17 Days Uganda, Rwanda and Congo safari is a 16 nights/17 day Uganda Rwanda Congo combined safari that features primate tracking including trekking Mountain Gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking in Congo’s Kahuzi Biega National Park. You will also get to encounter savannah wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Track golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and conclude your tour with chimpanzee trekking, Canopy walk, nature walk and a visit to Gisakura tea estate in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Summarized Itinerary for 17 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour
Day 1: Airport pick-up and Transfer to Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls national park
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon Nile boat cruise
Day 4: Transfer to Kampala
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 6: Kisenyi area morning game drive and boat cruise
Day 7: Lion experience and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 8: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 9: Transfer to Ruhengeri (Rwanda) and cultural walk
Day 10: Golden monkeys tracking at Volcanoes national park and transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 11: Drive to Kibuye at Comorade Hotel
Day 12: Transfer to Bukavu
Day 13: Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking
Day 14: Proceed back to Gisenyi Drive to Nyungwe
Day 15: Chimpanzee and Canopy Walk
Day 16: Nature Walk and Gisakura Tea Estate
Day 17: Transfer to Kigali and city tour
Detailed Itinerary for 17 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Tour
Day 1: Airport pick-up and Transfer to Hotel
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 Naguru Skys Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls national park
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 stopovers lunch and en route at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where you will enjoy seeing the Rhinos before proceeding to the park. Arrive in the park late afternoon and proceed to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Fort Murchison River Lodge
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon Nile boat cruise
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.
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.
Drive to the top of Murchison falls after your boat cruise experience. You will be able to be close to the falls, which are famously known as the ‘world’s most powerful falls.’ 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 Fort Murchison River Lodge as above
Day 4: Transfer to Kampala
After early morning breakfast, then embark on a transfer to Kampala. You will transfer for 5 hours with an enroute lunch. You will arrive at your hotel in time to check in at your hotel in Kampala where you will spend the rest of the night. Dinner and overnight at Naguru Skys hotel.
Day 5: 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 Elephant Plains Lodge
Day 6: Kisenyi area morning game drive and boat cruise
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 Oribi, Uganda kobs, waterbucks to mention a few.
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 experience and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
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. After there, connect to Ishasha sector to proceed to Bwindi national park. Arrive and connect to your lodge for relation, dinner and overnight stay at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Day 8: Gorilla trekking experience
On the 8th day of your 17 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Safari, 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
Day 9: Transfer to Ruhengeri (Rwanda) and cultural walk
After early morning, you will drive to cross Cyanika boarder to connect to Volcanoes national park where you will have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will take a cultural walk to Iby’iwachu 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 Le bambou Gorilla Lodge
Day 10: Golden monkeys tracking at Volcanoes national park and transfer to Lake Kivu
On the 10th day of your 17 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Safari, 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.
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 Kibuye at Comorade Hotel
On the 11th day of your 17 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Safari, Wake up to a beautiful sunrise and have breakfast at you hotel. You will then meet up with your guide and embark on a 5 hours’ drive to Kibuye town which lies on the eastern shores of Lake Kivu. Drive to your hotel and have lunch. Later in the afternoon, you can opt to enjoy the amenities at your hotel or head out and explore the beautiful town of Kibuye with places to visit such as Bisesero Genocide Memorial, Museum of Environment, Lake Kivu or Ndaba waterfalls. Do let me know if you want to add any of these places to your itinerary. Dinner and overnight at Comorade Hotel.
Day 12: Transfer to Bukavu
Have breakfast at your hotel in the morning. Today you will be driving to Kahuzi Biega National Park in Bukavu. You will drive to the Rwanda-Congo border at Kamembe, Cyangungu town. Check-in at the immigrations offices at the border where you will pick-up your Congo Visa on arrival. Drive to Bukavu town where you will spend the night at Panorama Hotel.
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 13: Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking
Today marks the highlight of your visit to Congo! Have breakfast early in the morning and at 7am drive to Kahuzi-Biega National park where you will be trekking the famous Eastern Lowland Gorillas. These species are the largest of all gorilla subspecies as you will notice during your gorilla trekking experience. Eastern lowland gorilla trekking at Kahuzi Biega is not so strenuous, with a typical hike taking 1-3 hours of walking through the forest and 1 hour that you will spend with the gorillas.
After your gorilla trekking experience, drive back to your hotel in Bukavu for lunch and relax at your hotel for the rest of the afternoon. If you are not tired, you can head out for an optional visit to Lwiro Sanctuary to see chimps or visit one of the local communities in the area. Dinner and overnight at Panorama Hotel.
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 14: Proceed back to Gisenyi Drive to Nyungwe
Wake up at leisure and have your breakfast. Bid farewell to Kahuzi Biega and drive back to Rwanda. Get your Rwanda Visa at the border and proceed with your drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Have a stopover at the King’s Palace in Nyanza and Butare Museum. You will have lunch and drive to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top Hill View.
Day 15: Chimpanzee and Canopy
On the 15th day of your 17 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Safari, Wake up in the morning and head out for chimpanzee trekking at 5am in the morning. Chimpanzee trekking experience takes 4 hours including an hour that you get to spend with the chimps. Carry your packed lunch which you will have after your chimpanzee trekking experience. After lunch, you will embark on a 2 hours hike along the Ishigishigi trail with the highlight of your hike being the Canopy walkway Bridge– 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 and overnight stay at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Day 16: Nature Walk and Gisakura Tea Estate
Have breakfast at 7am in the morning and head out to the park for a guided hiking experience. Guided nature walk will take between 3-4 hours depending on the trail. Enjoy sightseeing and exploring the beauty of the forest and viewing amazing waterfalls in the forest. You can carry your packed lunch on this day if you want or drive back to your hotel for lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will head out for a tea tour at Gisakura Tea Estate where you will take park in tea picking/harvesting and also see how tea is processed before winding up your day with a nice cup of Rwandan Tea. Drive back to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel.
Day 17: Transfer to Kigali and 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. Have lunch and connect to the airport for your return flight to your next destination.
