18 DAYS COMBINED UGANDA RWANDA & DRCONGO SAFARI
18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari: This 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari is one of the most fascinating adventure to be done in 3 stunning destinations in East Africa region. This 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari to Uganda, Rwanda and DRCongo takes you to the most visited parks in Uganda the pearl of Africa, Rwanda the land of a thousand hills as well as Democratic Republic of Congo. The main highlight of this safari is mountain Gorilla trekking in Uganda.
While in Uganda, you will explore 4 stunning national parks including Bwindi impenetrable national park which is the most visited park in Uganda safari the pearl of Africa where you will enjoy mountain gorilla trekking, Murchison falls national park a home to the world’s most powerful waterfall, visit Kibale forest national park for Chimpanzee trekking, explore Queen and have a glance at tree climbing lions and many other wildlife species while on a Ugandan side that will last 8 days.
In Rwanda, you will all the 3 national parks in Rwanda including Volcanoes national park for Golden monkey trekking and visit the Ibyiwacu cultural center. And then explore Nyungwe forest national park for Chimpanzee trekking and enjoy a breath taking canopy walk. You will as well enjoy a tour in Akagera National park to encounter with the big 5 game. You have 9 days in Rwanda safari.
In Democratic Republic of Congo, you will explore Virunga National park for Mountain Nyiragongo Hike. (2 days in Congo)
This 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari includes 18 days, 17 night’s excursion starting in Kampala Uganda to Rwanda, to DRCongo, and back in Rwanda.
Highlights of this 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park
- Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise
- Day 3: Transfer to Kibale forest national park – Uganda
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and bigodi nature walk – Uganda
- Day 5: Visit craters and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda
- Day 6: Lion Tracking experience/ game drive and boat cruise – Uganda
- Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park – Uganda
- Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park- Uganda
- Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Rwanda
- Day 10: Golden monkey tracking and visit Ibyiwacu – Rwanda
- Day 11: Transfer to Lake Kivu- Rwanda
- Day 12: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park- Rwanda
- Day 13: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk- Rwanda
- Day 14: Transfer to Akagera national park- Rwanda
- Day 15: Game drive and Boat cruise in Akagera national park – Rwanda
- Day 16: Transfer to Kigali city – Rwanda
- Day 17: Transfer to Virunga National park and Hike Mount Nyiragongo -DRCongo
- Day 18: Return to Kigali – Rwanda
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Murchison falls national park – Rhino trekking
Transfer to Murchison falls national park: On the very 1st day of your 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will wake up early in the morning for breakfast, checkout then embark on your drive to Murchison falls national park, on your way you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary a home to the remaining population of rhinos in Uganda. In Ziwa rhino sanctuary you will do rhino tracking, you will later have lunch and then head to Murchison falls national park using Kichumbanyobo gate. When you arrive in the park you will have check into your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari lodge (Luxury)/ Pakuba safari lodge (Midrange)/ Red chill rest camp (Budget) or equivalent
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 2: Game drive and launch cruise in Murchison falls national park – Top of falls hike (Optional)
Game drive and boat cruise: On the day 2 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will have early morning breakfast then head to the park for a morning game drive, on the drive you will have an opportunity to spot various animals such as lions, Uganda kob, giraffes, antelopes and many more. You will return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon you will embark on an afternoon Nile boat cruise that sets off at Paraa Jet at 2:00pm and takes the cruisers upstream to the base of the most powerful water fall in the whole world, Murchison falls. At the base of the waterfall, if you are interested in a hike to summit top of water falls which is always an optional activity, you will leave the boat and meet with the rangers to start a 45minutes waterfall hike. In the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight at your lodge as above.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari lodge (Luxury)/ Pakuba safari lodge (Midrange)/ Red chill rest camp (Budget) or equivalent
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Kibale national park
