6 days Gorilla Wildlife Viewing and Chimp Tracking Safari Kigali

Day 1

Arrival and transfer to Bwindi forest in Uganda

The drive from Kigali will take you through Uganda’s rolling green hills through the highlands, also known as the ‘Switzerland of Uganda’ before making the final journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a home of the mountain gorillas. Check in at your accommodation for dinner and overnight at Broadbill Forest Camp or Bakiga Lodge. The two lodges are located in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, its within walking distance of the starting point for the park’s gorilla tracking, has wonderful views.  All cottages are en suite and face the rain forest.  The lodge’s spacious lounge and dining area offer excellent views, providing the perfect place to enjoy sun downers and dine in the midst of the sights and sounds of the forest. Dinner and overnight at Broadbill Forest Camp or Bakiga Lodge

Day 2

Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast your driver/guide will transfer to the park headquarters for the briefing before you set off at 8:00 am through the tracks to search for the humble giants. You will go with packed lunch because it’s hard to determine how long it will take you to meet these great apes. Gorilla tracking time ranges between 2-6 hours depending on their movement. Gorilla tracking activity is tedious, it entails walking along steep hilly tracks however encountering these great relatives of man erases all the poor memories/ hardships you went through in trying to find them. Dinner and overnight at Broadbill Forest Camp or Bakiga Lodge

Day 3

Transfer from Bwindi Forest to Queen Elizabeth Nation Park

After breakfast drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive will take you through the Ishasha sector arriving at Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon. You will have a game drive enroute where you might spot game along the way as you transfer to the park headquarters. Watch out for tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. In the afternoon you will go for a boat ride on the Kazinga channel that connects lakes Edward and George. The launch cruise will reward you with game like hippos, elephants, buffaloes and birds at the shores before retiring to your accommodation for dinner and overnight. Bush Lodge or Buffalo Safar lodge

Day 4

Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Wake up have a cup of coffee or a glass of juice then proceed for an early morning game drive. This game drive will take you through the Kasenyi track and the queens’ mile in the park and will reward you with animals like Lions, elephants, hyenas, Giant forest hogs, Bush bucks, Warthogs, Hyenas, civets, aardvarks, Leopards, and many more. In the afternoon you will go for a boat ride on the Kazinga channel that connects lakes Edward and George. The boat cruise will reward you with game like hippos, elephants, buffaloes and birds at the shores before we transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive to Kibale will take through Kasese town and Fort Portal town. This park is a Primatologist’s treasure with a population of more than 1500 Chimpanzees.

Kibale forest is a wonderful place to experience the extra ordinary diversity of life in a tropical restraint. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee Guest House. This lodge is Located in Kibale Forest National Park, about 5 minutes drive from the start of the park’s chimpanzee tracking, it offers mid-range Cottages,  Each  has its own private veranda overlooking the forest, African style beds, large windows and hot and cold running water.  The lodge’s restaurant and bar with comfortable chairs, sofas and soft cushions and a fireplace for chilly evenings makes it a perfect place to dine and relax after the day’s activities. Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee Guest House or Rwenzoro Guest House

Day 5

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest and afternoon bigodi swamp walk

After breakfast chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, you will gather at Kanyanchu tourism Center for briefing at 8am from Uganda Wildlife Authority park ranger guides after whom you head to the prehistoric forest in search of your closest cousin.

Kibale Forest National Park offers great flora concentration with 351 Species of trees some of which are 200 years old and over 55m tall. Kibale  also supports 70 species of mammals and 13 species of Primates among which include the common chimpanzee, Black and white colobus and red tailed monkey.

The 375 Species of birds thieve in the park including the impressive western green tinker bird, two species of pittas (African and green-breasted), olive long-tailed cuckoo, African grey parrot and the endemic ground thrush (Turdus kibalensis). Thus makes the search for the chimpanzees beyond the ordinary. Upon encountering the chimps, you have an opportunity to see them munch fruit, hunt, patrol, copulate, young ones playing, make pant hooting calls among other interesting aspects for one full hour.

The exciting moments with the chimps will leave you with no other option but to be active with your cameras to make a reserve of remarkable photos that will always take you back to the memories of this wonderful moment. Retreat from the activity and connect to the starting point where you connect with your company guide, settle for your packed lunch after which you connect to Bigodi wetland sanctuary for an afternoon walk.

Bigodi wetland is an eco-tourism project developed and managed by the community sheltering a count of 138 bird species which include the Great Blue Turaco. The swamp also supports the swamp dwelling sitatunga antelope but importantly features a heritage encounter to the local people and craft center that enables you to explore the local way of life. Retreat from the 2 hours walk back to the lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee Guest House or Rwenzori Guest House

Day 6

Transfer back Entebbe Airport or Kigali-end of 6 days Gorilla Wildlife Viewing and Chimp Tracking Safari Kigali

After a relaxed breakfast, you embark on your transfer back to Kigali or Entebbe, arriving in the afternoon to mark the end of the tour.