8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari
This 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari is an exceptional adventure that starts from Kigali and ends in Kampala. During the safari you will engage in Kigali city tour and gorilla trekking activity in Volcanoes national park, climb Nyiragongo volcano an active volcano and one of the 8 mountains in Virunga conservation area. After descending Nyiragongo volcano you will connect to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale where you will have great views of the islands, lake, bird species, terraced farmlands, beautiful scenery and then transfer to Kibale national park for chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk. From Kibale national park you will connect to Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest national park in Uganda for a game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga channel.
Highlights of the 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and drive to Gisenyi, Lake Kivu
Day 3: Climb Nyiragongo volcano
Day 4: Descend from Nyiragongo volcano and drive to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park and afternoon boat cruise
Day 6: Game drive and transfer to Kibale national park
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi nature walk
Day 8: Departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of the 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari
Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes national park, upon arrival at Kigali international airport on day 1 of the 8 days Rwanda Congo and Uganda safari you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then transfer to Kigali for a city tour. During the city tour you will visit Kimironko market where you will be able to interact with the local vendors, Kigali genocide memorial center where you will know about the 1994 genocide between the Hutus and Tutsi, visit craft centers among others. After the city tour you will go for lunch in one of the hotels and then start the journey to Volcanoes national park in northwestern part of Rwanda. On your way you will have views of the rolling hills, terraced farmlands, beautiful scenery, smiling people among others and upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Gisenyi, Lake Kivu
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on day 2 of the 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari you will carry packed lunch, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people where each group is allocated a gorilla family to trek daily and a park guide who will be sharing information about the mountain gorillas as well as conversant with the gorilla trails. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are located and during trekking you will have spectacular views of the colorful bird species, primates, animals, tree and plant species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them feed, breastfeed, learn about their lifestyle, behaviors, ask questions, take photos and record the moments.
After the one hour with the gorillas you will trek back to the park headquarters, meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Gisenyi, Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is the largest fresh water lake in Rwanda and upon arrival you will engage in an amazing boat cruise where you will have great views of the beautiful scenery, landscape, sunset, steep terraced hills, different bird species like malachite kingfishers, majestic crowned cranes, view fishermen who will be fishing in dugout canoes among others. After the boat cruise you will transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Hiking Nyiragongo Volcano
Hiking Nyiragongo volcano, after an early breakfast on day 4 of the 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari you will cross to Democratic Republic of Congo via Goma Grande Barrier border and then connect to the trail head at Kibat patrol post for a briefing about the safety, precautions, guidelines, expectations, stopping points and what to carry during hiking. After the briefing you will be grouped and then start hiking Nyiragongo volcano which takes about 4-6 hours to reach the summit. During hiking you will pass through high altitude areas, lava rocks, slippery stones among others. You will have stopovers and enjoy great views of the beautiful scenery, bird species, mammals, plant species among others. When you reach on top of the volcano you will have views of the boiling lava lake and the cooks will help you to prepare hot coffee and dinner. You will spend an overnight in a cabin which is comprised of 2 single beds, mattresses and a pillow as you smell the boiling and bubbling lava.
Day 4: Descend from Nyiragongo Volcano and departure to Lake Bunyonyi
Descend from Nyiragongo Volcano, after breakfast on day 4 of the 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari you will start descending from the peak of the volcano which takes about 3 hours to reach the starting point at Kibat patrol post. While descending, you will have great views of Virunga national park, Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Kivu, other volcanic mountains, bird species among others. Upon arrival at the trail head you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district. On your way you will have views of the Kigezi hills, beautiful landscapes, local people, landscape among others and upon arrival you will have lunch. After lunch you will go for canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi where you will visit some of the islands, view different bird species, animals, terraced farmlands among others. After the boat cruise you will drive to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park and afternoon boat cruise
On day 5 of the 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari, you will have breakfast and then transfer to . The national park is the second largest and one of the most visited protected areas in Uganda, on the way you will be able to view beautiful scenery, Rwenzori Mountains, tea plantations among others and upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for lunch.
Boat cruise, after lunch you will go for an interesting boat cruise on Kazinga channel a water body that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. The scheduled boat cruise starts at 2:00pm and takes about 2 to 3 hours ride, during the boat cruise you will have spectacular views of animals like elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs among others on the water banks, large concentrations of hippos and crocodiles in water, aquatic bird species like malachite kingfisher, grey headed kingfisher, African mourning dove, slender tailed nightjar, swamp flycatcher, cormorants, fish eagles, little bee-eaters among others. After the boat cruise you will meet with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Morning game drive / lion tracking experience and transfer to Kibale national park
Morning game drive, after an early breakfast on day 6 of the 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari you will meet up with your driver guide to go for a morning game drive or lion tracking experience in Kasenyi plains. Kasenyi plains is the major area for the game drives in the park and during the game drive you will have views of different animals like lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, bushbucks, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, bird species like martial eagle, Senegal plover, African wattled plover, white tailed lark, black headed gonolek, black bellied bustard, hooded vulture, long crested eagle, pin tailed whydah among others. After the game drive you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Transfer to Kibale national park, after lunch you will check out of the lodge and your driver guide will pick you up to start the journey to Kibale national park. On the way you will have great views and stopovers to take beautiful pictures of the Rwenzori Mountains, crater lakes, tea plantations among others. Upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi nature walk
Chimpanzee trekking, after an early breakfast on day 7 of the 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari, you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to Kanyachu Visitors Center for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 6 people where each group is allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle and also sharing information about the chimpanzees.
Trekking of chimpanzees in Kibale national park takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where they are location of the chimpanzees because they like to move from one area to another in search of food. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment which helps you to learn more about their lifestyle, behaviors, habits, take photos , record videos, watch them feed, play, hunt among others. After the one hour encounter with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Guided swamp walk, after lunch you will go for a guided nature walk in Bigodi swamp. during the nature walk you will pass through the lush vegetation with pathways and boardwalks which help you to have great views of the bird species such as great blue turaco, hornbills, kingfishers, primates like red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, grey checked mangabey, some animals like bushbucks, otters among others. You will also have a walk to the local communities where you will be able to interact with the local people which give you an opportunity to know more about their lifestyle, culture, traditions, taste their local food among others. After the guided swamp walk you will meet up with your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Departure to Kampala
After a relaxed breakfast on day 8 of the 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kampala. On your way you will have a stopover at Igongo cultural center for lunch and another stopover at the Equator where you will be able to take photos and buy souvenirs. From the Equator you will continue the journey to Kampala where you will reach early evening and upon arrival your driver guide will either drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your next flight or drop off at any place of convenience.
End of 8 days Rwanda Congo Uganda safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permits
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Hiking Nyiragongo volcano permit
- Bigodi swamp walk
- Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi
- Park entrance fees
- Boat cruise fee
- Kigali city tour
- An English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
