12 Days Great Apes Safari in Uganda & Rwanda- Gorilla Expeditions
Planning a great apes experience to see the apes in Rwanda and Uganda? Start the trip from Uganda and end in Rwanda on 14 Days Adventure with Gorilla Expeditions. Gorilla Expeditions offers gorilla safaris to explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park , Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzee tracking destinations like Kibale forest national Park , Nyungwe forest , Budongo forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park on timeless experience of apes in Uganda & Rwanda.
Detailed 12 Days Great apes Expedition in Rwanda and Uganda
Day 1 : Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Day 2: Chimpanzee feeding at Ngamba island
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee Habituation in Kibale forest National Park
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Game drive and boat cruise
Day 7: Game drive in Isasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 9: Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga Sector
Day 10: Second Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 11: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 12: Chimpanzee Tracking & drop off at the airport .
Detailed Itinerary: 12 Days African Great Apes
DAY 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to Ngamba Island
Early morning at 7:00AM you will be meeting up with your guide at Entebbe international airport. The day starts with a stroll through the beautiful Entebbe botanical gardens, enjoy the diverse plant species and scenic views of Lake Victoria. Try the local dishes for lunch at the local restaurant. Afternoon at around 2:00PM take a 2 hours boat trip to Ngamba island to see chimps in their natural habitats. Dinner shall be served at the lodge.
Accomodation, Chimpanzee sanctuary guest house B&B.
DAY 2: Chimpanzee Feeding at Ngamba Island
You will wake up in the morning, have a simple breakfast, get several health tests and vaccinations to avoid spreading diseases to the Apes. Tour the sanctuary, learn about chimpanzee conservation, walk with the chimps after this exercise, Lunch shall be served lunch as you see chimpanzee at the feeding time. This 2-hour experience of seeing the chimps raising up their hands, with instinct smiles, requesting for food is worth your time. Dinner and overnight at the island, same accomodation.
DAY 3: Transfer to Kibale Forest national Park
At 8:00AM depart for Kibale National Park approximately 5-hour drive. Around 1:30AM check into your lodge and enjoy late lunch with enjoyment of the surroundings. At 3:00PM engage in guided evening walk in the park to spot nocturnal wildlife. Dinner and overnight at Kyaninga lodge.
DAY 4: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe
Early breakfast at 6:00AM head to the park headquarters for briefing with the guides supervision, at exactly 7:00AM you will start your guided chimpanzee habituation experience, expect to see other primates and diverse wild life, enjoy half day with the chimps from the time they wake up from their nests up to when new nests are made. Afternoon at 1:00PM picnic lunch and rexation, we shall walk back to our respective hotel as you plan a visit to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided walk later in the evening, Optional. Dinner at the lodge same accommodation.
DAY 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Tree climbing lions in Ishasha
At 6:00AM before sunrise depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park (approximately 2-hour drive) enroute breakfast. At 8:30AM check in at your lodge. There after go for dawn game drive to see predators and early risers’ This experience is much awesome at Kasenyi mating ground where you will meet all variety of wild animals like the elephants, Kobs, Lions, warthogs, bush backs and water bucks, Topi among other. including lions, Zebras and others lunch shall be served at the lodge. Later at 12:30PM drive to Kyambura gorge for the evening chimp trekking. This experience is much awesome and lasts for few hours allowing you to see chimps in their natural habitat. Expect to see other primates like monkeys and birds. Return to lodge for dinner. Accomodation Bush lodge.
DAY 6: Game drive and Boat cruise
On this Lovely morning wake up with lovely breakfast, leave for Ishasha sector to track the famous tree climbing lions and see other wild life like the buffalo’s, elephants, antelopes, the jackals, the hyenas. As you come back from the game proceed to lodge for refreshment as you get to enjoy listening to jungle calls at the swimming pool. At 1:00AM take boat cruise along the Kazinga channel, this cruise acts as clear platform for viewing wildlife and aquatic animals like buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles, hippos as well as birding. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight. Same accomodation.
