17 Days Combined Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour
17 Days Combined Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour has specifically designed for those interested in long tours and visiting multiple destinations. This safari will give you the opportunity to explore three countries-Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where you will engage in a number of activities such as wildlife viewing, gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, cultural tours and not forgetting hiking Mount Nyiragongo.
Summary For 17 Days Combined Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour.
Day 1: Pick-up at Entebbe and Transfer to Kampala.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.
Day3: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise.
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and Evening Boat Cruise.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park.
Day 6: Kasenyi area morning game drive and boat cruise.
Day 7: Lion Tracking Experience and Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking Experience.
Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) and Community cultural Tour.
Day 10: Golden monkeys tracking at Volcanoes national park and transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 11: Drive to Goma – Congo Boarder.
Day 12: Virunga Gorilla Trekking in Congo
Day 13: Ascend Nyiragongo
Day 14: Descend Nyiragongo & Proceed back to Gisenyi
Day 15: Transfer to Nyungwe national park
Day 16: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
Day 17: Transfer to Kigali, city tour &Departure.
Detailed Itinerary For 17 Days Combined Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour.
Day 1: Pick-up at Entebbe and Transfer to Kampala.
Arrival & Transfer to Kampala: Our representative will welcome you given your arrival at Entebbe international airport and transfer to your booked hotel in Kampala. This is an hour’s drive. Dinner and overnight stay at Forest Cottages/Naguru Skys Hotel/Kampala Serena Hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls national park
Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park: On the 2nd day of your 17 Days Combined Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour, after early morning breakfast at the hotel, the driver will pick you up for a transfer to the Murchison falls national park located in the south west of the country. Murchison is the largest park in Uganda where you get to see huge numbers of wildlife including the big 4. The journey is approximately 4 hours’ drive with stopover in Masindi town for lunch. Arrive in the park late afternoon and proceed to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Fort Murchison River Lodge/Chobe Safari Lodge/ Paara Safari Lodge.
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon Nile boat cruise
Morning Game Drive: After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will cross the ferry for a morning game drive on the Northern bank. The activity takes about 3-5 hours and be able to view variety of wildlife including elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda kobs, Oribis and waterbucks. After the drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon Boat Cruise: In the afternoon go for a boat cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater.
You will then hike up to find the falls through Bakers trail and also be able to stand at bakers stone (brings you closer to the bottom of the falls) this hike is a bit tuff but it’s fascinating as you will enjoy to see the falls at different points and finally when you reach at the top of the falls, you will be amazed and eventually forget about the tuff hike. After spending a good time at the top of the falls, you will meet your driver who will transfer you back to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at same lodge as above.
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park and evening game drive
Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park: On the 4th day of your 17 Days Combined Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour, After early morning breakfast, then embark on a 5 hours’ drive to Lake Mburo national park. You will have a stopover at the Equator where you will take pictures and visit craft shops. Proceed to the park for your evening game drive. Then connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Rwakobo rock lodge/ Mihingo Safari Lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park: Wake up early and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park, drive through the scenic view of the Ankole region. Arrive in the park in early afternoon and connect to visit the crater lakes region and get to see the dark lakes and rich grassland set deep into the volcanic craters, this provides an opportunity for great photos on this scenic drive which covers the highest points in the park and other attractions that may be advised by the guide.
After the activity, proceed for lunch then to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at Park View Safari Cottages/ Elephant Hub/ Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 6: Kasenyi area morning game drive and boat cruise
Explore Kasenyi Plains: Set off after having breakfast to Kasenyi area for a fascinating game drive where you will be able to view great numbers of animals including the savannah elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes including the Oribis, Uganda kobs, waterbucks to mention a few.
Afternoon Boat Cruise: In the afternoon, you will go for a boat trip along the Kazinga channel. During the boat trip you will enjoy watching the densely populated hippos along the lake, crocodiles and other animals like the elephants, buffaloes and bird species on the banks. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.
Day 7: Lion Tracking Experience and Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Lion Tracking Experience: Wake up as early as 5:00am to prepare for Lion experience, here you will get an opportunity to get close to a pride of lions. This is a 2 hour activity. Have lunch and then proceed with your transfer to Bwindi.
