12 Days Uganda Rwanda Congo Gorilla, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari

Arrive in Uganda – Entebbe International Airport, go through immigration procedure and then meet our representative at the arrivals section and transfer to the respective hotel for relaxation  and overnight.

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe

Midrange / Standard: Boma Hotel Entebbe

Budget: Airport Guesthouse Entebbe

After breakfast at your place of stay in Entebbe, transfer to Fort Portal area 300km about 6 hours’ drive exploring the scenic views of en route landscapes including Mubende inselbergs. Hot lunch will be served in Fort Portal town after which can proceed to the lodge in Kibale Area or choose to visit the Amabere g’ Nyinamwiru caves and hike the Fort Portal crater lake field – an activity which lasts about 2 hours.  The Amabere caves have breast-like features which the locals believe are the breasts of Nnyinamwiru – a daughter of Bukuku a self-enthroned King of the Bachwezi who denied his daughter a chance to breastfeed her son in fear that her son would overthrow him.  The hike to the Fort Portal crater field offers incredible views of various crater hollows and lakes that mark this explosion crater which is one of the four of its kind existing in Uganda. The views of the Rwenzori Mountains can be viewed at a distance.

Accommodation:

Upmarket / Luxury:  Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages  

Midrange / Standard:  Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tents

Budget: Isunga Lodge Kibale

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.

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury:  Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages  

Midrange / Standard:  Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tents

Budget: Isunga Lodge Kibale

Day 4 of the 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Congo Gorilla, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Tour Ruboni Community en route & evening game drive upon arrival

After breakfast, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 2 – 3 hours’ drive excluding stops en route.  You branch off as you draw close to Kasese & drive to the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains to visit the Ruboni Community that has lived on thrived in this mountainous ecosystem for over 300 years past. You explore their traditions and way of life. You retreat to Kasese for hot lunch after which you proceed to Queen Elizabeth Np – Kasenyi sector for an afternoon game drive. The views of savannah in the evening dotted with counts of wild game are rewarding to explore.

Accommodation

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Midrange / Standard:  Enganzi Lodge

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge – Deluxe Room

Settle for breakfast at 6:30am and transfer to the park to start at the game drive at 7am. The savannah plains of Kasenyi sector offers incredible chances of viewing a range of wild game including four of the Big five namely; Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions & Buffaloes, other wild game such as Defassa waterbucks, spotted hyena, Topis among others. The game drive lasts 3 – 4 hours.  Drive to Mweya peninsular for hot lunch at Tembo restaurant before gathering at Mweya jetty for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat ride departing at 2pm. The majestic Kazinga Channel boat cruise lasts for 2 hours offering good recreational moments, likely views of Nile crocodiles, Hippos, bird species on the shores and wild game drinking on the shores. From the boat, you do an evening game drive along the channel track for more wild game viewing possibilities.

 Accommodation

Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages

Midrange / Standard:  Enganzi Lodge

Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge – Deluxe Room

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You undertake a 1.5 – 2-hour game drive in Ishasha sector in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of tree climbing lions and other wild game. The Ishasha is one of the only two places in the world where tree climbing lions can be encountered. They tend to lie in fig tree branches in the day time. Continue on the drive to arrive in Bwindi in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation

Midrange / Budget: Gorilla Mist Camp

Luxury: Haven Lodge Buhoma

Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park commences at 8am with briefing after which you traverse the impenetrable landscapes with dense forest in search of the Mountain Gorillas that are known to be critically endangered world over. The 2 – 8-hour trek in the forest does not only offer the lasting moments with the Gorillas for one full hour but also impressive sights of lush flora and birds.  From the trek, you slope to Lake Bunyonyi – famously known as the lake of a thousand Islands for evening relaxation.

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury:    Birdnest @Lake Bunyonyi Resort

Midrange / Budget: Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort

After a relaxed breakfast, enjoy a soothing boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi gaining the views of some of the main Islands on this lake and a walk can be undertaken on the Punishment Island where the girls that would have got pregnant prematurely would be dumped and left to die in Bakiga tradition. From Lake Bunyonyi, you drive to Volcanoes National Park 120km about 3 hours’ drive enjoying the views of the Kigezi Highlands and Virunga Volcanoes. Cross at chanica border and spend the evening relaxing at the lodge.

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury:   Mountain Gorilla View Lodge     

Midrange / Standard:     Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

Budget: Muhabura Hotel

After a relaxed breakfast, enjoy a soothing boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi gaining the views of some of the main Islands on this lake and a walk can be undertaken on the Punishment Island where the girls that would have got pregnant prematurely would be dumped and left to die in Bakiga tradition. From Lake Bunyonyi, you drive to Volcanoes National Park 120km about 3 hours’ drive enjoying the views of the Kigezi Highlands and Virunga Volcanoes. Cross at Chanika border and spend the evening relaxing at the lodge.

Accommodation:

Upmarket / Luxury:   Mountain Gorilla View Lodge     

Midrange / Standard:     Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

Budget: Muhabura Hotel

Trekking Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park presents a second encounter with these critically endangered Apes. The landscape of Volcanoes NP is different from that of Bwindi and the gorilla groups are not the same which in turn offers a diverse experience. The duration is 2 – 8 hours depending on how far the Gorillas have moved but the actual viewing of Gorillas is limited to one hour for purposes of conservation.  Retreat from the activity and transfer to Gisenyi Lake Kivu to spend the evening relaxing by the beach.    An optional boat ride can be arranged.

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury:   Lake Kivu Serena Resort      

Midrange/ Budget: Paladis Malahide

Cross the Congo boarder at Goma at 7:30am Rwandan time and transfer to Kibati Patrol post 1hr drive from the boarder.  This marks the beginning of a lasting adventure hike the world’s largest and most violent lava lake at the top of Nyiragongo Volcano rising to 3470m above sea level.  The hike to the summit takes about 4 – 6 hours and you spend the great evening at the summit waiting to gaze into the lava lake after dark.

Accommodation: Mountain Shelter

You can wake up very early for the sun rise experience after which you settle for breakfast and then embark on the descend back to Kibati gaining views of other Virunga Mountain, dense Congo jungle & Lake Kivu.  You drive back to Gisenyi Rwanda via Goma boarder.

Accommodation:

Up market / Luxury:   Lake Kivu Serena Resort      

Midrange / Budget: Paladis Malahide

Transfer to Kigali driving 358km for about 3 hours through the hilly landscapes of Rwanda with amazing scenery. Upon arrival in Kigali, you undertake the city tour including the tour to the Kigali genocide memorial at Gisozi gaining an insight into what transpired during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. You settle for lunch and later connect to the Airport for the flight departure back home.