Our 4 days escorted Rwanda-Uganda golden monkey and gorilla safari will give you a lifetime unscripted encounter with these giant primates in their natural habitat that goes to Rwanda’s-Volcanoes National and Uganda’s-Bwindi Impenetrable forest which is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain population. On this safari, adventures involve a relatively easy trek through the bamboo jungles in the lower zones of the Virunga Volcanoes to find and spend an hour with the striking golden monkey, embarking on the off beaten path cultural experiences and the highlight is the mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
Itinerary
Fly from Zanzibar to Arusha and head to Tarangire National Park. The park is finest place to watch herds of Elephants and so many ancient Baobab trees, also the park is most suitable for birdwatching. If we were lucky enough, other animals to be spotted including; leopard, Zebra, Buffalo, warthogs and other more. We enjoy a game drive until late afternoon and then drive to Karatu for overnight.
Wake up for an early breakfast and transfer to the park head offices in Kinigi by 7:00 am. Join other golden monkeys’ trekkers and meet the ranger guide for a few minutes to talk about the activity and the park. At 8:00 am, you’ll transfer to the trailhead just outside the park. Enjoy great views of the mountain scenery as you start your trek into the park to find the golden monkeys. The golden monkeys live near the edge of the park in the bamboo forests where the ground is relatively flat and easy to trek. Find the monkeys and follow them as they feed, noticing how they skillfully pick the young bamboo leaves from the tip of the bamboo tree. They may also move out of the park into the potato fields. How they love the potatoes!
After an amazing one hour with the golden monkeys, you will return to the trailhead before lunch. Thereafter lunch, we head to the Cyanika border where after clearing we will proceed to Bwindi impenetrable in Uganda and drive through the lush green countryside. Check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
After early morning breakfast, we will take a short drive to the park headquarters for a briefing on the dos and don’ts during gorilla tracking. And after the briefing we shall be given a group of 8 people per gorilla and it usually goes 2 to 8 hours or even a day to encounter the gorillas. However, you’ll be allowed to stay in the presence of these awesome gentle giants for an hour. We advise that you carry packed lunch, which will be provided, as one cannot determine how long it may take to encounter the mountain gorillas.
Later, embark on scenic drive to Lake Bunyonyi through a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’ because of its rolling hills, unique cool weather despite being hilly. lake Bunyonyi is one of the most beautiful places in western Uganda. It is the second deepest lake in Africa [900 meters deep] and also one of the few places in the country where it is considered safe to swim as it is bilharzia free.
Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge.
Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
After breakfast, you will take a boat ride on this lake to tour different islands learning more about the historical attachment to the Bakiga culture. We take a drive to Kigali through the Katuna border to cross to Rwanda. Thereafter, be transferred to Kigali Airport to catch your departure flight back home.