12 Days Uganda Congo Safari Trip, Chimpanzees, Gorilla Trekking, Wildlife Viewing Tours, Mount Nyirangongo Hike

Arrive in Uganda – Entebbe International Airport amidst the soothing fresh breeze from the mighty Victoria Lake; the largest lake in Africa and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake. You are welcomed by our representative who will then transfer you to the respective hotel for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation

Midrange: Boma Hotel Entebbe

Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe

After breakfast at 6:30am, drive to Murchison Falls National Park 311km from Kampala about 5 hours’ drive excluding stops en route enjoying good views of the flat stretches of Nakasongora district. A stop will be made at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 7km off the main road at Nakitooma to track the southern white Rhinos which only thrive here in the whole of Uganda following their re-introduction in 2005. The Rhino trek lasts about 2 hours exploring the members of the Big five family, settle for lunch at Kabalega dinner before proceeding on the drive to Murchison Falls National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation       

Midrange / Standard:  Murchison River Lodge – Thatched Safari Tent

Luxury / Up market:  Paraa Safari Lodge – Deluxe rooms

Depending on where you spent the previous night, you start the game drive between 6am – 7am in the northern sector of the park for 3 – 4 hours. The exciting game drive offers possibilities of exploring a range of wild game including Jackson’s Hartebeest, Rothschild Giraffes, Elephants, Buffalos, Lions, Leopard, Uganda Kob, Oribis among others. Settle for lunch and at 2pm, you gather for an afternoon Nile launch cruise departing at Paraa Jetty.  The recreational launch cruise offers incredible possible sights of Nile crocodiles, Hippos, a range of birds such as the vulnerable shoebill stork and the wild game drinking on the shores.   You are welcomed by the world’s most powerful water fall which you will follow the course on foot. You dis embark from the boat and take up this adventure hike viewing the mighty Nile River – world’s longest squeezing itself to pass through a less than 7m ravine before falling 43m below the Devil’s Cauldron forming a plume of spray marked with a trade mark rainbow.  You connect with your guide at the top of the falls and then drive to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation      

Midrange / Standard:  Murchison River Lodge – Thatched Safari Tent

Luxury / Up market:  Paraa Safari Lodge – Deluxe rooms

Transfer after breakfast to Kibale National Park 366km about 8 hours’ drive exploring the scenic rural landscapes of Hoima and Kagadi.  A hot lunch stop will be made in Hoima and you will arrive in Kibale in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation

Midrange / Standard:  Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent

Luxury / Up market:   Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages

Chimpanzee trekking is one of the incredible safari activities in Uganda and Kibale National Park dubbed the Primate capital of the world has the best Chimp sightings in the whole of Africa. Briefing commences at 8am at Kanyanchu Tourism centre after which you follow the established forest trails in search of Chimpanzees – Man’s closest relative in the Ape family. Kibale is a rich forest with beautiful flora, amazing bird species up to 375 species and 13 species of primates. The one hour with Chimps as they forage and socialize will make your trek memorable. The entire depending on how far the Chimps have moved takes 2 – 5 hours. Return from the activity, settle for lunch after which you embark on an exciting Bigodi wetland and community walk gaining incredible experience with the local people and their traditions but also the lush flora and great bird species such as the Great Blue Turaco in the wetland. From the activity, you drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

The option of Chimpanzee Habituation offers a whole day encounter with the Chimpanzees starting from 6am ending at 7pm. This is a much longer experience compared to one hour under Chimp trekking encounter.

Accommodation

Midrange / Standard:  Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent

Luxury / Up market:   Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages

After breakfast, set off for the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 3 hours’ drive enjoying amazing sightseeing experience of Rwenzori Mountains en route. Upon arrival in the park, undertake a thrilling game drive in the Katwe explosion crater for incredible views of various crater hollows and lakes. Settle for lunch and gather at Mweya jetty for an afternoon boat cruise starting at 2pm lasting 2hours. The encounter offers you opportunity of encountering the Nile crocodiles, the Hippos and water birds along the channel. The wild game also tends to come to the channel shores to quench their thirst. Retreat from that and do a game drive along the channel track as you connect to the lodge for overnight.

Accommodation

Midrange / Standard:  Enganzi Game Lodge

Luxury / Up market:   Mweya Safari Lodge – Deluxe rooms

Drive for 75km about 2 hours to Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park for an extensive game drive exploring the open flat plains with beautiful savannah grassland dotted with counts of tree species including fig trees which are commonly climbed by Lions. In this sector, you have chances of viewing the famous tree climbing lions resting in the tree branches. Other likely sights include; Buffaloes, Kobs, Elephants, Topis, defassa waterbucks among others.  From this encounter, drive down to Lake Bunyonyi 177km about 4 – 5 hours’ drive enjoying incredible views of Kigezi Highlands dubbed the Switzerland of Africa.

Accommodation

Midrange / Standard:  Lake Bunyonyi Eco-resort

Luxury / Up market:    Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort

Embark on a thrilling boat ride on the Lake marked with a count of 29 Islands crisscrossing with the local fishermen and the Islanders connecting to and from the main land. You dock to take a walk on some of the inhabited Islands of the lake with great history including punishment Island, Bucuranuka, Bushara, Njuyera among others. Retreat from the 2 – 3-hour activity and embark on the transfer to Goma Congo crossing the Rwandan border at Cyanika and Congo border at Congo. Settle for relaxation and overnight

Accommodation:

Midrange / Standard:  Hotel Ihusi

Luxury / Up market: Mikeno Lodge

Gather at the designated point depending on the location of the Mountain Gorillas and embark on the trek traversing the jungle of Congo in search of the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas. Virunga National Park is part of the greater Virunga massif which incorporates Rwanda’s Volcanoes and Uganda’s Mgahinga sheltering a population of 480 mountain gorillas. The moment with the gorillas is limited to one (1) hour after which you retreat from the activity and transfer to the starting point. You will then visit the local community exploring the local way of life of the Congolese, their gardens, traditions and settlement. This would give you a deep insight of the Mountain Gorilla habitat and the surrounding people. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:

Midrange / Standard:  Hotel Ihusi

Luxury / Up market: Mikeno Lodge

Gather at Kibati Patrol post by 9am from where you will begin the hike from in the company of the Virunga National Park rangers. Enjoy the amazing views and environment of Nyiragongo Volcano noted to feature the largest lava lake in the world. The lava lake is very violent and noted to have had a significant impact on the surrounding environment following its last subsequent eruptions including the 2002 eruption that destroyed half of Goma town 20km away. The accommodation is presented in the mountain shelter and you enjoy the glowing views of the lava lake at night. Nyiragongo Volcano hike lasts between 4 – 6 hours.

Accommodation: Mountain Shelter

This is the second day on the mountain and you enjoy the mountain scenery as you trek back to the starting point. From Kibati, you connect to Gisenyi Lake Kivu and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation:

Midrange / Standard:  Hotel Paladis Malahide

Luxury / Up market:  Serena Resort Lake Kivu

After breakfast, embark on the drive to Kigali enjoying the views of Rwandan hillsides. Upon arrival in Kigali, you embark on a tour of the city exploring the impressive landscapes including Kigali markets. You can take an optional tour to the Gisozi genocide site to gain an insight into what transpired in the 1994 Rwanda ethnic conflict.  You will later connect to Kigali International Airport to catch up with the flight back home