7-Day Customized Safari Tour and Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

The pick-up will be from either; the Hotel in Kigali or from the Kigali Airport upon arrival (before 12pm). The assigned Professional English-speaking Tour Driver-guide will pick/receive you and we shall embark on a transfer to Cyanika Border Post. From Cyanika, you will be received by our Uganda-based Professional Tour Driver-guide who will take over from his Rwanda-based counterpart. You will cross border into Uganda and overnight at a property close to Mgahinga NP where you will undertake golden monkey trekking tomorrow.

When it comes to primates, Uganda is truly rich and one species that you don't want to miss is the golden monkeys. Compared with other monkey species, the golden monkeys are gorgeous in appearance. These attractive primates are in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is part of the Virunga Mountains where they are endemic. This morning, we will embark on a drive of about 45 minutes to an hour to the Mgahinga NP ranger’s post. Once there, we shall receive some briefing and then a ranger-guide will lead you on this adventure into the Mgahinga Forest to encounter golden monkeys. Once located, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The time with these primates is just so amazing that you won’t realize how time has gone. On return, you will board the car and embark on a transfer to accommodation at the edge of the Bwindi NP where we will have gorilla trekking tomorrow.

Have breakfast and move to the rangers’ post. You will receive some briefing (from a ranger-guide) on the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the forest for your adventure and encounter. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken (4-8 hours) and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, and rest after a strenuous trek.

Be up early, have breakfast and embark on a transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP – famously known for its tree-climbing lion population. Once there, undertake a game drive in search of this rare species of lions. The chance of spotting these lions stands at about 60-70% but sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Should you get the chance to spot the lions up in the tree, the sight is picturesque and unforgettable. From Ishasha (south), exit and head to the booked accommodation in the north sector. Check in and take rest.

Be up early and have your breakfast. Proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains and be on the look for Cape buffalos, herds of elephants plus lions, leopards (though hard to spot) among others. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. *After the boat trip, you can decide either to return to the lodge to rest or first proceed for a brief late afternoon game drive and thereafter, return to the lodge.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and then, set off to Lake Mburo NP. Mburo is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Entebbe/Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah National Parks but home to so many bird species as well as animals such as: Giraffes, Zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, and the elusive leopard among others. We shall arrive and check in for some rest before heading out for a late afternoon-to-evening game drive that will bring us up close with the Mburo inhabitants. Finally, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Enjoy your early breakfast and proceed for the Mburo morning park (bush) walk in the presence of an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger-guide. On this early morning guided walk, you will have the opportunity to encounter (at close range): Zebras, Giraffes and Eland, Topi and other antelope, Cape buffaloes among others. Thereafter, return to the accommodation for checkout and then hit the road to Entebbe airport to catch flight (from 1730hrs or later). Expect a stop at the Equator crossing (Kayabwe) where you can take some memorable photos while in the Pearl of Africa.