This 17 days safari will take you to the take you to the three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo known for harboring the remaining endangered mountain gorillas. You will visit over five national parks in all countries, you will also encounter culture like the Batwa. You will spot different attractions including the big five such as gorillas, golden monkeys, chimpanzees, rhinos among others. The tour will start from Rwanda and end in Kampala/Entebbe in Uganda.
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali airport and transfer to Volcanoes national park.
Our driver guide will pick you from Kigali international airport and take you to visit Kigali city in places such as local markets, Gisozi genocide site, and later hit a road trip northwards to volcanoes national park in Musanze province. Upon your arrival you will check in the lodge for dinner and overnight
Accommodation option: Volcanoes lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Muhabura hotel
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Ibyiwacu Cultural encounter.
Setoff with the required trekking attire and packed lunch after your breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a short briefing which will may take 30 minutes before continuing to trek the endangered species. Here a park ranger will tell you the dos and don’ts while trekking mountain gorillas. You will trek the forest in search for these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. Trekking takes 2 to 6 hours depending on the movements of the gorillas, you will have an hour to interact with the gorillas as you take photos. You will have cultural experience after your lunch at Ibyiwacu cultural village to learn about the Kinyarwanda culture.
Accommodation option: Volcanoes lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Muhabura hotel
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking and visit to Lake Kivu.
You will have breakfast in the morning and head for golden monkey trekking, you will also encounter other primates such as olive baboons, Columbus monkeys among others. In the afternoon after your lunch, you will transfer to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi. Have an en route visit Murambi genocide memorial site and proceed to Lake Kivu to relax along the lake shores
Accommodation options: Lake Kivu Serena hotel, Palm gardens resort, Paradise Marahide
Day 4: Boat ride and Nyamirundi Island tour.
Embark on a boat ride along Lake Kivu after you have had breakfast at the lodge. This lake is the largest fresh water lake offering travelers a relaxing environment while on their safari in Rwanda. Later after lunch you will embark on tour of Nyamirundi Island, you will learn about coffee planting, harvesting and processing. In the evening you will dine and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation options: Lake Kivu Serena hotel, Palm gardens resort, Paradise Marahide
Day 5: Transfer to Congo and Mount Nyiragongo hike.
After your delicious breakfast early in the morning you will cross over to Congo and drive to Kibati village where hiking starts from. In the afternoon, you will reach the top for relax and overnight
Day 6: Descend mount Nyiragongo and transfer to Kigali.
In the morning you will descend the volcano after your breakfast and straight away head back to Rwanda. Drive to Kigali for a grand city tour in historical places like the national museum, the genocide memorial center among others, local markets, craft markets among others.
Accommodation options: Kigali Serena Hotel/ Flame Tree Village/Murugo Hostel
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi and boat ride.
Early morning after your breakfast, you will transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale Uganda. The journey will offer you with sights and sounds of the beautiful terrain of the rolling hills with terraced landscape. Upon your arrival in Bunyonyi, you will have lunch and later carry out an afternoon boat ride on the lake which will reward you with sights of different birds on the many small islands on the lake. Dinner and overnight in any accommodation of your choice.
Accommodation options: Arcadia Cottages/ Bunyonyi Overland Resort/Supreme Adventure Park
Day 8: Transfer and relax in Bwindi national park.
After a relaxed breakfast, you have a road trip to Bwindi via the Kabale region commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa. Upon reaching the park, you will have lunch and then spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at your lodge as you are preparing for your gorilla trek the next morning. Dinner and overnight stay any accommodation.
Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge/ Buhoma Haven lodge/ Buhoma Community Campsite
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Batwa cultural encounter.
Wake up to an early breakfast at your hotel then proceed with your guide with packed lunch to the Bwindi National Park headquarters offices for a short briefing about how to conduct yourself during gorilla trekking adventure. You will then enter the impenetrable forest in search for the rare gentle giants. After an hour with gentle giants while observing and learning their behavior as you are taking photos, return to the Camp for dinner and overnight
Accommodation options: Buhoma Lodge/ Buhoma Haven lodge/ Buhoma Community Campsite
Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elisabeth national park.
After breakfast, you will departure for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enter the park via Ishasha sector the famously known for the rare tree climbing lions. Have lunch at Ishasha river lodge as you spot the hippos in the Ishasha River. You may also view attractions like Uganda kob, buffaloes, elephants, leopards and topis on the plains of the area. Proceed to Mweya for dinner and overnight stay
Accommodation options: Mweya safari lodge/Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Simba safari lodge
Day 11: Morning game drive and launch cruise.
