Safari Overview
The 12 Days Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo gorilla takes you on captivating encounters with the rare mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas in their natural habitat. This exclusive primate tour package involves exploring gorilla trekking destinations such as Volcanoes National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It also includes wildlife encounters in the lush Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned home to tree-climbing lions in Uganda. You will also have a chance to track chimpanzees in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & safe transfer to the hotel
You will be expected to fly to Kigali International Airport where you will meet our safari expert. He will be present to pick you up and take you through a short briefing about your trip. After the short introduction and warm welcome, you will be safely transferred to your pre-booked hotels/lodges in the vibrant Kigali city.
Day 2: Pick up & drive to Nyungwe National Park -Enjoy a Canopy Walk
You will have a delicious cup of tea/coffee and after, meet the safari expert for pick up and briefing. Expect to depart from Kigali to Nyungwe which is 6 to 7 hours drive journey in a 4×4 tourist car. En route, you may a stopover at Butare to visit some of the cultural sites and also to enjoy an early lunch. From Butare, you will connect directly to Nyungwe National Park where a guided canopy walk will be enjoyed.
A canopy walk in Nyungwe is set about 60 meters from the ground and extends about 200 meters. Explore the lush Nyungwe rainforest while spotting some of the finest primates, birds, and the scenic forest canopy. After the guided canopy walk experience, you will get back to chill in your respective safari lodge.
Day 3: Experience the best of Nyungwe chimp trekking & Drive to Bukavu
Leave your comfortable lodge for Uwinka where you will get briefed by the park official in Nyungwe. Get to understand the set chimpanzee tracking regulations and later, you will be allocated an experienced park ranger guide. Today, a guided chimp trek will run for 2-4 hours but this covers a special one-hour for a face-to-face encounter with chimpanzees.
While in the heart of Nyungwe Forest, expect surprising encounters of other primates including colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, plus bird species. Walk back from the jungle and connect to your accommodation to relax and also have some lunch. Later, you will be picked up by the safari expert and proceed to Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Day 4: Eastern Lowland gorilla trek with Kahuzi-Biega Park expert
After breakfast, depart from your respected lodges or hotels for Kahuzi-Biega National Park where you will meet the park official. Have a short briefing about rules for gorilla trekking and then get a gorilla group to explore. The park ranger guide will be allocated to escort you through the forest to search for the lowland gorillas. The entire adventure with the lowland gorillas will run for 2-4 hours but covers an hour for photography and close interaction. You will be expected to return to the lodge after the one-hour interaction with the Eastern lowland gorillas.
Day 5: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Depart from Bukavu to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in the Ruhengeri region. Arrive early for you to safely check in your respective accommodation.
Day 6: Trek golden monkeys & visit Iby’Iwacu village
After the leisurely breakfast, you will set off to Kinigi to get briefed about Golden Monkey tracking guidelines. The official from Volcanoes National Park will assign you the park ranger guide to lead you through the forest to look for a habituated troop of golden monkeys. It will be a short primate trek expected to last for 2-4 hours but includes a maximum of one hour for a close encounter and photography.
Return to the lodge after a magical encounter with golden monkeys then continue to Iby’Iwacu village to interact with the residents. The rest of the evening will be spent at leisure in your respective lodges.
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi
Enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and later start your journey to Bwindi. It will be a safe border crossing road trip via the Chanika or Katuna border to your respective gorilla trekking region in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Have a leisurely moment at the lodge awaiting captivating adventures the following day.
Day 8: Bwindi Gorilla trek with the park ranger guide
After a sumptuous breakfast, you will meet the park official at the park offices for you to get briefed about gorilla trekking regulations. The actual trekking is expected to begin at around 8:00 am and will last for 2-6 hours inclusive of 1 hour for up close and personal encounter with a family of mountain gorillas. Expect to return to your respective places of stay after the magical interaction with a group of mountain gorillas in their habitat.
Day 9: Visit the Batwa & drive to Lake Bunyonyi
Leave the lodge for a thrilling cultural expedition in the Batwa community and you will be led by a local expert. Get inspired by the unique stories as told by the local expert, and learn the different cultures, traditions, and practices of the Rwandan people. You will return to have a relaxing moment and early lunch then proceed to Lake Bunyonyi. At Lake Bunyonyi, expect to enjoy the sunset canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi.
The canoe ride takes you to one of the stunning 29 islands on Lake Bunyonyi with a chance to spot some of the unique birds, and appreciate the breathtaking views of the surrounding areas.
Day 10: Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a hefty breakfast, expect to check out and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. En route, a rewarding game drive will be enjoyed at the Ishasha sector where you stand a chance to come across the tree-climbing lions plus other mammals. Lunch will also be enjoyed at the Ishasha area then you proceed at once to your respective accommodation in the Northern area of the park.
Day 11: Game drive & Boat cruise
Depart from your lodge and expect to begin your day with a sunrise game drive via Kasenyi plains. It will be an enriching 2-3 hour game viewing session with an expert available to showcase you different mammals in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kasenyi plains is known for its great mammal sightings ranging from the African bush elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, Kobs, and bird species.
Expect to drive back as you keep eyes on more mammals and birds. A leisurely lunch break will be had at the lodge and you will proceed with the afternoon launch or boat cruise. A launch cruise allows you to watch at a close range the various aquatic species including the hippos, crocodiles, and birds.
Day 12: Depart for Kampala/Entebbe
Have an early breakfast and after, check out of your respective accommodation facilities in or around Queen Elizabeth Park. Expect to drive back to Kampala/Entebbe with an en-route stopover to be had at the Equator crossing at Kikorongo. Then proceed with your journey via the beautiful Kasese and Fort Portal with magnificent views of the legendary Rwenzori Mountain ranges at the backdrop.
End of safari
