17 Days Primates Safari in Uganda & Rwanda

17 Days Primates Safari in Uganda & Rwanda, Discover the long kept secrets of cultural diversity of Rwanda and Uganda on this 17 days trip. these two small countries are packed with a lot of fun and adventure from the adventure capital of east Africa to the rolling hills and majestic mountains and the mighty Nile. The sensational Mountain Gorillas , and chimpanzees that share the highest percentage of DNA similarity with humans are humbling to encounter. share with us the story of this land that we call our home experience our lives s we let you into it on this 17 days adventure.

Trip Summary

• Day 1: Meet And Greet At Entebbe International Airport
• Day 2: Jinja And The Environs
• Day 3: White Water Rafting
• Day 4 Return To Kampala For  A Buganda Cultural Trail Visit Via Ssezzibwa Fall
• Day 5: Learn About Kampala And Uganda In General: City Tour
• Day 6 Transfer To Fort Portal
• Day 7 Chimpanzee Trekking And Visit The Nyakasura Hills
• Day 8 :Visit To The Male And Female Hot Springs
• Day 9: Transfer To Bwindi
• Day 10: Gorilla Tracking
• Day 11:Visit Lake Bunyonyi And The Pygmies
• Day 12: Cultural Tour In Kabale
• Day 13: Rwanda Kinigi
• Day 14: Golden Monkey Tracking And Visit To The Iwachu Cultural Center
• Day 15: Early Breakfast
• Day 16 Transfer To Kigali
• Day 17: Kigali City Tour And Departure

Day 1: Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport

Meet and greet at Entebbe International Airport by our Guide who will genially welcome you and take you through Uganda in a flash. After a short transfer to your hotel you will be briefed about your safari. You are advised to have money changed this day depending on the time of arrival. Cassia Lodge or The Lodge Lweza BB

Day 2: Jinja And The Environs

A visit to the lovely and at one time the most industrialized town of Jinja, today it s a growing adrenaline capital with a wide range of adventure activities. Jinja is also home to the source of the mighty river Nile . the drive to Jinja is scenic with lots of beautiful views of lush green plantations and the magnificent Owen falls dam. as you close to the city you will notice a number of  colonial buildings and it wont be long before we get to the source of the Nile  where the monument of Ghandi also stands. we will take a boat trip to the actual site where the source of the Nile is believed to be. enjoy a cold Nile on the Nile for the beer funs. there are also plenty of soft drinks and fish as well as water birds. Dinner and overnight at  Gately on the Nile FB

Day 3: White Water Rafting

A beautiful day in the adrenaline capital of East Africa can only mean adventure. choose your way of getting in touch with the Nile.  for the lover of white water rafting we shall assemble at the start point where our guide will explain to us the rules of engagement and procedure. No need to worry about swimming skills because you will not be needing them. after a few trials and brief hit the the rapids of the Nile for a day of half of fun adventure.  alternative activities include bungee jumping, kayking, sunset cruise, family floats, quad biking, horse riding the list is endless. Retire to Gatley on the Nile for dinner and overnight. FB

Day 4 Return To Kampala For  A Buganda Cultural Trail Visit Via Ssezibwa Fall

After a delightful breakfast and a day of adventure it is time to bid Jinja farewell and set off for Kampala. we will have a stopover at the Sezzibwa falls a lush green paradise. This river is believed to have been born and there are a number of rituals and norms carried out here. continue to Kampala and explore the Buganda cultural trail which includes the UNESCO world heritage site Kasubi tombs that are a burial ground for the fallen kings of Buganda, The Kabaka’s palace and parliament, the Kabaka’s lake one of the largest man made lakes with an interesting story, Namugongo a massacre place for the Uganda martyrs which was also an execution site for the Kingdom among other as time allows. Overnight at Cassia Lodge or The Lodge Lweza BB

Day 5: Learn About Kampala And Uganda In General: City Tour

( these are highlights and we might not visit all the sites but the most interesting ones given the time available)

After breakfast  we will start off from where we broke off the day before as we explore the beauty of Kampala the capital of Uganda  together with the Buganda kingdom whose history id synonymous with Uganda history. some  of the highlights for the day are:

• Naggalabi Coronation Site which has the real history and origin of the Buganda Kingdom. no one can become King of Buganda without being coronated here.
• The Uganda Museum – a historical feature with lots of colonial, cultural and traditional collections.
  Makerere University – visit the first and the oldest university in East Africa
• Namirembe Cathedral – the first and oldest religious feature that was constructed by the European missionaries.
• Bahai temple – visit the biggest and only religious temple building of its kind on the African continent.
• The craft village – place to buy African art, carvings, masks of your desire.

