15 Days Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo Wildlife and Gorilla Trekking Safari
Welcome to your 15 days Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo wildlife and gorilla trekking safari where you will experience a ton of attractions from the best safari destinations in the world. The Virunga Conservation Area stretches through the three East African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo offering the only places in the world to spot the mountain gorillas.
You will encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in this area. These mountain gorillas are considered endangered because they are rarely seen and only found in the Virunga conservation area. You will spot other savannah-based wildlife species like the big 5 animals, antelopes, giraffes, and zebras to mention but a few. You will also encounter the diverse cultures of these three East African countries. Below will be how your days will run in a detailed itinerary.
Summary of Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Kampala city tour
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park and Bigodi wetland tour
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6: Game drive in Ishasha sector and boat cruise
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi and Batwa community tour
Day 8: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Volcanoes National Park and cultural tour
Day 9: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 10: Sportfishing and transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy trail
Day 12: Transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park
Day 13: Lowland Gorilla trekking and guided nature walk
Day 14: Transfer to Kigali
Day 15: Kigali city tour – Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Kampala city tour
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be ushered into the country by our driver guide. He will brief you about what you expect on your 15 days Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo wildlife and gorilla trekking safari. You will check in to your booked hotel and have lunch. In the afternoon, you will embark on a Kampala city tour where you will visit several places.
You will visit the Kabaka’s palace the headquarters of Buganda Kingdom the biggest kingdom in Uganda. You will also visit the Bahai Temple and the Uganda Museum for cultural and historical artifacts. You will later tour the Namugongo Martyrs shrine where the Uganda Martyrs were burnt alive because of their faith. In the evening you will head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
You will be served breakfast in the morning and after checking out of the hotel, hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. You will make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary located in Masindi town and lunch will be en route. While at Ziwa, you will spend some special time with endangered white rhinos. You will observe them feed, run, and roam around the sanctuary. In the evening you will complete your journey to Murchison, and check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise on River Nile
In the morning after finishing with your breakfast, you will be met by our driver guide who will take you on a game-viewing adventure in the park. You will encounter several wildlife species including the big 4 of the big 5 animals: lions, leopards, buffaloes, and elephants. You will also see other animals such as antelopes, warthogs, waterbucks, reedbucks, giraffes, and many others. You will then be driven to the world’s strongest waterfall the Murchison Falls. This masterpiece of Mother Nature is the highlight of your game drive. After a photo moment at the falls, you will go for your lunch at your lodge.
In the afternoon, you will engage in a boat cruise experience on the Victoria Nile. You will spot marine species such as hippos, and crocodiles, as well as thousands of bird species on the shores. The frequent guests of the Nile such as elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, antelopes, and others can also be well spotted. In the evening you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park and Bigodi Wetland Tour
After your breakfast which will be served in the early morning, you will check out and head south to Kibale National Park. You will have artistic views of tea plantation the color the entire area with a fresh bright green color. Upon arriving in the park, you will check into your lodge and have lunch. In the afternoon, you will take on a tour of Bigodi wetland where you will view a ton of bird, primate, and wildlife species. You will also enjoy the cool breeze of fresh air and the feeling of getting close to the species on foot. Our driver will then drive you back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Breakfast will be served early in the morning and our driver guide will then drive you to the park offices. A ranger will address you about the rules and regulations of tracking the primates and after group you in groups of 8 for easy tracking. You will then be led out to the chimpanzee habitats in the Kibale forests by an experienced professional ranger. You will be entitled to one special hour upon the location of the chimpanzees. You will observe as they roam and go by with their daily chores.
You will also come across other different animals and birds while on your chimpanzee tracking experience. You then return to your lodge for lunch and check out. Our driver guide will pick you up immediately after your lunch and drive you to Queen Elizabeth National Park. By the time it clocks evening, you will have checked in at your lodge in the Ishasha sector of the park in time for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Game drive in Ishasha sector and boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
In the morning, you will be served a hot delicious breakfast as you prepare for the adventurous activities of the day. You will then embark on a game drive experience in the Ishasha sector of the park. You will encounter the tree-climbing lions which can be spotted especially during the bright hot sun cooling off high up in the tree branches. You will also spot other animals like buffaloes, elephants, leopards, antelopes, and many more. After you have concluded with your game drive, you will return to your lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will head down to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise adventure. The Kazinga Channel is a water channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. It is home to the latest population of hippos in Uganda. You will spot these heavyweights cooling off in the water in various schools scattered in the channel. You will also view the Nile crocodiles that are predators of the channel. As you move through the shores, you will spot other animals including elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, antelopes, and many more animals as well as birds. You will return to your lodge afterward for your dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi and Batwa Community Tour
You will have breakfast, check out, and embark on the journey to southwestern Uganda for an ultimate gorilla experience. While on your way, you will have stopovers at the tea and coffee plantations as well as the tea factory. You will observe how tea is harvested, stored, and later processed and manufactured into the tea beverage. You will arrive at your lodge in Bwindi check in and have lunch. In the afternoon, you will go on a Batwa community tour and observe the forest keepers.
