$5,490 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Pick up & transfer to kibale National Park
Pick up & transfer to kibale National Park
After breakfast, you will meet your safari guide from Nyumbu Beyond Journeys and drive to Kibale Forest, which takes about six hours. On your arrival, you can walk around the local community (optional). The park protects several well-studied habituated communities of common chimpanzees, as well as several species of Central African monkeys, including the Uganda mangabey, the Ugandan red colobus and the L'Hoest's monkey. The park's population of elephants is commonly sighted along forest trails. Other terrestrial mammals in Kibale National Park include red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bushpigs, giant forest hogs, warthogs, and buffalo. Predators include leopards, African golden cats, servals, mongooses and two other species.
- Main Destination:
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (Kibale NP, Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- Chimpundu Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Chimpanzee habituation experience & Bigodi community walk
Chimpanzee habituation experience & Bigodi community walk
Your day begins early with a hearty breakfast before heading out to the Kibale National Park, renowned as the primate capital of East Africa. Today offers a rare opportunity to join researchers and rangers on the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience a full-day activity that immerses you in the forest life of wild chimpanzees.
Accompanied by your expert guide, you’ll enter the dense tropical forest at dawn, just as the chimpanzees are waking. The experience allows you to observe the chimps in their natural environment, learning to identify individuals, following their movements, and witnessing the fascinating process of habituation—where wild chimps gradually become accustomed to human presence without losing their wild behaviors.
After this extraordinary experience, you return for lunch and a short rest before embarking on the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary & Community Walk in the afternoon. This day is a perfect blend of wildlife immersion and cultural connection.
- Main Destination:
- Kibale National Park (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Chimpundu Lodge
Wildlife in Kibale NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Ndali crater lake drive & transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Ndali crater lake drive & transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
This morning, we will transfer to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, which takes about four hours. You will stop for a photo opportunity as you pass the equator. On arrival at Queen Elizabeth National Park, there should be time for a game drive in the afternoon. This world biosphere reserve is a vast and rich national park filled with abundant wildlife, including the tree-climbing lions. Explore the varied habitats such as lakes, rivers, open savanna, acacia woodland, tropical forest and vast wetlands. The park supports an impressive 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- Aardvark Safari Lodge
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Guided game drive & Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Guided game drive & Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Your day begins with an early morning guided game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most iconic safari destinations. As the sun rises over the savanna plains, your guide takes you through Kasenyi sector, a prime wildlife viewing area known for its large herds of Uganda kobs, buffalo, and elephants. This is also the best time to spot predators such as lions and leopards as they return from a night’s hunt or prepare to rest in the shade.
After a midday rest and lunch at the lodge, your adventure continues with a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway linking Lake George and Lake Edward. This two-hour excursion provides a completely different perspective of the park’s wildlife. You’ll drift close to the shoreline where large concentrations of hippos wallow, crocodiles bask in the sun, and elephants and buffaloes come to drink.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- Aardvark Safari Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Transfer with Guided Game Drive in Ishasha Sector & Journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Transfer with Guided Game Drive in Ishasha Sector & Journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After breakfast, you check out from your lodge and begin your journey southwards through Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha Sector, renowned for its unique population of tree-climbing lions. This scenic stretch of savanna, dotted with fig trees and acacia woodland, offers a game drive en route. With your guide, you’ll explore the open plains in search of elephants, topi, buffaloes, and large herds of Uganda kob. The real highlight is keeping a keen eye on the fig tree branches, where the famous lions are often seen lounging in the shade—an extraordinary wildlife sighting unique to just a few places in Africa.
After the game drive, your safari continues with a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The drive takes you through rolling hills, rural homesteads, and terraced farmlands, showcasing Uganda’s breathtaking landscapes and warm cultural charm along the way.
- Main Destination:
- Ishasha Sector (Queen Elizabeth NP, Uganda)
- Accommodation:
- Four Gorillas Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Gorilla habituation experience & Visit the Batwa Cultural Experience
Gorilla habituation experience & Visit the Batwa Cultural Experience
Today, you will take part in the Gorilla Habituation Experience a rare and immersive opportunity to spend up to four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family. Accompanied by researchers, trackers, and rangers, you will follow the gorillas through dense vegetation as they go about their daily routines. This unique experience offers deeper insight into gorilla behavior and the conservation efforts involved in making them accustomed to human presence without compromising their wild nature.
After returning from the forest and enjoying a well-deserved rest, the afternoon takes you into the nearby community for the Batwa Cultural Experience. The Batwa people, often referred to as the “keepers of the forest,” were the original inhabitants of Bwindi before it was gazetted as a national park. With local Batwa guides leading the way, you will walk through their ancestral trails, learning about traditional hunting techniques, medicinal plants, fire-making skills.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Four Gorillas Lodge
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Transfer to Kigali & Kigali city tour
Transfer to Kigali & Kigali city tour
After breakfast, you check out from your lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and begin your scenic transfer across the Uganda–Rwanda border into Kigali. The drive offers breathtaking views of the terraced highlands, rolling hills, and small rural communities, giving you a final glimpse of the landscapes that define this region. Border formalities are handled with the assistance of your guide to ensure a smooth transition into Rwanda.
Upon arrival in Kigali, you will enjoy a guided city tour exploring Rwanda’s vibrant capital, often described as one of Africa’s cleanest and friendliest cities. Depending on your departure schedule, highlights may include a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which provides a powerful and moving insight into Rwanda’s history; the colorful Kimironko Market, where local artisans and traders display fresh produce, crafts, and fabrics; and a stop at Inema Arts Center or similar galleries to experience contemporary Rwandan creativity.
- Main Destination:
- Kigali (Rwanda)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
