8 DAYS KIGALI-LAKE KIVU-NYIRAGONGO HIKE-BWINDI GORILLAS-QUEEN ELIZABETH
The 8 days Kigali-Lake Kivu-Nyiragongo hike-Bwindi gorillas-Queen Elizabeth is a comprehensive wildlife and hiking safari taking you through great adventure in the 3 countries- Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. This long combined safari takes 7nights, 8 days of exploring iconic destinations like Virunga National Park while on Nyiragongo hike, Lake Kivu on a boat cruise.
It also includes visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking, Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drive and boat cruise with expectations to see the tree climbing lions. You will begin this 8 days combined Rwanda, Congo and Uganda safari from Kigali and end it in Kigali or Kampala/Entebbe.
Brief itinerary
Day 1: Lake Kivu- enjoy a boat cruise
Day 2: Nyiragongo hike in Virunga N. Park
Day 3: Descend from Nyiragongo summits & cross to Bwindi
Day 4: Bwindi gorilla trekking
Day 5: Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth N/Park through Ishasha
Day 6: Game drive, launch or boat cruise- Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 7: Kyambura gorge chimpanzee tracking & Katwe crater tour
Day 8: Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Lake Kivu- enjoy a boat cruise
After a hefty breakfast, meet your English-speaking driver guide for briefing about your long trip and later, pick up. Enjoy a brief city tour in Kigali and then proceed to Gisenyi for lunch stopover.
Spend great time exploring Lake Kivu- enjoy a boat cruise, swim, walk or relax at Lake Kivu shores. In the evening, settle for a relaxed dinner and overnight stay at the lodge or hotel in Gisenyi.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Midrange: Gorillas Lake Kivu Hotel or Paradise Marahide
Day 2: Nyiragongo hike in Virunga N. Park
Breakfast early morning, after leave Gisenyi for briefing at Kibati ranger post. This include crossing the Rwanda Congo border, clear with Virunga park authorities and meet the porters, officials at Kibati ranger post.
After briefing, start your 5-6 hours’ trek to the summits of Mt. Nyiragongo (3470m) one of the world’s most active volcanoes lying strategically in the Virunga National Park. This volcano had its recent eruption in 2021 and it is one of the 8 beautiful Virunga volcanoes/Massifs.
Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Crater Lava at the summit as it bubbles and glows the whole night. Overnight stay will be at Nyiragongo summit shelters.
Day 3: Descend from Nyiragongo summits & cross to Bwindi
Have your early morning breakfast, after, begin descend at 6:30am. Get to briefing point early, meet your driver guide for transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Southwestern Uganda and a home to 20 habituated gorilla families.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
- Mid-range: Bwindi Haven Lodge/Silverback Lodge/Engagi
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Broadbill Forest
Day 4: Bwindi gorilla trekking
Rise up early morning for a tasty cup of tea or coffee, after, leave the lodge for briefing at 7:00am at Buhoma trailhead or other sectors- Ruhija, Nkuringo or Rushaga. Your gorilla permit will direct you where you will have briefing from. During short briefing, you get to known the set gorilla trekking rules and also the park official allocates every group of 8 trekkers each habituated gorilla family.
At 8:00am, Bwindi park guide leads you through the forest to start the search for the assigned gorilla family lasting for 2-6 hours. Gorilla trekking by far is unpredictable and how long you spend may depend on the nature of the habitat, location of gorilla group, physical level and other factors.
Considering the nature of this adventure, it is essential to carry high energy giving snacks plus plenty of bottled drinking water. When you finally find a gorilla group, you will settle for one hour enjoying a face to face encounter, taking pictures and after, return to the lodge for relaxation.
