13 Days Congo and Uganda Safari

The 13 days Congo and Uganda safari adventure is wide-ranging tour package that allows visitors to explore Africa’s interesting destinations most interestingly the mountain gorillas which can only be found in these 3 countries (Uganda, Rwanda and Congo). This safari features visits to Mount Nyaragongo active volcano in Congo, Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth national park, Chimpanzee trekking in Africa’s best destination for viewing Chimpanzees and Rhino trekking, the mighty Murchison falls in Murchison falls national park

Highlights;

  • Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Kigali
  • Day 2: Transfer to Goma
  • Day 3: Hike Mt. Nyiragongo Volcano
  • Day 4: Descend down the Volcano – Lake Kivu
  • Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park – Uganda
  • Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience
  • Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
  • Day 8: Lion tracking/Game drive and Boat cruise in Kazinga channel
  • Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Chimpanzee trekking
  • Day 10: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park
  • Day 11: Game drive and launch cruise
  • Day 12: Top of the falls and visit Visit Nyabyeya
  • Day 13: Rhino trekking and transfer to Kampala – Entebbe/Departure

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Kigali

Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will meet our company representative/guide who will be waiting to receive you and transfer to your hotel where you will have dinner and overnight.

Accommodation; Step town Motel for budget option, Des Mille Collins hotel for mid-range option, Kigali Marriot Hotel for Luxury option

Day 2: Transfer to Goma – Congo

After breakfast, meet your safari driver guide to embark on your journey to Goma Congo which is about 4 hours’ drive from Kigali to the Goma border. Start the journey early enough to be able to cross the border at the required time which is 10:30 am East African time. After crossing the Goma border, check-in Virunga tourism office by 11:30 am. The office is located in Grande Barrier border post building. Receive your hiking permits which will be presented at the start of the hike. Thereafter, transfer to your hotel for lunch and relax for the rest of the day as you prepare for the next day experience and dinner served before you head to sleep.

Accommodation; Linda Lodge/Lac Kivu Hotel

Day 3: Hike Mount Nyiragongo Volcano

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibati ranger port at 8:00 am which is the starting point for Nyiragingo volcano, receive briefing about the hike and get to meet your porter. The hike takes about 4-6 hours depending on your speed and hiking usually last the entire day and the pace is determined by the groups’ fitness level. Please note that the group moves in one group and rests at the same time, your physical ability is well required on this hike.

When you reach the top, you will check into your tents, prepare dinner and later in the night, go out to watch the beautiful sight of the active boiling lava along with your camera and binoculars. Return to your tent to sleep.

Day 4: Descend down the Volcano – Lake Kivu

Wake for breakfast, revisit the site of the before you start descending back to starting point of the hike, you are most likely to reach Kibati by 11:00am. Here, you will connect with your driver / guide back to Rwanda in Gisenyi, have lunch and spend the rest of the day at leisure! Enjoy dinner and overnight at the booked hotel.

Accommodation; Paradise Malahide for budget/Palm Garden Hotel for mid-range/Lake Kivu Serena Hotel for luxury

Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park – Uganda

After breakfast, check-out of the hotel to embark on your journey to Uganda, it’s about 4-5 hours’ drive from Gisenyi Rwanda to Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda. Drive via Musanze with views of Virunga Mountains, cross to Uganda through Cyanika border for lunch in the nearing towns of either Kisoro or Kabale then later proceed to your booked lodge, check-in, refresh, have dinner and rest from the day.

Accommodation; Bakiga lodge for budget option, Lake Mulehe Safari lodge for mid-range, Lake Mutanda Safari lodge for Luxury

Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience

Wake up early, have breakfast and connect to the park head offices in your trekking gears and with your packed food and water where you will have a briefing from the park warden about the gorillas before you connect to the starting point. Time taken in trekking gorillas in Bwindi is not guaranteed as it depends on the movement of the creatures, trekking may take about 2-8 hours depending on their location. Once you find the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away. Descend from the hike, receive your reward before you return to the lodge to unwind and dinner and overnight stay at accommodation as above

Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

After breakfast, check-out and embark on your 5-7 hours’ drive to Queen Elizabeth national park – home to the tree climbing lions. Connect to Queen Elizabeth national park via Ishasha sector for chances of spotting the tree climbing lions however; it’s not a guarantee that you will see the tree lions. Have lunch en-route in Ishasha with an en-route game drive for available animals as you connect to your lodge, check-in, wait for dinner and speed a night close to the park.

