8 Days best safari in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda for all types of budgets. This tour starts from Kigali crossing into Congo for Mount Nyiragongo hiking located in eastern part of Congo which is a very safe part of Congo, gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest Uganda, Savannah wildlife viewing and sunset launch cruise in queen Elizabeth national park and lastly chimpanzee tracking or habituation in Kibale forest
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Day 1: Start off with a Kigali city tour to the Gisozi genocide memorial site – Transfer to Gisenyi
Day 2: Hike Mount Nyiragongo
Day 3: Descend the volcano
Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Trekking – Visit Batwa Pygmies / Canoeing
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – with Game drive through Ishasha sector to see tree climbing lions.
Day 6: Early Riser Game drive – Afternoon Launch Cruise – Transfer to Kibale
Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking – Visit Bigodi Swamp
Day 8: Departure
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Day 1: Pickup from Kigali – Transfer to Gisenyi
The tour starts with pickup from Kigali, depending on your pickup time, you will have a Kigali city tour to he genocide memorial site. Have lunch and drive to Gisenyi Lake kivu where ou will have dinner and overnight at Paradise Malahide / Gorillas Hotel (midrange), Lake Kivu serena hotel (luxury)
Day 2: Hike Mount Nyiragongo
Mount Nyiragongo hikes start from Kibati village, Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The hike isnt strenous but requires sturdy shoes as you step on loose volcanic rocks from the previous eruptions taking you crossing all vegetation zones as you go up.
Don’t underestimate the hike, good physical shape if very necessary. We recommend a walking sticks at the briefing point and a porter carry your backpack.
The view at the top is absolutely stunning in the night staring watching the glowing red lava.
Day 3: Descend the Volcano – Drive to Bwindi forest crossing via the cyangugu border
The descend is much easier than the hiking and your guide / drive will be waiting for you to drive you back via Goma to Gisenyi.
Cross back to Rwanda and drive to the Bwindi national park via volcanoes national park crossing into Uganda via Cyangugu border.
Dinner and Overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Camp / Bakiga Lodge / Bwindi jungle lodge (Midrange) and Gorilla Forest Lodge / Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury) and Mahogany Springs Lodge / Buhoma Lodge (Super Luxury)
Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Trekking – Visit Batwa Pygmies / Canoeing
Have breakfast at your hotel, and with a packed snack, set off for the Bwindi head offices for briefing. After a comprehensive overview from one of the head guides about what to expect during your gorilla trekking adventure, you will split into groups of 8 people for which gorilla family you will be tracking. If you need a simple hike, inform your guide before the briefing so that he helps speak to the trackers to select for you a simple hike. The trackers have an idea of how far each group is as their colleagues go into the forest earlier to establish actual locations of the gorilla groups. Do hire a porter, even if you feel fit enough not to need a hand up having someone else to carry your backpack makes it so much easier as you hike.
You start your hike with your guide and two guards as the forest is home to several other primates like forest elephants.
Chances of seeing gorillas on your trek are high and guaranteed, but just incase you fail to see them, The Uganda Wildlife Authority offers you an opportunity to go back into the forest at half price
You get to spend Just one hour with the gorillas after which you hike back to the starting point where you will receive certificates of acknowledgment that you aided gorilla conservation in Bwindi forest.
Return to your hotel for lunch and an afternoon rest, and late evening head out to visit the Batwa pygmies communities which are just neighboring the park. These where the former forest inhabitants who where led out of the forest in order to conserve mountain gorillas and their habitant. You will have a chance to interact with them and learn about their cultures.
Dinner and Overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Camp / Bakiga Lodge / Bwindi jungle lodge (Midrange) and Gorilla Forest Lodge / Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury) and Mahogany Springs Lodge / Buhoma Lodge (Super Luxury)
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – with Game drive through Ishasha sector to see tree climbing lions.
Today you will setoff early for Queen Elizabeth national park. The drive takes approximately 6 – 7 hours drive with enroute lunch. You will have the chance to drive through the Ishasha sector of queen Elizabeth where you will watch tree climbing lions usually lying in fig trees.
Head directly for Kazinga channel for a 2 hour sunset Launch cruise along the the Kazinga channel. Expect to view herds of elephants, buffalos, hippos, crocdiles, lizards, lots of birds.
Have Dinner and overnight at Enganzi Lodge / Park View Lodge (Midrange), Mweya safari lodge / Katara Lodge (Luxury Lodge)
Day 6: Early Riser Game drive – Afternoon Launch Cruise – Transfer to Kibale
Today you will wake up easy and be off early with packed breakfast and drive to the park to start your game drive in the Kasenyi region of queen Elizabeth national park. This is your chance to view numerous early riser wildlife before they return to their hide places as the sun comes comes out. Expect to view lions, elephants, buffaloes, numerous Uganda kobs and so much more.
Have lunch after which head out to the Kazinga channel for a 2 hour sunset Launch cruise along the the Kazinga channel. Expect to view herds of elephants, buffalos, hippos, crocdiles, lizards, lots of birds.
Later se off for a 2 hours drive to Kibale forest national park.
Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee guest house (budget), Primates lodge (midrange) and Crater Safari Lodge (Luxury), Kyaninga lodge(super luxury)
Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking – Visit Bigodi Swamp
Have breakfast at your hotel and be ready to transfer to Kibale park head offices for briefing before you start chimpanzee tracking. Tracking for chimpanzees takes about 3 – 4 hours and will come across other primates like white and black Colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red Colobus, grey checked mangabey in the forest. After the tracking chimps, return back to your hotel for lunch and later visit Bigodi eco swamp.
Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee guest house (budget), Primates lodge (midrange) and Crater Safari Lodge (Luxury), Kyaninga lodge(super luxury)
Day 8: Departure
Wakeuup at leisure and have breakfast at your hotel and be ready to drive back to Kampala to catch your departure flight.
End of Tour
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Useful Links to Help you Plan
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