14 Days Primates Uganda Rwanda and Congo Safari
Safari overview
14 Days Primates Uganda Rwanda and Congo Safari : This 14 Days Uganda, Rwanda and Congo Safari will take you to Africa’s most celebrated gorilla trekking destination in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bwindi forest gorilla trekking experience is the most exciting place and activity for any travellers to Africa.
Bwindi forest is located in the south western part of Uganda close to Rwanda-Uganda border at the edge of the Rift Valley. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of Uganda’s oldest national park with diverse rainforest of over 25,000 years ago and contains about 400 plant species. Bwindi Impenetrable national park inhabits half of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world and it is divided into 4 sectors including; Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector which has the largest number of gorilla families, Ruhija sector and finally Nkuringo sector. Bwindi forest also shelters some species of mammals including the forest elephants and the different species of antelopes. The park is also rich with different bird species including Albertine Rift endemics. Queen Elizabeth national park is located in the western part of Uganda offering the great experience of different Antelope species. Queen Elizabeth national park is home to the tree climbing lions in Uganda. The park is occupied by 2 great lakes – Lake Edward and Lake George which meet at a channel commonly known as the Kazinga channel. Queen Elizabeth national park has plenty of animals and other experiences to be enjoy while on your stay in Uganda ranging from wildlife, culture, boat cruise to nature walks for bird watching and chimpanzee trekking.
In Rwanda, this trip features visiting Volcanoes national park which is a home of the endangered mountain gorillas and Nyungwe forest national park on the other hand is a home to the wild chimpanzees and other primates of Nyungwe forest. While in Congo, the trip features visiting Mount Nyirangongo which is the active volcano on the Virunga Mountain with active boiling lave.
It’s important to note that the Democratic Republic of Congo is not an East African country and therefore note that your Rwanda Visa expires immediately you cross into Congo so you will have to reapply for another while at the border and find it ready after the tour. The wild Lowland Gorillas can only be found in Kahuzi beiga national park, one of the only two parks in the world including Maiko national park. This park, Kahuzi Biega national park, has 2 dormant volcanoes within it including; mount Kahuzi (3,308 m) and Mount Biega (2,790 m) with 2 sectors; Highland (Open for visits) and the lowland (closed for visits). Kahuzi Biega national park has only 3 guerrilla groups habituated for visit by the tourists however; the park doesn’t only have lowland gorillas but a number of other animals like the Forest Hog, the forest Elephant, Antelopes and the bush duikers. This 14 Days trip will start and end in Kigali Rwanda simply because Rwanda is the nearest place to access all the national park. It also requires an earlier arrival in Rwanda before your cross to Uganda to Bwindi forest.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland Visit
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 5: Transfer to Ruhengeri (Rwanda) and cultural walk
Day 6: Golden monkeys tracking and transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 7: Transfer to Goma – Congo
Day 8: Nyiragongo Hiking
Day 9: Descend Nyiragongo
Day 10: Boat transfer to Bukavu
Day 11: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo
Day 12: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park – Canopy walk
Day 13: Colobus monkey tracking
Day 14: Kigali city tour – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale National Park
On the 1st day of your 14 Days Primates Uganda Rwanda and Congo Safari, depending on your location, you will be picked up by our company representative/ driver who will drive to Kibale national park- the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Arrive in the park in the afternoon for lunch in fort portal town, visit the crater lakes and Amabere caves before you proceed to your lodge in Kibale. Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpanzee Guest house for mid-range/Isunga lodge for budget/Kyaninga lodge for luxury on full board basis.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi wetland Visit
After breakfast you will go for chimpanzee trekking with your packed food and water. Meet your guide at the head office then enter the rainforest to start searching for the chimpanzee, this will take 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees. On seeing them, you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees while taking pictures.
After tracking you will refresh at the lodge then go for a 2-3 hours’ nature walk then proceed to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. This is a 3 hours’ drive from Fort portal with en route at the Equator. Dinner and overnight at Pumba Safari Cottages for budget/Parkview Safari lodge for mid-range/Kyambura Gorge lodge for luxury
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park, it’s a 5-7 hours’ drive with en-route lunch depending on your gorilla trekking sector. Arrive in the park late afternoon and connect to your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Haven lodge/Agandi Uganda lodge for mid-range/Bakiga lodge for budget/Buhoma Lodge for luxury
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience
On the 4th day of your 14 Days Primates Uganda Rwanda and Congo Safari,have breakfast and transfer you to park offices for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking by a local guide. The time taken is usually between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Meeting the gorillas unexpectedly is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at very close range. You will observe adults feeding and groaning among themselves. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point where your driver will readily be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge for a restful evening.
