Gorillas, Game and Cruises

Day 2: NGAMBA CHIMPANZEE ISLAND  Receive briefing and finalise arrangements for visiting the island with JGI management at their offices in Entebbe. Boat from Entebbe pier to Ngamba Island. Watch the feeding of the chimpanzees. Time permitting walk to a neighboring village or bird watching. [Approximate cruising time: 45 minutes for fast boat; 1 ½ hours for traditional boat] This tour visits Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary on Lake Victoria. Situated 23km off shore from Entebbe, the Sanctuary was set up by a group of concerned organisations including Uganda Wildlife Education Centre and Jane Goodall Institute among others, to offer a facility for now over 33 orphaned chimpanzees to co-habitat in a near natural environment. From Entebbe there are regular trips to the Chimp Island. Travelling is either by a modified traditional Ssese canoe sitting up to 25 participants, or a faster motor boat sitting 8 persons. The beautifully forested tropical island is almost 100 acres in size and boasts over 50 different types of vegetation that the chimps utilize. Two main tourist activities are offered: chimp viewing from a raised wooden platform; or a walk to the chimp forest for closer contact with the legendary primates. Chimp walks in the forest require some medical conditions to be fulfilled: Vaccination against -Hepatitis A&B, Measles; Meningococcal meningitis (menomune vaccine); Polio; Tetanus; Yellow fever. A negative TB test before arrival is also required. Minimum age for the walks is 18 years, Maximum age is 65 years, but the latter category is also dependant on size and fitness level of the person.  Clients stay at the Ngamba Island Camp, a 4-tent mid-range Camp directly overlooking the Lake. The entrance fees paid goes towards looking after the chimpanzees. return to Entebbe main land O/N: Boma Guest Hotel (BB).

Day 4: MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK  An early morning game viewing north of the Nile.  Launch trip to the bottom of the mighty exciting Falls, with crocodiles, hippos and a vast array of birds including the rare shoebill stork, lounging on the banks of the Nile. Evening game drive. O/N: Paraa Safari Lodge (FB).

Kibale

Day 6: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING  You will go for guided nature walk in Kibale Forest with the highest number of primates in Africa, including red, black and white colobus, blue monkeys and baboons and a large number of chimpanzees. A chimpanzee walk provides a high possibility of seeing and hearing the noisy chimps and other primates playing around through the forest. Various birds over 300 species are recorded in the forest. An afternoon walk in Bigodi wetland gives the opportunity of seeing the unusual birds, baboons, chimps and other primates which live around the swamp. O/N: Ndali Lodge (FB).

Virunga

Day 9: QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK - KISORO  Drive to Kisoro, stopping at Kanaba Gap to view the spectacular Virunga volcanoes and eye-catching terraced hills. Continue directly to Kisoro. We may drive via Ishasha, weather conditions permitting where you may see tree-climbing lion - or drive through farmland to Kisoro. [Approximate driving time: 6 hours]. On arrival, hand in passports for boarder clearance to Congo, for the next day's gorilla visit. O/N: Travellers Rest Hotel Kisoro (FB).

Day 11: KISORO - PARC NATIONAL DES VOLCANS RWANDA Transfer to Kinigi in Rwanda via Cyanika boarder (Visa fees $30). Finalise boarder clearance arrangements to Rwanda (note: Clocks backwards one hour) Drive the one hour to Ruhengeri. Enjoy the rolling hills for which Rwanda is well known. [Approximate driving time: 2 hours] O/N: Kinigi Guest House or Mt. Gorillas view lodge(FB).

Day 13: NYIRAGONGO VOLCANO, CONGO After breakfast go to Idjwi Island in Congo for a morning visit (on payment of $200 supplement per person). The trip is not only an encounter with local people; fishermen, fishing villages but also with the residents of Idjwi Island (Congo) who are rowing long distances in their dugout canoes to visit the Rwanda markets. Idjwi is an island in Lake Kivu, belonging to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At 40 km in length and with an area of 285 km², it is believed to be the largest inland island in Africa, and the eighth largest in the world. Idjwi is roughly equidistant between the DRC and Rwanda, with 10 to 15 kilometres separating its western shore from the DRC mainland and a similar distance between its eastern shore and the coastline of Rwanda. The island's southern tip, however, lies only 1 kilometre from a promontory of the Rwandan coast. The Nyiragongo volcano (3470 m) erupted on the 17th of January 2002 and destroyed part of Goma town. Most of Goma's 400 000 inhabitants escaped the advancing lava flows crossing the border into neighbouring Rwanda. The eruption destroyed the homes of 120 000 people and caused between 70 and 100 victims.  O/N: Stipp Hotel or Serena Kivu Sun (FB). To Top

Day 15: KIGALI - BUTARE  After breakfast you will depart for Butare the second largest city of Rwanda and is regarded as the intellectual city of Rwanda. It hosts the National Museum, several academic (University) and research institutions. In Butare, visit the Botanical Gardens and a cultural museum. O/N: Ibis (FB).

Day 17: DEPARTURE  Half day tours in Bujumbura city and the suburbs. Transfer to airport in time for check-in for your flight. Tour Ends