12 Days Uganda Congo Safari – Overview

12 Days Uganda Congo Safari with Gorillas, Chimps, Big 5 & Nyiragongo Volcano starts from Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport and features the drive to Murchison with Rhino trekking en route, Murchison Falls NP game drive, Nile launch safari & hike to the top of the falls, Kibale NP Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi wetland, Queen Elizabeth NP Kazinga Channel boat safari & Ishasha sector game drive, relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi, Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park and adventure hike to Nyiragongo Volcano, relaxation at Gisenyi and then drive back to Kigali.

12 Days Uganda Congo Safari – Highlights

• Day 1: Arrive in Uganda – Entebbe International Airport & drive to the Hotel
• Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls NP, Rhino Trekking en route at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Day 3: Do morning game drive in the northern Murchison, an afternoon Nile launch cruise with top of the falls hike
• Day 4: Drive to Kibale National Park.  Enjoy the views of en route landscapes
• Day 5: Kibale National Park Chimpanzee trekking in the morning & Bigodi wetland walk in the afternoon
• Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, enjoy the views of Rwenzori Mountains, afternoon Kazinga Channel launch cruise & channel track evening game drive
• Day 7: Game drive in Ishasha sector in search of tree climbing lions & other wild game & proceed to Lake Bunyonyi with views of fascinating Kigezi Highlands
• Day 8:  Relaxed breakfast, motorized canoe ride & drive to Goma Congo
• Day 9: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park & relax. Optional Sekwenkwe Gorilla Orphanage or Congolese Community tour
• Day 10:  Nyiragongo Volcano adventure hike
• Day 11:  Descend Nyiragongo Volcano & drive to Gisenyi Lake Kivu for relaxation
• Day 12: Drive to Kigali, City tour including Gisozi genocide memorial (Optional) & depart

12 Days Uganda Congo Safari with Gorillas, Chimps, Big 5 & Nyiragongo Volcano – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda – Entebbe International Airport & Drive to The Hotel

You arrive at Entebbe International Airport, meet our representative and then transfer to the Hotel for relaxation and overnight

Accommodation : Budget / Basic: Airport Guesthouse Entebbe, Midrange / Standard: Boma Hotel Entebbe, Luxury / Upmarket: Protea Hotel Entebbe

Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls NP, Rhino Trekking En-route at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 

Set off for the drive to Murchison Falls National Park 311km about 5 hours passing through interesting countryside scenery.

A stop en route will be made at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to trek the resident population of southern white Rhinos for 2 hours.

Explore them as the forage and take incredible photo-shoots to mark the beginning of your Big 5 experience. Proceed to the park for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Budget / Basic: Twiga Tales Lodge, Midrange / Standard:  Murchison River Lodge – Thatched Safari Tent, Luxury / Up market:  Paraa Safari Lodge – Deluxe rooms

Day 3: Do Morning Game Drive in The Northern Murchison, An Afternoon Nile Launch Cruise With Top Of The Falls Hike

Enjoy a lasting game drive experience in the northern sector of Murchison marked with rolling open Savannah grassland with beautiful scattered borassus palms and patches of thicket towards the Delta Area.

The 3 – 4hour drive offers likely chances of exploring the four of the Big five namely; Lions, Leopard, Elephants and Buffaloes and then other interesting wild game such as Rothschild Giraffes, Oribis, Kobs, Hartebeest among others.

The boat to the bottom of the falls starts at 2pm from Paraa Jetty presenting nice sights of the Nile River – the longest in the world and then aquatic species like Nile Crocodiles, Hippos and birds.

You take on the adventure hike to the top of the falls following a narrow path viewing the Nile River as it flows through a less than 7m ravine before plummeting below 43m below the Devil’s Cauldron as its popularly known generating a plume of spray characterized by a thunderous roar and a trademark rainbow.

Accommodation: Budget / Basic: Twiga Tales Lodge, Midrange / Standard:  Murchison River Lodge – Thatched Safari Tent, Luxury / Up market:  Paraa Safari Lodge – Deluxe rooms

Day 4: Drive to Kibale National Park.  Enjoy The Views of En-route Landscapes

Drive to Kibale National Park 366km about 8 hours’ drive with good views of local villages and interesting physical landscapes.

Enjoy lunch en route. The lush Fort Portal tea estates will offer you a great welcome to the area.

Accommodation: Budget / Basic: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse – Main house room, Midrange / Standard:  Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent, Luxury / Up market:   Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages

Day 5: Kibale National Park Chimpanzee Trekking in The Morning & Bigodi Wetland Walk in The Afternoon

At Kanyanchu Tourism Center – the starting point for Chimpanzee trekking starts briefing at 8am. You go through briefing and eventually head to the forest for the 2 – 5-hour trek in search of these endangered species with nice views of lush flora, birds and other primate species.

Upon reaching Chimps, spend 1 hour with them enjoying them as they forage, mate, patrol among other behaviors.

From the activity, settle for lunch and later visit Bigodi wetland walk for Eco-community experience. The swamp has lush flora, birds like the Great Blue Turaco and swamp animals like Sitatunga.

