10 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari is a 9 nights/10 day Uganda Rwanda Congo primate trekking safari in Uganda Rwanda Congo starts in Uganda’s capital Kampala and ends in Rwanda’s Kigali. It is an exciting safari package involving Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park, Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, Golden Monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, extensive game viewing experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park with possibilities of viewing tree climbing lions along with other wild game.
Day 1: Drive to Fort Portal Area to Kibale National Park
Day 2: Do Chimpanzee Habituation & drive to Queen Elizabeth Park
Day 3: Morning game drive, Kazinga Channel boat cruise & evening game drive
Day 4: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable through the Ishasha sector searching for tree-climbing lions.
Day 5: Undertake Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Day 6: Golden Monkey tracking in Mgahinga & drive to Volcanoes Rwanda
Day 7: Undertake Mountain Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park & drive to Lake Kivu Gisenyi
Day 8: Transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park in Congo via the Cyangungu border
Day 9: Undertake Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Day 10: Transfer to Kigali to mark the end of the tour
Embark on the drive to Fort Portal Area 300km approximately 5 hours drive from Kampala after breakfast at your place of stay. You enjoy the views of the countryside marked by unique features like Mubende Inselbergs, Lake Wamara, and the lush tea estates near Fort Portal. You arrive in Fort Portal town for lunch after which you connect to Amabere g’Nnyinamwiru caves where the breast-like features are believed to be breasts of Nnyinamwiru a daughter of Bukuku – the self enthroned King of the Bachwezi who is noted to have denied the daughter to breastfeed her son as he had been foretold that the grandson would take over his throne. The seasonal Nyakasura River flows over the caves forming beautiful falls and sightseeing experiences. From the caves, you embark on the hike to the Crater field enjoying the views of the explosion hollows and lakes not forgetting the Rwenzori Mountains at a distance. Hiking Kyeganywa Hill is also thrilling. Retreat from the activity & connect to Kibale National Park for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation: Up market / Luxury: Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages, Mid-range / Standard: Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tents, Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Congregate at Kibale’s Kanyanchu Tourism Center at 6 am to catch up with others and eventually set off to the forest at 6:30 am for a whole day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience. You have the opportunity to catch up with the chimpanzees as they set out from their nests and spend a great deal of time with them as they forage, munch fruit, hunt, copulate, patrol, make pant hoot calls along with other exciting behaviors. You break from the Habituation experience at 4 pm and set off for the 3 hours transfer 157km to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The en-route scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains are also rewarding.
Accommodation: Up market / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge, Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
You start off the early morning game drive at 7 am in the Kasenyi sector gaining likely chances of viewing Lions, Buffaloes, Elephants, Deffassa Water-buck, Side-striped jackal, Leopard, Warthogs, Uganda Kobs, Topis, Oribis, Spotted Hyenas among others. The game viewing activity in your 4 x 4 Safari Van / Land cruiser with a pop-up roof takes around 3 – 4 hours after which you connect to Mweya peninsular for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, you assemble at Mweya jetty for a 2 pm boat cruise along the 45km long Kazinga Channel that adjoins Lakes George and Edward. The ride takes 2 hours and offers likely views of Nile crocodiles, Hippos, birds like Africa skimmers, Great Cormorants among others. The drive along the channel track offers a late evening game viewing experience.
