Overview
Take part in this amazing safari to 3 countries in Africa known for their gorilla trekking adventure and these are Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo. This tour combines wildlife, culture, and primates plus nature. Visit Mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda, lowland gorillas in Congo, wildlife including the big five animals, unique birds, plants, and more. During the cultural tours, indulge yourself in the music, dance and drama, traditional meal tasting, storytelling, and more.
Enjoy the different landscapes covered with savannahs, forests, rolling hills, plantations, Crater lakes, and more. This tour, therefore, will involve you in different activities such as primate watching, game drives, boat cruises, Community Tours, rhino tracking, lion tracking, and other optional activities.
Detailed Itinerary
Day1. Head to Kahuzi-Biega National Park from Kigali Rwanda
Pickup by the driver guide and head to Bukavu in DR Congo crossing the Cyangugu border. The journey will be amazing since you pass through the countryside of Rwanda. Arrive and check-in at the lodge. Kahuzi-Biega National Park is one of the unique tourist destinations that is home to the endangered lowland gorillas and these are the biggest among the gorilla species.
Day2. Lowland gorilla trekking
Wake up on breakfast and am very excited to meet the endangered lowland gorillas in their natural habitat. Head to the park offices for briefing an exercise which is very important in learning about the rules and regulations, gorilla behaviors, assignment of the park ranger guide, and more.
Begin the search with the help of the park guide and on meeting a family, take a maximum of an hour following their presence and this will create everlasting memories. The overall experience takes about 8 hours while watching other attractions like primates, birds, plants, butterflies, and more. Return to the lodge for your late lunch, dinner, and overnight.
Day 3. Head back to Kigali and take a city tour
Leave the park after breakfast and check out while traversing through D.R. Congo to Kigali Rwanda. On arrival, take a city tour where notable landmarks such as the local markets, genocide memorial center, art and gallery centers, religious sites, and more. Spend a night at one of the booked hotels in the city.
Day 4. Travel to Volcanoes National Park and cultural encounters
Leave the hotel after a leisurely breakfast and head to Volcanoes National Park. This park is located in the Virunga mountains famously known for homing the endangered mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys.
Arrive and take a community tour by visiting the Ibyiwachu cultural village a place where the Rwandese culture can be explored through practicing conservation efforts. Take part in the traditional music and dances, tasting traditional meals, storytelling sessions, and more. Head to the lodge for your accommodation.
Day 5. Mountain gorillas trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Take part in the mighty gorilla trekking which commences with a briefing by one of the park rangers as they crosscheck gorilla trekking permits. After briefing, begin the walk through the forest searching for these gentle giants that are normally living in groups known as families.
Trekking can even last for 8 hours but this depends on the location of the gorilla family trekked an hour is a great time spent following these gorillas and learning about their behaviors and movements. Later on, have a leisurely evening at the lodge.
Day 6. Transfer to Bwindi National Park in Uganda
Leave Volcanoes National Park and cross to Uganda through the Katuna border, head to Bwindi a home of almost half of the remaining mountain gorillas. This park is a world UNESCO heritage site with a biodiversity of wildlife. Arrive and head to the lodge for your dinner as you enjoy the beautiful landscape.
Day 7. Gorilla trekking and leisure
Like in Volcanoes National Park, head to the park office for briefing and immediately start the trek with the help of the park ranger guide and Porters. Spend an hour in front of these beautiful endangered mountain gorillas. Learn about their behaviors, movements, and more as you capture great photos and record video clips.
Encounter other amazing creatures like monkeys, birds, lush flora, scenic views, and more. Return to the lodge with your trekking certificate followed by options like taking a Batwa community tour.
Day 8. Head to Queen Elizabeth National Park and tree climbing lion tracking
Leave Bwindi and head to the mighty Queen Elizabeth National Park home to the rare tree-climbing lions that can be located in the Ishasha sector. This park is also known for its diverse wildlife, and endless plains hence attracting a large number of tourists both local and international.
Arrive and be in the Ishasha sector for lion trekking, meet these lions in the cactus tree resting or eyeing the prey. Head to the lodge later on for your night stay.
Day 9. Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park (game drive and boat cruise)
Explore the savannahs and waters in Queen Elizabeth National Park by taking part in game drives and boat cruises. The game drive will commence the day and you be expected to meet animals like elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, water bucks, topis, Uganda Kobs, Giant Forest hogs, and more.
In the afternoon, enjoy the beautiful boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, a water body that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. Enjoy different animals like buffalos, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, different birds, and more. This tour will take about 2 hours of extraordinary memories.
Day 10. Head to Kibale National Park and visit the Isunga community
Leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and head to Kibale National Park a home to unique and entertaining 13 primates. The journey is amazing as you encounter the different crater lakes such as the twin lakes of Ndali-Kasenda. Arrive and visit the Isunga cultural community where you go deeper into this haven of biodiversity, where the rhythmic chants of nature guide you to the community.
Here, amidst the warmth of the locals, you’ll delve into the vibrant tapestry of Batooro traditions, savoring every moment of cultural exchange. Enjoy the music and dances, and take a community walk where you get to learn about the way of life of the locals. Enjoy dinner and a night stay at the booked lodge.
Day 11. Chimpanzee tracking and optional activities in the afternoon
Awaken to the symphony of the forest as you prepare for an exhilarating day of chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park.
This commences with a briefing and the guide ranger with escorts will be the leaders on this trail. Spend an hour in the presence of these primates watching them jumping from tree to tree, playing, breastfeeding, searching for food, and more.
After undertaking an optional activity – either Bigodi Swamp Walk or visiting the Amabere Ga’nyinamwiru caves in Fort Portal.
Day 12. Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Check out and head to Murchison Falls National park home to four of the big five animals and the mighty Murchison Falls the world’s most powerful waterfall. The journey is amazing full of beautiful landscapes covered with tea plantations, banana gardens, forests, local markets, and more. Enroute, lunch will be at one of the local restaurants to be able to taste local dishes. Arrive and head to the lodge to indulge in viewing the river Nile.
Day 13. Game drive and boat cruise
Have your breakfast packed in your vehicle and then set out on an exhilarating game drive, eager to witness the drama of the wild unfold before your eyes. With every twist and turn of the trail, anticipation mounts as you scan the horizon for signs of movement. Expect to meet animals like Giraffes, Buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Bushbucks, Elephants, Hartebeests, Oribis, waterbucks, warthogs, Hyenas, and many more. Have a bush breakfast at the hippo pool while enjoying schools of hippos.
In the afternoon, take part in a leisurely boat cruise along the Nile River, where the tranquil waters offer a refreshing respite amidst the untamed beauty of the African wilderness. There is a lot to spot such as water-loving animals, birds, and a great view of the falls from the bottom. Head back to the lodge after an option of hiking to the top of the falls.
Day 14. Return to Kampala, and enroute stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Bid farewell to Murchison Falls NP and head to Kampala to be your final destination. While on the way, make a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary a place in Uganda where rhinos can be found in the wild.
Track rhinos on foot with the guidance of the park ranger for 2 hours. Have lunch at this point and then proceed to Kampala and check in the reserved hotel.
Day 15. Departure flight after a city tour
Depending on the scheduled departure flight, take a city tour in either Kampala or Entebbe and then be dropped at the airport. This marks the end of this 15 days safari in Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo.
