Gorillas on the 4th of July Safari
Duffle & Compass Exclusive 2009 Safari
This 12-day private safari to Rwanda and Uganda was escorted by founder Carol Oken with private guides and specialist guides July 1-12, 2009 and can be custom-tailored for you.
Beginning in Kigali, Rwanda, The Land of a Thousand Hills, this adventure traces the western Rift Valley from the Virunga Volcanoes to the Rwenzori Mountains. This is the only place in the world where mountain gorillas live. You will be sitting in the misty forests with some of the last of the estimated 700 remaining of these gentle giants. Our route heads to Uganda, where we’ll track the fast-moving chimpanzees, visit the endangered golden monkeys and do a bit of birding. We’ll search for the tree-climbing lions in the ancient fig trees in Ishasha and likely see elephant, buffalo, hippo and much more along the way.
Day 1 Kigali, Rwanda
Upon arrival at Kigali Airport we will be met and transferred to the Serena Hotel. Dr. Tony Mudakikwa from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project will join us for dinner tonight.
Day 2 Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda
We will visit the Genocide Memorial in Kigali this morning before departing for Parc National des Volcans (PNV). The journey north goes through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape, gradually climbing to the base of the awesome volcanoes, sometimes with as many as five peaks visible.
We will check into the Virunga Lodge, set on a hillside with 360-degree views of the Virunga volcanoes and the Lakes Bulera and Ruhondo. This solar-powered eco-lodge was conceived and built to be in harmony with this fragile environment. We’ll have dinner and retire to our bandas. Tonight’s sleep may be filled with dreams of anticipation of coming face to face with the largest and most powerful primate on earth. Gorillas are peaceful and sociable and the experience of seeing them in the wild is something many dream of, but only a few will ever do. Count your lucky stars!
Day 3
This morning we meet our expert local guides and trackers for trekking formalities before hiking into the forest to see the rarest of all gorillas, the endangered mountain gorillas. We will start tracking them from where they were seen the night before. The trekking can take from one to five hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery along with the anticipation of our quest seem to lessen the trekking effort. 
Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. After locating our assigned group, we will spend one hour in their company before retracing our steps down the volcano. Dr. Katie Fawcett, from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Director of the Karisoke Research Center will join us for dinner.
Day 4
After breakfast and the now familiar trekking formalities, we will re-enter the forest to visit another of the five habituated gorilla families in this park. Veronica Vecello, Karisoke Gorilla Program Coordinator will join one of our tracking groups today. As we sit there we may recall what Dian Fossey wrote to Louis Leakey, "I just about burst open with happiness every time I get within one or two feet of them."
Day 5 To Southern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
This morning you can relax or visit Dian Fossey's memorial at the Karisoke Research
Center on the slopes of the Bisoke Volcano where she carried out her studies on the mountain gorillas for 18 years. The publication of her book, “Gorillas in the Mist,” brought her world-wide fame and much support for plight of the mountain gorillas. She was murdered in her cabin at Karisoke in December, 1985. She is buried near Digit, her favorite gorilla. After lunch we will leave for Bwindi. We will stay at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge for two nights.
Day 6 
This morning those who purchased a third gorilla permit will track the Nkuringo group of gorillas. Others will participate in a community visit. This afternoon we will visit a women's basket weaving. Later we will enjoy sundowners from high on a ridge near the lodge.
Day 7 Queen Elizabeth National Park
This morning we depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. This will be a day-long transfer (approximately a seven hour drive) routed via Ishasha, home of the tree climbing lion, or the alternative route through cultivated expanses. Once we have arrived and settled in, we will go for an evening game drive. The wide biodiversity of habitats here means that it is home to almost 100 types of mammal and over 600 different birds. We will stay for the next three nights at Mweya Lodge.
Day 8 
Today we’ll go for an early morning guided walk with an armed ranger to seek out lions, warthogs, buffalo, Sitatunga antelope, giant forest hog, topi, waterbuck, elephant, and more. Later we’ll take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel where the wildlife and a vast array of birds come to drink. This waterway is said to contain the world's largest concentration of hippos.
Day 9 Kyambura Gorge
Today we’ll set off on an excursion to the nearby Kyambura gorge to track the fast moving and elusive chimpanzees, one of man's closest relations. This is real Tarzan territory with thick treetop canopies and vines dangling down to the soft forest floor. The chimpanzees crash about and chatter high up in the branches. They are quite mobile and viewing is unpredictable but the walk is enchanting.
Day 10 To Kibale Forest
Today we’ll head north to Kibale Forest. This rainforest is home to 13 primate species including the very red colobus and L'Hoest's monkey. The trails provide a delight to botanists,birders and butterfly lovers. After we settle in at the Ndali Primate Lodge we will take a guided hike to the banana and vanilla plantations in the area.
Day 11
Today we’ll track the noisy chimps and other primates crashing around through the high canopy of the Kibale Forest with colorful birds squawking nearby. After a picnic lunch, we’ll explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a haven for birds, butterflies and a number of primates. We’ll learn about the community development projects being financed by tourism.
Day 12 To Entebbe
We’ll start off early towards Kampala driving through this green and beautiful country. After a picnic lunch en route, we’ll arrive at the Windsor Hotel where day rooms are reserved for our use. Later we’ll be transferred to Entebbe for our international departure.
Contact Duffle & Compass to custom-tailor this itinerary for you.