Accommodation: Up market / Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Enganzi Game Lodge, Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages
Following breakfast, connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with an en-route Ishasha sector game drive in the quest for the tree-climbing lions. The lions in this part of the world tend to climb trees in the mid-morning sun and a drive through the area offers their likely views as they rest on the branches of the fig trees. The sights of other wild games like Elephants, Deffasa Water-bucks, Topis, and Uganda Kobs among others may not be missed. Proceed to the northern sector of the park for relaxation and overnight
Accommodation: Up market / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp, Budget / Basic: Broad-bill Forest Camp
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a minimum of 400 Mountain Gorillas making Uganda the country with the largest Mountain Gorilla population in the world. Gorilla trekking starts at 8 am from the respective gorilla trekking region with a briefing by the Park rangers after which you head to the mist in quest of these world’s critically endangered Apes. The walk takes you through the hilly forested landscapes, traversing the narrow valleys, slippery slopes, and dense forest tracts before getting in contact with the Gorillas. The one hour of direct viewing generates a lasting impression as you view them forage, young ones play and the Silver-back administering. The unlimited picturesque opportunities are available to your advantage. From the activity which takes 2 – 8 hours, you drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park enjoying the beautiful views of Kigezi Highlands and the overlooking Virunga Volcanoes. Retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight
Accommodation: Up market / Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mid-range / Budget: Travelers Rest Kisoro
Golden Monkeys are among the unique species of Primates considered to the endangered world over and known to only survive in the Virunga massif. Mgahinga National Park features a habituated troop of Golden Monkeys on the slopes of Mount Gahinga making Golden Monkey tracking possible. The activity commences Ntebeko Visitor Center at 8 am traversing the beautiful landscapes of the park with sights of lush flora before approaching the Species. The direct viewing is limited to one hour for purposes of Conservation but the entire trek can last around 4 hours. From the activity, you settle for lunch in Kisoro and then connect on the drive to Rwanda crossing at Chania border post amidst the fascinating views of the Virunga massif
Accommodation: Up market / Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Mid-range / Standard: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel
Tracking Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park presents another experience with the Gorillas but in a varying habitat generating a different tracking experience. Volcanoes feature relatively short vegetation compared to Bwindi which in turn offers a relatively open Gorilla viewing encounter. The trek itself is not so demanding compared to that of Bwindi and can at times be short since the gorilla groups tend to dwell at the lower layers of the Mountains. The trekking commences at 8 am with briefing but an earlier arrival offers an encounter with the traditional Kinyarwanda performance while sipping a cup of Rwandan coffee. Ten Habituated gorilla groups are always available for tracking daily each taking 8 people. From Volcanoes, you drive to Gisenyi Lake Kivu for afternoon beach relaxation with options of swimming and sunbathing before retiring for overnight
Accommodation: Up market / Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Resort, Mid-range / Budget: Paladis Malahide
Following breakfast, you set off on the drive to Bukavu – the South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo enjoying the en-route views of Lake Kivu and the Congo Nile divide trail. Cross the border post at Cyangungu and spend the evening in Bukavu where the Kahuzi Biega National Park is positioned.
Accommodation: Luxury / Mid-range: Orchid Safari Lodge, Budget: Hotel Horizon
Following breakfast, set off for an adventurous hike in the equatorial jungle of Kahuzi-Biega National Park looking for Eastern Lowland Gorillas – one of the mighty Great Apes. Varying from the Mountain Gorillas, the Eastern lowland gorillas are relatively larger in size and like to thrive in bigger groups. The trek to the Eastern lowland gorillas normally lasts 1 – 4 hours. In the afternoon, you take a sightseeing experience around Tshibati falls. Retire for relaxation and overnight
Accommodation: Luxury / Mid-range: Orchid Safari Lodge, Budget: Hotel Horizon
Set off on the drive back to Kigali City after breakfast passing through the lush forested landscapes of Nyungwe Forest National Park making a stop in Butare to visit the National Museum of Rwanda with 100,000 artifacts detailing the history and heritage of Rwanda. Another stop can be made at Nyanza Palace – the former headquarters of the Rwandan monarchy and home to the two former Kings of Rwandan namely Musinga and his successor Rudahigwa. Proceed on the drive to Kigali to mark the end of the safari.
Airport transfers Transportation by safari van Accommodation and meals as per itinerary Gorilla permits, one per person to be paid in advance Driver allowances En-route lunches Visit the equator and Igongo cultural Center.
personal nature expenses of excludes: laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, Air fare, Visa, drinks, personal insurance, personal shopping bills and cigarettes.
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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