20 Days Best Of Primate, Wildlife and Cultural Experience

20 Days Best Of Primate, Wildlife and Cultural Experience: this 20 days adventure will take you to all three mountain gorilla trekking destinations in East and Central Africa, that is; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It will take you from the hustle and bustle of the city of Kigali, to the outskirts of the country, to Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park, then across the borders to Uganda’s impenetrable forests of Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale forest National Park and Mgahinga gorilla national park, for more wildlife and primate experience, then to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park. During these 20-days you will encounter various primates such as mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, among others and wildlife such as tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, leopards, hyenas among others.

20 Days Best Of Primate, Wildlife and Cultural ExperienceItinerary overview

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Kigali city tour

Day 2: Excursion of Akagera National Park

Day 3: Transfer to Bukavu, DRC

Day 4: Gorilla Trek, Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Day 5: Second gorilla trek, Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 9: Gorilla trekking, Bwindi

Day 10: Rest day in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 11: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking

Day 13: Transfer to Ishasha

Day 14: Game drive in Ishasha

Day 15: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Day 16: Chimpanzee Habituation

Day 17: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Day 18: Golden Monkey tracking

Day 19: Hike to the summit of mount Sabinyo

Day 20: Transfer to Kigali then Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Kigali city tour

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will meet your destination driver guide who will transfer you to one of the budget-friendly hotels in Kigali where you will have your breakfast and then enjoy a morning of rest.

20 Days Best Of Primate, Wildlife and Cultural ExperienceIn the afternoon you will head out into the city for a guided tour of the city of Kigali. During this tour, you will visit places such as the Kigali Genocide memorial, Inema Arts center, the Kimironko Market and others. You will then return to the hotel for dinner and then enjoy the rest of the evening relaxing at the hotel as you recover from the flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Five to Five Hotel

Day 2: Excursion of Akagera National Park

Arise very early in the morning with a packed breakfast embark on a scenic drive out of the city of Kigali to Akagera National Park. On arrival at the southern gate of Akagera National Park, you will proceed on a morning game drive during which you will encounter a variety of wildlife such as Africa’s BIG 5.

After the game drive, you will proceed to Lake Ihema where you will meet a local boat driver who will take you on a boat safari during which you will see wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, and various bird species. The boat cruise will be followed by lunch at a lodge within the park. After lunch, continue exploring the park with yet another game drive in the afternoon then you will start your journey back to Kigali.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Bukavu, DRC

After breakfast early morning, you will depart from Kigali and proceed on a scenic journey to Bukavu, DRC via the Cyanika border. Feel free to ask the driver guide for stops along the way so that you can appreciate the scenery longer when the need arises.

Upon arrival in Bukavu, check into a basic guesthouse and attend a gorilla trekking briefing in preparation for the next day’s gorilla trekking experience.  Dinner will be served later in the evening as you relax at the lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Nediva Bed and Breakfast

Day 4: Gorilla trekking, Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Early in the morning, the hotel will provide you with breakfast after which your driver guide will pick you up and take you to the park headquarters where you will meet other people visiting the gorillas that very day. After the briefing, you will join your group of 8 individuals and head into the forest in search of the gorilla family assigned to you. This will take between 2 to 8 hours and once you locate these magnificent creatures, you will be permitted one hour in their presence.

After 1 hour, you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the hotel where lunch will be served. Later in the afternoon, you can opt for a visit to other attractions in the park such as waterfalls or other scenic view points if your time and energy permits.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Second gorilla trek, Kahuzi-Biega National Park

After a proper night’s rest. Wake up to a delicious breakfast then proceed to the park for your second gorilla trekking adventure. This time you will visit another gorilla family from the day before for a totally different and unique ultimate gorilla experience. After the gorilla trekking, you will return to the hotel for lunch. Later in the afternoon, take a visit to the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center where you will learn more about the conservation efforts towards the rescued primates.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Wake up to an early morning breakfast then depart from Bukavu and begin your return journey to Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park. Upon arrival in Nyungwe Forest National Park, you will check into your accommodation where you will have a short rest.

Lunch will be served in the afternoon then you can go out for a canopy walk which will give you an opportunity to view a larger portion of Nyungwe Forest National Park from above as well as spot a number of primates and wildlife such as velvet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, Buffaloes, Elephants, Bush pigs among others. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and a night’s rest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Uwinka’s Visitors Center

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking

Breakfast will be served at the lodge in the morning then you will proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing on the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing, you will head into the forest in search of the chimpanzees in groups of 8 individuals. Once you find them, you will be allowed 1 hour to observe these beautiful creatures as well as take photographs and videos. You will then return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge.

In the afternoon, you will go out to the park for a nature walk to explore its biodiversity and spot even more primates and bird species.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After a nutritious breakfast, check out of the lodge and proceed on a journey across the Cyanika border to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, enjoying the scenic view of the beautiful vegetation and landscape.

Upon arrival, check into your budget-friendly lodge where you will rest for the evening and as well prepare for the gorilla trek the next day. Dinner will be served at the lodge later in the evening then you can retire for the night.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma community rest camp

Day 9: Gorilla trekking, Bwindi

On this day, arise early in the morning for breakfast after which your driver guide will pick you up and take you to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the code of conduct and what to expect on a gorilla trekking experience. After briefing, you will be grouped into groups of 8 individuals and each group assigned a gorilla family. Your group of 8 individuals, you will penetrate the forest behind a scout that will be using a machete to clear the path in search of the gorilla family assigned to you. This will take you between 2 to 8 hours of searching for them and once you locate them, you will be allowed 1 hour of observing these magnificent creatures that possess 98% human DNA.