After your breakfast, head for the morning game drive in Kasenyi areas to search for different games you missed out the previous day. Later visit the Katwe explosion craters. You will see Kitagata Lake and the huge Kamengo Crater and this will give you clear view of different game around the Park. Set off for a boat cruise in the afternoon along the Kazinga Channel where you will be rewarded with wildlife sights of species like Crocodiles, Hippopotamuses, Waterbucks and a variety of Water Birds like the falcons, black bee- eater and the raptors. Dinner and overnight stay
Accommodation options: Mweya safari lodge/Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Simba safari lodge
Day 12: Transfer to Kibale national park and nature walk.
After breakfast, you will leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park which is the most popular area for Chimpanzee tracking, home of 13 primates and also a good habitat for a lot of bird species and other mammal species. En route to the Park you will enjoy a game drive that will expose you to different wildlife species such as Elephants, Buffalos, and Uganda Kob and if you are lucky, you can also see the leopard, Hyena, Lions and perhaps the Giant Forest Hog. And also pass through Kasenda craters where you will view a number of craters which are over 50. Reach Kibale in the afternoon where you will check in to your lodge and later go for the evening nature walk around the Lodge it maybe a community walk, forest walk or tea plantation visits.
Dinner overnight at Primate lodge/Chimpanzee Guest house/Kibale Forest Camp
Day 13: Chimpanzee trekking and swamp walk
Upon having breakfast in the morning at the lodge, you will go for the life time Chimpanzee tracking experience in their natural environment. You will first report at Kanyachu information center for a briefing about the chimp trackers code of conduct by a UWA official and then later go for the morning chimpanzee tracking experience.
You will enter into the forest under the guidance of an armed park ranger for the tracking. Other than the mighty chimpanzees, one can also view numerous primates which may include: Vervet Monkey, L’hoest, Blue Monkey, Red-Tailed Monkey, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Black and White Colobus Monkey and many more. Return back to the lodge for Lunch and later go for the afternoon Bigodi swamp walk to search for different bird species like the great blue turacco
Dinner overnight at Primate lodge/Chimpanzee Guest house/Kibale Forest Camp
Day 14: Transfer to Murchison falls national park.
You will transfer to Murchison falls National Park after relaxed breakfast and have an enroute lunch in Hoima town. The road trip will reward you with amazing views of the magnificent scenery as you drive through the traditional homesteads and farms of bananas on your way to Murchison. Upon reaching Masindi town in the evening, you will proceed to the Park for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Paraa Safari Lodge/ Sambiya River Lodge/Red chill campsite
Day 15: Game drive and game cruise on river Nile.
You will set out for game drive on the northern sector of the Park after an early breakfast. Searching for the elusive animals return to their dens animals like Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs, baboons, Giraffes, Water bucks, bush bucks and so on. You may see a leopard on a lucky day.
This activity can take like 4-5 hours and this is the longest game drive in all national parks in Uganda. Re embark to your lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will set out for the launch cruise along the Albert Nile where you will enjoy the cruise and expect to spot animals like hippos, crocodiles, African elephants, Oribis, buffalos and the wonderful bottom of the falls.
Accommodation options: Paraa Safari Lodge/ Sambiya River Lodge/Red chill campsite
Day 16: Chimpanzee trekking and Visit the top of Murchison falls.
After breakfast, you will go for chimpanzee tracking in Kaniyo Pabidi area in Budongo Forest. There are a number of chimpanzees as well as other primates such as olive baboons, red tailed monkeys among others. Have lunch at Kaniyo Pabidi and in the afternoon, visit the top of the falls where you will be rewarded with sights and sound on the Albert Nile crashing through the chasm making a thunderous roaring sound.
Accommodation options: Paraa Safari Lodge/ Sambiya River Lodge/Red chill campsite
Day 17: Transfer to Kampala/ Entebbe airport and stop over at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.
After breakfast, you will transfer back to Kampala and stopping at ziwa rhino Sanctuary for another great experience. You will trek the only rhinos in Uganda and have an en-route lunch at this place. Later proceed to Kampala/Entebbe, drop off will be at your Hotel or at the Airport for your travel back home that will mark the end of the trip.