The 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari is an adventurous safari that starts from Entebbe Uganda and ends in Kigali Rwanda. The safari will take you to the most visited destinations in Uganda that is Murchison falls national park, Kibale national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park and Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in Uganda and Lake Mburo national park. During the safari you will have great views of wildlife including the big five mammals (elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, rhinos), other animals like Uganda kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, hippos, crocodiles which will be viewed during the game drives and boat cruise. You will also engage in an adventurous chimpanzee and gorilla trekking experience where you will be able to spend time with the chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in their natural environment. The safari will also take you to Volcanoes national park where you will engage golden monkey trekking and Ibyi’wacu cultural tour and Kahuzi biega national park where you will visit the Eastern lowland gorillas.

Highlights of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda safari

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to a hotel in Entebbe

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park-Ziwa rhino sanctuary

Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale national park

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

Day 6: Morning game drive/ lion tracking and afternoon boat cruise

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Day 9: Transfer to transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 10: Transfer to Volcanoes national park-twin lakes visit

Day 11: Golden monkey trekking and Ibyiwacu cultural tour

Day 12; Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park

Day 13: Isumo waterfall hike and Canopy walk

Day 14: Transfer to Kahuzi Biega national park

Day 15: Lowland gorilla trekking

Day 16: Departure to Kigali

Detailed itinerary     

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to a hotel in Entebbe

Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe international airport on day 1 of the 16 Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then transfer to a hotel in Entebbe for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park

After breakfast on day 2 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will have breakfast and our driver guide will pick you up from the hotel to start the journey to Murchison falls national park which is located in northwestern part of Uganda. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours’ drive and on the way you will enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful landscape, countryside, farmlands and a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking. After rhino tracking you will proceed to Masindi for lunch and afterwards continue to Murchison falls national park. Upon arrival you will drive directly to the top of the falls where you have great views of the waterfall, mammals, bird species, beautiful scenery among others. After the top of the falls tour you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Morning game drive,

After an early breakfast on day 3 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive where you will be able to spot various animals like Uganda kobs, warthogs, giraffes, elephants, bushbucks, lions, leopards, hyenas, Jacksons hartebeest, view different bird species among others.  After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.

Afternoon boat cruise,

After lunch you will drive to Paraa landing site for an interesting boat cruise to the bottom of the falls which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive. During the boat trip you will be rewarded with incredible views of animals like elephants, buffaloes and antelopes which gather to drink water, hippos and crocodiles in water, view variety of bird species like kingfishers, fish eagles, bee-eaters, hornbills among others. After the boat cruise you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale national park

After breakfast on day 4 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kibale national park. It’s a whole day journey and on the way you will have en-route lunch and enjoy stunning views of the farmlands, Rwenzori Mountains, tea plantations, Lake Gorge, crater lakes among others. Upon arrival in Kibale national park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

Chimpanzee trekking,

After an early breakfast on day 5 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda and Congo safari you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kanyachu Visitors Centre for chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing you will be divided into a group of 6 people where each group will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Trekking of chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to spot other primates such as grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, some bird species, plants among others. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which helps you to learn more about their behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, fight, hunt, enjoy the juveniles playing up in the trees, take photos and record the moments. After the face to face encounter with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. On the way you will enjoy great views of the landscape, crater lakes, tea plantations among others and upon arrival you will have lunch. After lunch you will go for an afternoon game drive where you will be able to view animals like elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks, view different bird species among others. After the game drive, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

 Day 6: Morning game drive/ lion tracking and afternoon boat cruise

Morning game drive/lion tracking,

You will have breakfast on day 6 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari and meet up with your driver guide to go for a morning game drive or lion tracking experience in Kasenyi plains. During the game drive you will be rewarded with great views of large herds of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, waterbucks, warthogs which will be grazing in the open savannah plains view predators like lions, leopards if you are lucky, variety of bird species among others. After the game drive you will drive to the lodge for lunch.

