The 16 Days of Gorillas and Wildlife Safari in Rwanda and Uganda is one to look out for as it focuses on offering the unique attractions of Uganda and Rwanda! The package includes cultural experiences, Gorilla tracking in both countries, Kigali City tour, wildlife safaris, Golden Monkey tracking, Chimpanzee tracking, Boat cruises, Rhino Tracking, Shoebill Tracking, Nature Walks and other exciting experiences.
Your Guide will be waiting at Kigali International AirPort with a placard written your names. On arrival, you will proceed to the Hotel which is 20 minutes away. The rest of the day relax.
Accommodation
Kigali is one of the most organized Cities in Africa! The city tour will expose you to the social, cultural and economic life style of the local people.
Expect totally a different experience from what you are used to, back home. A variety of agricultural products like Pineapples and avocados, craft shops, clothes and other products are laid on stalls as the sellers wait for buyers.
Genocide Memorial Museum
No matter how strong you may be, the story about Rwanda’s Genocide, will leave you saddened and wondering on how this could have happened to humanity. The Genocide Museum provides detailed information on how the conflict began and ended. It is believed that over 800,000 people lost their lives.
After the City tour, the journey to Volcanoes National Park will start. Along the way, expect beautiful sceneries of highlands, waterfalls and farmlands. The drive takes 2- 3 hours.
Accommodation
Early in the Morning after breakfast your guide will drive you to the briefing point. After briefing, you will be joined by other tourists that will track with you the Gorilla family you are assigned. These gentle giants are exciting to see and truly remind you of how closely related we! Gorillas share over 95% of their DNA with the human race.
Endeavor to carry packed lunch, water and rain gear. Tracking takes 2-6 hours depending on how far or close they may be.
While going for gorilla tracking, you are advised to hire a porter. They carry your backpack and offer support where necessary. This helps you to move freely and save energy to get to the Gorillas since the terrain some times can be slippery. On the eve of the tracking day, your guide will brief you more so as to prepare you.
Rwandese have one of the unique and rich culture in Africa! During the visit at Ibyiwachu village, you will interact with the local people through traditional dances, visiting local banana brewery that produces banana beer, banana gin and banana juice, learn local herbs that cure various diseases, visit a replica of a traditional home and also learn new local skills of weaving baskets, bags and other artifacts.
Accommodation
After breakfast, you will cross by road to Uganda via Cyanika Boarder. The Journey takes 2-3 hours to arrive at your lodge on Lake Mutanda.
After Lunch, relax and prepare for the sunset canoe ride later in the afternoon. A variety of bird species like weaver birds, Kingfishers and Kites among others will be sighted. Lookout for the otters and of course the beautiful sceneries of the Islands on the Lake. Lake Mutanda without doubt is photographer’s haven for sunset shots!
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Golden Monkeys inhabit only in 3 countries in the world, Uganda is lucky to be one of them. Early in the Morning your guide will drive you to the starting point, where you will be assigned a ranger guide and setoff for tracking.
With you, carry enough water, Lunch and a face mask. Endeavor to wear a trouser, long sleeved shirts or blouse, a hut and carry rain gear in your backpack.
Accommodation
The journey through highlands and valleys of the ancient volcanic eruption that shaped the region to its current appearance and scenic landscapes are unavoidable to see. You have an opportunity of looking at different rock types, fresh water streams flowing through the valleys, farmlands and tropical rain forests among others.
The journey may take 2 hours hence enough time to prepare for a community experience.
The Batwa community still hold onto their rich culture that they used to live before their eviction from the forest in 1991 in a move to integrate them within the society. Famously known as Gorilla Guardians since they used to live with them in harmony, sharing their cultural experiences with the rest of the world gives them joy while trying to earn a living. They showcase different herbs that cure different kinds of illnesses, hunting skills, participate in their traditional dances and storytelling of their previous life.
Accommodation
The long awaited day unfolds! Early morning after breakfast, your guide will drive you to the starting point briefing. Guided by a ranger and and other security personnel, gorilla tracking will begin. In your Gorilla group, will be other tourists to make a total of eight.
With you, carry packed lunch and enough drinking water. The Gorillas dwell in a thick forest and therefore put on trousers, long sleeved shirts or blouse, closed shoes, hut, gaiters, gloves and apply insect repellent. Endeavor to carry face masks to avoid infections from human to Gorillas or the other way round.
Gorilla tracking takes two to six hours depending on how far or close the Gorilla family you are tracking may be.
Accommodation
In the dense Jungle of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you will take a guided walk through the Ivy trail. The 4-5 hours of the forest walk discloses more of what Bwindi can offer other than the Gorillas.
You are to experience different levels of Munyaga falls while hiking up to the top, watch different species of forest birds like Turacos, Tinkerbirds, Barbets among others, encounter different species of monkeys like the black and white colobus, L’hoest Monkeys and Red tailed among others. It is an opportunity to as well walk through some local communities and farmlands.
After the Ivy trail walk, the journey to Ishasha begins. On arrival you will check-in as you wait for the time for your first safari in Ishasha.
Ishasha is famous for the tree climbing Lions. The sunset safari, will focus on these remarkable creatures, with high hope of encountering them in fig trees lying on their bellies. Other animals expected to see are Elephants, Topis, Uganda Kobs, Buffalos, Hippos, Hyenas and Leopards among others.
The sunset safari will end with a Sundowner. Drinks and snacks of your choice will be served.
Accommodation
The day starts early, for wildlife viewing. During the safari, animals expected to encounter are Lions, hyenas, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, and Uganda Kobs among others. A variety of colorful bird species in case you have interest, are likely to be sighted. Such birds are; African fish eagles, Red naked spur fowls, Grey crowned cranes, cormorants, Pelicans, and saddle billed storks among others.
