9 Days Uganda and Rwanda Congo Safari: Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo are some of the countries in Africa that you should visit when you embark on your safari in the motherland. When visiting Uganda, the pearl of Africa with a number of attractions that can be seen like half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas that can be seen in Bwindi impenetrable national park but also not forgetting Rwanda, the heart of Africa famous for its 1000 hills and rich culture and lastly Congo the richest country in Africa based on natural resources, the country boasts of minerals like gold, silver uranium, wildlife like the cross river gorillas, mountain gorillas, the Virunga mountain which has the world’s largest lava lake. Continue with the detailed itinerary to understand the different activities that you will get to participate in while participating in the safari experience.
Highlights of your safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi forest.
Day 2; Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4; Golden Monkey Trekking
Day 5: Transfer to Bukavu- DR Congo
Day 6: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega
Day 7: Hike Mount Kahuzi Biega National Park
Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi forest.
On day 1 of the 9 Days Uganda and Rwanda Congo Safari, depending on your point of location in either kampala city or Entebbe International Airport, you will be picked up by our safari guide who will brief you about your 9 Days Uganda and Rwanda Congo Safari. After the briefing session, you will be transferred back to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, southwestern part of Uganda which will take you about 9 hours to reach the park. You will have an en-route lunch at Mbarara. Continue with your drive to the park having spectacular views of the farmlands, traditional homesteads, tea plantations, and many more. You will also have stopovers for photography to soak in the beauty of the West. Upon arrival in the park, check into the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Have an early morning breakfast at 6:30 am with packed lunch boxes. You will be picked by your driver guide to transfer you to park headquarters for a briefing about gorillas. After, you will make your way to the habituated gorilla family which you will get to spend an hour with when you get in contact with them. The gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park will take between 2-7 hours when you get in contact with them take their pictures, and watch their behavioral patterns in the wild. After the safari experience, you will then transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. At Lake Bunyonyi, you will participate in the boat cruise on Uganda’s deepest lake where you can visit Akampene Island which has a unique history, you will watch a number of bird species and if you’re interested you can also go swimming in the bilharzia free waters. Upon arrival, you will check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
After morning breakfast, meet the driver/guide and after which you will cross to Rwanda via the Cyanika border with lunch en-route and proceed to visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo and later in the evening, connect to check in your lodge. Dinner and overnight at Le Bambou Gorilla lodge(midrange)/ 5 Volcanoes Gorilla Lodge(luxury)
Day 4; Golden Monkey Trekking
You will have breakfast and report back to the park headquarters where you will get a ranger guide and start your golden monkey trek in Volcanoes National Park. This is a rather short experience that can last an hour or three hours. After spending time with the golden monkeys, you will go and have lunch then connect to enjoy Ibyi’wachu cultural tour. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 5: Gorilla trekking
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel. our guide will meet you after having your breakfast and your lunches packed and he will take you to Kinigi Headquarters where you are expected to be given a brief before starting the gorilla trek. This brief is done at 7 am. You are given guidelines during this brief before you are allowed to start the trek. This gorilla trek can take about 2 hours to half a day as it’s unpredictable. When you finally find the gorillas, you will have to maintain a 7-meter distance and you are allowed one hour to admire and take photos of the gorillas. During the time you spend with the gorillas, you will get the opportunity to understand a number of their rewarding features like how they co-exist with one another, you will get to watch the duty of the dominant silverback whose role is to mate with the adult females to increase the members of the family, raid other gorilla families for their members, you will watch the juveniles grooming one another for a rewarding safari experience. after the experience, you will head to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 6: Transfer to Bukavu- DR Congo
In the morning after lunch, you will be picked up by the driver from your hotel in Kigali and drive southwards to the Cyangugu border on the way to Bukavu in DR Congo. You will have lunch en-route and then you will continue on a scenic journey to Bukavu with wonderful views of the hills in Rwanda through the tropical forest of Nyungwe National Park and a clear view of Lake Kivu. Dinner and overnight at Panorama Hotel
Day 7: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega
In the morning, you will head for the memorable adventure of tracking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Tracking lowland Gorillas is very amazing, lowland Gorillas differ from mountain gorillas, the lowland gorillas are bigger in size, usually takes 1-4 hours to track the lowland Gorillas. The lowland Gorillas stay in bigger families as compared to mountain gorillas; you will not regret the safari effort once you meet the amazing Gorillas! Later in the afternoon drive back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Panorama Hotel
Day 8: Hike Mount Kahuzi Biega National Park
After early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will then participate in the Mount Kahuzi biega hike which will help you watch a number of attractions like the numerous bird species for instance; yellow-crested- helmet shrike, sunbirds, trogons, Graud’s broad bill, Shelley’s crimson wing, Congo peafowl, Rwenzori Batis, Dusky turtle love, paradise flycatcher, double collared sunbird, marsh harrier, long-crested eagle handsome Francolin as you hike mount Kahuzi and Biega. You will also get the chance to see rewarding views of the mountains as you get to see a number of primates swinging from one tree branch to another, you will also get the chance to see rewarding views of Lake Kivu
Day 9: Transfer back to Kigali
After your safari, you will then make your way back to Kigali city. On reaching Kigali, you can take part in the Kigali city tour if time is willing. After you will be dropped off at a location of your choice in Kigali city or Kigali International Airport.
End of your 9 Days Uganda and Rwanda Congo Safari.
Price includes
- Park entrance fees
- Congo visa
- Gorilla permit
- Full-time English speaking driver guide
- Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals at the lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Pick up in Kampala and drop off in Kigali
- vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Price excludes
- Air flight tickets and Visas
- Life insurance
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Lion tracking experience
- Tipping
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, and hiring a porter among others.
