18 Days best of Rwanda, Uganda and Congo safari adventure is one of a kind offering the best tours in the 3 countries we shall visiting. Expect to be amazed by the mountain gorillas in Bwindi forest, the boiling lava of the mount Nyiragongo active volcano in Congo, the special genocide memorial sites of Kigali, beautiful wildlife in Uganda and the Murchison falls with its special beauty and variety of wildlife.
Day 1 – Arrival in Rwanda and transfer to hotel
A representative will pick you from the airport on arrival and will help you check in into your hotel in Kigali. Depending on your time of arrival, you may get a chance to take a tour around one of the cleanest cities in the world as well as the local market of Kimironko.
Day 2 – Mountain gorilla tracking
This day will begin with an early morning breakfast and there after you will be transferred to the park headquarters where you will be briefed at exactly 7:00am and as well be divided in groups according to energy levels of the participants. The more energetic participants will be allocated to gorilla families that are further. Be reminded to wear trekking boots, carry a rain coat or umbrella just in case the heavens decided to open up that day. A packed lunch and water is highly recommended.
Searching for gorilla is as exciting as the treasure hunt game, and together with your guide ranger you will go through the scenic tropical thick forest, entertained by the sound of the stamp of your feet and the birds that take turns to sing out in the depth of the forest. You will breathe in life from the cool breeze that hits your face. And once in the presence of these creatures you will have a maximum of a full hour to watch their interaction with the members of their family. Be sure to capture as many moments as possible. Thereafter you will return to park’s headquarters where your driver will be waiting for you. You will be taken to your hotel to refresh, have a meal and rest too.
Day 3- Visit Dian Fossey’s grave and trek golden monkeys
After a delicious hot breakfast you will head to Virunga forest where you will be trekking the Golden Monkeys in the depth of the forest as they jump from tree to tree. There after you will go on to trek Dian Fossey’s grave as well as her research center at Karisoke. Here you will find a wealth of information about her work and what she so devotedly did. From here your driver will drive you back to your hotel and you rest in preparation for the next day.
Day 4 – Transfer to Gisenyi town
Gisenyi town is located on the shores of Lake Kivu which is Rwanda’s main fresh water body. Imagine rowing in cut out canoe and being closest to the most scenic places in the world. The ride will as well offer spectacular views of Nyiragongo volcano in Congo which is the only volcano that is still active. It is also popular for its fluid lava and is as well referred to as the lava lake.
Day 5 – Cross to Bukavu in Congo
In preparation for the next day’s lowland gorilla trekking, you will cross over to DR Congo and this journey should take you less than 2 hours to cross and reach that town of Bukavu town. If you move early enough you will be able to visit the museum at Bukavu. You will also have an opportunity to see other interesting places at Lake Kivu with a boat cruise to Idjwi Island.
Day 6 –Gorilla trekking
This day will take you out to Tshivanga Visitor Centre after an early morning breakfast and this is where you will get a briefing about the conduct during your gorilla trek. From there you will proceed to trek these awesome creatures and will be allowed to remain in their presence for 1 whole hour. You will return to your hotel thereafter to relax and enjoy a very tasty meal
Day 7 – Visit Lake Bunyonyi
This day you will cross from Rwanda and go to Uganda and straight to Lake Bunyonyi. This journey will offer you with incredible sights of beautiful terrain of hills that run down with terraced landscape in the Kigezi sub region where Lake Bunyonyi is found. You will have lunch as soon as you arrive at Bunyonyi and thereafter go for an afternoon boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi. The lake will reward you with sights of an assortment of birds on the many small islands found on this lake. No wonder the lake was named Bunyonyi which is loosely translated as ‘a place of many small birds’This lake was formed as a result of a volcanic lava the flowed and blocked the present day river Muko forming a wide dam. Surprisingly this lake is the deepest in Uganda and the second deepest in Africa. If you are an ardent bird watcher, you do not want to miss this.
Day 8 – Transfer to Bwindi National Park
Having visited Lake Bunyonyi you will on this day go to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest through Kabale region. You will have lunch upon arrival in Bwindi and spend the rest of the relaxing at your hotel as you prepare for the gorilla trek the next day in the morning which will begin very early. If you like you can even go for an evening village walk to the community where you can get to mingle with the local people to explore their culture, learn to make their local brew and dance to their energetic local dance.
