17 Days Across East Africa Safari

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to your hotel in Bujumbura

This is the day as you arrive in to Bujumbura International airport in the morning, you are welcomed in by our professional guide/driver at the airport and then you are driven to the hotel to rest as you wait for the fascinating awaiting adventures of this epic wonderful beautifully lush greenEast and central African region. You will visit Rusizi national park where a possible boat cruise in Rusizi river can let you explore Hippos, Birds and the joining point between Rusizi River and Lake Tanganyika. The Belvedere climb offers a nice view of Bujumbura city, independence hero monument. You will also visit explorer’s memorial; a huge rock in the suburbs of Bujumbura commemorating the meeting between Stanley and Livingstone. Then dinner and overnight at Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel

Day 2: Transfer to Kigali city and transfer to the hotel

This is the day you arrive in to this beautiful country, you are welcomed in by our professional driver guide at the airport and then you are driven to the hotel to rest as you wait for the fascinating awaiting adventures of this epic wonderful beautiful country (Rwanda is nicknamed as land of thousand hills) in the following days. Dinner and overnight at Great Seasons Hotel

Day 3: Kigali to Nyungwe forest National park-Canopy walk

After having breakfast at 6:30 am, drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park aiming a canopy walk in the afternoon. The Canopy Walkway in the Nyungwe Forest National Park in south western Rwanda is 50 meters above the ground level, and 90 meters long. The dizzying platform is above a steep and deep valley trotting across massive forest. The 200m walkway with three towers is the biggest in East Africa! Spread over hundreds of square meters Nyungwe is said to be largest and most ancient Afro-Montane forest remaining in the East & Central Africa, dating back to the last ice age. Dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guest house

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking andTransfer to Bukavu, D.R Congo

Breakfast will be served early morning and after you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing at 6:00 am. In Nyungwe forest National Park the activity starts at 6:00am. You will enter into the forest when its dark but you will be able to see primate species such as Colobus monkeys, forest birds and later, you will be able to see the chimpanzees when its already day time.

Later drive through Rwanda heading to the Bukima in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The journey usually takes estimated 4 hours to reach Goma and have a stopover for lunch and snacks. Later, continue to Bukima reaching in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Panorama

Day 5: Lowland Gorilla tracking in Kahuzi Biega National park for tracking Lowland Gorillas and transfer to Kibuye

In the morning, you will head for the memorable adventure of tracking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park. Tacking 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! Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight at Moriah Hill Resort Kibuye

Day 6: Transfer from Kibuye to Goma

On this day, you will have breakfast at your pace and later transfer from Kibuye to Goma to reduce on the long distance between Kahuzi and Nyiragongo of congo. En route you can make a visit to Lake Kivu. You can have lunch along the way or at the lodge depending on time. Dinner and overnight atIhusi Hotel Goma

Day 7: Gorilla tracking in Virunga: Experience the Congo Mountain Gorilla safari

After morning breakfast, transfer to the national park headquarters for briefing by the park rangers ahead of the Congo gorilla safari encounter. Here you will be reminded about the rules and regulations during trekking to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable experience. Then hike into the forested jungle searching the allocated gorilla family. Take as many photos as possible, but only non-flashlight photography cameras are allowed, as a way of not scaring away the gorilla. Dinner and overnight at Ihusi Hotel Goma

Day 8: Early Morning Nyiragongo Volcano Hike

After breakfast, you will embark on the transfer to the mountain trailhead at Kibat Patrol Post in Nyiragongo Volcano. Beautiful drive with Nyiragongo towering above its own lava flows from previous eruptions. On arrival to the trail head, embark on the climb of about 5-6hours to the top of the Volcano. You will be accompanied by two armed rangers/guides who speak English and French. Your hike to the summit of the volcano does not only reward you with spectacular view of the flora and fauna gorgeous at lower elevations, but you also give a local person a job. When you get high enough, the views of over an old crater to Lake Kivu are stunning. Of course, those views are nothing compared to when you reach the crater and see the lava pool inside which is simply incredible. The night will be spent in tents on the rim of the giant crater, high above the active lava lake. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable A-frame huts on the crater edge. Warm clothes and a sleeping bag are essential as it will be very cold and windy all night.

Day 9: Make Decent from Nyiragongo Volcano and Transfer to Kabale.

After an early morning breakfast, you will begin your descent by 7:00am from the summit of Nyiragongo to the head trail in Kibat Patrol Post. Arrive at the trail head before lunch and relaxation for some indefinite time. After lunch, embark on transfer from Goma to the Uganda-Congo border and later transfer to western Uganda in Kisoro-Kabale region. Expect to have stopovers for refreshments and arrival late evening at Cephas Inn Kabale

Day 10: Transfer to Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National park

Transfer through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in the southern part of this park. This area is known for its tree-climbing lions.

