10 Day Primates of the Great Rift Valley Safari

Day 1

Arrive in Uganda at Entebbe Airport where a Volcanoes Safaris representative will assist you to your hotel. Overnight at Hotel No. 5 (dinner, breakfast)

Transfer from your hotel to Entebbe airport where a representative will assist you with your domestic flight to Kasese airstrip, where you will be welcomed by your expert Volcanoes Safaris guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your safari.

Drive for approximately 1 hour to Kibale Lodge, near Kibale National Park. Visit the Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation on the way and learn about the cultural partnership with Volcanoes Safaris to display sculptures relating to the traditional clans of Uganda around the lodge.

Kibale lodge has stunning panoramic views of the snow-covered peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains to the west, and the Queen Elizabeth plains and the Kazinga channel to the south. In the afternoon visit a local school as part of the Roots and Shoots program which aims to build women leaders in conservation, in partnership with Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust and the Jane Goodall Institute. Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails on the terrace overlooking the magnificent Rwenzoris.

Flying time between 1 to 1.5 hours, driving time 1 hour. Overnight at Kibale Lodge (lunch, dinner)

Day 2

Spend the morning trekking the exuberant chimp families in Kibale forest, the Primate Capital of the World. Seeing the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above is a thrilling experience. The forest quickly becomes alive with their noisy calls.

In the afternoon, go birding in the Bigodi Wetland. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and birds, including the elusive Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope. Spectacular species including the Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek will be of great interest to birders.

On the way back to the lodge visit a school taking part in the Roots and Shoots program with the Jane Goodall Institute and Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust.

Overnight at Kibale Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 3

After breakfast, go for a second chimpanzee trek in Kibale. Look out for the other wonderful primates, mammals and birds, including Olive Baboons, nocturnal Bushbabies and the elusive Red Colobus monkey. The dense forest is famous for some of the world’s best birding, with a vast diversity of species including the Great Blue Turaco, the beautiful Papyrus Gonolek and the rare Green Breasted Pitta.

Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon visit the nearby Sadhguru School, supported by Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust.

Overnight at Kibale Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 4

Depart for Kyambura Gorge Lodge and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Drive through the park on the way to the lodge and look for lions, leopard, elephants, buffaloes and large herds of Uganda kob.

In the afternoon take a wildlife boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, home to one of the greatest concentration of hippo in Africa and herds of elephant, buffalo and other animals come to drink at the water’s edge.

After your boat cruise, harvest honey with the Kyambura bee-keeping cooperative or go on a gorge walk to see birds, monkeys and other wildlife.

Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 5

Enjoy an early breakfast and set out for a morning game drive. The Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lions, leopard, elephant and buffalo. The Mweya peninsula is one of the best places to look for leopards, which live in the dense, scrubby thickets. You will be joined by a member of the Kyambura Wildlife Team on your game drive who will teach you how to take lion identification photos and track your GPS, which will form part of an annual carnivore census as part of the the Lion Monitoring Project,

After lunch, walk from the lodge along the wonderful Fig Tree Trail and hike directly down into Kyambura Gorge, to search for the ‘Lost Chimpanzees of Kyambura’. The gorge is an extraordinary natural environment and forms a stark contrast to the surrounding grasslands. Here you can track one of our closest animal relatives: the chimpanzee. The walk is exciting and enchanting as you look for members of this mobile chimp group, often seen moving quickly between the canopy overhead as they search for food.

Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 6

After a bush breakfast overlooking the park go for a second trek in the Kyambura Gorge. As well as search for the chimpanzees, explore the magical gorge and enjoy the surprises of a walking safari. Your guide will help you track footprints and understand about the diverse wildlife living in and around this unique natural habitat.

Check camera traps in the gorge as part of the Kyambura Carnivore Survey and look through photos and film of any animals captured last night.

After lunch participate in the Kyambura Gorge Ecotourism Project. Try hand-roasting coffee with the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative, go birding in the Kyambura wetlands, and plant a tree seedling in the wildlife buffer zone.

In the evening participate in an informal wildlife storytelling, BBQ and movie night at the Kyambura Community and Conservation Centre with the lodge guides, wildlife monitoring team staff, and members of the local community.

Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 7

Transfer to Kasese Airstrip for an early morning flight to Kisoro. Transfer by road for 1 to 2 hours to Mount Gahinga Lodge. The lodge is located at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes and on the edge of Mgahinga National Park.

In the afternoon visit the Gahinga Batwa Village and experience the culture and history of one of Africa’s oldest tribes. On your tour you will visit their new village and community centre and can participate in the Batwa Heritage Tour to gain insight into their traditional life as hunter gatherers in the forest.

Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails and a fireside chat with a vet from the Gorilla Doctors and learn about their daily work looking after the health of the mountain gorillas.

Overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day 8

After enjoying an early breakfast, set off on your gorilla trek to see the Nyakagezi group, the only gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park.

After hiking between one and three hours through the densely forested hills, the moment you find the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged one. Enjoy one hour in the company of the majestic and gentle gorillas. The Nyakagezi family is well known for having multiple silverbacks in one group, led by the majestic dominant silverback Mark.

Gorilla trekking requires stamina and can sometimes take a full day, especially if it is wet and muddy.

After returning to the lodge for a late lunch, relax in the afternoon and enjoy complimentary spa treatments and massages, including the famous Rungu massage at Gahinga Volcanic Spa and Sauna.

Overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day 9

After breakfast, trek into the foothills of the Virunga mountains to see the endangered golden monkeys. Characterized by its bright golden body, cheeks and tail, with contrasting black limbs, crown and tail end, these playful primates are a pleasure to watch.

In the afternoon enjoy relaxing at the lodge and visit the Batwa Heritage Trail and Vocational Centre.

Overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day 10

Transfer from Mount Gahinga Lodge to Kisoro airstrip for your return flight to Entebbe and connect to your international flight.

Approximate Travel Times: Flying 1 to 2 hours; Driving 1 hour

Please book international flights departing after 8pm
(Breakfast at the lodge)