DAY 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
At 6:00AM drive to Bwindi National Park with in 2–3-hours time enroute break fast and in the afternoon your expected to check into your lodge have lunch and rest. Around 2:30PM Evening, Optional community visit for cultural experience with local Batwa people, learn about their history and life style. Overnight in Bwindi accomodation Rushaga gorilla camp or Clouds lodge.
DAY 8: Gorilla Habituation
gorilla trekking for seniors
Early breakfast at 7:00AM, then head to the park headquarters for a briefing in the southern sector known as Rushaga where gorilla habituation is done. You need to be active participant during the process of habituation. After finding gorillas, in the afternoon Spend time with the mountain gorillas (4 hour allowed), to interact with and learn gorillas’ ways of life, taking photos and other, then return to the starting point to leave. So, your maximum fitness is required. Lunch, dinner at the lodge. Evening time get to celebrate your trek with a local dinner. Accomodation. Clouds lodge
DAY 9: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes national park is a haven of nature lovers, adventure seekers, and conservation addicts comprises of part of the Virunga mountains, unique land scapes, diverse wild life. As for this great ape adventure expect to see a lot of wonders and do various activities like Gorilla trekking, cultural tours, golden monkey tracking and others.
At 6:30AM depart for Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda (approximately 3-hour drive) after a gorgeous simple break fast. Check in at around 10:00AM. Visit Dian Fosseys Grave a memorial site honouring the famous conservationists. In the afternoon enjoy lunch, relax as you prepare for evening golden monkey tracking in the park’s bamboo forest. At 1:30PM, before tracking attend to Kinigi head quarters for briefing by the park rangers, spend 4 hours tracking golden monkeys, on your way expect to encounter various bird species in the forest.
DAY 10: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
gorilla trekking in Uganda
In the morning at 7:45AM have early breakfast followed by briefing for gorilla trekking. At exactly 8:00AM you will be expected to be at the briefing station with in the park headquarters, before exclusive gorilla tracking time, you will begin the trekking into the natural habitat where these incredible apes live, in this case you will only spend 1 hour with these gorillas get to enjoy the babies dancing, playing jumping over the branches, adults building their nests and learning their ways of life. As enjoy the tracking with guides help, at 12:00PM picnic lunch shall be served. Evenings for refreshment and relaxation. Accommodation Five volcanoes boutique hotel B&B
DAY 11: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park
Depart for Nyungwe National Park at 6:00AM (approximately 5-hour drive) after enjoying your break fast at the lodge, pack snacks, water for enroute refreshment in the afternoon arrive and check into your lodge have lunch and relax. Later at 1:00PM embark on a guided forest walk to explore tree species like mahogany, strangler fig, birdwatching and enjoy a canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park, experiencing the rainforest from above. In the evening relax at the visitor center and later return to your lodge for dinner and over night. Accomodation Luxury One and Only Gorillas Nest.
DAY 12:Chimpanzee Tracking & Transfer to Kigali
Ngamba Island
In the morning at 6:00AM Wake up with a simple break fast served, after head for briefing at the park headquarters, later with the help of your guide embark on chimpanzee trekking, with the allowance of an hour to study these Apes in their natural habitat. After we shall have relaxing drive as you head down to Kigari town the capital city of Rwanda enroute lunch. At 1:00AM visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Political termoil that left most of the people in tears. So, you spend some time in inside the memorial, reading through historical books, watching video tutorials, playing around and seeing the country from where it has evolved from the 1994 genocide to its current state. Late evening dinner in Kigali before your departure to the airport for your flight home.
CONCLUSION:
Uganda and Rwanda are the prime destination for observing these magnificent great primates in their natural habitats. These countries offer pristine rainforests, expertly guided treks, and conservation efforts that ensure you can watch these incredible ape creatures up close while contributing to their protection and preservation.
“We can’t wait to hear you telling this story of the Great Apes” All the best.