Accommodation; Pumba Safari Cottages for budget option, Parkview Safari lodge for mid-range, Mweya Safari lodge for luxury

Day 8: Lion tracking/Game drive and Boat cruise in Kazinga channel

After breakfast early morning, drive to Kasenyi area where most animals in the park are found, you will go for a lion tracking experience, an activity that guarantees you to see lions then later explore more animals including Elephants, Buffaloes and all species of antelopes. Depending on the time spent game driving, you will either have en-route lunch or lunch at your lodge.

After lunch, connect for a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel on Lake Edward and Lake George. The boat trip lasts about 2 hours with great views of different bird species, both land and water animals. After the boat experience, drive back to your lodge and relax with great memories. Dinner and overnight stay at your accommodation as above

Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National Park – afternoon Chimpanzee trekking

Wake up quite early for breakfast then check-out of the lodge to embark to Kibale forest national park. It’s a 3-4 hours’ drive from Queen Elizabeth with en-route stop in Fort portal town for lunch. Proceed to the park head offices with your trekking gears ready, have a briefing about the chimpanzees. Kibale national park is the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Meet your ranger guide at the head office then enter the rainforest to start searching for the chimpanzee with your water. Unlike gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee trekking is easier to do with less hours of trekking about 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees. On seeing them, you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees while taking pictures. After tracking, drive to check-in your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation; Isunga lodge for budget, Chimpanzee Guest House for Mid-range, Kyaninga lodge for luxury option

Day 10: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park

Wake up early, enjoy breakfast then transfer to Murchison falls national park – Uganda’s largest national park. Drive through the countryside with great views of the landscape and its people. It’s a full day drive with several stopovers to refreshment and lunch in Hoima town. Arrive in the park late evening and connect to your lodge where your dinner will be served and overnight stay

Accommodation; Heritage Safari lodge for budget, Pakuba Safari lodge for Mid-range, Paraa Safari lodge/Bakers lodge for luxury option 

Day 11: Game drive and launch Cruise

Wake up to an early morning breakfast, thereafter connect for a morning game drive at the northern bank of the park at the delta where you may spot various animal species like elephants, giraffes, lions, Uganda Kobs among others. The time taken on a game drive depends on the availability of the animals, the earlier the better.

Return for lunch at the lodge before the 2 pm boat cruise that will take you to the bottom of tge thriving Murchison falls. It’s a 2-3 hours boat experience on the Nile with streaming views of animals like the hippos and serried ranges of crocodile along the sandbanks, as well as large numbers of different species getting down to drink & bathe and bird species like the ducks, Cormorants, fish eagle to mention a few. After the boat cruise at the bottom of the falls, return to your lodge, dinner and overnight stay at accommodation as above

Day 12: Top of the falls and transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

After breakfast, cross in time for the ferry to connect to the top of falls, this is an exciting place to visit where you will greatly enjoy the falls at a maximum before you drive out of the park. These falls are a must visit site in the park providing a breath-taking and amazing experience of the most powerful falls. Thereafter, connect to Masindi town for lunch before you proceed to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola district, home to the only exiting rhinos in Uganda. After the loss of rhinos in Uganda through poaching during the reign of Amin Dada, there was need to revive the existence of rhino population in Uganda by the Rhino Fund Uganda – a Non-Government Organisation in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. It’s a 3 hours’ from the park to the Sanctuary. Arrive late afternoon and proceed to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation; Ziwa Rhino Guesthouse for budget, Amuka Safari lodge for luxury

Day 13: Rhino trekking and transfer to Kampala – Entebbe/Departure

After breakfast, connect to Rhino office for a briefing then proceed for your rhino trekking experience, taking about 2-3 hours. The trekking is easy to do as you will be basically walking on a flat ground.

After rhino trekking, have lunch then embark on your drive to Kampala city. It’s a 4 hours’ drive from the Sanctuary and depending on your plans, you will either be dropped off at a location you advise in Kampala and Entebbe or be dropped off Entebbe airport for your check-in time for your return flight. End of tour.

Inclusions of this tour package;

  • Ground transfers throughout the trip including airport pick up and drop off
  • Ground transportation in a 4X4 Safari Vehicle and fuel
  • Accommodations and meals and En-route meals
  • All permits required; Gorilla, chimpanzee and Volcano hike permits
  • Nyirangongo hike backpack, one porter and Congo Visa
  • Park entry fees and boat cruise fees in the required parks
  • Full time English speaking, knowledgeable and professional safari guide driver
  • Bottled drinking water throughout the trip

Exclusions of the tour package

  • International Airfares
  • Uganda and Rwanda Visa fees
  • Optional activities of your choice
  • Personal Insurance
  • Extra meals and accommodation not indicated on the itinerary
  • Expenses of personal nature such as; laundry, drinks, telephone usage to mention a few
  • Tipping and gratitude rendered

 

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