Countries: Rwanda and Uganda
Destinations: Kigali and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
Day 2: Kigali City tour and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 3: Gorilla Habituation at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 4: Canoe ride and leisure at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 5: Return to Kigali for departure (evening flight)
Trip Overview
Your 5 days Uganda gorilla habituation safari will give a total wild habituation experience in the thick impenetrable forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is one of the hot spot to trek the gorillas, known for harboring half of the word famous mountain gorillas. This is the only place in the world where gorilla habituation exercise is done. The safari will also give you a taste of the community experience as you drive in the country side and opportunity to visit the Kigali genocide memorial grounds were over 250000 Rwandese who suffered the genocide incidence were buried, as well as exploring the beautiful lake Bunyonyi on a canoe, the deepest lake and great birding paradise.
Trip Highlights
- Gorilla habituation in Uganda
- Kigali city tour
- Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Kigali genocide memorial visit
- Border crossing
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Day Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport and passing through the immigration process, you will be welcomed by our safari driver who will, brief you shortly and transfer you to the booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay
Overnight at: Kigali Marriott Hotel (Luxury) or Heave Boutique Hotel & Restaurant (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Visit Kigali genocide memorial & transfer to Bwindi: Travel time +4 hrs
Day Itinerary
Today after taking your early morning breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and drive to visit the Kigali genocide memorial grounds, which honors the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994 through education and peace-building. You will be able to watch and listen to some video clips from some of the survivors’ of the incident. Later you will proceed with a drive to Bwindi through the magnificent route to your booked accommodation to catch up with an en route lunch and later reach at the lodge spend the rest of the afternoon relax and prepare for the next day’s gorilla habituation exercise. Your driver guide will brief you, before you about the next day programme, before he let you at your own leisure.
Overnight stay at: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Gorilla Habituation Experience at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day Itinerary
Early morning breakfast at your lodge, have your packed picnic lunch and by 6:30 am, set off for the gorilla habituation briefing from the Uganda wildlife officials at the park head office and thereafter enter your jeep and drive to the trekking starting point and later head into the jungle led with a group of researchers and rangers to start of your gorilla habituation experience exercise and enjoy their life style in their real home. The gorilla habituation is only done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and this is the only place in the world where gorilla habituation experience is done.
Unlike the gorilla trekking experience, where by the clients are only allowed a maximum of an hour with the gorillas, the gorilla habituation experience the clients go with both the trekkers and researchers, and the guests will be allowed a maximum of up to 4 hours with the gorillas. The researchers, and ranger guides, will be able to explain to you the entire process of gorilla habituation, learn more about the gorillas, and get to experience some of the methods used. You will later return in the late afternoon and drive back to your lodge, for refreshment and later dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury) or Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for boat ride and leisure.
Day Itinerary
After your relaxed morning breakfast, you will jump into your jeep, and head for a canoe ride adventure, to explore some of the great hot spots of Lake Bunyonyi, a beautiful lake hidden within the great valleys of Kisoro. The lake has a number of beautiful islands that have become home to numerous bird species. You will later transfer to your lodge, have lunch and retire in the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight stay at: Bird Nest Resort Bunyonyi (Luxury) or Arcadia Lodge Bunyonyi (Mid – range)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali for departure.
Day Itinerary
Early morning breakfast and depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to Kigali, reach and have lunch. Thereafter, you can opt for an added Kigali city tour or be transferred to the airport to catch up with your flight back home. End of service!
Meal Plan: Breakfast & lunch.
This safari package includes.
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- 1 Gorilla Habituation Permit ($ 1500), per person
- En-route lunches
- Visit to Kigali genocide memorial ground
- Kigali city tour
- Canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Services of an English speaking driver/ guide.
- Bottles of mineral water
The package excludes expenses of personal nature like:
- Visa Fees & flights
- Optional activities
- Tips for guides
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- International vaccinations & tests
- Health test requirements
- Personal travel Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Phone call bills
- Extras while at the hotel
- Items of personal nature
Please contact us for a free detailed quote on the option of your choice. We can tailor a request that suits your interests, and budget, as well as we can change or upgrade the lodge options. Write to us with more details about your safari.