8 DAYS TRIPLE GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA, RWANDA & CONGO.
Overview.
The safari takes you to 3 countries, all renowned mountain gorilla destinations on the foothills of Virunga Mountains. These are Bwindi national park in Uganda, volcanoes in Rwanda and Virunga in DR Congo. Each country has different gorilla families.
Bwindi national park has the highest number of mountain gorillas, almost half of the global population. The safari also includes cultural visits where you will be able to explore a few unique cultures in Uganda, through visiting the Batwa community in Uganda and the Iby’Iwachu cultural village in Rwanda.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe and transfer to a hotel.
On arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will have an option of either visiting Uganda wildlife education centre full of wildlife in captive or Uganda reptile village all in Entebbe. After, make a transfer to your booked hotel with the guidance of our driver.
Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi from Kampala.
A journey to Bwindi national park is rewarding after your early morning breakfast. You have a stopover at Kayabwe where you can view the Uganda equator and another stopover in Mbarara for lunch at Igongo where you will have a chance to visit the Ankole-Kigezi museum. Pass through the Ankole cattle farms and then the terraced highlands of Kigezi with sharp and interesting corners.
On your arrival at the home of mountain gorillas-Bwindi, you will check in at the booked accommodation.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and Batwa encounter
Gorilla tracking is the park’s main tourist attraction; it starts with a briefing at the park headquarters than the assignment of the park ranger guide. Trekking takes about 2-3 hours and only 8 people can track a family for a limited time of 1 hour in their presence. After the trek, be rewarded with a certificate of recognition for trekking these gorillas in Bwindi followed by the transfer to the lodge.
Immediately after lunch, take a visit to the Batwa community and explore their unique culture. This will be through traditional dances, traditional meals and story tales among others. As you get entertained, you will also learn a lot. Head back to the safari lodge for your dinner.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Immediately after breakfast, transfer to Rwanda with an enroute lunch. You have the option of visiting Ibyiwachu cultural village. An amazing place where you will take a guided walk around the village as you discover the Kinyarwanda culture including the dances, storytelling, traditional cuisine and historical. Later, check-in at the accommodation site for your dinner and night stay.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Head to Kinigi at the park headquarters after a cup of coffee or tea and receive a briefing including the rules and regulations while trekking these endangered species. Be ready with your trekking gears and bottle of drinking water and maybe a snack. Trekking starts immediately after briefing with the help of the park ranger guide.
The exercise is fun and more enjoyable as you pass through the forested area, full of primates, trees and colourful bird species. On locating these gentle giants, you will have an hour of experience while in their presence but the whole trek takes about 2-4 hours. You will be rewarded with a certificate of completion at the end of this adventure.
Day 6: Transfer to Goma, home of Virunga national park.
Depart for Goma city in east of Congo immediately after your relaxed breakfast. The journey will take you to Virunga tourist centre to acquire your gorilla permits and then proceed to a lodge in Virunga national park for relaxation.
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park.
Enjoy the third shift and exciting moments as you trek another different gorilla family in another country. As the other activities have been starting with a briefing, also this is the same. Enjoy the adventure of the day through the forest and explore the beauty of these gentle giants. After the trek, you will depart to your lodge and prepare for the next departure.
Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali and drop off at the airport.
The safari ends today in Kigali after a drop off at the airport where you will catch up with the flight back home after a transfer from DR Congo. The drive to Kigali takes about 3-4 hours depending on the speed and delay at the border.