Accommodation: Budget / Basic: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse – Main house room, Midrange / Standard:  Kibale Forest Camp – Safari Tent, Luxury / Up market:   Primate Lodge – Luxury Cottages

Day 6: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Enjoy The Views of Rwenzori Mountains, Afternoon Kazinga Channel Launch Cruise & Channel Track Evening Game Drive 

Depart the lodge at 7am after breakfast for a relaxed drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park 157km about 3 hours’ exploring incredible views of Ndali Kasenda Crater field which is one of the four explosion craters in Uganda, the Rwenzori Mountains rising to 5,109m above sea level en route to the park.

Drive through Mweya peninsular, settle for lunch and later gather at Mweya jetty at 2pm for the afternoon Kazinga boat safari.

The boat safari lasts for 2 hours with possibilities of spotting aquatics like Nile crocodiles, Hippos and birds like the African skimmers, Cormorants among others.

The wild game drinking on the channel shores may not be missed. Upon return, do an evening game drive along the channel track for game viewing possibilities.

Accommodation: Budget / Basic: Pumba Safari Cottages, Midrange / Standard:  Enganzi Game Lodge, Luxury / Up market:   Mweya Safari Lodge – Deluxe rooms

 Day 7: Game Drive in Ishasha Sector in Search of Tree Climbing Lions & Other Wild Game & Proceed to Lake Bunyonyi With Views of Fascinating Kigezi Highlands

Transfer to Ishasha sector 75km about 2 hours’ drive in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for an extensive game drive in search of tree climbing lions along with other wild-game.

Ishasha sector is also home to; Kobs, Buffaloes, Elephants, defassa waterbucks and Topis among others.

Proceed to Lake Bunyonyi 177km about 4 – 5 hours’ drive via the fascinating Kigezi Highlands popularly known as the Switzerland of Africa.

Accommodation: Midrange / Standard:  Lake Bunyonyi Rock-resort, Luxury / Up market:    Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort

Day 8:  Relaxed breakfast, Motorized Canoe Ride & Drive to Goma Congo  

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, take up a thrilling motorized canoe ride exploring the beauty of Lake Bunyonyi popularly known as the Lake of a thousand Islands because of its 29 Islands.

Learn about their history after which you set off for the drive to Goma Congo enjoying nice views of Virunga Volcanoes.

Accommodation: Budget / Basic: Hotel Cap Kivu, Midrange / Standard:  Hotel Ihusi, Luxury / Up market: Mikeno Lodge

Day 9: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park & relax. Optional Sekwenkwe Gorilla Orphanage or Congolese Community Tour

Embark on an exciting Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Congo’s Virunga National Park – the home to a section of these gorilla sub species in Congo.

Starting at 8am with briefing, you follow the forest trails in search of these critically endangered species known to thrive only in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.

The gorilla trek lasts 2 – 8 hours spending 1 hour with the Gorillas seeing them as they forage, socialize and depict a range of their behaviors. Retire from the activity and return to the lodge.

In the afternoon, you can choose to visit Sekwenkwe Gorilla Orphanage or the community neighboring the park to explore their way of life.

Accommodation: Budget / Basic: Hotel Cap Kivu, Midrange / Standard:  Hotel Ihusi, Luxury / Up market: Mikeno Lodge

Day 10:  Nyiragongo Volcano Adventure Hike

Gather at Kibati Patrol post for briefing and the start of the adventure hike at 9am.  Nyiragongo Volcano is recorded to be the world’s largest and most violent lava lake which at one time erupted and caused serious damage including the half of Goma town.

The trek lasts 5 – 6 hours offering nice views of Virunga Volcanoes, Lake Kivu and later the red lava after the dark.

Accommodation: Mountain Shelter

 Day 11:  Descend Nyiragongo Volcano & Drive to Gisenyi Lake Kivu For Relaxation

Early wake up to take sunrise photo-shoots, breakfast before embarking on the descent to the starting point.

From there, you will drive to Gisenyi Lake Kivu for relaxation. Spend the evening by the sandy beaches of Gisenyi Lake Kivu.

Accommodation: Midrange / Budget:  Hotel Paladis Malahide, Luxury / Up market:  Serena Resort Lake Kivu

Day 12: Drive to Kigali, City Tour Including Gisozi Genocide Memorial (Optional) & Depart      

Depart after breakfast for the drive to Kigali 358km about 4 hours drive. Enjoy incredible views of Rwandan hillsides and upon arrival in Kigali, you take up a city tour to explore the city landscapes including the Gisozi genocide memorial – a living testimony for what transpired in the 1994 ethnic conflict.

Settle for lunch after which you will transferred to the Kigali International Airport for the flight back home.

End of The 12 Days Uganda Congo Safari

Safari Inclusions

• Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
• Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari
• Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)

Safari Exclusions

• General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
• Laundry Services
• Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
• International Flights (Arranged on request)
• Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
• Visas
• Optional Activity fees
• Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
• Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
• Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)