8 days Uganda Rwanda and Congo safari is an amazing safari which takes you to 3 countries where you will explore national parks such as volcanoes national park where you will spend one hour with the mountain gorillas, virunga national park where you will hike Nyiragongo volcano, queen Elizabeth and the smallest national park which is lake mburo national park where you will spot mammals as well as bird species.
HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1; Transfer to the volcanoes national park
Day 2; Gorilla trekking in volcanoes N.P and transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 3; Ascend Nyiragongo volcano
Day 4; Descend from Nyiragongo volcano and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 5; Transfer to queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 6; Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 7; Transfer to Lake Mburo national park-afternoon boat cruise
Day 8; Morning game drive and transfer back to Kampala.
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1; TRANSFER TO THE VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
The safari guide will pick you and brief you about the Combined safari. After the briefing you will be transferred to Kigali city. On arrival you will have a city tour where you will visit the Kigali genocide memorial center, craft markets and museum among others. After you will go for lunch and start on the journey to volcanoes national park which takes 2 to 3 hours’ drive. On arrival you will head to the volcanoes national park and check into the lodge for dinner and night stay.
DAY 2; GORILLA TREKKING IN THE VOLCANOES AND TRANSFER TO LAKE KIVU
Early in the morning after having breakfast, you will be transferred to the parks headquarters for a briefing. After the briefing, you will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and accompanied by the park rangers into the forest in search for the endangered mountain gorillas. Once the gorillas are located, you will spend an hour with the gorillas as you study their behaviors. While on the trek you will spot other primates, mammals as well as bird species. After the trekking you will return to the park headquarters where you will be awarded certificates for participating in the trekking. After you will be transferred to Lake Kivu in gisenyi where you can opt for a boat cruise which is optional. After you will be transferred to the lodge for a night stay and dinner as well.
DAY 3; ASCEND NYIRAGONGO VOLCANO
Early in the morning after having the morning breakfast, you will drive to the democratic republic of Congo via Goma Grande Barrier border. On arrival you will head to Kibat patrol post for a briefing about the safety, precautions and guidelines of hiking Nyiragongo volcano. After you will start on the trek which takes 4 to 6 hours depending on the speed of the hikers. While on the trek you will pass through the high altitude, lava rocks, and slippery stones as you enjoy views of mammals, bird species, plants and tree species. When you reach on the top you will enjoy amazing views of the boiling lava lake and you will be served hot coffee, dinner as well as spend the night.
DAY 4; DESCEND NYIRAGONGO AND TRANSFER TO LAKE BUNYONYI
After having your morning breakfast, you will start to descend from the peak of the volcano which takes 3 hours as you enjoy the volcanic mountains, virunga national park, Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Kivu.
On arrival at the trail head, you will start on the journey to Lake Bunyonyi with enroute lunch. You will pass at Cyanika border in kisoro and on arrival you will check in your lodge for a relaxation, dinner and a night stay.
DAY 5; TRANSFER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
After having your breakfast you will check out of the lodge and embark on the journey to Queen Elizabeth national park. You will have a stopover at the ishasha sector where you will spot the tree climbing lions. The tree climbing lions are viewed while lying up in the acacia tree branches while on a game drive. After you will continue to the parks headquarters where you will head to your lodge for dinner and night stay.
DAY 6; MORNING GAME DRIVE AND AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE
You will have an early morning breakfast and head into the park for the morning game drive in kasenyi plains. While on the game drive, you will spot animals such as leopards, lions, hyenas, and many more, bird species such as Senegal plover, African wattled plover, martial eagle, white tailed lark, long crested eagle and hooded vulture among others. After the game drive, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will head to the Kazinga channel for the boat cruise. The Kazinga channel connects Lake George and Edward. The cruise takes 2 hours and you will be able to spot elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos and crocodiles, bird species such as mourning dove, swamp flycatcher, fish eagles, hornbills, and little bee-eaters among others. After the boat ride, you will head back to the lodge for dinner and night stay.
DAY 7; TRANSFER TO LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK-AFTERNOON BOAT CRUISE
In the mo9rning, you will have breakfast and check out of the lodge then embark on the journey to Lake Mburo national park. On arrival you will check into the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will head for a boat cruise on Lake Mburo where you will spot hippos and crocodiles in water, warthogs, buffaloes and waterbucks drinking water on the shores, bird species and many more. After the boat ride you will head back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and a night stay.
DAY 8; MORNING GAME DRIVE AND TRANSFER TO KAMPALA
In the morning after having your breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and go to the park for the morning game drive. You will be able to spot animals in their active state such as giraffes, impalas, elands, bushbucks, zebras, topi and warthogs, bird species and many more. After the game drive you will embark on the journey back to Kampala with enroute lunch in kayabwe at the Uganda equator. After lunch you will proceed with the journey to Kampala. On reaching to Kampala, the safari guide will drop you at the airport for your flight back home or any place of your choice.
8 days Uganda Rwanda and Congo safari Includes
Gorilla trekking permits
Hiking nyiragongo volcano permit
Park entrance fees
Boat cruise fees
An English speaking safari guide
Transportation in a 4*4 safari vehicle
Accommodation and meals
Bottled drinking water
8 days Uganda Rwanda and Congo safari Excludes
Life insurance
Personal expenses
Tips
Optional activities