After this, you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch other than resting at the lodge, you can opt to visit the Batwa pygmies. This is an indigenous tribe that originally inhabited this impenetrable forest of Bwindi and were pushed out of the forest as a result of gorilla conservation program and live on the outskirts of the forest. Dinner will be served at the lodge in the evening.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Rest day in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After a proper night’s rest, enjoy a delicious breakfast then you will head out to Lake Mutanda for a boat cruise and birding adventure. At the shores of this lake, you will encounter a variety of bird species such as Hadada Ibis, Kites, and Hawks among others. You will then proceed on a thrilling adventure on the water by boat.

Return to the lodge for lunch and a bit of relaxation then later in the afternoon, you will go out into the community for the Buhoma community walk experience. This will be a 3-hours walk in the communities neighboring the forest. This will give you a chance to learn about the culture and day to day life of the local people living near the forest. You will return to the lodge later in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast at the lodge, you will prepare, check out of the lodge and start your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This will take you approximately 3-4 hours and once you arrive in Kasenyi plains, you will check into your lodge then settle down for a hot lunch.

After lunch, hop onto your safari vehicle and proceed for an afternoon game viewing adventure in the Kasenyi plains during which you will spot wildlife such as elephants, lions, leopards, hyenas among others.

After the game drive, return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kasenyi Lake Retreat and Campsite

 

Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking

Early morning, wake up to tasty breakfast at the lodge and your driver guide will pick you up and take you to Kyambura Gorge for a chimpanzee trekking experience. This will take about 2 to 6 hours and once you find the chimpanzees, you will be allowed 1 hour to spend with them. After this, you will return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, your driver guide will take you to the Kazinga channel where you will enjoy an afternoon boat cruise during which you will see wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species. Returning to the lodge will be later in the evening for relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13: Transfer to Ishasha

After breakfast at the lodge, check out of the lodge and start your journey to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for the tree climbing lions. Upon arrival in Ishasha, you will proceed on an afternoon game drive with a focus of spotting tree climbing lions and other wildlife in this sector of the park. You will have a lunch stopover in a restaurant within the park.

After the game drive, you will proceed to your accommodation where dinner will be served and you will stay the night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle lodge

Day 14: Game drive in Ishasha

Breakfast will be served as early as before 6:00 am such that by 6:00 am you are boarding your safari vehicle to head out for a full-day game drive to maximize your chances of seeing the Ishasha tree climbing lions as well as other wildlife. Starting a game drive before the sun is out will enable you to spot some nocturnal wildlife like lions, leopards among others. You will have a stopover for lunch in one of the restaurants in the park then continue on to more wildlife viewing.
Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

 

Day 15: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Arise in the morning after a proper night’s rest, have some breakfast then check out and start your scenic journey to Kibale Forest National Park approximately 4 hours away. Once in Kibale Forest National Park, check into your budget accommodation and relax as you await lunch.

After lunch, you will go out for a guided nature walk in the Bigodi wetland sanctuary during which you will see a variety of bird species such as the great blue turaco, Weavers, Waxbills among others and primates such as L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys among others. Dinner will be served at the lodge upon your return.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kibale Forest Lodge

Day 16: Chimpanzee Habituation

In the morning, the lodge will provide you with breakfast. After breakfast, pick up a packed lunch from the restaurant then your driver guide will pick you up and take you to the park headquarters where you will be briefed on the rules governing the chimpanzee habituation experience. In your group of 4 accompanied by ranger guides and researchers you will go into the forest in search of the chimpanzee group under habituation. When you find the chimpanzee family, you will spend about 4 hours with them learning their behavior and way of life.

After the chimpanzee habituation, you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge for an evening of relaxation as you await dinner.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 17: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Breakfast will be served at the lodge early morning after which you will leave the lodge and start your 5-6 hours journey to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where gold meets silver, with optional stops along the route for sightseeing or local interactions.

On arrival in Mgahinga National Park, proceed to your lodge where you will check in and enjoy an evening of relaxation. You can as well opt to take a short nature walk in the evening then return to the lodge for dinner and a night’s rest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp

Day 18: Golden Monkey tracking

Wake up for breakfast as early as 6: 00am. Your driver guide will then pick you up and take you to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the dos and don’ts of golden monkey tracking. After briefing, you will be divided into groups of 8 and each group will head into the forest in search of the golden monkeys. This will take you between 2-4 hours and at times even less than 30 minutes as you will start spotting those golden monkeys as early as in the nearby gardens feeding on potatoes of the local community.

You will be allowed 1 hour with them once you find them, watching them swing from tree to tree and play on the ground. After you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you can opt to go out for either an experience of the Batwa community around Mgahinga National Park or take a hike to the Garama Cave, the former home to the Batwa pygmies before they moved out of the forest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 19: Hike to the summit of mount Sabinyo

After breakfast at the lodge, your driver guide will pick you up and take you to mount Sabinyo where you will encounter an exciting yet challenging hike to the summit of mount Sabinyo, where the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo meet. This full day hike will also offer you a stunning panoramic views of all the three countries that is, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Once you return to the bottom of the mountain, you will meet your driver guide and return to your lodge for dinner and a night’s rest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 20: Transfer to Kigali then Departure

The lodge will provide you with breakfast in the morning, then you will depart from Mgahinga National Park and embark on yet another scenic drive across the border to Kigali. Once in Kigali you will have a lunch stopover at one of the local restaurants then proceed on a short city tour of Kigali visiting the previously missed tourism destinations in the city such as the memorial sites and other local markets.

In the evening, the driver guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport where you will catch your flight to your next destination.

Inclusions

  • Ground transportation
  • Accommodation
  • Meals En route
  • Gorilla permits
  • Chimpanzee permits
  • Golden monkey permit
  • All activities mentioned
  • Water

Exclusions

  • Laundry
  • Visas
  • Extra activities
  • Drinks and cigarettes