With a lunch break in the middle of the day you may not be able to visit all the spots mentioned. At least the best will be given. Late in the afternoon retire to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Cassia Lodge or The Lodge Lweza. FB

Day 6 Transfer to Fort Portal

Continue our expedition with a transfer to Fort Portal the land of the gentle people the Batoro. We pass the verdant countryside decorated with lush green plantations and a few scattered homestead. Arrive and check into the hotel.  Dinner and overnight at Mountains of the Moon Hotel or Attaco Country Resort – FB

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and visit the Nyakasura hills

Early morning drive to the park headquarters in Kanyancu for the adventurous trek in search of the playful chimpanzees, but first we receive a briefing from the park authorities on the do and don’ts well as the precautions to take as long as we are in the forest. Later we are led in to the forest by a trained ranger who will guide us to the chimpanzees  and while at it we may also encounter a number of other primates including red tailed and grey cheek Mangabey, baboons, butterflies and a wide range of bird species.  After lunch we will visit Nyakasura hills an important historical site in  the toro Kingdom. Dinner and overnight at Mountains Of the Moon Hotel or Attaco Country Resort – FB

Day 8: Visit to the male and female hot springs

After an early morning breakfast we will drive to Semliki to visit the male and female hot springs the legends that surround the formation of these hot springs is truly interesting and worth listening to. you can also boil eggs and plantain in the hot gushing waters. Later in the afternoon if the time allows we will visit the top of the world a spectacular view of the crater lakes. Dinner and overnight at Mountains of the moon Hotel or Attaco Country Resort – FB

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi

Rise and shine to the spectacular tropical Uganda this is the pearl of Africa. Today we will be driving out to Bwindi impenetrable forest home to half of the remaining population of Mountain Gorillas in the wild. We will pass by the remote Ishasha sector famed for the tree climbing lions. We will  also stop by the equator in Kasese for a few shots before continuing.  Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Mist Camp or the Buhoma Community Camp – FB

Day 10: Gorilla tracking

Early morning after breakfast assemble at the park headquarters for the Gorilla trekking briefing before entry into the magnificent Bwindi impenetrable Forest. The trek is quite strenuous and may take a couple of hours before you encounter the Gorilla. You will then have an hour of gazing into the deep brown eyes of the Gorillas before returning to the lodge. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla mist camp or the Buhoma Community Camp – FB

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast we transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, the drive today takes us to the Switzerland of Africa, we stay at Arcadia Cottages– lake Bunyonyi with great views of the Lava dammed lake Bunyonyi one of the deepest if Africa. FB

Day 12: Cultural tour in Kabale

We visit the different islands and the pygmy’s community. We shall also visit the market and the cultural museum of the Bakiga the local people living in this area. We shall have our second overnight stay at Arcadia Cottages – FB

Day 13: Rwanda Kinigi

Breakfast and have a boat ride to visit the pygmies around lake Bunyonyi and the different islands of attraction then drive towards Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda another home to Mountain Gorillas through Cyanika Boarder. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Gorilla Hotel. FB

Day 14: Golden monkey tracking and visit to the Iby’Iwachu cultural center

After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the national park headquarters for a briefing by the park rangers before; trek through the tropical Virunga rain forest all the way through the bamboo vegetation  in search of the endangered small primates the golden monkeys. these adorable primates are a sheer delight to watch   and is a great experience.later in the afternoon after lunch visit the Iby’Iwachu cultural centre where you will experience the lifestyle of these local people. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Gorilla hotel. FB

Day 15: Early breakfast

Early breakfast is followed by a hike to Dian Fossey’s grave, situated at the former Karisoke Research Center. This is where Dian spent about 20 years studying the Mountain Gorillas. The trek to the site is quite spectacular, passes through thick bamboo forest and Afro- montane habitats, with criss-crossed trails with tracks of forest buffalo and elephant! Expect to see all sorts of wildlife on our way up and down to the grave site, nestled between the beautiful volcanic peaks of Karismbi and Visoke. Dinner and overnight at Mountain gorilla view lodge or Gorilla hotel. FB

Day 16 Transfer to Kigali

Enjoy a a beautiful breakfast right before check out of the hotel to drive off to Kigali the Capital of Rwanda. Wind through the scenic lush green terraced hillsides and valleys. The views are spectacular  as we transfer stopover at the genocide memorials of Ntarama and Nyamata, a tale of fear pain and agony is written within the walls. Share the story that Rwandese leave with, a story that has shaped the new warm and neat Rwanda, a tale of of a brutal murder of a significant population of Rwanda. Arrive in Kigali and check in for dinner and overnight at Serena Kigali or Hotel Rwanda. BB

Day 17: Kigali City tour and Departure

Kigali named by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda in 1907, is Rwanda’s capital. Kigali is the main administrative and economic center of Rwanda. With an ever green feel of fresh air, it is the cleanest and safest city in the region. Kigali’s face is her fortune; it is this dramatic beauty from which its name is derived. There are, however, other factors; Kigali is a city that delights the mind as well as the eye of any visitor. HB