The afternoon will get better as you head out for a sunset boat cruise on the kazinga channel. Different species of wildlife are sighted on the shores and in the water, up close as they are cooling off, drinking water and feeding. Animals to encounter are hippos, Crocodiles, Buffaloes and a variety of bird species like Kingfishers, Eagles, Pelicans, cormorants and Storks among others.
Kazinga Channel is regarded to be one of the longest natural channels in the world stretching 40 kilometers from Lake George to Lake Edward with one of the highest population of hippos. The boat cruise takes 2 hours.
Accommodation
Kyambura gorge is a mystery of its own! Imagine an area of savannah grassland whereby there lies a 16 kilometer long depression with a depth of over 100 feet under which, lies a tropical rainforest and a river passing through. The gorge is home to Chimpanzees, several species of monkeys, crocodiles, Hippos, Elephants, buffalos among other residents. It is always a cocktail of attractions whenever tracking hence a better experience.
The activity will be conducted in the morning before embarking on the journey to Kibale National Park.
Accommodation
Kibale forest National Park is ranked the first in the world with the highest population of Chimpanzees. This is over 1500 members. Some are wild and others habituated. In this particular case you are to track the habituated community of averagely 150 members.
The activity will resume in the morning at 8: AM by being briefed and assigned a group. You will be guided by an armed ranger in company of other security personnel and other tourists. Tracking may take 2-3 hours depending on how far or close the chimpanzee could be sighted. Chimpanzees are one of the closest mammals to humans with 98% DNA resemblance!
During tracking chimpanzees while on Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda and Rwanda package, ranger’s prioritize searching for chimpanzees . The Swamp walk therefore offers an opportunity to look at other primate species like the black and white colobus monkeys, Red tailed monkeys, vervet, Red colobus, grey cheeked mangabeys, L’hoest monkeys, Baboons and a variety of bird species among others.
The activity is organized by the community surrounding the Park hence one way of supporting their livelihood. You learn and participate in basket weaving, Herbal medicine, traditional dances, coffee experience from planting, harvesting, roasting and making a cup of coffee. You also visit a family that specializes in banana beer brewing, banana juice, banana gin and wine.
Accommodation
The Journey from Fort portal to Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve takes an average of 5 hours. Along the way, endless tea plantations, tropical rainforests, beautiful sceneries of the Great Rift Valley and animals like Kobs are unavoidable to see!
In the evening, a private candle light dinner will be set in the wilderness with the beautiful views of lake Albert. No better words can explain the ambiance of being in the middle of nowhere with a loved one while listening to animal sounds as you are enjoying your meal.
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On arrival at Murchison Falls, you are welcomed by a roar of the Nile River forcing its way through a narrow gorge of 7 meters wide and plunging forty three feet beneath ! The strength of the water always leaves a trade mark of a rainbow as the water-flow continues it’s long Journey to the Mediterranean Sea!
Later in the afternoon, you will embark on the safari where a variety of wildlife is expected to be encountered. Such animals include; Giraffes, Lions, Leopards, Buffalos, Elephants, Uganda Kobs, Hartebeests among others.
Accommodation
The safari will begin early in the morning at 6:30 Am in search of lions, leopards, Elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas and others before they get into their hideouts when it becomes. Half of the day will be spent in the wild and therefore breakfast will be served in the wilderness surrounded by wildlife.
In the afternoon, you will go for a boat safari. On the shores of the Nile, there is always abundance of mammals that come to swim and drink water when it’s hot. Animals like elephants, Hippos, Nile monitor lizards, Giraffes, Nile Crocodiles and a variety of colorful bird species are likely to be encountered.
You will also view the falls from the bottom while on the cruise.
Accommodation
It is 3 hours drive from Murchison Falls National Park to Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch. On arrival, you will be guided by a ranger to track Rhinos. The activity is conducted on foot. Other animals to see are Giraffes, Zebras, Oribis, Uganda Kobs, Bushbucks, Warthogs and birds.
After dinner, you will embark on a night walk in the wilderness in search of nocturnal animals. The walk is totally a different experience as it shows you a different world from the normal day life of animals. Animals likely to be encountered are; Hares, Hyenas, pangolins, porcupines, owls, Night Jars and others. The sound of nature during the night is one to look out for!
With you, will be armed rangers, carrying spot lights. The activity resumes at 7: PM and takes 1-2 hours.
Accommodation
Mabamba swamp is an extension of Lake Victoria drainage system for which the prehistoric Shoebill Stork inhabits. It is at Mabamba wetland where there are higher chances of viewing this majestic bird in East Africa. The narrow ways through the wetland on a locally made speed boat makes the trip more fascinating!
A variety of other bird species are to be encountered like the Goliath Heron, African Jacana, Malachite Kingfisher and cormorants among others.
Depending on the time of your flight, you will depart at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary early in the morning and head to Mabamba Swamp for your last activity. A day room will be provided for freshening up before catching your flight.
Thank you for travelling with Bukiire Africa Wildlife Safaris.
The Primates and Wildlife Safari is one to look out for as it focuses on offering the uniqueness of Uganda and Rwanda in comparison of your own judgment rather than hearsay! Experience their cultures, go Gorilla tracking in both countries, visit the Genocide Memorial, enjoy wildlife safaris, Golden Monkey tracking, Chimpanzee tracking, Boat cruises, Rhino Tracking, Shoebill Tracking, Nature Walks and City Tours among other exhilarating experiences.
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