4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Kivu Safari
4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Kivu Safari is the perfect alternative for visitors who wish to see mountain gorillas but have a fixed budget. It is no secret that gorilla trekking in Rwanda is quite expensive and not many can afford to pay for the tour package. This leaves Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda as the best alternative. This 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Kivu safari will give you the opportunity to track mountain gorillas in Bwindi forest and then transfer back to Rwanda where you will explore Lake Kivu. Please note that this trip starts and ends in Kigali city, Rwanda.
Highlights for 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Kivu Safari.
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Trail Experience.
- Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu for a Boat Cruise.
- Day 4: Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Kivu Safari.
Day 1: Pickup in Kigali & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Pickup in Kigali & City Tour: Day 1 of your 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Kivu Safari will start with your pickup either from your hotel in Kigali city or upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport. After getting acquainted with your guide/driver, you will embark on a short tour of Kigali city where you will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Umusambi Crane Village, and Camp Kigali. Have lunch and later proceed with your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in southwestern Uganda.
Transfer to Bwindi: After having your lunch, you will drive to Bwindi national park in Uganda via the Katuna border. It takes about 3 hours to drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi national park is famous for its large populations of habituated mountain gorillas, with a record number of about 459 individuals.
Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Trail Experience.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest: Have breakfast very early at you lodge as your guide will pick you up at 6am. You will embark on a short journey to the park. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park takes place in four locations which include; Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. The location where you will begin your gorilla tracking experience depends on which gorilla group you will be tracking. You will have a briefing by the park’s head ranger which will begin at 8am and then you will be put in groups of 8 individuals per group depending on the gorilla group you are going to track. Tracking begins at exactly 8:30 am hence endeavor to always keep time.
Each tracking group consists of strictly eight individuals with each group having a park guide and ranger. Tracking can take about 1- 6 hours depending how easily and quick the gorillas are spotted. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be give exactly an hour with them; hence you should maximize your time well and don’t forget to take lots of pictures without using your camera’s flash. The tracking trails can be very wet, steep and slippery thus you should wear a good pair of hiking boots.
Batwa Trail Experience: After your gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest, you will proceed to do the Batwa Trail Experience, which is conducted by local Batwa guides. Get to learn more about the Batwa’s long and ancient history with the forest, and also learn how to make some local herbal medicines, and Batwa traditional hunting skills. Later head back to the park’s headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate and transfer back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu for a Boat Cruise.
Transfer to Lake Kivu & Boat Cruise: Wake up early in the morning and have your breakfast. Link up with your guide/driver and transfer to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi town in Rwanda. Lake Kivu is the largest fresh water lake in Rwanda and it is also shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The lake hosts over 780 species of birds including the Chin-spot Batis, Cardinal Wood pecker, Bronzed Sunbird, African Pied Wagtail, the Common Waxbill and Tropical Boubou among others; all of which you can sight while on a boat cruise on the lake. You can also explore some of the islands on the lake and fishing villages during your boat cruise. You can choose to have lunch by the lakeside at one of the local restaurants in Gisenyi, or drive back to your lodge for lunch. Spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing at the beach or you can explore more of Gisenyi town.
Dinner and overnight at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.
Day 4: Transfer Back to Kigali.
Transfer Back to Kigali: After a hearty breakfast in the morning, check out of your hotel and drive back to Kigali city. Depending on your departure flight schedule, you can choose to embark on another tour of Kigali city where you will visit sites that you haven’t yet toured. Later have your guide/driver drop you off at any hotel of your choice in Kigali city or directly at the airport. End of Tour.
