Early in the morning you will depart for gorilla trekking tour. The Eastern Lowland Gorillas live in a small national park called Kahuzi Biega National Park. The national park is named after the 2 extinct volcanoes, Kahuzi and Biega which dominate the park with summits at around 2600 meter above sea level. One of the last remaining groups of Eastern Lowland gorillas can be seen here. There is estimation that there are only 250 individuals remaining in this national park.
The lowland gorillas should not be confused with their relatives the mountain gorillas. The main difference in appearance is the size and type of hair. The Eastern lowland gorillas are the largest gorilla’s in the world. Kahuzi Biega is the last remaining protected area where these magnificent creatures live and is on the UNESCO world heritage list.
When trekking the gorillas, you will be able to approach them at short range and you will spend one hour with them and you are able to take pictures but without flash. Besides the habitat of the Lowland gorillas, Kahuzi – Biega is also an important endemic bird area with an impressive list of 349 species of which 42 are endemic species. If that is not enough, the stunning landscapes will provide unique photo moments. Depending on what time you finish your Gorilla tracking you can go for the optional activity of visiting the Lwiro Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre.
After the amazing encounters with the Lowland Gorillas you will drive back to Bukavu. Here you can relax or do optional activities like a boat ride on Lake Kivu or take a stroll along the lake side. In the evening you will enjoy a lovely meal at Orchids safari club.
The guide will take you to the harbor of Bukavu where you will board the day boat to Gisenyi. This boat ride is a nice relaxing opportunity to see Lake Kivu and its small islands to Paradise Malahide a relaxing lake and rolling hills ideally situated in an area of unparalleled natural splendor. The lodge located just seven kilometres from downtown Gisenyi, this beautiful space provides the perfect escape.
In the morning you will enjoy your breakfast with the breath-taking view overlooking the crater before you descend. Your driver/guide will drive you to Kisoro in the south-western part of Uganda. You will then continue to Mutanda Lake resort where you will have lunch.
Mutanda Lake Resort is spectacularly located on a private peninsula stretching into Lake Mutanda. With small islands dotting the surrounding lake and a backdrop of misty volcanoes in nearby Rwanda and DR Congo this setting never fails to impress visitors. The resort is a perfect place to enjoy a sun downer watching otters visiting the shore, or to cuddle up next to the fire place. The cottages are built on a wooden platform, each with private veranda and en-suite bathroom.
The following day after breakfast we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking tours. Ready with your hiking boots, rain gears, sun glasses, skin repellent, a hut, lunch box and drinking water, proceed to the park headquarters for briefing about the gorilla rules and the forest. The rangers will then accompany you to the starting point of your trek to search for the gentle giants. The en-counter tends to take 2 to 8 hours depending on the gorilla movements and one hour is availed to you to have a direct touch with the gorillas.
Trekking can involve some rigorous climbing and hiking, but then when you look straight face to face in the eyes of a mountain gorilla, all the fatigue is gone, observing them for 1 hour just a few meters from you is a great experience of a lifetime. The young gorillas are very playful and are at times not aware of the 7m rule thus can try to draw closer to even touching on your body. After your one hour with gorillas, return to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate and connect to Lake Mutanda for dinner and overnight. The driver will take you to Kigali airport in Rwanda in time for your international flight home.