Uganda and Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps & Game

Fly from London Heathrow (LHR) (or selected other UK airports) on an overnight flight to Kigali, Rwanda.

Upon arrival, you clear customs and immigration, obtain your visa and collect your luggage. You are met by your private professional English-speaking driver-guide and private 4WD vehicle and transferred to Hôtel des Mille Collines (breakfast on this day has not been included but can be arranged on the day at your own cost). After a relaxing morning, you visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, an intensely moving experience. Created by the Kigali City Council in partnership with the UK-based Aegis Trust, the centre contains an exhibition of the Rwandan genocide, as well as an exhibition of other genocides around the world. This afternoon, you are transferred over the Rwanda/Uganda Cyanika border and onto the Nkuringo section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda (an approx. 5-6hr scenic drive). En-route (time permitting), you have the opportunity of visit the stunningly rural Lake Mutanda, which houses stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Situated in the shadow of the Virunga Mountains, the lake and its surrounding diverse lakeside forests, wetlands and farmland habitats boast some of Africa’s most beautiful wildlife. You move through the communities and local farms and notice that the pace around here is somewhat slower. Your guide will enlighten you further regarding the ethnic groups of people and aspects of rural life. Overnight at the wonderful Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge where you will stay for 2-Nights in 1x Private Cottage on a Full-Board Basis.

Today, you enjoy your awe-inspiring trek to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (viewing time with the gorillas, 1hr max). After signing in and a thorough briefing, you join a team of experienced ranger guides into the national park to start your mountain gorilla adventure. The guides are extremely experienced, and use their knowledge of the gorillas' habits and information from the previous day to locate the group's whereabouts. This therefore means that the time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as a 3hr trip back to camp (hopefully including 1hr with the gorillas), to a 9hr return trip (hopefully including 1hr with the gorillas). Once the gorillas are located, the group will be allowed a maximum of 1hr with them. This is one of the world's truly memorable experiences – a once-in-a-lifetime awe-inspiring moment. You don’t have to be an athlete to complete a gorilla trek, but you do have to be prepared to track on fairly steep, rough and uneven terrain for a long period of time. That said, the rangers and porters always go at the speed of the slowest walker, and you will enjoy many drink/food breaks. The rest of the day is yours to relax at leisure.