15 Days Uganda Rwanda Congo Tour

15 Days Uganda Rwanda Congo Tour:

Day 1 Arrival in Entebbe:

Our guide will pick you up upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Location: Entebbe Accommodation options: Marriott Hotel (luxury) / 2Friends Beach Hotel (midrange)Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park:

In the morning at 7:30 am, you will be picked from the hotel by your guide and set off for Murchison Falls National Park. You will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track white rhinos and have lunch en route before continuing to Murchison Falls National Park. You will tour around the waterfalls and hear the roaring sound of the great River Nile. Location: Murchison Falls National Park Accommodation options: Paraa Safari Lodge (luxury) / Pakuba Lodge (midrange)

Day 3: Early Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise:

After an early cup of coffee, you will go for a game drive. During this morning drive, park guides will take you through sections of the park where you will have opportunities to spot four of Africa’s Big Five: elephants, lions, leopards, and buffalo. You will enjoy the beautiful views of the African savannah and see various mammals such as hartebeest, giraffes, bushbucks, hyenas, jackals, and Uganda kobs. In the afternoon, you will head out for a boat cruise along the River Nile, where you can see the largest concentration of crocodiles and hippos up close. Bird lovers will enjoy seeing a large collection of both resident and migratory species, including the rare shoebill stork, Goliath heron, black-headed gonolek, African skimmer, long-toed plover, fish eagle, saddle-billed stork, and grey-crowned crane. Location: Murchison Falls National Park Accommodation options: Paraa Safari Lodge (luxury) / Pakuba Lodge (midrange)

Day 4 Transfer to Kibale National Park:

Rise early for breakfast and prepare for the long journey to Kibale National Park. Along the way, you will see the beautiful rolling hills of Uganda and locals in their gardens and markets. You will stop for lunch in Fort Portal and take a tour around this small town, including seeing the headquarters of the Toro Kingdom, before heading to Kibale National Park. Location: Kibale Forest National Park Accommodation options: Primates Lodge (luxury) / Treetops Lodge (midrange)

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park:

After breakfast, you will go to Kibale headquarters for a briefing from the head park guide about what to expect and how to conduct yourself during the chimpanzee tracking adventure. Trekking for chimpanzees normally takes 3-5 hours. Afterward, you will return to your hotel for lunch and then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a journey that takes about three hours. You will arrive early in the evening for an optional game drive along the Kasenyi sector. Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park Accommodation options: Elephants Plain Lodge (luxury) / Enganzi Lodge (midrange)

Day 6 Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise:

Wake up early for a morning game drive along the Kasenyi tracks to spot early morning predators and other nocturnal animals before they retreat to their hideouts. You will see herds of buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, and various species of antelopes. After the game drive, return to the lodge for breakfast and lunch. At 2 pm, head to Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise to see hippopotamuses, various water birds, and herds of buffalo along the shores. Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park Accommodation options: Elephants Plain Lodge (luxury) / Enganzi Lodge (midrange)

Day 7 Transfer to Bwindi:

After an early morning breakfast, you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, you may see the famous tree-climbing lions. You will arrive at Bwindi early in the evening. Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Accommodation options: Four Gorillas Lodge (luxury) / Agandi Lodge and Bakiga Lodge (midrange)

Day 8: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi National Park and Cultural Walk:

After an early morning breakfast, you will head to the park offices for a briefing on gorilla trekking at 7:00 am. You will be assigned a gorilla family before heading out to the park. Many gorilla trekkers prefer hiring porters to help with extra luggage. In the afternoon, visit the Batwa Pygmy community for cultural activities and learn about their history. Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Accommodation options: Four Gorillas Lodge (luxury) / Agandi Lodge and Bakiga Lodge (midrange)

Day 9 Transfer to Volcanoes National Park:

Day 10 Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Get up early, have breakfast, and head for a briefing on gorilla tracking at 7:00 am at the Kinigi headquarters in Musanze. After spending one hour with the gorilla family, you will return to the starting point where you will meet your guide and head back to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the evening, you will visit the Iby’iwachu Cultural Village to experience Rwandan culture. Location: Volcanoes National Park Accommodation options: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Five Volcanoes Lodge (luxury) / Da Vinci Lodge (midrange)

Day 11 Hike to Dian Fossey:

Start the day early with breakfast and head to the Volcanoes National Park offices for a briefing before hiking up to Dian Fossey’s tombs. You can select a porter if you have extra luggage or heavy equipment. While there, you will learn about Dian Fossey, who dedicated her life to conserving mountain gorillas, as depicted in the documentary “Gorillas in the Mist.” Afterward, return to the lodge for lunch and rest, then take an evening drive to visit the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera. Location: Volcanoes National Park Accommodation options: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Five Volcanoes Lodge (luxury) / Da Vinci Lodge (midrange)

Day 12 Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer to Gisenyi :

Wake up early for another exciting day. After breakfast, go for a briefing about golden monkey tracking at the park headquarters. Golden monkeys are endangered primates known for their bright colors. During the tracking, you may also spot other primates in the forest. After returning, have lunch and then set off for Gisenyi on Lake Kivu. Location: Gisenyi Accommodation options: Kivu Serena Hotel (luxury) / Paradise Malahide (midrange)

Day 13 Nyiragongo Hike:

Rise very early for breakfast and then cross into Congo via the Goma border. You will drive to Kibatsi village, where the starting point for the Nyiragongo hike is situated. After a briefing from the head staff, you will begin your hike to the Nyiragongo summit. Hiking to the Nyiragongo summit usually takes 4-6 hours, depending on the group’s fitness. You will have dinner and spend the night at the top shelters. Location: Nyiragongo Accommodation options: Mikeno Lodge (upmarket) / Kibumba Tented Camp and Bukima Tented Camp (midrange)

Day 14: Descend Nyiragongo.

After an early breakfast, you will descend the summit, reaching the base by the afternoon, and then cross back into Rwanda. You will drive to Kigali, arriving in the evening. Location: Kigali Accommodation options: Marriott Hotel (upmarket) / Heaven Boutique Hotel (midrange)

Day 15 City Tour of Kigali and Departure:

After breakfast, you will go for a city tour of Kigali. You will visit the genocide memorial, local markets, and other historical sites. Later, you will transfer to the airport for departure if your flight is scheduled. This marks the end of the 15 Days Uganda-Rwanda-Congo Tour.