14 Days Budget Uganda Rwanda and Congo Safari : This 14 Days Combined Safari lets you explore a number of destinations including Kibale National Park , Queen Elizabeth national park , Bwindi Impenetrable National Park , Volcanoes national park – Rwanda , Nyungwe Forest national park , Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo and Akagera national park
Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi swamp
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking – Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 3: Morning game drive and Boat cruise
- Day 4: Ishasha game drive and transfer to Bwindi
- Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Rwanda
- Day 7: Golden Monkey tracking – community tour
- Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park (6-7 hours’ drive)
- Day 9: Canopy walkway – Cross to Bukavu – Congo
- Day 10: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo
- Day 11: Return to Rwanda – Kigali
- Day 12: Kigali City tour and transfer to Akagera national park
- Day 13: Hot air balloon – Game drive in Akagera national park and boat cruise on Lake Ihema
- Day 14: Return to Kigali – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi swamp
Depending on your location, you will meet your safari driver who will drive to Kibale national park – the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Arrive early afternoon for lunch in Fort portal town, visit the crater lakes and go for a 2-3 hours nature walk in Bigodi swamp and experience the different birds and primates. Thereafter, drive to check-in your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at Kibale Forest lodge for budget
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking – Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast, you will go for chimpanzee trekking with your tracking gears. 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, return to the lodge, refresh and have lunch and check-out to connect to Queen Elizabeth national park. This is a 3-4 hours’ drive from Fort portal with en route at the Equator. Dinner and overnight at Pumba Safari Cottages for budget
Day 3: Morning game drive and Boat cruise
You will wake up early and head out for a morning game drive to catch up with the early risers. Explore the Kasenyi sector – a known mating ground for kobs and a hunting ground for lions. While on the game drive, expect to see some of the big four game including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, also different species of antelopes, warthogs and white Colobus monkeys just to mention a few.
After enjoying your lunch at the lodge, go for your boat trip along the Kazinga channel for yet another wildlife/bird watching experience as you cruise on lake Edward/George. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 4: Ishasha game drive and transfer to Bwindi
After breakfast early in the morning, you drive to the Ishasha sector for a game drive and opportunity to spot the tree-climbing lions, have en-route lunch and embarks on your journey to Bwindi Park, accommodation will be provided depending on your trekking sector. Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget option
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Have an early morning breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing by the ranger guides before embarking on your gorilla trek. Head into the forest and trek until you find the gorillas. Gorilla trekking can take 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. After finding the gorillas in Bwindi, you will be allowed only 1 hour and then return. Your driver/guide will drive you back to your hotel to relax and spend another night as above
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Rwanda
After breakfast, meet your driver to cross to Rwanda via Cyanika border to connect to Volcanoes national park with en-route lunch and sightseeing. This will take about 5-6 hours’ drive and upon arrival, proceed to check-in your reserved lodge. Optional activities Dian Fossey museum before your proceed to your lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Muhabura for budget option
Day 7: Golden Monkey tracking – community tour
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 behaviours.
Later afternoon/evening, connect to visit Iby’wacu 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. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at booked lodge as above
Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park (6-7 hours’ drive)
After breakfast, meet your driver and embark on your journey to Nyungwe forest national park which is a 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route stop at Lake Kivu and lunch en-route. Proceed to Nyungwe forest through the rolling hills of Rwanda. Proceed to check-in your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Visitors’ Centre for budget option
Day 9: Canopy walkway – Cross to Bukavu – Congo
Enjoy breakfast and connect for a canopy walk experience. You will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-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 below you.
Thereafter, connect on a scenic journey to cross to Bukavu in Congo with wonderful views of the hills in Rwanda through the tropical forest of Nyungwe National park. Upon crossing the border, meet your Congo driver to drive you to your booked hotel, have lunch and spend your afternoon, relaxing at the hotel while preparing for your next day activity. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Elizabeth for budget option
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 10: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega – 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 as above
Day 11: Return to Rwanda – Kigali
After breakfast, meet your driver again and cross back to Rwanda where you will meet your guide to transfer to Kigali. It’s about 6-7 hours’ drive from with en-route stop to visit the Butare national museum with en-route lunch. Proceed to Kigali through the rolling hills of Rwanda. Proceed to check-in your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Step Town Motel for budget
Day 12: Kigali City tour and transfer to Akagera national park
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel in the morning for a Kigali city tour and visit the Kigali genocide memorial, Kandt museum, old and new Kigali with en-route lunch. Later afternoon, transfer to Akagera National park, which is about 2.5 hours through the country’s remarkable landscape with views of the country’s beauty and the life style of its people. Upon arrival in the park early afternoon, you will proceed to check in at booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Karenge Tented Camp or transit Lodge for budget
Day 13: Hot air balloon – Game drive in Akagera national park and boat cruise on Lake Ihema
Meet the hot air balloon crew and drive to the starting point of the air balloon experience. The air balloon offers spectacular and breathtaking landscape of Akagera National Park. While you are watching the scenic view of Lake Ihema, Giraffe Plain, hills and peninsulas along with wild. After the 2 hour air balloon, have breakfast and connect for an game drive in search of park residents including the big 5 (Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, Buffaloes and Elephants) and other animals to look out for include; Giraffes, and several antelope species.
Return for lunch at the lodge then later afternoon, you will go for a boat ride on Lake Ihema which will offer you great views of the surrounding areas; hills and swamps. Expect to see Hippos, crocodiles and more bird species. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 14: Return to Kigali – Departure
After breakfast, drive out of the park to connect back to Kigali. You will be dropped off at Kigali airport for your onward flight back home, marking the end of the safari
End of 14 Days Budget Uganda Rwanda and Congo Safari
