February 9-20, 2025:  SOLD OUT 

Day One & Two - Travel to Rwanda! Only one connection from Salt Lake City (other cities available) 

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Day Three

The first activity will be the Kigali city tour. During this tour, you will visit the genocide memorial center, city markets, artisan shops and the former presidential palace. After the city tour, you will go for lunch and begin the Journey to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. This journey involves crossing the border with Uganda.

Day Four

Briefing for gorilla trekking is led by a Ranger at the Bwindi park head offices. All gorilla trackers must be at the park by this time and attend the briefing which is an overview of what to expect during the gorilla trekking. A gorilla safari in Bwindi forest offers you several gorilla groups to choose from. The Rangers will take into consideration your overall fitness. Our group of 21 will be divided into three groups based on your walking/hiking ability. Gorilla tracking is challenging but you will find the experience awesome once you see the primates (on average 1.5 hours each way, or you can pay $400 to have 8 porters carry you on a chair). It is always amazing to watch a family of mountain gorillas. You could spend hours just watching the little ones roll around and play. Mountain Gorillas are very playful and curious surprised if they come too close to you. While with the gorillas, important to listen to instructions from your guide. Never make sudden movements while with gorillas. After spending one hour with the gorilla family, you will be led back to the starting point where our driver will be waiting to take you back for lunch at your hotel. You will head out to visit the Batwa pygmy cultural community in the evening. The Batwa originally lived in the forest but often had conflicts with the gorillas. The government decided to relocate them elsewhere to allow for smoother gorilla conservation activities.

Day Five

Wake up early for a sumptuous breakfast and prepare to start the long journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Before reaching your new lodge, the driver will take you for the first game drive to see tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. After spotting the tree climbing lions of Ishasha and other wildlife, you will head to the hotel for check-in and relaxation. Later in the evening, the drive will take you for a night game drive to see some of the nocturnal mammals. This night game drive is led by a Park Guide who is familiar with the terrain and wildlife in the area. 

 

Day Six

Lion Tracking in the morning is special and different from what you see during normal game drives. A group of Researchers will lead you to parts of the park that are not accessible to other tourists. You will learn a lot about lions and leopards as you follow them using sophiscated equipment. The researchers know the exact location of the primates using tracking devices inserted around the lead lioness or leopard. Watch as the researchers treat injured cats or take some samples. After spending time with the lions and leopards, your turn to have lunch and a rest at your lodge. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the Kazinga Channel for a launch cruise. The Kazinga Channel is a collection point for most of the parks animals and birds. You will be very impressed with the sheer number of game found drinking and grazing along the banks. The driver will then start the one hour journey to Kibale National Park.

 

Day Seven

Tracking chimpanzees is abit different from gorilla trekking. Chimps are very vocal, stubborn and unpredictable. Chimps tend to spend a lot of time on top of trees compared to gorillas. Chimps are very mobile and you may have to follow them a they swing on top of trees even after locating them. Eventually they will settle down. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale takes about three hours. After spending time with the chimps for an hour, the Ranger will lead you back to the park offices. Our Guide ready to take you back to the hotel for lunch. After chimpanzee trekking, the driver will take you back for lunch, relax at the lodge and wait to be taken to Visit the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary. The Bigodi swamp is a birders paradise with over 290 species recorded in its vast swamps. The sanctuary is also home to 11 primate species. A visit to this sanctuary also involves exploring the local villages.

Day Eight

Wake up early and Leave Kibale for Murchison Falls National Park. Expect to pass through beautiful agricultural countryside where all types of fruits and vegetables are grown. Once you reach Murchison Falls National Park, you will be taken to view the majestic falls for photography and marveling at the thunderous roars of the river Nile.

 

Day Nine

After breakfast at the lodge, you will go for a morning game drive at the Northern section of the park. Here, you will now spot the big 4 (Buffaloes, Elephants, Leopards and Lions). Murchison Falls National Park has the largest population of Rothschild giraffe in East Africa. You will also spot warthogs and several species of antelope include waterbucks and Bushbucks. After the game drive, you will head back for lunch as you prepare for the afternoon launch cruise. The launch cruise takes you along the river Nile right up to the bottom of the falls. As the boat moves slowly along the river, you will spot antelope, crocodiles, elephants, hippos and many other park animals drinking along the river bank. The river has over 200 species of birds but look out for the intriguing shoe bill stork.

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Day Ten

Wake up early once again and prepare for the journey to Jinja. You will have a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to relax and spot the endangered White Rhinos. They can be seen in this vast sanctuary where they live safely under the watch of armed Rangers. After spending time with the Rhinos, you will continue the journey to Entebba. Board your late night flight. 

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Day Eleven

Thanks for traveling with us, welcome home!

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