Another itinerary post for Uganda/Rwanda

Hi everyone,

I will be heading to Uganda in February and have come up with an itinerary, so that I know when to book my gorilla permit. It is as follows:

Jan. 30- Arrive 8pm, night in Kampala
Jan. 31 - Kampala
Feb. 1-2 - Murchison Falls tour with Red Chili or Backpackers
Feb. 3-4 - Have tour drop my off in Padidi for chimp habituation
Feb. 5 - bus (or hopefully tour will pick me back up) to Kampala
Fe. 6 - bus to Ft. Portal
Feb. 7-9 Kibale National Park
Feb. 10 - private driver for QENP - drive through crater area, do boat launch, sleep Myewa
Feb. 11 - QENP - early AM game drive, then down to Ishasha
Feb. 12 - Ishasha game drive and then private transport to Lake Bunyoni
Feb. 13 - Lake Bunyoni
Feb. 14 - bus to Kisoro/Mgahinga
Feb. 15 - Mgahinga to track Golden Monkeys
Feb. 16 - cross border and on to Ruhengeri (bus)
Feb. 17 - Gorilla tracking
Feb. 18-19 - Gisenyi (bus)
Feb. 20-21 Kigali (bus)
Feb. 22- Bus back to Kampala
Feb. 23-25 buffer days with expectation that things will go awry somewhere. If not, head to Jinja and/or Ngamba!!
Feb. 26 Fly home 1:30am

Any comments and suggestions welcomed. My primary interest in this trip is to see primates. My questions are as follows:

1. Suggestions/prices for a private driver for the 3 days from Fort Portal, QENP, on to Lake Bunyoni. How far in advance to book?
2. Anyone done the chimp habituation in Padidi? How was it?
3. Am I missing anyplace for good primate viewing, or not giving myself enough time somewhere?
4. For some of the shorter trips (ie Lake Bunyoni to Kisoro, or Kisoro to Ruhengeri) is it possible to get a private taxi and about how much would it cost?
5. Thoughts on Mgahinga? It seems like a good way to break trip up, but would it be better to press on and track Golden Monkeys in Rwanda?
6. Am I going to be on buses way too much?
7. I'd like to relax in Gisenyi after gorilla tracking, but may schedule it before, in case something comes up, so I don't miss day of gorilla tracking. Do I really need to have the permit down to the exact day, or can I give a range?

Thanks in advance for reading/responding to this. I have pored over this forum and received so much wonderful info.

Brandi

Hi, I did a very similar trip in 2007.

1. We rented a car from Kabarole tours from Fort Portal to QENP and Ishasha. The driver left us somewhere between Ishasha and Bunyonyi, then we took a bus/car to Bunyonyi. I can't remember the price: we arrived at FP from Kampala, arranged the trip, went for 3 days to crater lakes with public transport and then went back to FP and left from there with the car.
   Kabarole also organized a guide for a very nice hike across the foothills of Rwenzori from FP to Bundibugyo: we slept there and came back to FP the following morning with a bus.

2. No

3. We saw chimpanzees in QENP in Kyambura Gorge. Very easy to get there from Mweya if you have your car. I don't know about Padidi, but I enjoyed very much Kyambura Gorge.

4. Yes, we went from Bunyonyi to Kisoro and Mgahinga with a private taxi. Don't remember the price.

5. I haven't been to Rwanda. We spent one day (two nights) in Mgahinga and enjoyed it. Very quiet, not much to do except walking: the hike to the top of Mt Mgahinga is great, even under the rain.

6. Our trip was similar to yours and we spent a lot of time on taxis and buses (14 hrs from Kisoro to Kampala, getting stuck in the mud a few hours!), but enjoyed it anyway.

Ciao

Brandi ,

Looks like a really great and fun trip. Lived in the area for quite some time, here's my advice:

1. Can hook you up with a drivers number if needed for the QENP/LB part. Suggest you take a taxi from Fort Portal to Kasesse and meet there. Worked with him on 3 trips. Great and reliable safari guide. You can do that (FP - QENP - LB) trip in a 'normal' car (if you want to save some money). The QENP Hostel is good value for just sleeping, leave the canteen and go have a look on the lodges' menu card with spectacular views. Make sure you do the boattrip in the Kazinga channel so you don't miss out on hippo's, elephants, buffalo's, crocs and birds.
2. Primate viewing in Kyambura Gorge (hope I spelled that rite ;)) for me was just as unfortunate as Kibale Forest. 1 chimp, far far away. Bad luck, I guess. Thing is, Kyuambura Gorge is in the QENP, relatively easy to combine with the tree climbing lions in Ishasha. Much more compact and maybe a bit more on the route.
   If you want to relax, you might want to spend a day extra at Lake Bunyoni.
3. Gorilla permits are for 1 day and that particular day only.
   Gisenyi is alright, if you like dust. No much to see there except for the brewery and the Goma (DRC) border post , check DRC for a day to see a different kind of Africa (if possible and safe).

Question: are you going low-budget? If you want to I can take a closer look at your initiary. Just drop me a message.

Enjoy your trip!!