11 Day Uganda Safari From Kigali

OVERVIEW

11 Days / 10 Nights

11 Day Uganda Safari From Kigali is meant for those people interested in safari but can only get flights in through Kigali or fancy shorter drives and those staying in Rwanda. Also with the current price of the Gorilla permit of Rwanda, Uganda is now a preferred destination for Gorilla tracking, this trip gives shorter drive times and will give you a fill of both Uganda and Rwanda while on the trip, it will take you to some of the National parks of Uganda with visits to Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale Forest National Park for Chimpanzees with the last day to spend around Lake Bunyonyi to relax after the safari.

ITINERARY

Morning/Transfer: You will be picked from Kigali International Airport/Any Hotel in Kigali to start your journey to Mgahinga National Park via the Genocide museum and Kigali city tour if time allows. The journey is very scenic and will take you through a country of a thousand hills to the Pearl of Africa.

Afternoon/Lunch: You cross over to Uganda at the Chanika border for a stop at Kisoro for Lunch at a Local restaurant before proceeding to Mgahinga National Park.

Evening: You will spend the evening at Leisure, Later dinner and overnight

Drive time: Approximately 4-5 hours

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Ichumbi Hotel Kisoro/ Lake Mutanda resort/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Morning/Briefing: You will wake up early in the morning and head to the park headquarters to join other clients for briefing about dos and don’ts while trekking golden Monkeys. After briefing, you will start your trek into the forest guided by researchers and guides.

Trek and Observation: During your trek, you may encounter several birds, other animals and primates in the forest and once you have found the golden Monkeys you will spend one hour with them and return back to the Lodge for overnight.

Afternoon/Lunch: You will have your packed Lunch while still in the forest, then trek back to the park headquarters to pick your certificates and Proceed to your Lodge.

Evening: You will spend evening at Leisure, you can opt to visit the Community or relax. then Later dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Lodge: Ichumbi Hotel Kisoro/ Lake Mutanda resort/Chameleon Hill Lodge
Morning: Today, you will have Batwa Experience which showcases the symbiotic relationship the Batwa pygmies had in Mgahinga National Park before they were ousted to turn the forest into a protected reserve. To reveal their unique heritage and traditions to the world, the Batwa people, through their community organization take tourists into their small pocket forests, showcasing their historical nomadic cultures when they occupied the jungles. Guests walk an hour to a Batwa-enacted settlement.

Cultural Experience: Here, you will observe how the women prepare, cook and serve a meal. you can engage with medicine men, learn about the lush forest flora’s medicinal properties, and hear ancient legends and traditional songs. you will learn about the Batwa’s fascinating way of life, from religion to their food gathering and hunting techniques, and how they made fires from rubbing sticks.

Afternoon/Transfer: You will return and have Lunch in Kisoro at a Local restaurant and then proceed to Bwindi National Park

Drive time: Approximately 4-5 hours

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Lodging: Haven Lodge Rushaga/Four gorillas Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Morning/Briefing: After an early morning breakfast, with your packed lunch, you will report to the Park Headquarters at about 7:45 am for registration and then you will join other trackers for a briefing about the Dos and the Don’ts during your Gorilla Tracking experience. Your guides and researchers will lead you through the thick creepers and undergrowth as you trek to find the Gorillas.

Trek and Observation: This trek can take you half an hour to three quarters of the day. The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The amount of time you take during the trek largely depends on the movement of the gorillas. While you may encounter several birds, other animals and primates in the forest during the trek, once you find the gorillas, it is usually an extraordinary feeling being with these beautiful yet endangered Creatures. You will have an opportunity to listen and observe researchers do their work of habituating gorillas and if possible you will be called upon to participate by collecting samples, naming of group members, making calls and so much more.

Afternoon/Lunch: You will have your packed Lunch while still in the forest, then trek back to the park headquarters to pick your certificates and Proceed to your Lodge.

Evening: You will spend evening at Leisure, you can opt to visit the Community or relax. then Later dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner

Overnight Lodge: Haven Lodge Rushaga/Four gorillas Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Morning/Transfer: After breakfast, you will depart for Ishasha sector if Queen Elizabeth National Park located in western Uganda arriving in time for Lunch

Afternoon/Lunch: You will have Lunch at the Hotel and Later head out for an evening game drive for chances of tree climbing Lions(Depends on the Luck of the Day). You will also spot other animals like buffaloes, elephants, antelopes etc

Evening: You will Later return to the Hotel for Dinner and overnight

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle lodge/Ishasha Wilderness lodge

Meals: All Meals Included

Drive Time: 5-6 Hours
Morning/Transfer: After breakfast, you will have an en-route game drive for chances of more animals you might have missed the last evening. you will then proceed to Mweya region of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Afternoon/Lunch: You will arrive in time for Lunch at your hotel. This will be followed by a short relaxation and an evening game drive in the savannah plains of Kasenyi where wild animals like buffaloes, elephants, antelopes and big cuts such as lions and leopards can be spotted depending on your luck. .

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge/Buffalo safari lodge

Meals: All Meals Included

Drive Time: 5-6 Hours
Morning: This morning you will head to back to the plains of Kasenyi for a morning game drive to try to find what could have missed the previous day.

Afternoon and Lunch: Lunch will be served at the lodge and after you will head to the jetty along kazinga channel for the afternoon boat cruise. This cruise offers you chances of viewing animals like: hippos, water birds, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles and many other wildlife which flock the channel for drinking water.

