Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park

Today after breakfast, you will cross the border and be transferred to Lake Mutanda in the south-western part of Uganda; close to the borders with Rwanda and Congo. You cross a beautiful part of the country often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Africa’. You will see a great country-side, bamboo forest and have great views over the Virunga Mountains.

Journey Time: 3.5 hours (excludes border crossing time and stops)
Accommodation: Mutanda Lake resort
Meal plan: All meals

Mutanda Lake Resort
Mutanda Lake Resort offers most likely the best view in Uganda! Perched on a peninsula in Lake Mutanda (see photo), in the shadow of the Virunga Mountain Range, Mutanda Lake Resort offers comfortable accommodation combined with the most beautiful views on planet earth. Situated between Kisoro town, Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks the Resort makes a perfect base for gorilla trackers, volcano hikers, bird lovers as well as those looking for a secluded place in nature. The cuisine is among the best in Uganda.

Activities on the lake are organized by the lodge and the lake is safe to swim as it is Bilharzia free

Day 2: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Forest

Today is the day. You will encounter one of Bwindi’s endangered mountain gorillas. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.

Bwindi impenetrable national park boasts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees – the only forest in Africa that can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primates, 113 species of mammals, over 200 species of butterflies and 360 species of birds. The gorillas you track belong to one of nine habituated family groups who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day.

The time taken to track gorillas can be as few as 2 hours to as many as 7 hours. Once the gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.

Journey Time: 1 hour each way
Accommodation: Mutanda Lake Resort
Meal plan: All meals

Day 3 – Return to Kigali:

You will have early breakfast and return to Kigali. Depending on your departure flight you can visit the Genocide Memorial and Education Centre, which opened in 2004. It’s a dignified tribute to the victims, including a poignant Children’s Memorial, and a detailed description of the darkest hour in Rwanda’s recent history in time to catch your flight back home.

Your guide will take you to the airport in time for your flight home.

Note: This is only possible when your flight departs from Kigali at 4 p.m. or later. If you need another night in Kigali, we will be happy to make a booking for you.
Journey Time: 3.5 hours (excludes border crossing times, breaks and stops)
Accommodation: Not included
Meal plan: Breakfast

Extension Tours
If you want to extend your tour to one of our other destinations or if you’d like to add a few side trips to the itinerary, kindly let us know.

Dates:
Because this is an individual tour, it can depart any time of the year subject to vehicle and accommodation availability.

Accommodation:
You sleep in mid-range accommodation nicely located close to the national parks. The rooms are spacious with en-suite bathrooms. However, do not expect luxury.

With 2, 4 or 6 people you will have 1, 2 or 3 double/twin rooms (shared).
With 3 or 5 people you will have 1 or 2 double/twin rooms + 1 single room.

We retain the right to substitute the accommodations mentioned with suitable accommodations if there is no availability, and we retain the right to run aspects of the itinerary in a reverse direction if necessary.

This itinerary can also be tailored made to suit budget and luxury clients

Meals:
Most meals during the tour are inclusive. Please see the day-to-day programme for the details.

In case you have a dietary restriction or preference, please let us know and we will inform the accommodations accordingly.

Included

• Transport in a 4WD safari van
• All fuel for the tour;
• English speaking driver/guide;
• Accommodation as per programme;
• Meals according to the programme;
• Park entrance fees according to the programme;
• All activities described in the itinerary;
• 1 gorilla permit per person.
• Effective 1st July 2020 the gorilla permit will cost $700.

Excluded 

• International air fares;
• Entry visa Rwanda All drinks;
• Meals that are not part of your accommodation;
• All activities that are not mentioned in the program or activities that are mentioned in the program as optional activity;
• A porter for during the gorilla tracking (someone who carries your daypack);
• Personal (medical/travel) insurance;
• Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc;
• All expenses of a personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, souvenirs etc.)