Departing from Kigali you will be welcomed by your expert guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your safari. Your journey takes you through the beautiful terraced hills that characterise much of Rwanda's landscape. Climbing gradually to the base of the spectacular volcanoes of the Virunga range, the five nearest peaks rising high above the verdant countryside, you arrive at the magnificent Volcanoes Virunga Lodge.
O/N: Volcanoes Virunga Lodge (L, D)
Gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans, through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga range, is a magical experience. Once you reach the gorillas, you can spend an hour with them and be back at base in time for a late lunch! Some gorilla families can be more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially if it is wet and muddy.
O/N: Volcanoes Virunga Lodge (B, L, D)
·Either go gorilla tracking again (additional permit required, subject to availability), or choose from one of many options. There is much to explore here including tracking the endangered golden monkey or trekking to Dian Fossey’s grave and the gorilla cemetery, the final resting place of her favourite gorilla, Digit. Other popular excursions include visiting the local school and community projects supported by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust; the Roz Carr Imbabazi orphanage and meet some of the hundreds of children helped by this uplifting project. Alternatively relax on the shores of Lake Kivu, home to some of the finest inland beaches in Africa, or take a guided walk to Lake Bulera and experience local village life.
O/N: Volcanoes Virunga Lodge (B, L, D)
Enjoy a more relaxing morning during which you can do one of the activities in day 3 - except gorilla tracking and visiting Dian Fossey’s grave. After lunch set off for the Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Lodge. The lodge is located at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes and near the entrance to the national park. Enjoy your pre-dinner drinks on the terrace with stunning views of the Volcanoes or warm yourself inside by the roaring fire.
O/N: Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Lodge (B, L, D)
Experience the lives of the Batwa Pygmies, and walk the Batwa Trail. Accompanied by Batwa Elders, this is an extraordinary opportunity to learn about the unique cultural heritage of the forest’s indigenous people. Whilst you walk through the forest, the Batwa will demonstrate their traditional hunting techniques and knowledge of medicinal plants. You will also visit the sacred Ngarama cave and enjoy the traditional music and dance of this rich and fading culture. Alternatively there are other exciting activities for those interested in the culture and natural history of Mgahinga:
Enjoy a performance from the Batwa Dance Group, an initiative fully supported by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust. The group now perform once a week on Volcanoes Safaris land for the benefit of the local community and Volcanoes Safaris clients. Learn more about their unique culture through their oral traditions first-hand.
Track gorillas in Nkuringo (approximately two hours drive). Tracking is possible at Nkuringo, located at the southern sector of Bwindi National Park. Tracking here can be challenging due to steep and muddy paths.
Hike the Muhavura or Gahinga Volcanoes. Gahinga offers a gentler hike through the bamboo forest on the lower slopes and marshy craters at the peak. The lower slopes are rich with forest birds and the marshes near the summit are home to bushbuck and elusive duiker. Muhavura is the most challenging peak in the park. The hike will take most of the day, but the adventurous will be rewarded with great sense of accomplishment and - on a good day - spectacular views.
Take a guided nature walk through the park to track the golden monkeys. The path takes you from the bamboo stands and a forested gorge on the lower levels to the elevated heath and moorland higher up. The forest is not only home to the rare golden monkey, but also a great diversity of bird and animal life.
O/N: Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Lodge (B, L, D)
The breathtaking drive to Bwindi, sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of Africa, is along winding mountain roads and through thick forests. The long journey through the rapidly changing landscape takes you to Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, which looks across to the towering trees of the forest. Depending on when you arrive, there maybe time before dinner to explore the lodge grounds with its clear mountain stream or visit the local village.
O/N: Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge (B, L, D)
After enjoying an early breakfast, you set off gorilla tracking. Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest requires stamina and can often take most of the day. Alternatively there are other activities and excursions on offer in and around the national park:
Take a guided walk in the rainforest, home to several endemic bird species, clouds of butterflies and rare plant life. This walk offers excellent photographic opportunities and the knowledgeable guide will provide a great insight into this globally important habitat.
Walk through the local village, and learn about community projects, such as the Amagara project that assists local farmers and their communities, and Bwindi Community Hospital which started as a health clinic under a tree and now provides vital medical and educational services to over 60,000 people. Both projects are supported by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust.
Discover the traditions of the Batwa pygmies, and learn about the native tribal inhabitants of the forest. The indigenous people of Bwindi forest, though no longer resident in the forest, still practice many of their traditional hunter-gatherer skills.
O/N: Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge (B, L, D)
Either go gorilla tracking again or opt for one of the other, gentler but equally rewarding alternatives available (see above).
O/N: Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge (B, L, D)
Your safari now continues to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Travelling via Ishasha - subject to road conditions - you can observe the unusual behaviour exhibited by the tree-climbing lions. After your long journey from Bwindi, enjoy the luxury of the stunning contemporary Volcanoes Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Take a cooling dip in the swimming pool or simply enjoy sunset drinks on the veranda overlooking the savannah plains with the magnificent Rwenzori Mountains in the distance.
O/N: Volcanoes Kyambura Gorge Lodge (B, L, D).
Taking an early morning or evening drive, and resting during the heat of the day, provides the best opportunity to see game. What you see depends on the season, but the Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lion and large herds of Uganda kob. The Mweya peninsula offers excellent game drives with magnificent views across the water to the Rwenzori Mountains. Mweya is one of the best places to look for leopard, which live in the dense, scrubby thickets. Time permitting visit the Kyambura Womens Coffee Cooperative and its coffee processing station or the wetland reserve to spot birds. Both projects were set up and are supported by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Project.
O/N: Volcanoes Kyambura Gorge Lodge (B, L, D)
The Kyambura 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 chimp population is quite mobile and viewing can be unpredictable but the walk itself is enchanting. In the afternoon take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which flows between Lakes Edward and George. Kazinga is home to one of the greatest concentration of hippo in Africa and herds of elephant, buffalo and other animals come to drink at the waters edge. The channel is a magnet for waterbirds, with great flocks of pelicans and others birds on the shore, and a great spot to see African fish eagle.
O/N: Volcanoes Kyambura Gorge Lodge (B, L, D)
Leaving the Kyambura Gorge and set off back to Kampala. On the route north you will be able to stop at the royal drum makers and stand astride the Equator. Return to your hotel or transfer to the airport in time for your return flight.
(B, L)
