the time, they will be breastfeeding their young ones and other daily activities, you stay with them for 4-6 hours. After the golden monkey habituation, you will transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda via Chanika border post. Upon arrival, you will check in at the lodge for relaxation, overnight stay, and dinner.

Accommodation: One & Only Gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)

Day 8: Gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park

On this day, you will have a great time encountering the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park! After a tasty breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the lodge and transfer you to the briefing point for a briefing by ranger guides at 7:30 and at 8:30 am about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. With a packed lunch, you will start the trek to track the gorillas and after locating them, you will only spend a maximum of 1 hour. This walk can take approximately 4-5 hours depending on where the gorillas slept the previous night. After the trek, you hike back out of the park for lunch. After lunch, you will be taken to the Ibwiwachu community the gorilla guidance community. This afternoon you will visit the Ibwiwachu community where you will be introduced to traditional Rwanda through traditional; dances, poems, and dressing codes among others.

Gorilla Trekking | by JimJam Safaris and Tours

Accommodation: One & Only Gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)

Day 9: Golden monkey trekking

This will take us through the edges of the forest via potato fields and the briefing will be conducted in the same place where the usual Kinigi park office is located this means the trekking will take us 3-4 hours after the trekking, we shall return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, have the entire afternoon at leisure.

Golden Monkey

Accommodation: One & Only Gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes (Midrange)

Day 10: Kigali city tour and transfer to the airport

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kigali for the city tour. You will visit Ntarama church where you will learn more about the 1994 genocide memorial. From Nyamata church, crown the genocide history with a visit to the Gisozi genocide memorial museum where you will learn more about the history of genocide memorial and how it went throughout the country. After lunch, you will visit the firehouse which is the area where the plane that was carrying President Habyarima was brought down, that late sparked the famous 1994 Rwanda genocide. After the city tour, you will be transferred back to Kigali International Airport for
your flight back home. and learn more about Rwanda’s culture. After the city tour, you will have lunch and then transfer to Volcanoes National Park

End of 10-day Great Apes of Uganda and Rwanda safari

Inclusions

• Transportation
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Gorilla permits
• Chimpanzee habituation permit
• Golden monkey permit
• Golden monkey habituation permit
• City tour
• Cultural tour
• All activities mentioned above
• All transfers

Exclusions

• Air ticket
• Visa fees
• Tips & gratuities
• Personal expenses