Transfer to Kibale forest national park: On the 3rd day of the 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will have early morning breakfast at your lodge, checkout and embark on a 8 hours’ drive heading to Kibale national park a home to over 13 primate species, on your way you will have en-route lunch and when you arrive in the park you will check into your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation: Crater lodge (Luxury)/ Primates lodge (Mid-Range)/ Chimpanzee forest guest house (Budget) or equivalent
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi nature walk
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale and bigodi nature walk: On day 4 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will wake up very early for breakfast and then transfer to the park for chimpanzee tracking experience in kibale forest. Before heading on the Chimpanzee tracking, you will undergo a briefing session in which rules and regulations to follow on this experience will be read to you. Then you will head into the forests in search of chimpanzees, as you walk through the forests you will enjoy sights of birds and other primates living in the forests of Kibale. When you find the gorillas you will be amazed by the beautiful chimpanzees playing on top of the trees, picking fruits and many more. After the activity you trek back to the park headquarters then head to your lodge for lunch, in the afternoon you will embark on an afternoon guided walk in Bigodi wetland sanctuary one of the best spot for bird watching and botanical in Kibale forest national park. Return to your lodge later on for dinner and overnight sleep as above.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Visit Crater lakes and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Kibale forest national park to Queen Elizabeth national park: After enjoying your breakfast early in the morning on day 5 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, check out of the lodge and embark on the journey from Kibale forest national park to Queen Elizabeth national park with an enroute visit to the crater lakes. After exploring the crater lakes, you will enjoy an enroute lunch and proceed with your journey to Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the best savanna parks in the pearl that harbors plenty of wildlife species seen on a game drive and boat cruise. Queen Elizabeth national park harbors largest population of Hippos seen along the Kazinga channel during the boat cruise. Upon park arrival, you will check in your lodge, have dinner and overnight sleep.
Accommodations: Mweya safari Lodge/ Kyambura gorge lodge (Luxury), Park view Lodge/ Elephants Hub/ Kasenyi safari lodge (Mid-range), Enganzi Lodge (budget)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Lion tracking experience/ Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise in Queen
Lion Tracking/ Game drive and Boat cruise: Arise and shine on day 6 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, have breakfast and prepare for a morning Lion tracking experience/ morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. While driving in this savanna part of Queen Elizabeth national park, you will spot plenty of fauna and flora species including mammals like Lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, impala, waterbucks, and many more. After the lion tracking experience/ morning game drive, return to your lodge for lunch and embark on an afternoon Kazinga channel boat cruise to watch Hippos, crocodiles, water birds and many more. Later on, you will be driven straight to your lodge for dinner and night rest as above.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park via Ishasha sector
Queen national park to Bwindi Impenetrable national park: On day 7 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will have morning breakfast then checkout of your lodge and set off on a drive from Queen Elizabeth national park to Bwindi impenetrable national park. Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park boasts with the half remaining population of these endangered mountain gorillas in the world. These endangered mountain gorillas can be viewed in their habituated gorilla families which are distributed in four sectors that is Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, Nkuringo sector and Rushaga sector. On your visit you can trek in one of the twenty habituated Gorilla groups and experience an emotional activity as you get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own great apes “Mountain Gorilla in the Mist”. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is located in south-western side of Uganda and renowned as the top primitive safari destination on African continent. On your way to Bwindi, you will drive through Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park where you can get an opportunity to spot tree climbing lions as they hung on tree branches of acacia and fig trees. You will then enjoy an enroute lunch and finally exit Queen Elizabeth national park for Bwindi impenetrable national park. Expect to arrive late in the evening at the park and proceed to check in your lodge for dinner and overnight sleep.
