13 Days Uganda, Rwanda and Congo
13 Days Uganda, Rwanda and Congo : This is a combined 13 days Uganda, Rwanda and Congo safari that will take you on an adventurous journey as you explore three of the best primate destinations in the world. This safari expedition reveals marvelous varieties of wildlife with the main highlights of the tour being the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda and in Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also hike Mount Nyiragongo in Congo which recently erupted in May 2021.
You will also get to track golden monkeys in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and later on do chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park combined with the famous canopy walk. A guided nature walk/ hiking expedition along the Rusizi trail in Nyungwe forest will unveil spectacular views of the forest canopy as well as Lake Kivu which is shared by Rwanda and Congo.
Summary 13 Days Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi forest.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park-Uganda
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park (Rwanda)
Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking and Iby’ iwacu Cultural Tour
Day 5: Drive to Gisenyi – Congo Boarder.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park-Congo
Day 7: Nyiragongo Hiking
Day 8: Descend Nyiragongo and transfer to Tchegera Island
Day 9: Tchegera Island – Transfer to Gisenyi
Day 10: Transfer to Nyungwe national park
Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
Day 12: Hike Rusizi Trail
Day 13: Transfer to Kigali city
Detailed Itinerary 13 Days Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi forest.
Pick up and Transfer to Bwindi: Depending on your location in Kigali , our company representative and guide will meet you and later you will embark on your journey to Bwindi with en route lunch continue to Kisoro district where you will connect to your lodge where you will spend the evening relaxing at your lodge. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Haven Lodge (midrange)/ Buhoma Lodge(luxury)
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park-Uganda
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi: Breakfast will be served early, depart with your lunch park and report to the park headquarters for an important briefing by the park ranger guides about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. It is also here that you will be allocated which gorilla group to trek. You will then head into the steep slopes of Bwindi impenetrable national park and trek until you find the mountain gorillas. This can last between 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas.
After finding the gorillas, you will be allowed 1 hour to view, photograph and record small videos as you please and later return to the assembly point for your certificate. Your guide will be waiting to transfer back to the lodge where you will spend the evening at leisure recovering from the trek. You may have a cultural visit if you are feeling energetic. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park (Rwanda)
Transfer to Volcanoes: After morning breakfast, meet the driver / guide and after which you will cross to Rwanda via the Cyanika border with lunch en-route and proceed to visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo and later in the evening, connect to check in your lodge. Dinner and overnight at Le Bambou Gorilla lodge(midrange)/ 5 Volcanoes Gorilla Lodge(luxury)
Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking and Iby’ iwacu Cultural Tour
Golden Monkey Tracking: You will have breakfast and report back to the park headquarters where you will get a ranger guide and start your golden monkey trek in volcanoes national park. This is a rather short experience that can last an hour or three hours.
Iby’ iwacu Cultural tour: After spending time with the golden monkeys, you will go and have lunch then after connect to enjoy Ibyi’wachu cultural tour. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 5: Drive to Gisenyi – Congo Boarder.
Drive to Gisenyi: You will meet your guide after breakfast waiting to welcome you and embark on your drive to cross into Congo to Goma by 10:30 am. Check-in with the tourism office strategically located at the Grand Barrier border at 11:15 am. Post to receive Gorilla and Volcano permit that’s to be presented at the beginning of every trek. Thereafter you will be transferred to Mikeno Lodge in Rumangabo. On arrival at Mikeno, a late lunch will be served and enjoy your afternoon at leisure exploring Rumangabo’s several nature walks trails.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park-Congo
Gorilla Trekking in Virunga: Have your first meal of the day at Mikeno lodge – Breakfast and report to Bukima ranger post. On arrival at Bukima, meet the rangers and for a briefing before you start the trek. 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 Bukima camp then be transferred back to Mikeno lodge and have the rest of the day at leisure, including time for nature walks and bird watching.
Day 7: Nyiragongo Hiking
Hike Nyiragongo: Prepare for early morning breakfast as you will be expected at the Kibati ranger post headquarters by 8 am. Meet your ranger guides for briefing, a porter and begin your hike. The climb up takes about 4-6 hours. Meals will be provided and you will stay overnight in a wooden shelter at the top.
Day 8: Descend Nyiragongo and transfer to Tchegera Island
Descend Nyiragongo: This morning, you will descend the Volcano and head down to Kibati by 11:00 am.
Transfer to Tchegera Island: Thereafter, you cross the lake to connect to Tchegera Island which is a one of a kind island in the heart of Lake Kivu. This is the best place known for relaxation after hiking the volcano. Cross to the island on a 15 minutes boat ride from Goma harbor. Tchegera Island is a collapsed volcanic caldera located in the middle of Lake Kivu. Relax at the island with great views of the two active volcanoes – Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. Spend a night there; meals will be served at the camp too. If interested, optional activities include; bushwalk and birding, overnight stay at Tchegera Island Camp
Day 9: Tchegera Island – Transfer to Gisenyi
Tchegera Island: You will enjoy the morning at the island before you take the boat to return to Goma and connect with your driver guide, transfer to Kibuye on the shores of Lake Kivu. Lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight at Paradise Malahide(midrange)/ Lake Kivu Serena Lodge (luxury)
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 10: Transfer to Nyungwe national park
Transfer to Nyungwe: After enjoying your breakfast, you will embark on 4-5 hours scenic drive to Nyungwe national park-one of the oldest rainforest in Africa and a home to 13 species of primate. Dinner and over stay at Nyungwe Top hill view hotel/ One and Only Nyungwe House.
Day 11: 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 12: Hike Rusizi Trail
Hike Rusizi Trail: Have your breakfast early in the morning. You will then embark on a guided hike along Rukuzi trail. This trail covers 9 kilometers and takes approximately 5 hours to complete a full circuit. It is one of the best hiking trails in Nyungwe Forest national park and is usually used by visitors doing chimpanzee trekking in the park which means that you stand high chances of encountering chimpanzees and other primates like colobus monkeys during your hike. Hiking this trail will also bless you will spectacular views of Lake Kivu which is shared by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Upon completion of your hike, drive back to your lodge for lunch at your lodge and relax for the rest of your evening. Dinner and overnight stay at same lodge as previous night.
Day 13: Transfer to Kigali city
Transfer to Kigali: Enjoy breakfast at leisure and transfer back to Kigali. You will go for a city tour where you will visit the Kimironko market and the Kigali genocide memorial site. After having your lunch, you will be dropped at the hotel advised or you will be dropped at Kigali airport for your scheduled flight back home.