In Ishasha we will drive off in this adventurous vast savannah area with Topis, Uganda Kobs, Cape Buffalos and the African Elephants plus to hopefully get the Lions high in the fig tree branches. Here you will experience a change in the landscape from flat savanna grassland to jungle with thickets and fig tree. Dinner and overnight at Topi Lodge

Day 11: Game drive in Ishasha and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park

After your breakfast you will be taken to Ishasha Sector, famous for the tree climbing lions lounging in the tree branches while keeping a close eye on herds of Uganda Kob, their favorite prey. You could have a chance to spot some tree climbing lions after proceed to your lodge.

In the afternoon you will take a Boat Cruise along the amazing Kazinga channel to see, at close range, the water animals to include Hippos, Buffalos, Crocodiles and elephants bathing on the channel banks. There is also a variety of bird species on the water banks especially the famous Shoebill, pelican and Jacana. Overnight at Pumba Safari Cottages

Day 12: Morning Game drive at Queen Elizabeth and transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast you will take packed lunch and head for a another rewarding game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park to increase your wildlife animal view counts and see Africa’s highly famed “Big 5”, Bush Bucks, Giant Hogs, Antelopes, Waterbucks and plenty of birds. Later in the evening you will be transferred to Kibale Forest National Park famous for Chimpanzee trekking and also referred to as the “Primate capital of the world” as it’s a habitat to not only Chimps but also other primates as you will encounter them during the treks. Overnight at Lake Nkuruba Campsite

Day 13: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi walk in Kibale National Park

After breakfast head to Kibale Forest. The activity begins at 8.00 am with a briefing of the rule for trekking the chimpanzees after which you set off to search for them in the forest. Kibale Forest National Park, it boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including the chimpanzees. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will spend an hour with them and then head back to the accommodation for Lunch.Post Lunch you will be taken for Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk. This is a guided swamp walk that takes you closer seeing primates mostly monkeys, birds and butterflies. The wetland is a birder’s paradise with about 138 species and is best known for being home to the Great Blue Turaco. Overnight at Lake Nkuruba Campsite

Day 14: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park

After breakfast you will be transferred to Murchison Falls National Park which will take around 7/8 hours of drive, Head straight to tour the Top and bottom of majestic falls, where the Nile crashes through a 7 meters gorge to the falls 45 meters. Numerous scenic viewpoints are a photographers’ delight, the most impressive view of the foaming waters rushing into the gorge with a deafening roar. Overnight at Red Chilli Rest Camp

Day 15: Game drive and Boat cruise in Murchison falls National Park

You will set off at 6:30 am cross to the northern bank of river Nile head for a sunrise game drive in the Nyamsika plateau to see the Cape buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, Uganda kob, hartebeest and waterbucks. You may also spot oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, shy sitatunga, bush duiker, warthog and bush pig plus large carnivores including lions, leopards and spotted hyenas. Chimpanzees and olive baboons head the list of six species of primates found in the park. Crocodiles and hippos will be seen along the banks of the Nile. Some of the more common birds that can be seen include goliath heron, Egyptian geese, pelican, bee- eaters, kingfishers, hornbill, cormorant, saddle-bill stork and the rare shoebill stork.

You will return to your lodge for a late breakfast and some relaxation before setting off in the afternoon for a Boat cruise on the placid Victoria Nile, upstream, to the base of the falls. En route you will see hippos, crocodiles, water buck and a wide variety of birds including the unusual shoebill stork. The boat stops just tens of meters from the “Devil’s Cauldron” for pictures to be taken of the photogenic and majestic Murchison Falls. Overnight at Red Chilli Rest Camp

Day 16: Rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and transfer to Kampala/Entebbe

After an early morning breakfast, depart with great memories of the moments spent at Murchison falls, you will be driven to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, after a briefing from the ranger you trek the sanctuary for close to two hours. With Lunch en-route you will be transferred back to Entebbe for a relaxed evening as you unwind from the great adventure at Lake Victoria Hotel

Day 17: Transfer to Entebbe, for a flight back

After having a relaxed timeand lunch, check out the hotel and get on the transfer to Entebbe international airport to readily catch your flight back home as you say farewell to the pearl of Africa.

The costs include:

• Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Accommodation
• All meals
• Guide fees
• Park fees
• Chimpanzee permit
• 2 Gorilla permits (Lowlands at Kahuzi Biega + Mountain Gorillas in Virunga)
• Nyiragongo Hike
• Canopy walk
• Rhino tracking
• Boat fees
• Government taxes
• Drinking Water on board.

The costs do not include:

• Tourist insurance
• International flights
• Money for tips  and anything of personal nature
• Beverages