12 Days Congo, Rwanda and Uganda Safari
This 12 Days Congo, Rwanda and Uganda safari package offers you the opportunity to explore all three countries with main highlights being lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park and finally gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park.
Highlights for 12 Days Congo, Rwanda and Uganda Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali city tour
Day 2: Transfer to cross DR. Congo – Bukavu
Day 3: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park – Canopy walkway
Day 5: Isumo water falls hike and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 6: Explore Lake Kivu – transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 7; Golden Monkeys or Dian Fossey hike
Day 8: Ibyi’wacu community village tour – Cross to Uganda via Cyanika border
Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi
Day 10: Transfer to Kibale national park via Ishasha sector
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi swamp walk
Day 12: Transfer back to Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary for 12 Days Congo Rwanda and Uganda Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali city tour
Upon arrival at Kigali airport or depending on your location in Kigali, meet your safari driver to explore Kigali city. Visit the Kigali genocide memorial site, Kandt museum with en-route lunch and drive around Kigali city, visit the Kigali hill and the Kimoronko market. Return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation.
Day 2: Transfer to cross DR. Congo – Bukavu
After breakfast, meet your safari driver to transfer to Bukavu. It’s about 7-8 hours’ drive through the Nyungwe forest national park with amazing views of the rolling hill in Rusizi with stopovers for lunch and refreshments. Cross through Cyangugu border after finalizing with the immigration process and proceed to Bukavu town, which is the nearest town to Kahuzi Biega National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. Upon arrival at Bukavu town, connect to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo
In the morning, you will head for the memorable adventure of tracking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park. Tracking lowland Gorillas is very amazing, lowland Gorillas differ from mountain gorillas, the lowland gorillas are bigger in size, usually takes 1-4 hours to track the lowland Gorillas. The lowland Gorillas stay in bigger families as compared to mountain gorillas; you will not regret the safari effort once you meet the amazing Gorillas! Later in the afternoon drive back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel as above.
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park – Canopy walkway
After breakfast at your hotel, check-out and cross back to Rwanda. It’s about 3 hours’ drive from Bukavu to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Connect to first check-in at your lodge fir lunch.
Later afternoon, connect for the 2 pm canopy walk experience. You will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees; you will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving below you. Proceed to check-in your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay
Day 5: Isumo water falls hike and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After having breakfast, connect to enter the forest on a forest walk to the waterfalls, you will encounter different birds and other primates, reaching the waterfalls is relaxing and refreshing with great views of the forested mountain.
Return from the hike and transfer to Lake Kivu with wonderful views of the hills in Rwanda, it’s a 4 hours’ drive given the nature of the road. Upon arrival, connect to check-in, relax, chill and have dinner.
Day 6: Explore Lake Kivu – transfer to Volcanoes national park
After breakfast, meet your driver to explore a bit of Gisenyi and take a boat trip on Lake Kivu. Later afternoon, drive to transfer to Volcanoes National Park, which is a 2 hours’ drive with sightseeing of the rolling hills of Rwanda. Upon arrival in Musanze, visit the Dian Fossey museum and the Ellen DeGeneres campus. Check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7; Golden Monkeys or Dian Fossey hike
Either go for Golden monkey trekking – After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing and later enter the forest and hike while in search of the golden monkeys. Tracking the golden monkeys rewards views of other primates such as the black and white Colobus monkeys, Olive baboons among others.
Or, choose to do Dian Fossey hike – after breakfast, connect for Dian Fossey hike. The hike rewards with visit of Dian Fossey graveyard and her home in Karisimbi. Return to your lodge with en-route Dian Fossey museum tour then connect back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 8: Ibyi’wacu community village tour – Cross to Uganda via Cyanika border
After breakfast, connect to visit Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through the provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development, and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies, and a guided community walk.
After the tour, have transfer to Cyanika border to cross to Uganda. Have en-route in Kisoro then connect to your booked lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience
Enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for briefing by the ranger guides and later head into the forest for your trek. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. These primates roam the park freely and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular day. On finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates, enjoy your lunch packs and meet your driver / guide and transfer back to your lodge. The time after trekking can be spent on a village tour or lazing off at the lodge as you savoir the memories of your gorilla trek in Bwindi and prepare for the next day. Dinner and overnight at Lodge as above
Day 10: Transfer to Kibale national park via Ishasha sector
After breakfast, transfer to Kibale National Park. It’s a 5-7 hours’ drive with en-route game drive in Ishasha sector for chances of seeing the tree climbing lions and en-route lunch. Proceed to Kibale National Park with en-route crater lakes tours. Upon arrival, check-in for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Bigodi swamp walk
Have breakfast very early and later transfer to the park head office for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees and later enter the forest with the guidance of a park ranger along with your tracking gears, packed water and snacks. This tracking takes about 2-5 hours in search of the chimpanzees. On finding the primates, you will spend 1 hour viewing them while studying their behavior and taking pictures. After tracking, return to the lodge for lunch and refresh.
Later afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds. Spectacular birds like Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek will be of great interest to birders. The swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope. There is also the opportunity to visit local community projects that have been financed by tourism. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.
Day 12: Transfer back to Entebbe
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet with the guide/driver and transfer to Entebbe. This journey takes 6-7 hours with an en-route lunch. Arrive in Entebbe, you will either be dropped off at your hotel or at Entebbe International Airport, as you will advise.