Day 9 – Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You will have an early morning breakfast at 5am and there after you will be picked from your hotel and driven to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters for briefing which always begins at 7:30am. In the brief you will be guided on the dos and don’ts of the gorilla tour, how to carry yourself with these creatures, as well as what to expect; and there after allocated groups in which you will trek and assigned a guide. These groups vary in number however the maximum number of people per group is 8. The energy level of participants is also taken into account with the more energetic people trekking gorilla families that are further.
Having been grouped and assigned a guide as well as a walking stick, the trek will begin. Please remember to carry comfortable clothing, a rain coat, and strong trekking shoes as the terrain can be slippery, long thick stockings, some water and snacks as well as a camera to capture those memories. After a successful trek, you will come in close proximity with the gorillas and you will have a whole hour with them. You will see how they carry themselves in their natural habitat with their families. Remember to keep your voices low in order not to make them uncomfortable. After 1 hour with the gorillas, you will return to the headquarters to rest from the vigorous activity and that is not all, you will also receive you certificate of recognition before returning to your place of residence.
Day 10 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth
After a restful night, you will have a delicious warm breakfast and then hit the road and head to Ishasha to view the tree climbing lions as you head to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Exciting isn’t it? You will arrive just in time for lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge and there after enjoy an afternoon boat cruise along Kazinga Channel which connects lakes Edward and George.
Day 11 – Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
To enjoy the night watchers you will have to wake so early. So you will have your breakfast at 5am and then head out for the most rewarding wildlife encounter. At this time you will have an assortment of wildlife to enjoy including the nocturnal and predators that are winding up their duties and soon retreating to their hide outs after a feasting the night away. There after you will return to your hotel to rest and later in the afternoon you will go chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge or go for a nature walk in the Maramagambo tropical rainforest.
Day 12 – Transfer to Kibale National Park
You will get the opportunity to undertake another game drive on the Kasenyi track to have another dose of lions and other antelope species just in case you missed them in the first game drive. You will then proceed to Fortportal. There you will enjoy a nature walk visiting “AmaberegaNyinaMwiru”, crater lakes and pass by the Royal palace which proudly stands on a hill overlooking the town.
Day 13 – Chimpanzee tracking
You will transfer to Kanyanchu park headquarters in Kibale National park after your morning breakfast. At the park you will be briefed by the principal warden before you can hit the tracks. It shouldn’t take you more than 2 hours for this activity. In the afternoon you will enjoy a nature walk in Bigodi wetland where you will track other monkey species variety and exquisite birding.
Day 14 – Transfer to Semiliki National Park
You will head out to Semiliki National Park after your warm breakfast where you will enjoy a game park and a nature walk to the hot springs. You will be rewarded with exquisite views of nature.
Day 15 – Transfer to Murchison falls
You are going to have a long drive to Murchison falls through Hoima and the Great Western Rift Valley. On your way you will have stop over for lunch that is if you have not packed lunch and then proceed to the park.
Day 16 – Boat cruise and game viewing below the falls
Make sure you have a very early breakfast and then embark on a game drive as you look out for predators and the early raisers before returning to their hide outs. The wildlife to look out for include African Lion, Elephants, Jackson’s hartebeest, Waterbucks, Giraffes, Oribi, Baboons, Buffalos, the Uganda Kob, Leopards to mention but a few as they move through the lovely savanna grasses among others. After the game drive you will return to the hotel for lunch before heading for the boat launch cruise trip on the Nile.
Day 17 – Chimp tracking in Budongo forest
You will enjoy a chimp trek in Budongo forest where you will see over 800 chimps population, the closest relatives to humans and see what and how they run their families. In addition to these, other primates include blue and red tailed monkey, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys and baboons. From there you will set off to Kampala through Hoima.
Day 18 – Departure
After this long enriched unforgettable experience you will say goodbye to the Pearl of Africa. You will be taken to the airport and take your flight back home.
End of Safari