Evening: You will spend your evening at the Hotel, relaxing, Swimming, and Later Dinner and Overnight

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Resort

Meals: All Meals Included

Drinks: Drinking Water
Morning/Transfer: After an early breakfast, you will drive to the Northern bank of the Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasenyi) area in search of some wild animals which include: Elephants, Buffalo, and some wild cats, different species of antelopes such water buck, Uganda kobs etc. as well as Savannah birds.

Afternoon and Lunch: You will proceed to Fort Portal for Lunch and After lunch you will drive to Kibale National Park arriving at your lodge.

Evening: You will spend the evening at Leisure, Later Dinner and overnight.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Lodge: Chimpanzee Forest guest house/Turaco tree tops/Primate lodge

Drive time: 3-4 hours.
Morning/Briefing: After breakfast, you will drive to Kibale National Park Headquarters for briefing on the Dos and Don’ts of Chimpanzee trekking. You will be divided into small groups of six people headed by one guide who will then move with you into the forest to find one of the Chimpanzee families. Chimpanzees live in communities of between 50-250 individuals but usually break-up into small parties during the day to reduce competition on food. They will then recollect in the evening to build their nests.

Trekking and Observation: Once you find the Chimps, you will be allowed to spend one hour with the Chimps before returning to the lodge for lunch.

Afternoon: After lunch, you head out for wetland walk in the nearby Bigodi Village. Kibale National Park is popular for 13 recorded primates species and several bird species.

Evening: You will then return to the Hotel, relax, have dinner and overnight to end your day.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest guest house/Turaco tree tops/Primate lodge
Morning/Transfer: Drive from Kibale National Park to Lake Bunyonyi to break the long journey to Kigali but also to relax after the lodge tour. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the three Lava damned Lakes in Uganda which was formed when lava flowing from one of the volcanoes blocked a river channel and water was forced to flow back hence filling the space to create Lake Bunyonyi. Bunyonyi locally means small birds – due to the abundance of small birds in this area. Lake Bunyonyi is said to be the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest in East Africa.

Afternoon/Lunch: You will arrive in time for Lunch at your hotel in Lake Bunyonyi, then relaxation, dinner and overnight

Drive time: Approximately 6-7 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lodging: Birdnest Resort Bunyonyi
Morning/Transfer: After breakfast, you will take canoe ride on the Lake to explore the different islands’ exciting histories. For example, you can visit the Punishment Island where girls who would produce babies out of legitimate tradition marriage would be dumped and left to die. This is a whole day activity and you will surely enjoy it. Alternatively, you can hike one of the hills around Lake Bunyonyi. Encounter Africa Safaris supports some projects in the communities surround this area. So, those who want to do something on their tour can go for volunteer work.

Afternoon: Later you will drive to Katuna Border and head back to Kigali with either a late flight or post tour hotel on your own arrangement.

Drive Time: 4-5 Hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Gorilla permits: We encourage you to book gorilla permits in advance so that we secure your trekking spot. Gorilla permits are served on first come first serve at Uganda wildlife Authority. Please contact us so that we book them for you.

Cost of the gorilla permit: The gorilla permits in Uganda cost USD800 for Non-Foreign residents, USD700 for East African Foreign Residents, USD500 for Rest of Africa Residents and UGX300,000 for East African Citizens, cost applies for trekking in Both Bwindi impentrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking Regions: Bwindi has 4 gorilla trekking sectors namely Buhoma, Ruhaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija. We shall book for you accommodation in respect to the permits location.

Physical Fitness: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be physically demanding, a certain level of fitness will be required, please ensure you are in good health and have a certain level of fitness before you leave your country.

Packing List: Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain in Bwindi, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,

Age Limit: The Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above, please ensure all travelers are aged 15years and above.

Accommodation Options: Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Bwindi has all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.

Means of Transport: You can opt to fly or drive to Bwindi, Flights take 1-2 hours, and driving takes 8-9 hours drive to Bwindi. For budget clients, we recommend use of safari vans, then others can opt for Safari Landcruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.

Best time to visit: Bwindi can be visited all year round for gorilla trekking, The most preffered time is June to September, December to February because they are the drier months of the year.

Gorilla trekking Regulations: Uganda Wildlife Authority has rules and regulations to adhere while on your gorilla trek.

Chances of Seeing the Gorillas: The chances of seeing gorillas are 98% because there are trackers who follow the movement of gorillas on a daily basis, they communicate to the Park guides and you walk in the direction they are.

Choose a gorilla family: You can choose your preferred gorilla family of the day of the trek, if you prefer a close/ easy trek due to your fitness level, please request it and communicate to your guide.

Gorilla Habituation experience: Bwindi has an option of spending 4 hours with the gorillas called gorillas habituation, the is only possible when you book a gorilla permit that costs USD1500 for Non- foreign residents, USD1000 for East African Residents, and UGX750,000 for East African Citizens

Other activities: There are several activities you can do in Bwindi namely Birding, Batwa cutural experience, Nature walks, Community visits. All these can suppliment your gorilla trek in Bwindi.

Trip cost estimate: The cost of the 3day gorilla tour ranges from USD1300 to USD2860 per person, based on your travel style which is Budget to Luxury. The cost Includes gorilla permit, accommodation, Meals, transport, and all services.

About Bwindi: Bwindi impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site, with half of the worlds gorilla population, it has more than 20 Habituated gorilla famillies in regions of Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.

PRICING PER PERSON

1 Person	USD 2,730
2 Persons	USD 2,100
3 Persons	USD 1,885
4 Persons	USD 1,780
5 Persons	USD 1,720
6 Persons	USD 1,680

Cost excludes Visa Fees, Gorilla Permit, Chimpanzee Permit, and all expenses of personal nature such as drinks, tips, or simply anything else not included in the itinerary.