12 Days Rwanda Congo & Uganda Tour
Welcome to Uganda Rwanda and Congo for this 12 Days Rwanda Congo & Uganda Tour. This safari itinerary or trip is designed for travelers passionate about gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, community tours, and wildlife safari game drives. The safari trip will take you to three of the best safari destinations in Africa. Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park is a one-to-watch activity. You will explore the chimps of Nyungwe National Park as well as the golden monkeys of Volcanoes National Park. in Uganda, you will visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park. By the time you complete this 12 Days Rwanda Congo & Uganda Tour, you will have created everlasting memories. Below is a detailed itinerary.
Safari Summary
- Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park and Afternoon Canopy Walk
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and crossing to Bukavu
- Day 3: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park
- Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Gorilla Guardians Village Tour
- Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Tour
- Day 7: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and afternoon game drive in Ishasha Sector
- Day 9: Morning game drive in Kasenyi Sector and Afternoon boat cruise at Kazinga Channel
- Day 10: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 11: Morning game drive and afternoon Boat cruise on River Nile
- Day 12: Rhino tracking and transfer to Kampala – Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park and Afternoon Canopy Walk
You will meet our driver guide Upon arriving at the Kigali International Airport. You will have breakfast first if you spent the previous night in Kigali city. He or she will brief you about the 12 Days Rwanda Congo & Uganda Tour. You will do a short Kigali City tour and visit the Kimironko market and Genocide Memorial Sites. Later on, you will transfer to Nyungwe National Park. Lunch will be along the way. Upon arrival, you will go for a canopy walk on top of the forest. Enjoy scenic views of the forest, birds, and the surrounding areas. The park is home to diverse species of primates and plants. In the evening, check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and crossing to Bukavu
After breakfast, go to the park headquarters for a briefing. Later on, you will be assigned a ranger guide to help you with the chimpanzee trekking experience. Upon meeting the chimps, you will be allowed to spend one hour in their presence. Take as many pictures as you wish before returning to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will check out of the lodge and embark on the drive to Bukavu town. Check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park
After breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a briefing about lowland gorilla trekking. You will be given a ranger and grouped for this experience. Enter the Kahuzi Biega National Park to search for these amazing apes. Unlike mountain gorilla trekking, lowland gorilla trekking is less challenging. This is because the lowland gorillas dwell in the lowland areas. Upon meeting the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour in their presence. Return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. You may spend the afternoon reading a book or walking around to cool and prepare for the great days ahead. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Gorilla Guardians Village Tour
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and embark on the drive to Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park is famous for being home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Traverse the endless rolling hills of Rwanda for 6 to 7 hours. Lunch will be along the way. Upon arrival, you will visit the Gorilla Guardians Village formerly known as Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village. You will take part in the activities of the locals including brewing local beer, traditional dances, harvesting crops, and many more. In the evening, you will check in to your lodge for dinner and spend the night over.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You are now at Rwanda’s most popular safari destination – Volcanoes National Park. This is a great day on your 12 Days Rwanda Congo & Uganda Tour. The day starts with an early breakfast. This is followed by a briefing at the park headquarters. Later, you will embark on the search for golden monkeys. The golden monkeys are amazing as they showcase their jumping skills. You will spend one hour in their presence upon meeting them. Return to your lodge for lunch. Later on, you will embark on the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Upon arrival, check in to your lodge for dinner and spend the night over.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Tour
After breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a briefing about mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The briefing takes about 30 minutes before you start on the search for the gorillas. Upon meeting the mountain gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour in their presence. Return to your lodge for relaxation and lunch. After lunch check out of the lodge and embark on the amazing Batwa community tour. The Batwa people are believed to have dwelt in these forests for thousands of years. Later on, you will proceed to your lodge around Lake Bunyonyi. You will spend the night enjoying the breezing of the lake and the melodies of the many bird species on the lake.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
The entire 7th day of your 12 Days Rwanda Congo & Uganda Tour belongs to Uganda’s deepest lake. The day will start with a leisurely breakfast. This will be followed by a boat cruise to explore the 29 islands on the lake. The major island to explore is the Akempene Island formerly known as Punishment Island. It was here that girls who acquired pregnancies before marriage were banished. Visit the Bakiga and Batwa people around the lake. Feel free to swim in the waters since they are bilharzia-free. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and afternoon game drive in Ishasha Sector
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive to Uganda’s most popular safari destination – Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to multiple animal, plant, and bird species. Lunch will be along the way. As you enter the park, you will take on a game drive in the Ishasha Sector. The area is famous for being home to tree-climbing lions. The lions are seen climbing the acacia trees seeking a higher elevation to spot prey. On a lucky day, you will land on a pride of lions hunting down an antelope or buffalo. Proceed to your earlier booked lodge for dinner and spend the night over.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Morning game drive in Kasenyi Sector and Afternoon boat cruise at Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, you will get on your 4×4 land cruiser for a game drive in the Kasenyi plains of the park. The sector is famous for being home to many grazers and elephants. You will meet Uganda kobs, warthogs, buffaloes, waterbucks, hippos, and many bird species. Return to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will go for a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. The channel is home to many birds, crocodiles, and hippos. You will get a chance to interact with the local fishermen and learn about the different species caught. In the evening, you will return to your lodge for dinner and spend the night over.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and start the journey to Murchison Falls National Park. You will have a leisurely lunch in Fort Portal City and may enjoy a short tour depending on the time and weather. Upon arrival at the park, check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11: Morning game drive and afternoon Boat cruise on River Nile
You are almost making it to the final day of your safari. The day starts with an early breakfast. Later, you will take a game drive to explore Uganda’s biggest National Park. The park is home to 4 of the big 5 animals. Explore it as far as you can while seeing animals like lions, leopards, antelopes, buffaloes, elephants, and many more. Some of the birds to be seen include; the Abyssinian ground hornbill, hammer kops, African fishing eagle, great African kingfisher, and grey-crowned crested crane. Return to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will take on a boat cruise on the Nile River. You are now at the world’s longest river. The cruise will take you to the bottom of the falls. From here, you will hike to the top of the world’s strongest waterfalls. The falls are amazingly good and they offer a scenic view for photography. In the evening, you will go to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 12: Rhino tracking and transfer to Kampala – Departure
On the final day of your safari, you will start with a leisurely breakfast. Check out of the lodge and embark on the drive to Kampala. You will have a lunch stopover in Masindi Town. Proceed to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking. Explore the Sanctuary for stories of rhino conservation in Uganda. The driver will drop you at a hotel of your choice in Kampala. Alternatively, he or she will take you to Entebbe International Airport for an outbound flight. Bid farewell to Uganda as you end your 12 Days Rwanda Congo & Uganda Tour.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and lunch
