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Mihingo Lodge/Ishasha Wilderness Camp/Lake Buyonyi Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Mountain Gorilla Lodge or Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge or Virungas Volcanoes Lodge/Kigali Serena Hotel

This safari begins with two nights in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, enjoying excellent game-viewing on specially adapted ATV vehicles, followed by two nights in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for it's prolific wildlife, a night in the scenic Kigezi Highlands and two nights in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for two days of gorilla and golden monkey tracking.

Day 1-2: Lake Mburo National Park

Today you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where you will be met for a welcome drink and briefing where after you will be transferred to your hotel to freshen up. Drive west for approximately 5 hours to Lake Mburo National park, where you'll check into Mihingo Lodge.  Accommodation for two nights on a full board basis.

On the second morning we enjoy a game drive by ATV.  These specially silenced vehicles give one the opportunity to approach wildlife up close. Our experienced guides and rangers will ensure that this will be a highlight of your trip.  Alternatively, you can experience the park on horseback; another unique activity for Uganda.

This afternoon, enjoy an optional boat trip on Lake Mburo to view the area's hippo and birdlife population, or laze by the pool overlooking the plains far below.

Day 3-4: Queen Elizabeth National Park

We continue our journey west (approximately 8 hours) to Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Spend two nights at Ishasha Wilderness Camp on a full board basis.

Ishasha is a more remote part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, but one which has a sense of exclusivity.  The game density here is high, and it supports some of the largest herds of elephant anywhere in Uganda.  There is prolific plains game and this means that predators are in attendance. Spotted Hyena and leopard are occasionally sighted.  However, a primate attraction for Ishasha is its' large lion population, and the frequency of sightings is higher here than anywhere else in Uganda.  An added bonus is that they have learned to climb trees to escape the midday heat, and one is usually rewarded by several lions relaxing in a tree.

Day 5: Kigezi Highlands

This morning we drive another 5 hours south to Lake Bunyonyi, situated in the scenic Kigezi Highlands.  Spend one night at Lake Bunyonyi Lodge on a full board basis.

Day 6-7: Volcanoes National Park

We'll drive 6 hours to Ruhengeri (clocks go back one hour) and the Volcanoes National Park.  This drive undulates over Rwanda's picturesque countryside, and as you near the end of your journey, you will 8weather permitting) begin to catch glimpse of the Virungas; a chain of 9 impossibly steep and lofty volcanoes straddling the western branch of the Rift Valley from east to west.  Spend two nights at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Mountain Gorilla Lodge or Volcanoes Virungas Lodge or Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge on a full board basis.

The grand finale of our trip - our encounter with the Mountain Gorilla. Today's activities may be amongst the most exciting and challenging you have undertaken.  The Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda are part of a worldwide population of just 720 individuals.  The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to either one of seven habituated family groups.  For up to five years each, these groups have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild.

After breakfast, head off to the park headquarters at Kinigi to register and have our gorilla family for today allocated to us.  Once this is done, set out by vehicle to the start of the tracking point where we meet up with our guides and porters to begin the track.

The gorillas are by no means tame, and are completely wild animals.  However, experienced guides will accompany you on your tracking, many of whom have been involved in the habituation process themselves.  The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas' habits and information from the previous day to locate the group's whereabouts.

Day 8: Kigali

This morning, we can choose from a number of optional extras, if available at the time of booking; an additional gorilla track, Golden monkey tracking, or hiking to one of several places of interest.  In the afternoon, we travel back to Kigali where we spend our last night at the Kigali Serena Hotel on a full board basis.

Day 9: Depart

Today we depart on our international flight home.