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla havens lodge/ Buhoma lodge/ Chameleon Hill lodge (Luxury), Gorilla mist camp/ Buhoma Haven lodge/ Gorilla Valley lodge (Mid-range), Buhoma community rest camp/ Rushaga Haven lodge/ Gorilla mist lodge (Budget)
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park: On day 8 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will wake up early in the morning and head to the park’s headquarters for registration and briefing experience, once at the park’s headquarters dos and don’ts on this experience will be read to you by a ranger. At the headquarters you will also be assigned a gorilla group to trek and hire a porter to assist you, with your packed lunch you will head into the forests in search for mountain gorillas. Looking for mountain gorilla takes about 2-8 hours and when you find them you are allowed to stay in the presence of mountain gorillas for 1 hour taking pictures and observing the behavior of mountain gorillas. You will also spot many birds and other primates, later you will head back to the park’s headquarters for your trekking certificate then head back to your lodge. You may choose to have an evening Batwa experience or opt to relax at your lodge. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge as above.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park to Volcanoes national park: After breakfast on day 9 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, check out of the lodge and meet your safari driver once again for a transfer to Rwanda direct to Volcanoes national park via Cyanika border. Upon park arrival, you will check in your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10: Golden monkey trekking and visiting the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village
Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park: After an early breakfast on day 10 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will be transferred by your safari driver to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about golden monkey trekking together with other travelers that intend to participate in a similar adventure. After briefing, you will then start the journey into the forest to search for the habituated golden monkeys which takes you about 2-3 hours. After spending an hour with golden monkeys, exit the forest and be driven to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. Later in the evening, head out for another cultural experience but this time round to the Ibyiwacu cultural village where you will be introduced to the stunning tradition dance and drama of the local Rwandese and return to your lodge in time for dinner and overnight sleep.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Volcanoes national park to Lake Kivu: After breakfast on day 11 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, check out of your lodge and transfer from Volcanoes national park to Gisenyi and Explore Lake Kivu. Upon arrival, you will enjoy your lunch at the shores of Lake Kivu and spend the remaining hours of the day exploring lake Kivu on a boat cruise, walking safari and swimming as you view the stunning vegetation cover along the shores of lake kivu and have a stunning view of Mount Nyiragongo with in Virunga national park. Later in the evening, you will be driven to your lodge for dinner.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Transfer from Kigali to Nyungwe forest national park: A relaxed breakfast will be served at your hotel on day 12 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari then check out of the lodge and start a drive to Nyungwe forest national park which is estimated to be 6-7 hours road drive to the land of 13 species of primates. Being a long drive, you will enjoy stopovers along the way while viewing several tourist attractions. Have your enroute lunch and proceed the journey to the park headquarters where you will be cleared with park officials, receive your chimpanzee trekking permit and proceed for lodge check-in, dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park: Arise very early in the morning for breakfast on day 13 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, pack your favorite snacks and enough bottled water then meet your safari driver to be driven to the park headquarters for a briefing with other chimpanzee trekkers. After briefing, you will set off alongside rangers and guides to Cyamudongo forest where Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park is conducted. Chimpanzee trekking is expected to last between 1 hour to 5 hours depending on the movement of chimpanzees and the trekking speed of trekkers but be sure to spot other primates in the forest, mammals and several birds. Once you get closer to the habituated chimpanzee family, you will be allowed just one hour of close viewing as you watch chimpanzees going on with their daily activities and learn more of their behaviors and habits. Take as many photographs as you can but remember to keep the flashlight of your camera off at all the times as long as you’re in the habitat of chimpanzees.
Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park: After trekking chimpanzees on day 13 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will return to the lodge for lunch and set off for an evening canopy walk. Nyungwe forest national park offers the best canopy walk raised at an elevation of 50m and stretching about 150m in length. This canopy walk offer a clear view of Nyungwe forest national park and all that is in it due to a great elevation that is almost a tree height. You will encounter several primate species including the chimpanzees, monkeys, baboons, mammals such as Elephants, buffaloes and several birds. This canopy walk can be combined with other walking trails since Nyungwe forest national park offers several walking / hiking trails that lead to several attraction. Let us know which trails you need and it will be added to your itinerary.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Transfer to Kigali Rwanda
Nyungwe forest national park to Kigali: Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the comfort of your lodge on day 14 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, check out of the lodge and embark on your journey to Kigali with a stopover at the Museum. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will spend your evening at leisure or have a city tour.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 15: Transfer to Akagera national park and boat cruise
Kigali to Akagera national park: After breakfast on day 15 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will check out of your lodge and set off on a drive to Akagera National park a home to the big 5 game and other wildlife safaris. Upon park arrival, you will check in your lodge, have a meal and embark on afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema. This boat cruise rewards you with a stunning and scenic views of different aquatic wildlife including Hippos, Crocodiles, water birds and many more that thrill along Lake Ihema. Later in the evening, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight sleep at Magashi camp (Luxury)/ Luzizi tented camp (Midrange)/ Akagera game lodge (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 16: Game drive and Transfer to Kigali city
Game drive and boat cruise in Akagera national park: On the 16th day of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, you will have breakfast before embarking on a morning game drive in Akagera national park. Game drives in Akagera national park enables you to get closer to animals as they roam this savanna park. Akagera national park is a recognized home for a various species of animals and the only savannah park in Rwanda, on the game drive you will enjoying viewing animals like lions, rhinos, zebras, impalas, giraffes, Topis, elephants and many more. You will also spot various species of birds such as Senegal lapwings, giant kingfisher, grey crowned crane, open bill stock, papyrus Gonolek, and many more. After game drive, you will head back to the lodge for lunch, freshen up and check out of your lodge to start the road drive back to Kigali.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 17: Transfer to Virunga National park and Hike up Mount Nyiragongo
Hike Mount Nyiragongo (Ascend): On day 17 of 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, arise as early as possible for breakfast, check out of the lodge with packed lunch box and meet your Rwanda safari driver for a transfer from Gisenyi direct to Goma, a Rwanda Congo border where you will visit the office at Grande barrier for clearances and proceed to obtain your mount Nyiragongo Volcano hiking permit and meet the Convoy to transfer you to Kibati ranger post where all Mount Nyiragongo hikers meet for a briefing. During briefing, you will obtain all the information about mount Nyiragongo, when it last erupted, the dos and don’ts while hiking and the possible encounters along the hike. Hire a porter to assist in carrying your extra luggage, also hire a sleeping bag in case you dint carry your plus a cook to prepare your dinner while at the summit. By 10:00am, start the hike together with armed rangers and guide first through the montane forest at the base of the mountain where you will spot lots of wildlife including primates, mammals, birds, butterflies, reptiles and many more. Along the hike, you will be rewarded with stunning view of Virunga national park and the neighboring volcanoes with in the park. you will stop along the way to enjoy your packed lunch and proceed to ascend up to the summit which is the most rewarding thing you will live to remember as you watch the glowing Lava Lake and view the neighboring parks including Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda with all the volcanoes that thrill with in. you have an overnight at the summit watching the Lake and taking those memorable photographs.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 18: Descend Mount Nyiragongo and transfer back to Kigali for departures
Descend mount Nyiragongo: Wake up amidst coldness at the summit of Mount Nyiragongo on day 18 which is the final day of your 18 days combined Uganda Rwanda & DRCongo safari, have your breakfast and prepare to start descending with the rest of the hiker. Descending starts at around 6:30am and it’s so rewarding and easier than ascending and even takes less time. By 10:00am, you will be back at Kibati where a convoy will be waiting to drive you back to Goma to meet your Rwanda safari driver for a pick up. Upon meeting your Rwanda driver, you will embark on a journey to Kigali for lunch, have a city tour in case you have a night flight and finally be dropped off at Kigali international airport for departures.
Meal plan: Breakfast, and Lunch
END OF 18 DAYS COMBINED UGANDA RWANDA & DRCONGO SAFARI
Safari inclusions,
- Park entrance fees
- A 4×4 safari vehicle for ground transportation
- Gorilla trekking permit (Uganda)
- Chimpanzee trekking permits (Uganda & Rwanda)
- Canopy walk
- Mount Nyiragongo Hiking permit
- Lion tracking experience (Upon request)
- All meals and accommodations as per itinerary
- All mentioned safari activities
- An English safari driver / guide
- Pick up and drop off
Safari exclusions,
- International travel Visa and flight air ticket
- Domestic flights if any
- Additional accommodations before and after the safari
- Tips and gratuity
- Laundry fees
- Optional activities
- Items of personal nature
- International and local airfares
- Entry visas
- Life insurance while on safari