The Batwa pygmies lived in the forests of Bwindi before it was gazetted and thus considered the forest keepers. This Batwa group is one of the oldest ethnic groups in Africa. They will entertain you with their dances and songs as well as their tales of their ancient history from their elders. You will visit their markets and observe their ways of life before heading back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Cultural Tour
After you have had your breakfast, you head to the offices in Bwindi for a pre-trekking briefing. This briefing takes you through the expected code of conduct while trekking for the mountain gorillas. A professionally experienced range guide will lead you through the forests of Bwindi on a search for the mountain gorillas. Bwindi is home to more than half of the entire world population of mountain gorillas so it will not take you long to spot these primates. Trekking through the forests can take you over 30 minutes to the habitat of these endangered primates.
After the mountains have been sought, you spend one quality special hour with them in their natural habitat. You will be there after observing them heading back to your lodge for lunch and check out. You will then head on a 3-hour journey through the Katuna border into Rwanda to Volcanoes National Park. On arrival, you will take on a cultural tour at ibyi’wacu cultural village before heading to your lodge. You will have entertainment from the traditional dancers with their songs, visit the artifacts of cultural goods, and listen to stories from elders. You will then advance to your lodge in the park for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Lake Kivu
You will have breakfast, and head to the Volcanoes offices for a briefing about the rules and regulations of trekking. You will then be guided by an experienced ranger through the rainforest of Volcanoes National Park to the gorilla habitats. After seeking out these mountain gorillas at their habitats, you will be given an hour to send with them. This is a special hour since you will observe them as they roam around in their rainforest habitats. After here, you will be taken back to your lodge for lunch. Immediately after your lunch, you will check out and take on the journey to Lake Kivu. You will check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Sportfishing and transfer to Nyungwe National Park
You will have a sport fishing experience at Lake Kivu after you have had breakfast and checked out of your lodge. You will be provided with the fishing material and head to the designated areas for recreational fishing or short fishing in the lake. This is a highly anticipated activity since Lake Kivu is safe with no hippos and crocodiles. After this activity, you will head back to your lodge for lunch and check out of the lodge. Our driver will thereafter transfer you to Nyungwe National Park. By evening you will be at your lodge in the park for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy Walk
In the morning in your lodge in Nyungwe National Park, you will wake up to breakfast before transferring to the park offices. You will arrive at the park offices for a briefing on the dos and don’ts while chimpanzee trekking. A ranger will then guide you through this adventurous experience with the primates. After a short search in the forest, you will encounter the chimpanzees. You will be given an hour you observe and take pictures of these playful primates.
After your hour, you will have lunch at your lodge and embark on a canopy walk on the 50-meter trail above the ground. This is the first of its kind in Africa and you will have an amazing scenic aerial view of the entire park. You will have a photo moment at the trail as you observe the different vegetation zones below. In the evening, you will head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park
After your breakfast, you will commence the journey to Kahuzi Biega National Park in Congo. This journey takes approximately 8-10 hours through the border at Cyangungu. You will be served lunch while on your way to the park. You will check in your lodge by evening when you get to the park just in time for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Lowland Gorilla trekking and guided nature walk
You will have breakfast early in the morning after which you embark on a gorilla trekking adventure. Kahuzi Biega National Park is renowned for having a substantial number of mountain gorillas. You will be brief about what is expected of you when trekking with the gorillas and also in their presence. You will be led by a ranger guide to the mountain gorilla habitats. You spend an hour with them in their habitats before returning to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon you will embark on a guided nature walk around the park guided by a professional armed ranger. You will visit the two extinct volcanic mountains of Kahuzi and Biega. The park was named after these two extinct mountains. You will encounter numerous bird species and smaller primates as well. You will be transferred back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Transfer from Kahuzi Biega National Park to Kigali
In the morning you will travel back to Kigali Rwanda after breakfast and checking out of your lodge. This journey is quite long but adventurous as you get to enjoy the scenic views of both countries. You will be served lunch while en route to the city. In the evening upon arrival in Kigali, you will have dinner at your booked hotel and rest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 15: Kigali city tour – Departure
You will have breakfast on the morning of the final day of your 15 days Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo wildlife and gorilla trekking safari. You will then take on a Kigali city tour visiting places like the genocide memorial hall, the presidential palace museum, and the local markets among other places. You will have lunch in the city and then after our driver guide will transfer you to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight back home.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
