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Be front and centre of a real-life Gorillas in the Mist scene on our epic pre-conference tour of Uganda. Climaxing with a spine-tingling encounter with mountain gorillas, the journey also includes up-close experiences with wild chimpanzees. Visit the chimpanzee sanctuary on Lake Victoria’s Ngamba Island, see troops of chimps swinging through the treetops at Kibale National Park – and pay your respects to genocide victims in Rwanda.

Day 1

Australia - Entebbe

Arrive in Entebbe and check in to your hotel, spectacularly situated on the shores of Lake Victoria.

 

Day 2

Entebbe

This morning, we take to the water on a speedboat, zipping across Lake Victoria to Ngamba Island to meet the resident chimpanzees. The densely forested island has been a chimpanzee sanctuary for more than 20 years, providing a haven for about 50 orphaned chimps and those rescued from the illegal pet and bushmeat trades. See these curious creatures at feeding time, hear about efforts to save them from extinction and learn how they share 98 per cent of their DNA with humans.

In the afternoon, enjoy free time to relax at the hotel or explore Entebbe and Lake Victoria at your own pace.

Day 3

Entebbe - Kibale

From lakeside to mountaintop – today we drive to Kibale National Park in south-east Uganda. Enjoy the journey as we pass through verdant forests, tea plantations and villages, snatching glimpses of turquoise crater lakes that dot the landscape.

On a clear day, you can see the imposing outline of the Rwenzori Mountains, known as the Mountains of the Moon.

Day 4

Kibale

You had a brief chimpanzee introduction on Ngamba Island, today we will see them in the wild during a hike deep into the national park. Follow a knowledgeable guide through the forest, listening for animal calls as we track a troop of chimps.

When we find them, spend an hour observing the chimps up close. See them swing through the treetops and frolic on the forest floor and notice how they communicate and forage for food.

In the afternoon, stroll through the Bigodi Wetlands, a birder’s paradise boasting 138 bird species, including the great blue turaco. The swamp is also home to a variety of monkeys, mongoose, bush pigs, otters and bush bucks.

Day 5

Kibale - Bwindi

Today heralds another great African drive to Bwindi. Enroute we’ll pass through small villages, towns and tea plantations. From the road we’ll get a real sense of daily life in rural Uganda. Arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the evening and check in to the hotel, nestled in the forest.

Day 6

Bwindi

Lace up your hiking boots and get set for a transformative wildlife experience – today we meet the mountain gorillas of Bwindi. There are fewer than 900 of these critically endangered gorillas left in the world and most of them live in the misty forests of the national park.

Nothing prepares you for the moment you first glimpse a gorilla family – their sheer size, soulful eyes and human-like expressions. Stare in wonder at the huge silverbacks, nursing mothers and adorable young and know that you are enjoying one of the world’s great animal encounters.

Day 7

Bwindi - Kigali

Say farewell to Uganda as we drive across the border into Rwanda, arriving in the capital, Kigali.

After lunch, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, established to commemorate the 1994 genocide of the Tutsi minority. See the resting place of the more than 259,000 people killed during the genocide and be moved by stories of survival and reconciliation.

 

Day 8

Kigali - Addis Ababa

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Addis Ababa to join the main conference.

Dr Gary Kilov (1:42)
Dr Asha Nair (1:31)
Dr Ralph Audehm (1:11)