16 Days Congo Gorillas and Uganda Wildlife Safari
16 Days Congo Gorillas and Uganda Wildlife Safari
With a surface area equivalent to that of Western Europe, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa. DRC is endowed with exceptional tourist attractions, including Mountain gorillas, Lowland gorillas, Bonobos, Okapi and the world’s second largest rainforest. Combining Congo and Uganda is a classic safari for expedition type of travellers, on this safari you will trek Lowland gorillas, Mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees in Uganda and also see incredible wildlife in Uganda savannahs.
Safari highlights
- Mountain gorilla trekking
- Lowland gorilla trekking
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Uganda big 5 wildlife safari
Detailed safari itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer your hotel for overnight
Upon arrival in Kigali international airport you will be received by our guide and transfer to your hotel for relaxation and Overnight.
Day 2: Drive to Cyangugu for overnight
After an early morning breakfast you will start your drive to Rwanda-Congo Border in Cyangugu, this drive will take you through Nyungwe forest, upon arrival you will check in to your lodge, meet the Guides from DR Congo on the Rwanda side for a briefing after you will enjoy dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Cross in to DR Congo for overnight
After early morning breakfast you will drive to Bukavu border post for immigration clearance, after clearance you will transfer to Bukavu town for relaxation at the shores of Lake Kivu in DR Congo.
Day 4: Drive to Kahuzi Biega for lowland gorilla trekking experience
After an early morning breakfast you will drive to Kahuzi Biega national park, upon arrival you will be taken through a lowland gorilla trekking briefing, after the briefing you transfer to the trail head for your Lowland gorilla trekking experience, this hike will take you through beautiful forest cover upon locating the Lowland gorillas you will spend 1 hour with them and later return to the lodge for relaxation and Overnight.
Day 5: Cross back to Rwanda and transfer to Gisenyi for overnight
After morning breakfast you will transfer to the border for crossing back to Rwanda, after clearing immigration you will drive to Gisenyi which is located on the other side of Lake Kivu bordering Goma town, this drive will take you through tea farms, Gishwati Mukura forest, upon arrival you will check in to your lodge on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Day 6: Cross the border to Goma and transfer to Virunga national park
After morning breakfast you will drive to the Goma border post for immigration clearance, after clearance you will be received by our DR Congo counter parts and transfer to Virunga national park, depending on time of arrival you may visit the Senkwekwe gorilla orphanage after relax as you prepare for your gorilla trekking experience.
Day 7: First Gorilla trekking experience in Virunga national park
After morning breakfast you will transfer to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking experience, upon arrival you will meet the park rangers and after drive to the starting point for your gorilla trek, this trek will take you through some of Africa’s dense forest cover, upon locating the gorillas you will spend 1 hour with them and after return to the lodge for relaxation.
Day 8: Second Gorilla trekking experience in Virunga national park
Yet another day in Central African rainforest, after morning breakfast you will transfer to the park again for your second gorilla trekking adventure, this trek will take you to yet another gorilla family, just like the previous day you will hike through the forest, upon locating the mountain gorillas you will spend 1 hour with them after you will return to the lodge for relaxation and Overnight.
Day 9: Cross the border back to Rwanda and transfer to Uganda for overnight
After morning breakfast you will drive to Goma border post for border clearance, after clearing both Congo and Rwanda borders you will drive to Lake Bunyonyi in south western Uganda via cyanika border, this will be a busy day of border crossing as you will cross 3 countries in 1 day, upon arrival you check in for relaxation and overnight.
Day 10: Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park for game drives
After lazily morning breakfast you start your drive through Bwindi forest to Southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park, this park is famous for tree climbing lions and also other wildlife like elephants, Buffalos, Hippos, Leopard and Hyena can be seen a long side Antelopes like Top, Uganda kob and Water bucks, upon arrival you will check in to your lodge and enjoy an evening game drive in the park.
Day 11: Full day game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park
You will enjoy an early morning sunrise game drive in the park, after you will return to the lodge for full breakfast after you will check out and drive to Mweya for boat cruise on Kazinga channel, on this cruise you will see Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephants and abundant birdlife on the channel after you will return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day 12: Drive to Kibale national park for overnight
After early morning breakfast you will check out and drive to Kasenyi plains for morning game drive in search of lions, Elephants, Leopards, Buffalos and after you will continue to the explosive craters for a landscape drive and after you will enjoy picnic lunch and continue to Kibale forest national park arriving in time for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale forest
After morning breakfast you will drive to Kanyanchu park station for a chimpanzee trekking briefing by the park rangers after the briefing you will trek in to the forest in search of the chimpanzees, after locating the chimpanzees you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees after you will return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.
Day 14: Drive to Murchison falls national park
After morning breakfast you will start your drive to Murchison falls national park, this is one of Uganda’s premier safari destinations for wildlife that congregate along the Nile some of the highlights is the Rothschild’s giraffe, Elephants, Leopards, Lions and Buffalo upon arrival at the lodge you will check in and drive to the Nile Delta for game drive in the evening.
Day 15: Game drives and boat cruise in Murchison falls national park
After morning breakfast with packed lunch you head out for an early morning game drive in the Nile Delta in search of wildlife like elephants that come to drink water and this attracts predators making this area a top game viewing area, after the drive you will transfer to the peer for a waterfall boat cruise where you will expect to encounter Nile crocodiles, Hippos, and abundant birdlife after you will transfer to the lodge for relaxation.
Day 16: Drive from Murchison via Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to Entebbe for your own word flight
After morning breakfast you will drive to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino tracking on foot, after tracking the white Rhinos you will enjoy lunch at the sanctuary after you will drive to Entebbe, depending on your flight schedule you will be transferred to the Airport for your flight.
Trip includes
- Mountain gorilla permits
- Lowland gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee permits
- All park entrance fees
- All game drives
- Vehicle, Guide and Fuel
- Accommodation
- Enroute meals and drinking water
Trip excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Rwanda, DR Cogo and Uganda Tourist Visas
- Tips for guides and hotels
- Personal expenses like Donations, Alcoholic drinks and shopping
When to book this safari package
9 months in advance to allow us secure gorilla permits for DR Congo that will allow you acquire visas easily and also chimpanzee trekking permits for Kibale forest national park.
Best time for gorilla trekking in Congo
Travelling to East and Central Africa is best during the dry season from June to September when there is less rainfall making hiking much easier most especially for the gorilla trekking.
