8 days Chimps, Gorillas & Golden Monkeys

Journey time: 5 – 6 Hours

After an early breakfast, at 6AM start your journey to Kibale National Park.
You will have a lunch stopover in Fort Portal. Thereafter, visit Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru caves together with the crater lakes of this area.
Thereafter continue with the rest of your journey to the lodge in Kibale, check-in and refresh for dinner at leisure.
Kibale National Park is home to the highest population of primates in Africa. Although the highlight of the park is the habituated chimpanzees, the treetops are alive with all manner of monkeys including: red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked Mangabey, red colobus with colobus monkeys sighted here. When you’re not searching for monkeys there are over 300 bird species and an incredible 250 species of butterfly to keep you busy.

Overnight: Turaco Tree tops | Papaya Lake Lodge – Or similar
Meal Plan: Half Board

On this day you will take part in Chimpanzee tracking for an adventurous experience of the chimps plus many more primates which include but not limited to; Ugandan Mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, de brazza’s monkey, red colobus monkey, black & white colobus monkey, blue monkeys, baboons and many more varied types of primates.

After chimp trekking, visit Tinka’s Homestead from where you will have a local Ugandan lunch.
After lunch go for Bigodi Community Tour – cultural visits only.
Planned activities include;
• Bigodi coffee experience
• Taste banana beer & local vodka
• Admire local arts & crafts + souvenir shopping
• Cultural songs and dances
• Learn about herbal medicines & uses

Overnight: Turaco Treetops | Papaya Lake Lodge – Or similar
Meal Plan: Half Board

Journey time: 2 – 3 Hours

After breakfast, at 9AM start off your journey to ‘’a medley of wonders’’. On arrival head to the lodge, check-in and stay relaxed with lunch on time.
After lunch, next will be a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel.
Boat Cruise; this is the main activity after lunch where you will spot a number of birds like; the African fish eagle, pelicans, flamingos, Hammerkop, egrets, the African fin foot, pied kingfishers, marabou storks, vultures, kites and many more, together with animals like hippos, buffalos, warthogs, crocodiles, waterbucks and more as most of them visit to water and cool off.
Next is a dusk game drive; this is a great opportunity to spot nocturnal animals.

What to expect includes; various bird species and animals such as elephants, buffaloes, hippos, impalas, waterbucks, Kob, and warthogs. Enjoy scenic views of crater lakes like Nyamunuka. Return to the lodge thereafter, refresh and have dinner in a serene atmosphere.


Overnight: Buffalo Safari Lodge | Mweya Safari Lodge – Or similar
Meal Plan: Full Board + 1 Extra lunch (Ishasha picnic)

Journey time: 7 – 8 Hours

After breakfast, you will have a game drive towards Ishasha Sector on your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Make a stopover for the tree climbing lions & a picnic lunch.
Tree climbing lions; this is the most captivating experience in Ishasha, thus its popularity in the entire national park. Tree climbing lions are spotted hanging up in acacia and fig trees, trying to avoid tsetse fly and other ground insect bites, and they enjoy their prey in the trees.

You will have a picnic lunch near R. Ishasha and thereafter proceed with your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving in late in the evening.

Overnight: Mahogany Springs| Trackers Safari Lodge – Or similar
Meal Plan: Full Board

Journey Time: 1 – 2 Hours

After an early breakfast with your lunchbox and mineral water in a back pack, head to the park headquarters for briefing at exactly 8:00 am and tracking will commence in the next 30 minutes after registration and briefing conducted by ranger guides. Gorilla tracking is a very captivating and unforgettable experience which more than repays the effort needed to reach Bwindi. This starts at 8:30 am and can last a few hours to a whole day depending on where the gorillas were left the previous day.
After tracking, enjoy a picnic lunch after gorilla tracking in Bwindi, and travel to Lake Mutanda.
If you make it on time, go Kayaking on the scenic Lake Mutanda. This picturesque lake is nestled in the foothills of the Virunga mountain Ranges: Three volcanoes partly located in Uganda that is Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga can be seen from Lake Mutanda.
After Kayaking, you will be at leisure for the rest of this evening plus dinner here.

Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort – Or similar
Meal Plan: Half Board

Journey Time: 1 – 2 Hours

Another early breakfast with a lunchbox and mineral water. At 5AM go trek the Golden Monkeys.
Arrive at the Park headquarters by 7:30 am for briefing with the actual trek commencing at 8AM. Hiking through the forests to reach the golden monkeys is less tedious as golden monkeys live in the lower bamboo areas. Spend an hour with the golden primates for a superb photography & a clear observation of unique their behaviour. Come along with waterproof hiking boots, wear long sleeved shirt, long trousers, & carry a backpack for your lunch & documents & do not forget to carry an insect repellent.

After trekking, you will have a picnic lunch set within Mgahinga community at a place with the best view. Later return to Mutanda Lake Resort and refresh for dinner.

Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort – Or similar
Meal Plan: Full Board

Journey time: 3 – 4 Hours

Depending on your onward flight schedule, spend the morning to leisure enjoying the sunrise at the lodge. You will later at 10AM-flexible, transfer to Kigali City via Cyanika Border with lunch En-route at a local restaurant.
On arrival, have a brief City Tour sightseeing the landmarks of Kigali with a stopover at the Genocide Memorial Site and a craft market. After the tour proceed to the Airport and check-in for your outbound flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast + En-route lunch
END OF SAFARI

DISCLAIMER:
1) The journey time(s) stated in the itinerary is an estimation and it is subject to variation depending on traffic and road conditions.
2) Listed accommodation options are subject to availability at the time of booking. If not available, similar properties will be considered.