Adventure gorillas and Culture

Volcanoes

Day 2: Visit Gisozi genocide memorial & drive to Volcanoes National Park. Explore the impressive Rwandan countryside landscapes After your  breakfast at your place of stay in Kigali city embark on the drive to Gisozi genocide memorial to pay a visit to the counts of Rwandese who lost their dear lives during the bloody genocide that befell Rwanda in the year 1994. The number of skulls line in the building and the respective writings gives you a fresh picture of what exactly transpired during that period.  After this encounter, you will have lunch in Kigali and then embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park 116km about 3 hours’ drive. The drive will take you through the amazing country side landscapes marked with rolling hills and the rural farmlands presenting an ideal round for scenic photographs. You will arrive in Ruhengeri in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Mgahinga | Volcanoes

Day 4: Transfer to Uganda (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park). Explore the gorillas of Volcanoes & cross to Uganda via Chanika border After a thrilling breakfast from your respective lodge check out and drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park crossing via the Chanika border arriving in the afternoon for relaxation, later in the evening go for Batwa cultural performances dinner and overnight

Bwindi Impenetrable | Queen Elizabeth

Day 6: Bwindi forest Impenetrable national – Morning gorilla trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park through Ishasha sector Embark on the mountain gorilla exploration in the Impenetrable forest of Bwindi. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park supports a minimum of 400 mountain gorillas which on global scale are given as critically endangered. Therefore, undertaking the gorilla trekking experience in the hilly forested landscapes of Bwindi is such a life time endeavor that will create lasting memories. You gather at the respective park headquarters for briefing in the morning at 8am where you are also allocated the respective gorilla families to track. From here, you head to the forest in the company of the armed ranger guides that will lead you up the gorillas. The walk is beyond the ordinary as it involves traversing the dense jungle whose thickness would at some points necessitate using a machete to make a path, hiking the challenging landscapes some of which are steep and slippery at times under the canopy of the mature forest which forms darkness even during the day. You are treated to the impressive bird songs and beautiful flowers through the experience. The encounter tends to take 2 – 8 hours depending on the gorilla movements and one hour is availed to you to have a direct touch with the gorillas. Upon approaching gorillas, their reaction is not predictable as it can include them giving you a courteous welcome, minding less about you and charging against you. However, as a result of habituation, Mountain gorillas are always welcoming with the Silverback beating a little of his chest to demonstrate his might and also welcoming to you to the group. The young gorillas are very playful and are at times not aware of the 7m rule thus can try to draw closer to even touching on your body – save it by taking some steps away to observe the distance. You are not limited in any way to ask as many questions about gorillas and their habitats along with taking pictures so long as you have the opportunity to do so. After the activity, check out and drive to Queen Elizabeth national park through Ishasha sector for the tree climbing lions

Lake Mburo | Queen Elizabeth

Day 9: Queen Elizabeth NP – Morning chimpanzee trekking at Kalinzu Forest Reserve & transfer to Lake Mburo National Park Wake up for breakfast after which you embark on another game drive in the rolling savannah landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park or undertake an optional chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve where you slope down deep with sights of magical lush mature tropical forest thriving below sea level supporting counts of chimpanzees. Hiking the gorge’s steep slopes in search of chimpanzee is a challenging task that the whole encounter to go beyond the chimps. The eventual encounter with the chimpanzees as they munch fruits, make pant hooting calls, socialize, patrol, copulate and roll themselves in tree branches derive an exciting memory that will last for a life time.  Retreat from the encounter which tends to take 2 – 5 hours and embark on the transfer to Lake Mburo National Park 180km about 3 – 4 hours drive. A stop can be made at Igongo Cultural Center 12km past Mbarara town for traditional lunch and the visit to the Erijukiro Museum – the largest private museum in Uganda featuring artifacts of all tribes of south western Uganda after which you proceed to the park for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Day 11:  Kampala city tour – Transfer to Entebbe international airport After your morning breakfast embark on Kampala city tour to explore the sites of historical, religious, cultural and political significance. These include; the Ugandan Parliament, the Uganda National Museum, Namugongo Martyrs Shrine where 45 converts were burnt because of converting to Christianity, the Rubaga Cathedral which is the headquarter for catholic faith in Uganda, the Namirembe Cathedral for Protestants and the Baha’i Temple which is the only temple of the Baha’i in Africa.