On arrival, we’ll meet you at Entebbe International Airport and transfer you to your hotel where there’s time to relax, get used to your surroundings, meet your fellow travellers and get ready for your conservation safari.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House
Ngambe Chimpanzee Island is a ground-breaking initiative of the Jane Goodall Institute and is now managed by the Chimpanzee Trust. After a short boat ride on Lake Victoria, you will step onto this remarkable Island Sanctuary to learn more about the work involved in rebuilding the lives of these great apes. (This is an optional excursion US $95). For those of you not visiting Ngamba Island this morning, we will take a tour through Africa’s oldest botanical gardens, Entebbe Botanical Gardens. After lunch we will head to the Ugandan Wildlife Education Centre for an afternoon tour of the chimpanzee facilities to understand more about the role UWEC plays in caring for rescued chimpanzees in partnership with JGI.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House
Today we will head north towards Murchison Falls National Park and the
spectacular River Nile. The park was established in 1952 and is the largest in Uganda. There are around 75 species of mammal in the park and over 450 species of birds! The park is bisected by the river Nile. Tonight, we will stay at our accommodation located on the banks of this mighty river.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House
After an early breakfast we will set out on our first game drive through the rolling plains of Murchison Falls National Park. After lunch we will take a
relaxing boat cruise along the great river Nile to the foot of the falls. This is where the Nile thunders through the narrow seven-metre gap to the river below, and onto Lake Albert.
Spend the night outside the park at Boomu Women’s Group community guest house. Enjoy a traditional dinner and learn more about the work of JGI partnerships with local communities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Boomu Women’s Group community guest house
Boomu Women’s Guest House is a local development initiative supported by JGI in an effort to provide alternative incomes to communities living alongside chimpanzee populations. The Guest House is run by Edna and the women of the surrounding area. This morning Edna will take us on a stroll through the local village to give you a better understanding of life in rural Uganda. We will experience a traditional cooking class before heading to Hoima for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House
One of the greatest legacies of the Jane Goodall Institute’s commitment to people and wildlife has been conservation education programs. The Roots & Shoots Education Project in Hoima is aimed at supporting the youth of Uganda and enabling them to take an active role in conservation.
Visit local projects including schools, to see the “Root & Shoots” program first-hand as well as a water spring, bee keeping and community nursery programs. Each project is aimed at helping communities live alongside wildlife.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House
Today we will visit a program close to the heart of JGI- Peer to Peer Education Program. The school dropout rate in Uganda is one of the highest in Africa. By educating and empowering girls, we create confident women and sustainable livelihoods that do not rely on the fragile environment around them.
This is turn protects local chimpanzee populations and their habitats.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House
Today we will travel south to Fort Portal and the Kasiisi Education Project. The Kasiisi Project’s area of operation is located around Kibale Forest, the first research site for chimpanzees in Uganda. We will stay at the Kasiisi Project.
guest house, which is located next to one of the programs schools.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Kasiisi Project Guest House
After breakfast we will have a tour of the Kasiisi Project site and meet some of the local school children involved in programs to support the Kibale Forest.
Continue south to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). This is the second largest park in Uganda and is home to a diverse array of wildlife including lion, leopard, elephant and various bird species. We will stay overnight at our lodge overlooking the beautiful expanses of the park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
The Kalinzu forest, which borders Queen Elizabeth National Park, is home to several families of Chimpanzees. This will be one of the highlights of your Ugandan journey. Once you witness these amazing primates you will understand what inspired Dr Jane Goodall to dedicate her entire life to fighting for their survival. After our morning trek we will head into the park for lunch and a relaxing cruise on the Kazinga Channel which runs between Lake George and Lake Edward.
Come face to face with elephant, hippo and buffalo!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
Kisoro is located in the south western part of Uganda. Surrounded by towering extinct volcanoes and crater lakes, we will make our way to Kisoro through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha is famous for its tree climbing lions who perch themselves in the huge fig trees in order to keep a look out for prey or to enjoy the cool breezes on a hot summer day. Tonight, we will stay at Travellers Rest Guest House. The guest house was made famous by another eminent primatologist, Dian Fossey who based herself at Travellers Rest while undertaking her gorilla research in DR Congo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House
The trek to see the Mountain Gorillas will surely be a trip highlight. To spend an unforgettable day with some of the last mountain gorillas on earth will live in your memory forever. Uganda’s Forest is not only famous for its spectacular Gorilla families, but also for its bird life and other forest primates.
The Gorilla Trek will take place on day 12 or 13 of the safari and is dependent upon permit availability.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House
Mabungo Village is nestled into the foothills of magnificent Mt Muhavura, on the outskirts of Kisoro. We will spend the morning visiting the village to experience traditional Ugandan life – music, dancing and food. This is one of those uplifting experiences that will stay with you for many years to come.
In the afternoon we will take a short drive to Lake Mutanda where we will set out in a traditional canoe to spend the afternoon on this peaceful lake. Lake Mutanda is famous for its otters and water birds.
You can either sit back and relax or grab a paddle and lend a hand.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House
This morning we will depart Kisoro and head to Kigali, Rwanda. We will drop you at the airport for flights after 3pm or a central Kigali location, if you wish to stay and explore the beautiful capital of Rwanda.
Meals: Breakfast
+ Optional Day 2 Ngambe Chimpanzee Island (US$95)
+ City Tour Kigali – Half day/ Full day
Explore the beautiful city of Kigali. Visit the Gisozi Memorial site, Galleries, Markets, POA
+ Accommodation upgrade: If you are feeling a little more indulgent, we can offer accommodation upgrades in selected parts of our journey (Subject to additional cost and availability).
- All meals as stated in itinerary
- 13 nights accommodation
- All activities and park fees
- All transfers and transport
- 1 x Gorilla trek permit
- 1 x Chimpanzee trek permit
- Gorilla Trek Porter
- water with activities
- Tips with the exception of your RAW Africa local leader and gorilla trek porter
- Entry Visa Uganda
- Entry Visa Rwanda
- Travel insurance
- International Airfare
- Ngambe Chimpanzee Island (Day 2 optional excursion: USD $95 each)
- Drinks- except water with activities
- Laundry
- Personal spending
- Tips for your RAW Africa local leader and your gorilla trek porter (all other tips are included in your Tour price)