VACATION DETAILS

This park, 15 mi/25 km east of Gisenyi, protects the Rwandan portion of the spectacular Virunga Mountains, which straddle the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Virunga is not a mountain range in the normal sense of the word but rather a chain of isolated freestanding volcanic cones strung along a fault line in the Rift Valley. Sometimes also referred to as the Birunga or Bufumbira Mountains, the chain is composed of six inactive and two active volcanoes, all of which exceed 9,840 ft/3,000 m in altitude. The tallest are Karisimbi (14,783 ft/4,507 m), Mikeno (14,553 ft/4,437 m) and Muhabura (13,537 ft/4,127 m).

Few national parks in Africa can be explored on foot, but this park north of Ruhengeri offers a reward worth the hike through its dramatically beautiful, albeit rough terrain: the chance to observe a family of mountain gorillas, the rarest—and largest—of the four gorilla subspecies. About 700 mountain gorillas live in the wild (roughly half of them in Rwanda), and naturalists have habituated seven of the 20-odd families in this park to the presence of tourist observers. Many people regard visiting these gentle giants (up to 485 lbs/220 kg) in their natural habitat to be the single most-extraordinary wildlife experience in the world. The park can be accessed on organized gorilla-tracking tours, which are limited to seven groups of eight people daily. Gorilla-tracking permits cost US$500 per person in cash (including park entrance fees but not transportation and lodging) and should be booked as far in advance as possible.

Other activities include a visit to a habituated troop of golden monkeys (an endangered bamboo-eater whose range is essentially restricted to the Virungas), as well as day or overnight hikes to the various volcanic peaks and a day trip to Dian Fossey's grave at her former research center high in the misty mountains. As a precaution, armed soldiers accompany each tour.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a national park located in southwestern Uganda, at the junction of the plain and mountain forests. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a biodiversity hotspot that is believed to hold the greatest number of tree species for its altitude in East Africa as well as almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. It is also home to many types of butterflies and birds, as well as endangered species.

The star attractions of Uganda's Kibale National Park are the 13 species of primates, including some 1,500 chimpanzees, the most recorded in any African forest. Kibale contains varied tropical forest with patches of grassland and swamp, containing over 375 species of birds and 351 tree species. Kibale National Park adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park and is one of the most wildlife-filled and rewarding destinations to visit.

A Ugandan national park, it is the largest wildlife reserve in Uganda protecting 4 of the 'Big 5 ' animals most dangerous to hunt. The Murchison Falls Conservation Area comprises of the Murchison Falls National Park, Bungugu, and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserve abundant by the surrounding savannah, vegetation, riverine forest, and the woodlands. It is home to approximately 450 species of birds and 76 species of mammals. The Victoria Nile splits into 2 rivers. These rapids stretch into the valley floor and visitors can be greeted by hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds on the way to Lake Albert.

Entebbe is a large town located in central Uganda near Lake Victoria. Uganda's largest airport, Entebbe International Airport, is located in Entebbe, as well as the official residence of the President of Uganda.