Transfer to Bwindi: After there, connect to Ishasha sector to proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Arrive and connect to your lodge for relation, dinner and overnight stay at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Day 8: Gorilla trekking experience
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi: Have breakfast and transfer you to park offices for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking by the park warden then connect to the forest to search for the gorillas. The time taken is usually between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Meeting the gorillas unexpectedly is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at very close range. You will observe adults feeding and groaning among themselves. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your ranger guide will lead you back to the starting point where your driver will readily be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge for a restful evening. Have dinner overnight stay at lodge as above. Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Buhoma Haven/Silverback Lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) and Community cultural Tour
Transfer to Volcanoes National Park: On the 9th day of your 17 Days Combined Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour, after early morning, you will drive to cross Cyanika boarder to connect to Volcanoes national park where you will have lunch.
Community Cultural Tour: In the afternoon, you will take a cultural walk to Ibyi’wachu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects.
It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. Retreat and return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Muhabura Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Day 10: Golden monkeys tracking at Volcanoes national park and transfer to Lake Kivu
Golden Monkey Tracking: After early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing from the park warden about the endangered golden monkeys. After connect to the tracking starting point and enter the forest to search for the rare golden monkey. This activity can take about 1-5 hours and is done at closer view of the other primates in the park like the red tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys among other. After viewing the rare golden monkeys for an hour while taking pictures and studying their behaviors, return to the base and meet your drive.
Transfer to Lake Kivu: You will have lunch then drive northwest to Rubavu town at the shores of Lake Kivu where you will spend the whole afternoon enjoying the shores while taking boat trips to the island of the lake, a town tour and relaxing at the shores as you enjoy the breeze. Dinner and overnight stay at Paradise Malahide
Day 11: Drive to Goma – Congo Boarder.
Drive to Goma: You will meet your guide after breakfast and embark on your drive to cross into Congo to Goma. Check in with the tourism office strategically located at the Grand Barrier border Post to receive Gorilla and Volcano permit that’s to be presented at the beginning of every trek. There after you will be transfer to Kibumba tented camp just near the trailhead of Nyiragongo volcano
Day 12: Virunga Gorilla Trekking in Congo
Gorilla Trekking in Virunga: On the 12th day of your 17 Days Combined Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour, have your first meal of the day – Breakfast and report to Bukima patrol passport with your passport and permit details for registration and briefing. All treks in Virunga national park begin here. Later head into the forest with your ranger guide and expect to hike for 1 to 3 hours until you find the mountain Gorillas in Virunga national park
When you get to see them, you will be in awe inspired by their huge size and gentle nature as you watch them go about their daily business with mothers tending to the young ones and the juveniles making an effort to impress. You will stay up to 1 hour maximum and head back to the camp enjoy a late lunch and have the rest of the day at leisure, including time for nature walks and bird watching. Return to your accommodation
Day 13: Nyiragongo Hiking
Ascend Mount Nyiragongo: On the 13 day of our 17 Days Combined Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour Prepare for early morning breakfast as you will be expected at the headquarters by 8am.
Meet your ranger guide, a porter and begin your hike. Meals will be provided and you will stay overnight in wooden shelter at the top.
Please note that your Rwanda Visa will expire after crossing into Congo so you will apply for another immediately and you will find it ready on return.
Day 14: Descend Nyiragongo & Proceed back to Gisenyi
Descend Nyiragongo: This morning, you will descend the Volcano and head down to Kibati by 11:00am. Here, you will connect with your driver / guide and transfer to Gisenyi Rwanda to spend the evening at leisure! Enjoy dinner at overnight at Paradise Malahide
Note that your Rwanda Visa expires immediately you cross into Congo so you will have to reapply for another while at the border and find it ready after the tour.
Day 15: Transfer to Nyungwe national park
Transfer to Nyungwe: After early morning breakfast at the lodge, you will embark on your journey to Nyungwe national park. This is a 5-6 hours’ drive to Nyungwe national park with lunch en route. Nyungwe forest is the oldest and largest rain forest in East Africa. Arrive in the park and connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Guesthouse/Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Day 16: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
Chimpanzee Tracking: Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3 hours. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch.
Canopy Walk: After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before night fall, you will return to the lodge for dinner as above.
Day 17: Transfer to Kigali, city tour &Departure.
Transfer to Kigali & City Tour: Have breakfast at leisure then embark on a 5 hours’ drive back to Kigali city with en route visit to Nyanza king’s palace and Rwanda national museum in Huye and Murambi genocide museum. Arrive in Kigali and also visit the craft shops and the Kigali genocide memorial.
Departure: Have lunch and connect to the airport for your return flight to your next destination. End of Tour.
