Overview
The 10 days Uganda, Rwanda and Congo safari takes you to one of the East African iconic places to trek the mountain gorillas, and chimpanzees, take a game drive, boat cruises and hot air ballooning tour in the savannahs and hike Mt Nyiragongo which is one of the most active Volcanoes in the world.
The tour combines nature and Wildlife since different sceneries will be enjoyed hence great for photographers, and hikers. The safari will begin in Kampala/Entebbe Uganda and it will end in Kigali Rwanda.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1. Kampala to Kibale National park
The driver guide dressed in our company uniform will pick you up from an agreed point like Entebbe or Kampala and he will take you to the home of 13 primates that is Kibale National Park known as the primate capital of the world. The journey takes about a 6-hour drive accompanied by great scenery of the rolling hills, tea estates, banana plantations and the Rwenzori mountain ranges. Arrive and head to the lodge for your leisure as you prepare for your dinner.
Day 2. Chimpanzee tracking, Isunga community walk (boda boda tour) and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wake up and have your breakfast of your choice and then drive to the park offices to receive a briefing. The exercise involves learning about the rules and regulations you can follow while in the forest such as feeding wild animals is not recommended, use of a slash light camera is not allowed, responding to chimpanzees is not allowed, keeping a distance of about 8 meters is highly appreciated and many more.
Also, during this time, be placed in a group of fellow tourists to trek with, crosschecking the trekking permits and many more others. Begin the experience while walking in the forest as you meet other attractions like varvet monkeys, colobus monkeys, Grey checked mangabeys, birds like the blue turaco, black and white colobus monkeys and more.
As you walk in the forest, have a chance to meet a group of chimpanzees playing, breastfeeding, searching for food and performing their daily Work. Spend an hour in their presence and return to the lodge for lunch followed by a community walk in Isunga which takes you to explore different crops grown at the edge of Kibale National Park and the crater lakes.
Proceed and head to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is the most visited national park in the country. Arrive and be welcomed with animals as you head to the booked lodge.
Day 3. Game drive and boat cruise
Take a morning game drive to get a chance to spot the early raisers like spotted hyenas, lions, leopards, jackals and other mammals that will highlight the day will be elephants, buffalos, baboons, warthogs, Uganda kobs and other different antelopes and more.
The birds such as the ground hornbill, ibis, vultures and more will also be seen. A boat cruise will follow after lunch where you will encounter animals such as Uganda kobs, duikers, waterbucks, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, buffalos and many more. The boat cruise lasts for 2 hours and is conducted on the Kazinga channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward.
Day 4. Head to Bwindi National Park via Ishasha sector
Leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and head to Bwindi National Park a world UNESCO heritage site known for homing almost half of the remaining mountain gorilla populations. These gorillas can be located in four sectors and these are Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga and Buhoma which is the oldest sector hence most liked by the trekkers.
The journey is covered with great scenic that change from the savannahs to forest areas. Pass through the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park to have a chance to spot the tree-climbing lions. Arrive and check in the booked accommodation for your dinner.
Day 5. Gorilla trekking experience
Have breakfast such as a cup of coffee, pack well and head to the park offices where you will receive a briefing about today’s gorilla trekking adventure. The briefing will cover aspects like crosschecking the gorilla trekking permits, allocations of the gorilla group, assigning the park ranger and escorts, hiring a porter and knowing the rules and regulations to follow such as not feeding wild animals, keeping a distance from the gorillas and many more others.
Begin the search with the help of the park ranger guide who will take you into a deep understanding of the ecological system of this forest. On meeting the gorilla family, spend an hour in their presence capturing photos of great memories but the whole experience lasts for about 5 hours. After the great adventure, head to the lodge for your lunch.
Day 6. Cross to Kigali and transfer to Akagera National Park
Leave Bwindi National Park and cross to Rwanda via the Katuna border post and here, the driver guide will help you to pass through the immigration offices. After reaching Kigali, have lunch at one of the local restaurants and then proceed to Akagera National Park the savannah park in Rwanda known for homing the rare shoebill stork and the African big five animals. Head to the booked lodge for your dinner.
Day 7. Explore Akagera National Park
This day is created to explore Akagera National Park by taking part in three main activities and these are game drive, hot air ballooning and boat cruise. The hot air ballooning tour gives a panoramic view of the surroundings and the boat cruise offers a great spot for the water-loving animals and birds. Each experience lasts for 2 hours but is of great memory.
Day 8. Cross to DR Congo and head to Goma/Virunga National Park
Leave Akagera national park in the morning and head to Virunga National Park/Goma town in DR Congo for another great adventure. The journey takes you through the savannahs and then into the rolling mountains of Virunga massif lasting for about 6 hours. Arrive and have an optional tour in Goma town where you can visit the religious sites, local markets and more.
Day 9. Hike Mt Nyiragongo
Head to the park offices for registration, hire a porter and acquire all the requirements that you might need while trekking. The trek will begin to enjoy the adventure on Mt Nyiragongo, one of the most active Volcanoes. Have high chances of spotting mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and more.
The hike will take about 6 to 7 hours with a picnic lunch and the summit over a view of a dramatic lava lake boiling. Descent the camp where you will spend a night.
Day 10. Descend, transfer back to Kigali and fly back home
Descend more for about 3 hours, transfer back to Kigali and be dropped off at the Kigali International Airport to fly back home and this will mark the end of the safari.