10 Days Congo & Uganda Combined Safari
10 Days Congo & Uganda Combined Safari
The 10-Day Congo & Uganda Combined Safari is the ultimate Safari package. It will take you to Congo’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park for lowland gorilla trekking. Then, you will proceed to Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. The safari will also take you to Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife encounters. Lastly, you will visit Kibale National Park for a chimpanzee trekking adventure.
Safari Highlights of the 10 Days Congo & Uganda Combined Safari
- Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Congo
- Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Virunga
- Day 3: Transfer from Congo to Uganda
- Day 4: Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga and transfer to Bwindi
- Day 4: Gorilla Trekking experience and transfer to Buhoma
- Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park and Ishasha game drive
- Day 7: Game Drive and Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
- Day 8: Pick up and transfer to Kibale National Park
- Day 9: Chimpanzee habituation and Bigodi wetland Visit
- Day 10: Transfer to Kampala or Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary of the 10-Day Congo and Uganda Combined Safari
Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Congo
Arrival & Transfer to Congo: On arrival in Kigali at Kigali International Airport, your Safari Vacations and Travel Services driver will pick you up. He will brief you about the whole trip, then drive to Congo in Bukavu Town. You will then check in at your hotel as you prepare for the activity on the next day.
Dinner and Overnight: Panorama Hotel/Hotel Begonias/Nediva Hotel
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park
On day 2 of the 10-day Congo & Uganda combined safari, you will wake up and have breakfast. Then, report to the park headquarters with your documents for a short briefing by the Virunga park rangers. This is the point where all the treks start. After the briefing head into the forest and search for the lowland gorillas. Lowland gorilla trekking takes about 2-3 hours and when you find them, spend one hour with them. Observe their behaviors, take photos, and enjoy the experience in their natural habitat. After the gorilla experience, head back to the camp and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Dinner and Overnight: Panorama Hotel/Hotel Begonias/Nediva Hotel
Day 3: Transfer to Uganda-Mgahinga National Park
Wake up very early on day 3 and have breakfast. After breakfast, embark on a journey to Mgahinga National Park. The journey will take you through the hills of Rwanda.
Dinner and Overnight: Mount Gahinga Lodge/Lake Chahafi resort/Traveler’s Rest lodge
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Bwindi
On this day, you will head to the park headquarters after breakfast. You will attend a briefing about golden monkey trekking. Then, later follow the ranger to the forest in search of the golden monkeys. After some time, you’ll find these beautiful primates in the bamboo forest. enjoy their company for an hour as you observe their behavior. Golden monkeys are so playful and thus, you won’t be staying in one place for long while observing them.
After, return to the starting point for lunch. Then, embark on a journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park after resting for some time. Check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight: Mahogany Springs Lodge/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Rushaga Havens Lodge
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking experience and transfer to Buhoma
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest: Wake up early and have breakfast before you are transferred to the park headquarters for a briefing about mountain gorilla trekking by the park rangers and guides. After you will be grouped in groups of 8 before you embark on the gorilla trekking experience. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park usually takes about 3-8 hours before you meet the mountain gorillas.
Once you meet them, you are entitled to spend one hour strictly as you observe and take photos. As you take photos and enjoy the gorilla experience, make sure you follow the gorilla trekking rules and regulations. After 1 hour, you will return to the starting point. Then, drive back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight: Buhoma Lodge/Buhoma Havens Lodge
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Ishasha game drive
Embark on your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park after having breakfast early morning. Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second most visited National park in Uganda. It is also home to the famous tree-climbing lions.
Upon arriving after about 4 to 5 hours on the road, you will pass by the Ishasha Sector. Here, you will see the tree-climbing lions. After arriving at the park premises, you will enjoy a game drive as you spot different wildlife species. After, you will transfer to the lodge in the evening.
Dinner and Overnight: Elephant Plains Lodge/Buffalo Safari Lodge/Engiri Game Lodge
Day 7: Game Drive and Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Wake up early morning and have breakfast before you embark on the amazing early morning Game Drive. On your game drive, you will see amazing animal species. These include African elephants, lions, buffalos, antelopes, and impalas, among others. Birds are also spotted in the park and on a good day, you will see the leopards. After the game drive, you will transfer back to the lodge to relax. Refreshen and prepare for the Boat Cruise at 2 pm.
Boat Cruise Experience: Head on for the boat cruise and at exactly 2 pm, you are expected to have boarded the boat. On your boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, you will see different animal species. They’ll have come to cool off and drink water in those hot hours of the day. Animals you’ll see include buffaloes, hippos, and crocodiles along the banks of the channel. Kazinga channel is famous for having the highest population of hippos in Uganda. After the boat cruise, you will transfer to the lodge. Refresh, have dinner, and rest as you wait for the next day.
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Transfer to Kibale National Park: Wake up early have breakfast and transfer to Kibale National Park one of the top primate destinations in the world. Hence, it was nicknamed the Primates capital of the world for having the highest population of chimpanzees. You will arrive in the afternoon and then you will tour Fort Portal as you enjoy the sights and sounds of the Crater Lakes and the Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru. Later transfer to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight: Chimpundu Lodge/Turaco Treetops/Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Day 9: Chimpanzee habituation and Bigodi wetland Visit
Chimpanzee Habituation: Wake up early on day 9 of the 10 Days Congo & Uganda Primate Safari. Then, transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch and water for a briefing as you prepare to go for the Chimpanzee Habituation tour. Later, you will go with your ranger guide who will guide you as you trek through the forest. It will take 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees. The chimpanzees you’ll be looking for are those that are not familiar with human presence. Once you meet them, you will be allowed 4 hours to spend in their presence. Observe their behavior, take photos, and learn more about the chimpanzees. After the chimpanzee habituation process which is a full-day activity, you will return to your lodge and spend the evening.
Dinner and Overnight: Chimpundu Lodge/Turaco Treetops/Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Day 10: Transfer to Kampala or Entebbe
Transfer to Kampala or Entebbe: On the final day of the 10 Days Congo & Uganda Combined Safari, you will transfer to Entebbe International Airport with a stopover for lunch on the way. This journey takes about 6-7 hours and you will arrive late evening and enjoy your dinner before you are dropped off at the airport to take your flight. This will thus mark the end of the 10 Days Congo & Uganda Safari
Package Includes
- Pick up and drop off
- Gorilla Permits
- 4X4 Safari vehicle and fuel
- Full-time English-speaking Guide/Driver.
- All accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals at the lodge-breakfast-lunch-dinner
- Bottled drinking water while on safari
- Park entrance and boat cruise fees
Package Excludes
- Air tickets.
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, email, laundry, beverages or meals not indicated in the itinerary, Portage, and staff gratuity.
