Overview
Uganda is famous as the Pearl of Africa and hospitable to visitors. Uganda's Culture also attracts tourists with over 50 tribes flourish in land and being a home of the Africa Big Five such as the Lions, Leopards, Rhino, Buffaloes and Elephants and of all it boosts with the unique tree climbing lions. Kibale National Forest has one of the highest diversity and concentration of primates in Africa. It is home to a large number of endangered chimpanzees, as well as the red colobus monkey and the rare L'Hoest's monkey. There are 13 species of primates including chimpanzees living within its 795km2 land cover with the most beautiful and most diversified tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda.Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks are vital for over half of the world's mountain gorillas. It is a top spot for affordable and memorable primate encounters. Wild chimpanzees can only be found in Africa. Chimpanzees Have the Ability to Learn Human Languages such as Sign Language. They are one of the few animals that are known to use tools. Chimps are known for their intelligence and remarkable problem-solving abilities. Kisoro is a town in southwestern Uganda known for its mountain scenery, colorful markets, and proximity to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It has a second deepest lake named as Lake Bunyonyi. This is the day of Gorilla tracking, from Travellers Rest in Kisoro it is 1 hour or 20 minutes by car to Nkuringo group or Rushaga area home of Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye and Bweza groups in south Bwindi or to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It’s 15 minutes’ drive from Gorilla Valley Lodge to Rushaga ranger offices.
Itinerary
Early in the morning we will pick you from a hotel or guesthouse of your choice in Entebbe or Kampala and we leave for Kibale. We will drive through Mubende through swampy areas with graceful papyrus beds and woodlands scattered with acacia trees. Mubende is basically a small town half between Kampala and fort portal where vehicles tend to stop for some barbecue chicken on wooden skewers and nyama choma or have hot African Dish for Lunch. We then proceed to Fort Portal, an amazing royal town housing the youngest monarch in the world with a scenic background of the Rwenzori Mountains. We can have an optional activity visiting The Entebbe or Kampala and we leave for Kibale. We will drive through Mubende through Ambaree Ga Nyinamwiru cave for a nature walk. Overnight at resort.
We will start with the 4 hours’ Chimp Walk.Chimp walk is located South of Fort Portal, Kibale forest is believed to contain the highest Concentration of Primate Species in East Africa which include; Chimpanzees, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Red Monkeys, Blue Monkeys and Baboons. Tracking to the habituated chimp troops is conducted by the trained guides who will also give you more information about the forest in general including the secretes of the flora and fauna giving you a memorable and enjoyable trail. The group of chimps in Kanyanchu Community is probably the largest in Kibale Forest. The park is also known for a colorful variety of 250 species of butterflies and 375 bird species. In the afternoon a walk through Bigodi Swamp this is an awesome haven for
Bird Watchers with over 138 Species of Birds including the Turacos.
Optional-Chimp Habituation Experience (Add $50 per person):
This morning will be a very early start as you will be transferred to Kanyanchu tourist centre inside Kibale National Park at 6:30am. Today you will enjoy one of the most spectacular and amazing wildlife experiences in the world where you will spend 4 hours with the Chimps once you find them. This tour will give you significantly more time with the wild chimps than most other tours, as we attempt to meet up with the chimps as they de-nest and begin their daily routines.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Overnight at resort.
Early morning after breakfast, start the drive to Rushaga/Kisoro with a stop in Kabale for lunch. This journey takes us through a beautiful landscape called the & Switzerland of Africa. We will pass mountains, hills and lakes with cultivated terraces, tropical rainforest and bamboo forest. On the last hill the landscape unfolds beneath us, in the vast plane of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo the Virunga volcanoes dominate the view. Down is Kisoro where we will stay in the famous Travellers Rest Hotel just outside Kisoro. This is a unique and one of the oldest hotels in Uganda that offers a cozy stay for the tourists, who come to see the endangered mountain gorillas.
If staying at Gorilla Valley Lodge a long cherished dream of an Africa enthusiast came true in 2013: the establishment of the lodge in the south of Bwindi impenetrable forest NP. Gorilla Valley lodge is situated at the southern edge of Bwindi impenetrable national park on a hill near Rushaga, close to Rushaga Uganda wildlife station. Gorilla valley Lodge a ‘medium range hotel’, consists of 12 rooms, with spacious private bathrooms, toilets, dining/waiting area beautifully situated in lowland evergreen forest allowing breathtaking views of the African Eden, rich with wildlife and at a close distance the majestic Virunga volcanoes. Every room has been lovingly furnished with twin beds and decorated in a modern retro style.
Meals:Dinner.
Overnight at resort.
This is the day of Gorilla tracking, from Travellers Rest in Kisoro it is 1 hour or 20 minutes by car to Nkuringo group or Rushaga area home of Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, and Bweza groups in south Bwindi or to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (40minutes drive). It’s 15 minutes’ drive from Gorilla Valley Lodge to Rushaga ranger offices. Once there you will first receive a briefing (7.45am) and at 8.30am you will start the tracking. All visitors are expected back to the starting point by 7:00 PM.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Overnight at resort.
After breakfast, the last part of the journey will bring us back to Kampala, driving through one of the most scenic routes in western Uganda passing through an extensive bamboo forest, as well as the “Kanaba gap”, where a clear view of the volcanoes in Uganda can be seen, as we drive down through the beautiful views of Lake Bunyonyi being the deepest Lake in Uganda with every rich history. We will bring you back to any Hotel of your choice in Entebbe or Kampala overnight. If you are continuing your journey somewhere else or back home, we will bring you to the airport for onward journey.
Important Note: The age limit for Gorilla tracking is 15 years and Chimpanzee tracking is 12 years.
Inclusions
- Chimp Walk.
- Explore Kibale Forest National Park.
- Gorilla tracking.
- Daily breakfast.
- All transfers as per itinerary.
- Travel insurance (valid for the age group till 60 Yrs.)
Exclusions
- Airfare.
- Visa.
- TCS & GST 5%
- Early Check in / Late Checkout subject to availability.
- Tips, drinks, personal expenses and any services not mentioned in the program.
- Surcharges will apply on hotel block out dates like Christmas, New Year & so on.
Payment Policy
- If booking is 30 days in advance from the travel date: Advance of 15% of the package cost required
- If booking is between 30 days to 15 days in advance from the travel date: Advance of 30% of the package cost is required
- If travel is within 15 days of the travel date: We will require 100% payment.
Cancellation Policy
- If booking is 15 days before the travel date: 100% refund for Domestic Packages.
- if booking is 30 days before the travel date: 100% refund for International Packages.
- Between 30 days to 15 date before the travel date 10% of the total cost will be deducted on International Packages.
- Between 15 days to 1 Day before the travel date: 100% cancellation on Domestic & International Packages.