Boat cruise on Kazinga channel

After lunch you will go for an exciting boat cruise on Kazinga channel a water body that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. During the boat cruise which takes about 2 hours you will get a chance to view elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs drinking water along the shores, view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, water birds like martial eagle, papyrus gonolek, pelicans, hornbills, African skimmers, cormorants, African spoonbills, fish eagles, king fisher’s among others and also view fishermen organizing their fishing nets along the water banks. After the boat ride you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

After breakfast on day 7 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park. On the way you will pass through Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park where you will get an opportunity to spot the tree climbing lions which will be lying up in fig tree branches. After the game drive in Ishasha sector you will have lunch where after you will continue the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park and upon arrival you will check in at the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

 Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Gorilla trekking,

After an early breakfast on day 8 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will carry your lunch box and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be divided in groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is knowledgeable about the mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on their location and during trekking you will be able to view forest birds, other primates like l’hoest monkeys, baboons, plant and tree species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be able to spend one hour with them which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their lifestyle, behaviors, habits, take photos, watch them carry out their daily activities and record the fascinating memories to show people back home. After a breathtaking encounter with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and then meet up with your guide to return to the lodge for an evening relaxation dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast on day 9 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will checkout of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey to Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika. Lake Bunyonyi is located in Kabale and the journey takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive. Upon arrival you will check into the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will go for an interesting boat cruise/ canoe ride on the deepest lake in Uganda where you will be able to explore some of the 29 islands, view some bird species, animals, enjoy great views of the terraced farmlands, beautiful scenery among others among others. After the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Transfer to Volcanoes national park-twin Lakes tour

After breakfast on day 10 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Volcanoes national park passing through Cyanka border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale district. On the way you will enjoy great views of the rolling hills, countryside, terraced farmlands among others. Upon arrival, you will visit the twin lakes of Lake Burera and Ruhondo where after you will connect to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Golden monkey trekking and Ibyi’wacu cultural tour

After an early breakfast on day 11 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to go for a golden monkey briefing at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the golden monkeys which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where they are located. During trekking you will be able to view other primates and once the golden monkeys are found, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you a chance to watch them feed, play, jump up in trees, take photos and record videos. After golden monkey trekking, you will return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch you will go for an interesting cultural tour where you will visit the Ibyi’wacu cultural village, learn about the local people culture, tradition, way of living, taste their local dishes, enjoy their traditional performances among others. After the cultural tour, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park

After breakfast on day 12 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Nyungwe forest national park. On the way you will have en-route lunch and then proceed to the park and upon arrival you will connect to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 13: Isumo waterfall hike and canopy walk

On day 13 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will have breakfast and later meet up with your driver guide to go for an exciting nature walk in the forest. During the Isumo waterfall hike, you will be able to enjoy sounds of the river flowing through the forest, view different wildlife species, birds, plants among others. After the waterfall hike, you will return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will go for an adventurous canopy walk where you will be rewarded with amazing views of wildlife species, primates, tree tops, birds among others. After the canopy walk, you will connect to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 14: Transfer to Kahizi Biega national park

After an early breakfast on day 14 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kahuzi biega national park where you will cross into Congo, check in with the tourism office at Grande Barrier border and then proceed to Bukavu town which is the nearest town. Upon arrival, you will connect to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Please 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

Day 15: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park

After breakfast on day 15 of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will go for lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega national park. Lowland gorilla trekking usually takes about 1 to 4 hours depending on where the gorillas are located. The lowland gorillas are bigger and stay in big families compared to the mountain gorillas. Once they are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. After lowland gorilla trekking, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 16: Departure to Kigali

After breakfast on the last day of the 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kigali. On the way you will have en-route lunch and upon arrival in Kigali, your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of your choice.

End of 16 days Uganda Rwanda Congo safari

Tour includes

• Gorilla trekking permits
• Chimpanzee trekking permit
• Golden monkey permit
• Canopy walk
• Park entrance fees/ game drives
• Boat cruise fees
• Top of the falls viewing
• Rhino tracking permit
• Lion tracking experience
• Ibyiwacu cultural tour
• All activities included in the itinerary
• Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
• Full board accommodation
• Pick up and drop off in Kampala/ Entebbe
• Vehicle and fuel
• Bottled drinking water

Tour excludes                   

• Air flight tickets
• Visas
• Life insurance
• Optional activities not included on the itinerary
• Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, cigarettes, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.