8 Days Gorilla Safari in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo

In Rwanda, you will trek gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and the experience will be different because you will visit a different gorilla group with different family members then you will hike to Dian Fossey's grave and the research Centre. In DR Congo, you will trek mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park with stunning views of unique tree species and plants and you will fly back home.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe at the airport

Our company driver guide will be eagerly waiting for you at the airport in Entebbe and on your arrival, he will welcome you to the pearl of Africa and take you through a briefing about your 8 days gorilla circuit in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. After briefing, he will drive you to the booked lodge for your lunch and you can opt to do a city tour around the capital city of Uganda Kampala.

Day 2: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and evening game drive

In the morning after your breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to the western part of Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park.  This park is the second largest national park in Uganda with a lot of wildlife and birdlife worthy thus making it worth visiting.

On your way to the park, have a stopover in Fort portal for lunch and then in Kasese at the equator for some photos while in the two parts of the world. You will check in the hotel and later head for an evening game drive In the Kasenyi plains.

While on your game drive, you will spot animals like elephants, antelope species like waterbucks, Bush bucks, eland and many more, you will also have a look at forest hogs, warthogs, and buffaloes to mention but a few. The birders will not be disappointed as the park hosts over 600 species of birds. Retire to the lodge for your dinner.

Day 3: Morning Boat cruise and travel to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Have your breakfast then head for a morning boat cruise on the Kazinga channel which provides you with a view of the park in a relaxing way, have a look at the highest number of hippos sunbathing on the river banks, crocodiles, water birds like spoonbills, skimmers, pelicans, Kingfishers and many more, you will look at elephants, buffaloes and other animals too.

You will then return to the lodge for lunch, thereafter your driver guide will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to Bwindi impenetrable national Park found in Kisoro District via the Ishasha sector where you will have chances of looking at the rare tree climbing lions. Soon reaching the Park, you will be looking at the Kigezi Highlands and the terraces of Kisoro which will capture your attention. Check-in at the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking and cultural encounter

Head to the lush green habitats of the mountain gorillas after breakfast at your lodge and a briefing from the park ranger guide at the headquarters. You will take about

2-7 hours looking for these mountain gorillas in the forest because they tend to move from one place to another in search of food. You will be given one hour in their sight as you see them play, feed their young ones, and sometimes give birth among other behaviors. Return to the lodge for lunch.

Head for the Batwa cultural experience in their community which is also an eye-catching experience where you will be able to look at the way they used to live whole in the forest like making fire, hunting, their dress code and many more even not forgetting their cultural dances. Retreat to the lodge.

Day 5: Travel to Rwanda. Check in volcanoes national park

Having had your breakfast, you will check out from the lodge and through the Katuna border, enter Rwanda - the land of a thousand hills. Head for the city tour in Kigali and visit memorial sites like Kigali genocide memorial site to know more about what sparked the 1994 Genocide between the Hutu and the Tutsi. Visit the markets in Rwanda like Kimironko for Rwandan fruits and outfits. After the tour, you will drive ad check in at any hotel near Volcanoes national park for dinner.

Day 6: Gorilla trekking in volcanoes and Dian Fossey hike

You will head for your second gorilla trekking experience in volcanoes national park which is quite interesting and one must be physically fit because it will need you to hike up the mountain and slope down on the slippery valleys searching for the mountain gorillas. You will come into contact with the mountain gorillas for only one hour and keep this in mind that when you are below 15 years, you will not be allowed to trek.

You will have to enjoy your packed lunch from the forest after your trek and relax a bit then continue for the hike to Dian Fossey's grave and Karisoke research centre which is between Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes which was started by Dian Fossey conservationist who contributed much to the now living number of the gorillas in volcanoes. Move back to the lodge.

Day 7:  Travel to D. R. Congo - Virunga national park

Embark on your 5 hours journey to D.R. Congo one of Africa's virgin countries in Africa with a lot of resources and attractions through the Goma border after your breakfast in the morning and checking out from the lodge. Optional city tour around Goma then after you will drive to the lodge in Virunga national park.

Day 8: Gorilla trekking and departure

Gorilla trekking in DR Congo is done from Virunga National Park where you will be able to trek for one gorilla family and only a group of 8 people is allowed to come into contact with the gorillas at a distance of 5 meters. You will be given one hour to watch them play with each other, groom each other and mating. You will also be looking at different tree and plant species together with unique bird species.

Move back to the lodge for lunch and check out from the hotel, travel back to Kigali for a flight back to your home country.