Boat trip to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda. An excursion to this forested sanctuary island offers a marvelous introduction to the ecology and conservation of Chimpanzees. Take an excursion with spotlights to seek nocturnal primates and other wildlife in Kibale NP. Enjoy Game drives in Queen, Gorillas safari in Bwindi and Kibale forests, Ruhengeri, Parc National Des Volcans Rwanda
Day 1 ARRIVE IN ENTEBBE
On arrival in Kampala, you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel to refresh and relax for the rest of the morning. After lunch, you will be taken on a boat trip to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria. An excursion to this forested sanctuary island offers a marvellous introduction to the ecology and conservation of Chimpanzees.
Meal(s) Included: Dinner
Day 2 KAMPALA/BWINDI
Travel to Kibale Forest National Park. This equatorial forest holds a higher diversity (13 species) and density of primates than any other African forest. Kibale’s primates include Vervet, L’Hoest’s, Red-tailed and Blue monkeys, in addition to Grey-cheeked mangabey, Red colobus, Black & white colobus, Olive baboon and Chimpanzee. Kibale is the most ideal site in Uganda to seek wild Chimpanzees and one of the few parks in Uganda where night excursions are permitted for those who wish to observe primates such as the unusual Potto and various Galago species (bushbabies). After dark we will take an excursion with spotlights to seek nocturnal primates and other wildlife.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 BWINDI NATIONAL PARK
In the early morning, we will go gorilla tracking in bwindi . On your forest walk in the afternoon, you will look for the fascinating multi-species troops of monkeys. Various species move through the forest together, each specie occupying different elevation in the forest. They understand each others’ alarm calls when predators are spotted, so when, for example, an eagle soars overhead, the monkeys at the higher elevation will sound the alarm and all monkeys will take appropriate evasive action. The same applies when those at the lowest elevations spot a ground-dwelling or ambush predator such as a leopard: the terrestrial monkeys will sound the alarm signal and all monkeys will rapidly move up to the higher elevation.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 BWINDI/QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
We drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Primates found here include the Olive baboon, Red-tailed, Vervet and L’Hoest’s monkeys. There will be an opportunity for more Chimp tracking in Chambura Gorge, though the likelihood of sightings is not as strong as in Kibale Forest. Queen Elizabeth National Park holds other wildlife including the predators, Lion, Leopard and Spotted hyena. Other mammals include Giant forest hog, a variety of antelope, elephant and hippo. The park’s bird species number more than 600, quite likely higher than any other destination in Africa.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
We take a forest walk in Maramagambo and an evening game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 QUEEN ELIZABETH/BWINDI FOREST
After an early morning game drive, we continue to the Buhoma sector of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Bwindi’s chief claim to fame is its resident, habituated population of Mountain Gorillas. These spectacular primates now number only around 650, most of which live either at Bwindi or across the border in Rwanda’s Parc National des Volcans. (Bwindi holds some 280 – 320 Gorillas, in 15 groups.) This ancient rainforest has 120 mammal species, perhaps more than any other national park in the country except Queen Elizabeth. Primates include L’Hoest’s, Red-tailed, Blue and Colobus monkeys and the Olive baboon. Antelope include bushbuck and 5 species of forest-dependent Duiker. Birders come to Bwindi to seek the 23 Albertine Rift Endemics which thrive here. Of those, 14 are found nowhere else in Uganda. Some 200 species of butterfly have been recorded in the park and the colourful clouds of butterflies that congregate at Bushpig wallows is a marvellous spectacle.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 QUEEN ELIZABETH/KIBALE FOREST
After our early morning briefing, we will be led into the forested slopes to look for one of the habituated groups of Mountain Gorilla. This is a most awe-inspiring wildlife experience. For conservation purposes, our time with the Gorillas is limited to one hour. Because Gorilla sighting is not precisely predictable no other activity is planned for the day.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 RUHENGERI, RWANDA
After an early morning forest walk to look for other wildlife in Bwindi, we drive south to Ruhengeri in Rwanda.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 PARC NATIONAL DES VOLCANS
We take our second Mountain gorilla safari excursion today, in Parc National des Volcans.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 LAKE BUNYONYI
This morning we will seek out the recently habituated troop of the rare Golden monkey. We then cross back into Uganda, and drive to the scenic high altitude Lake Bunyonyi.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 LAKE BUNYONYI/ ENTEBBE
We travel to Entebbe, stopping at points of interest including, villages, craft stalls and a music instrument workshop.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 ENTEBBE/ DEPARTURE
Day at leisure before transferring to the airport for our mid-afternoon onward flight.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast