5 Days Uganda Primates Safari from Kigali

5 Days Uganda Primates Safari from Kigali

5 Days Uganda Primates Safari from Kigali is an interesting adventure in Uganda that starts and ends in Kigali. During the safari, you will be able to visit Mgahinga gorilla national park in southwestern Uganda where you will have a face to face encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and Batwa trail experience where you will get an opportunity to interact with the Batwa/pygmies who used to live in the forest before it was gazette as a national park. You will end the 5 days Uganda primates safari in Kigali with a tour to Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in Uganda to engage in an amazing canoeing activity in a dugout canoe and community tour where you will visit and interact with the people living around the communities around the lake.

Highlights of the 5 days primates safari from Kigali 

• Day 1: Pick up from Kigali international airport and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park
• Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park
• Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and Batwa trail experience
• Day 4: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and community tour
• Day 5: Departure to Kigali  

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 of the 5 days Uganda primates safari from Kigali

Pick up and transfer to Mgahinga gorilla national park, depending on your arrival time at Kigali international airport on the first day of the 5 days Uganda primates safari from Kigali you will be welcomed by our driver guide, who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Mgahinga gorilla national park which is located in southwestern part of Uganda. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours drive passing via Cyanika border in Kisoro and you will have en-route lunch and great views of the traditional homesteads, scenery, rolling hill, Kigezi hills, local people on the way. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Uganda primates safari from Kigali, you will carry your lunch box and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated an experienced park guide who is well conversant with the trails in the jungle and then start trekking. Mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park starts at around 8:00am and takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are located, during trekking you will have spectacular views of different tree and plant species, bird species like black kite, blue headed coucal, double collared sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, other primates, mammals like bush pigs, forest buffaloes among others. When the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat where you will be able to learn more about their habits, behaviors, take great pictures and record videos with a flash less camera. After the one hour encounter with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in an adventurous gorilla trekking and thereafter meet up with your driver guide to transfer the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and Batwa trail experience

Golden monkey trekking, on the third day of the 5 days Uganda primates safari from Kigali you will have an early breakfast and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of golden monkey trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a habituated golden monkey family to trek and a park guide who will lead you during trekking and also share information about the golden monkeys. Trekking of the golden monkeys starts at around 8: 00am and takes 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where they are located because they are mobile and like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view some mammals, different birds, plants among others and once the golden monkeys are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment where you will be able to observe their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like breastfeeding, feeding, playing in tree branches, take breathtaking photos and record the moments to show people back home after the safari. After the exciting moment with the golden monkeys you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet your driver guide and transfer to the lodge for lunch.

Batwa trail experience, after lunch you will go for an interesting Batwa trail experience where you will be able to interact with the Batwa/pygmies who used to live in the forest before it was gazetted into a national park. The trial will be conducted by Batwa guides who will be sharing information about their culture, tradition, will lead you into the forest where they will demonstrate their past hunting techniques, how they used to gather honey, show you medicinal plants which were used to make bamboo cups among others. The Batwa trail will take you to the sacred Ngarama cave which acted as the home to the Batwa king, food storage and also enjoy cultural performances from the women. After the Batwa trail experience you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.   

Day 4: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and community tour

After breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Uganda primates safari from Kigali, you will check out of the lodge and then meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale which is the deepest lake in Uganda and second largest lake in Africa after lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.  Upon arrival you will go for an amazing canoe ride where you will paddle along the shores with spectacular views of beautiful scenery, explore some of the 29 islands such as the punishment island where girls who got pregnant were left to die as a punishment, view terraced farmlands, bird species among others. After canoeing you will drive to the lodge for lunch.

Community tour, after lunch you will go for a community tour which gives you an opportunity to interact with the Bakiga and Batwa people, know more about their culture, tradition, visit there terraced farmlands, local markets, buy craft souvenirs among others. After the community tour you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Departure to Kigali 

After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 5 days Uganda primates safari from Kigali, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kigali. You will have great views on the way passing via Katuna border in Kabale and upon arrival you will have lunch and then go for a city tour where you will visit Kigali genocide memorial to know more about the 1994 brutal killing of Tsutsi and Hutus, visit Kimironko market where you will interact with the local vendors among others. After the city tour you will transfer to Kigali international airport for your departure flight or your driver guide will drop you off at the hotel.

End on 5 days Uganda primates safari from Kigali 

 5 days Uganda primates safari from Kigali includes

• Gorilla trekking permit
• Golden monkey trekking permit
• Batwa trail experience
• Canoeing
• Community tour 
• Kigali city tour
• Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
• Full board accommodation
• Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
• Vehicle and fuel
• Bottled water

5 days Uganda primates safari from Kigali excludes

• International Air flight tickets
• Visas
• Optional activities not included on the itinerary
• Life insurance
• Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.