Have adequate relaxation at the lodge and then later visit the Batwa community for cultural encounter. Meet, interact with the Batwa pygmies living adjacent to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Explore more about the Batwa pygmies, their traditions, practices, enjoy great dances, music performances and more.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
- Mid-range: Bwindi Haven Lodge/Silverback Lodge/Engagi
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Broadbill Forest
Day 5: Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth N/Park through Ishasha
Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth N/Park: After breakfast, leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park- BINP for Queen Elizabeth National Park QENP for big game safari. This is 4-5 hours’ road trip and you will access Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha where you will enjoy a game drive.
On Ishasha game drive, the expected animal sightings include the tree climbing lions, plus birds, elephants and more. After, proceed to check in at your pre-booked safari lodge at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Jacana Safari Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge/Kyambura Lodge
- Midrange: Enganzi Lodge/Elephant Lodge/Bush Lodge
- Budget: Simba Safari Lodge/Tents at Bush Lodge
Day 6: Game drive, launch or boat cruise- Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park: Rise up early morning for a heavy breakfast, after, exit the safari lodge for driver guided game drive along Kasenyi plains. Expect to spend 2-4 hours to exploring and experiencing the scenic Kasenyi sector, one of the endowed areas in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
In a 4×4 rental car with a pop up roof, a game drive along Kasenyi sector will reward you with unforgettable view of diverse wildlife. These include buffaloes, lions, elephants, leopards, Uganda kobs, waterbucks + other antelopes, birds and more.
Retreat after a thrilling game viewing experience, settle for a leisurely lunch at the safari lodge. Share your morning memories, then at 2:00pm, expect to sum up the day with a boat or launch cruise on Kazinga channel. This will take 2-3 hours and it comes with astonishing sightings ranging from Nile crocodiles, hippos, aquatic birds etc. After, get back to spend the rest of the evening relaxing, dine and overnight stay.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Jacana Safari Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge/Kyambura Lodge
- Midrange: Enganzi Lodge/Elephant Lodge/Bush Lodge
- Budget: Simba Safari Lodge/Tents at Bush Lodge
Day 7: Kyambura gorge chimpanzee tracking & Katwe crater tour
Enjoy an early morning breakfast, after, transfer to Kyambura Gorge for briefing about chimpanzee trekking rules. Kyambura Gorge lies on the Northeastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park 30kms away from headquarters. The gorge is about 11kms long, 100m deep and it is famous as valley of apes.
You will enjoy 2-4 hours’ chimpanzee trek with a great opportunity to explore in-depth about chimpanzees, taking photos. Other primates to view on chimp trekking in Kyambura Gorge include black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys and others.
There is also significant population of birds to keep an eye including black rumped buttonquail, blue headed bee-eater, African finfoot, African skimmers, martial eagles, Chapin’s flycatchers, bar tailed godwit, black bee-eater, white winged warblers, corncrake and others.
Settle for lunch and after, you will embark on Lake Katwe tour. Lake Katwe in Queen Elizabeth National Park lies North of Mweya Peninsula and you will enjoy view of the rift valley, its escarpment, lakes like Lake George etc. At Katwe Crater Lake, expect to explore and experience more about traditional salt mining that is carried out here.
Accommodation:
- Luxury: Jacana Safari Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge/Kyambura Lodge
- Midrange: Enganzi Lodge/Elephant Lodge/Bush Lodge
- Budget: Simba Safari Lodge/Tents at Bush Lodge
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive to Kampala or Entebbe and today while en-route, expect to have stopover at Equator crossing. Connect to Kampala or Entebbe after photography and today marks the end of 8 days Kigali-Lake Kivu-Nyiragongo hike- Bwindi gorillas- Queen Elizabeth National Park safari.
End of safari- Rwanda, Congo, Uganda
Safari inclusions
- Park entry fees- Uganda & Congo
- Air transfers
- Travel in a full time 4WD vehicle
- English-speaking driver guide services
- Nyiragongo hike tour
- Bottled water
- Accommodation
Safari exclusions
- Tips
- Laundry
- Insurance
- Porter
- International visa
- Telephone calls/bills