Rwanda Gorilla Trek & Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari – 5 Days
5 day safari of Rwanda gorillas, primates and Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.
This is a 5 day safari which starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. One gorilla permit for Parc Nationale des Volcanoes is included in the cost but the other gorilla trackings require other permits to be paid at time of booking.
Having a chance to see some of the last remaining 700 mountain gorillas in the world is a wonderful experience. It offers you an opportunity to track gorillas two times.
Parc Nationale des Volcanoes in Rwanda has five habituated gorilla families and tracking most groups in the afro-montane forest usually takes a few hours. You can also climb a volcano, visit the remains of Dian Fossey’s grave or visit the endangered golden monkey.
Queen Elizabeth National Park to see wildlife like lions, leopard, elephants, hippos, buffalo plus over 500 bird species.
- Day 1: Kigali & Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Parc National des Volcans
- Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
- Day 4: Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 5: Kigali City Tour and Return Home
Itenery
Day 1: Kigali & Volcanoes National Park
Airport transfer with private vehicle and guide. Transfer to Volcanoes National Park with private vehicle and driver.
Your guide will take you on a tour of the new and vibrant capital city of Kigali. The new prosperity features a number of thriving markets and features the mountain terrain famous in Rwanda. A sober contrast to its recent history.
For survivors and others whose families were murdered in Rwanda´s genocide 1994, the memorial sites and centres are places of dignified remembrance for loved ones lost. It is also a place of reflection and learning for the wider community, both in Rwanda and internationally.
Ranging in altitude from 2,400m to 4,507 the Volcanoes National Park (French: Parc National des Volcans) is dominated by the setting of volcanoes after which it is named. Best known to the outside world as the place where for almost 20 years the American primatologist Dian Fossey under took her pioneering studies of mountain gorilla behaviour.
Day hikes to see the gorilla families can be strenuous on tracks climbing through the forest, and time is very limited once contact is made with the gorilla families. It is a rare and memorable experience to visit with these giant cousins of man.
Our accommodation is ideally positioned for those who want to watch animals in their habitat, specifically the endangered Rwanda mountain gorillas that still roam these areas.
Share in the cuisine of Rwanda, which is served with the hospitality for which we all return to African countries. Take walks, learn more about the gorillas, and absorb the gorgeous surrounding landscape.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Mountain Gorillas View Lodge
Moderate: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge | La Palme Hotel
Low Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Parc National des Volcans
Have breakfast and go to ORTPN offices for briefing after that set off in the forest for gorilla trekking.
A thrilling trek through the refined foothills of the Virungas provides inspiring views in all directions. Then, suddenly, the trail enters the national park, engrossing trekkers in the strange closeness of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and besieged with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive populations of buffalo and elephant.
Through gaps in the forest canopy, the marvelous peaks are sighted, easily easy to get to and among the uppermost in Africa, indicating an ascent. Gorilla trekking is quite strenuous but a worthwhile on encounter of these gentle giants. The enthusiasm of your coming across with these apes will wipe away your intricacy of the strenuous trek.
Spend time watching gorillas, watch the adults feeding their young ones, brushing and resting as the youngsters play from vines in a pleasurably playful display.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Mountain Gorillas View Lodge
Moderate: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge | La Palme Hotel
Low Budget: Kinigi Guest House.
Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
After breakfast we drive to Uganda and proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park. We go through stunning savannah grasslands as we head to the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The game densities here are high, and this region has reported some of the largest herds of Elephant anywhere in Uganda, as it is their main migration corridor between Uganda and the DRC.
We continue and drive to the northern circuit which is the area near the main road known for its tree climbing lions. But we also visit the Uganda kob mating ground which is their preferred hunting area.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market/ Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge | Jacana Safari Lodge | Katara Lodge
Mid-range or moderate facility: Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge | Simba Safari Camp | Buffalo Safari Resort | Enganzi Lodge | Ihamba Safari Lodge
Budget: Bush Lodge (tents) | Simba Safari Camp (tents)
Meals included today: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
We set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi Track in search of lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action owing to the vast population of Uganda Kobs. We have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at very close range.
In the afternoon we will go for a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. This gives you the opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray at a mere feet away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle billed stork and many others.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market/Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge | Jacana Safari Lodge
Mid-range: Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge | Simba Safari Camp | Enganzi Lodge | Ihamba Safari Lodge
Low Budget: Bush Lodge (tents) | Simba Safari Camp
Day 5: Kigali City Tour and Return Home
Following breakfast, you will leave for Kigali.
Go for a city tour including visits to the market, a pottery project, handicraft shops, the Franco-Rwandan cultural centre and the genocide memorial.
Have lunch en route and then transfer to the airport.
Inclusions
- One gorilla trek permit in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
- Wildlife safari game drives and boat safari along the Kazinga Channel with related game viewing experiences
- Meals indicated on programme
- Drinking water on the vehicle
- Services of an experienced English-speaking safari guide
- Accommodation as per safari programme
- Park fees for the various parks
- Private transport using a 4×4 safari vehicle