Day 5: Transfer to Ruhengeri (Rwanda) and cultural walk
After early morning after breakfast, depart the Bwindi for Rwanda. You connect to Cyanika boarder to proceed to Volcanoes national park with en-route lunch. Later evening, you will take a cultural walk to Iby’iwachu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. Retreat and return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge for luxury/Le Bambou Gorilla lodge for mid-range/Hotel Muhabura for budget
Day 6: Golden monkeys tracking and transfer to Lake Kivu
After early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing from the park warden about the endangered golden monkeys. After connect to the tracking starting point and enter the forest to search for the rare golden monkey. This activity can take about 1-5 hours and is done at closer view of the other primates in the park like the red tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys among other. After viewing the rare golden monkeys for an hour while taking pictures and studying their behaviors, return to the base and meet your drive.
You will have lunch then drive northwest to Gisenyi. Check-in your lodge to rest. Dinner and overnight stay at Palm garden resort for budget/Paradise Malahide for mid-range/Kivu Serena Hotel for luxury
Day 7: Transfer to Goma – Congo
On the 7th day of your 14 Days Primates Uganda Rwanda and Congo Safari, after breakfast, depending on the agreed time with the Congo guide, you will be transferred to Gisenyi border to cross to Goma in Congo. From there you will check in at the tourism boarder at the Grand Barrier to get a volcano permit thereafter transfer to your hotel where you will relax for the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at Linda Hotel for budget or mid-range/Lac Kivu for luxury
Day 8: Nyiragongo Hiking
You will depart your hotel in Goma early morning and report to Bukima to start your Nyiragongo hike with overnight at the summit where you will enjoy exciting views of the lava lake.
Day 9: Descend Nyiragongo
You will descend Nyiragongo back to Bukima by 11am and connect to your hotel in Goma. Dinner and overnight stay at Linda Hotel for budget or mid-range/Lac Kivu for luxury
Day 10: Boat transfer to Bukavu
In the morning you will take a boat from Goma to Bukavu which takes 3-4 hours. The boat departs at 7 am and by 11 am. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide to transfer you to the hotel. Meals and overnight stay at Hotel Elizabeth for budget/Panorama hotel for mid-range/Orchid safari lodge for luxury
Day 11: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega national park – DR Congo
In the morning, you will head for the memorable adventure of tracking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park. Tracking lowland Gorillas is very amazing, lowland Gorillas differ from the mountain gorillas, the lowland gorillas are bigger in size, usually takes 1-4 hours tracking the lowland Gorillas. The lowland Gorillas stay in bigger families as compared to mountain gorillas; you will not regret the safari effort once you meet the amazing Gorillas! Later in the afternoon drive back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Elizabeth/Panaroma Hotel/Orchid Hotel
Day 12: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park – Canopy walk
Wake up early, enjoy your breakfast and embark on your journey back to Rwanda via Cyangugu boarder. It’s a 3-4 hours’ drive from Bukavu to Nyungwe forest national park. Upon arrival, connect to your booked lodge for lunch.
Later afternoon, connect for a canopy walk – walking trail that will take you walk on a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (mid-range)/Gisakura Visitors Centers for budget
Day 13: Colobus monkey tracking
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing about the primates before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The colobus monkeys are much playful and it may not be so easy to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. These primates also enable you to see other primates and usually takes about 3 hours. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos.
Later afternoon, check-out of the hotel to transfer to Kigali. It’s a 7 hours’ drive back to Kigali city with en route visit to Nyanza king’s palace and Rwanda national museum in Huye and Murambi genocide museum. Arrive in Kigali late evening and connect to your hotel to rest. Dinner and overnight stay at Des Mille Collins Hotel for mid-range/Step town Motel for budget/ Marriot Hotel for luxury
Day 14: Kigali city tour – Departure
Wake up at leisure, have breakfast and drive out of the hotel and visit the craft shops and the Kigali genocide memorial. Have lunch and connect to the airport for your return flight to your next destination. End of tour
