17 Days Gorilla In Virunga, Bwindi, And Volcanoes Safari
The 17 days gorilla tour offers you an opportunity to trek gorilla in DR.Congo, Bwindi and also takes you to visit and see wildlife in parks. The Parks to visit include Murchison falls, Kabwoya game reserve, Kibale, Kidepo national park and so much more. Availability of this tour, is based on the status of D.R.Congo , and also availability of gorilla tracking permits, Our 17 days Gorilla tours is perfect for those with atleast 3 weeks, free time and holiday. Contact us to offer you the best and free price quotation for this tour.
Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival. BB
- Day 2: Transfer to Virunga National park.
- Day 3: Gorilla Tracking / transfer to Volcanoes National park.
- Day 4: Golden monkey trek.
- Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi
- Day 6: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Park.
- Day 7: Drive to Queen Elizabeth park.
- Day 8: Game drive / Boat ride.
- Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National park.
- Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking / Bigodi nature walk.
- Day 11 ; Visit tea Plantation. / Drive to Lake Albert / Kabwoya game reserve.
- Day 12: Drive to Transfer to Murchison Falls park.
- Day 13: Safari game drive / Boat ride
- Day 14; Transfer to Kidepo Park.
- Day 15: Game drive / Boat ride
- Day 16: Community walk
- Day17; Fly to Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival. BB
Arrive at the airport to meet our company representative who will transfer you to your hotel in Kigali. Relax by the lodge as you prepare for tomorrow.
Overnight at
Basic- Chezlando Hotel
Moderate – Gorillas golf hotel.
Luxury – Serena hotel Kigali.
Day 2: Transfer to Virunga National park.
In the morning right after breakfast, you will drive to transfer to Goma. Overnight in Goma.
Day 3: Gorilla Tracking / transfer to Volcanoes National park.
Today you will drive to transfer to Virunga national park to go trek gorillas and then later transfer to volcanoes national park. Unlike other gorilla treks else where this trek takes just between 2 to 4 hours.Overnight
Basic- Kinigi guest hour
Moderate – Five volcanoes hotel.
Luxury – Virunga Lodge
Day 4: Golden monkey trek.
Have an early morning breakfast and get ready to trek the golden monkeys. The Golden monkey scientifically known as Cercopithecus mitis kandti is a subspecies of blue monkey found only in the bamboo forests of the volcanic mountain chain which makes a part of the boundary between Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Golden monkey trek is an experience that one compares to gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Uganda or Congo.
Golden money trekking takes 2 t 4 hours and therefore, you should be back intimate for lunch. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi
Following a hearty breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive passes through Cyanika border and Kisoro where you see green vegetation and some Albertine rift bird species, then to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (a World Heritage Site) passing through the picturesque area known as “The Switzerland of East Africa”. Dinner and overnight at:
Super Rustic Luxury accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp/ Clouds lodge/ Bwindi safari Lodge / Gahinga
Mid range accommodation: Lake Kitandara camp/Gorilla Forest Camp
Budget accommodation: Buhoma Community bandas / Bwindi View bandas / Nkuringo campsite tents / Virunga Hotel /Nkuringo safari centre
Day 6: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Park.
Early in the morning, take breakfast and move to the park headquarters for briefing. Move into the luxuriant ancient forest to search for the great apes. With your guide, hike into the forest where the gorillas were the night before and track from that point. The time to take searching for these great apes is unpredictable therefore your patience is very vital. This trek takes from 2 to 8 hours and climb to altitudes in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy.
Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. The time you get to meet the gorillas is stimulating to the extent forgetting your fatigue. This experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. Cameras and plenty of fast speed film are recommended.
It can rain at a few minutes notice, hence waterproof clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras and film. Spend an hour with the gorillas watching them play from the vines as others feed there little ones. Return for dinner and Overnight at the accommodation of your budget
Day 7: Drive to Queen Elizabeth park.
After that moment with the ancient apes, drive through the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park. In this area there are tree climbing lions which you may be lucky to see. Get ready for dinner and overnight at.
Luxury accommodation: Mweya safari lodge/Jacana lodge
Mid range accommodation: Ihamba safari lodge/Albertine camp
Budge accommodation: Mweya hostels/Simba safari camp
Day 8: Game drive / Boat ride.
Wake up early morning for a game drive searching for the early risers. Come back to the Lodge for mid morning breakfast. You may have the chance of seeing warthogs, elephants, buffalos, bushbucks, waterbucks and several other interesting animals. After lunch, head for the afternoon launch cruise at the Kazinga channel. This channel joins Lake Edward to Lake George. You will spot the hippos, crocodile and water birds quenching there thirst while others are playing in the water. Come back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National park.
Wake up early for a warm breakfast then drive to Kasenyi plains to view the early raisers and predators returning to their hideouts. On the expedition, you may get a chance of seeing predators like Lions, leopards, hyenas and several others. Have lunch enroute and head to Kibale forest following the beautiful Rwenzori ranges. Dinner and overnight at
Luxurious Ndali Lodge/ Primates Lodge
Mid range Rwenzori View Guest House/Mountains of the moon Fort Portal/ Chimps nest lodge
Budget Kanyankyu Ecological Bandas (FB
Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking / Bigodi nature walk.
After breakfast, carry your tracking gears and move to the headquarters for briefing. You will be lead into the damp luxuriant, cool and thick forest. The guide will explain to you the types of tress that you come across, you will also see a number of other primates like monkeys that jump from tree to tree, Colobus Monkeys Giant forest hog, Vervet, red-tailed monkeys, the Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, and Olive Baboons.
The birds are also in plenty. Continue searching for the stimulating human cousins because they are very mobile. You may hear them hoot before seeing them. Watch the beautiful chimps for some time and come back for lunch. In case you are not so tired, move on for a community walk in the Bigodi community. You will watch some ladies making hand crafts and if there is ample time, you will visit the community school. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 11 ; Visit tea Plantation. / Drive to Lake Albert / Kabwoya game reserve.
Go visit the tea plantation to learn more about the growing tea, tea harvesting and processing of tea in Uganda. Later in the afternoon, you will relax at your hotel. Later in the afternoon, you will drive to transfer to Kabwoya game reserve. Overnight at Lake Albert Safari Lodge.
Day 12: Drive to Transfer to Murchison Falls park.
Early in the morning, get back to your car and drive to Murchison falls national park.The drive will take 4 hours arriving in the afternoon. Overnight at
Luxury accommodation: Paara safari lodge/Nile safari lodge/Chobe safari lodge
Mid range accommodation: Sambiya lodge
Budget accommodation; Red chillis rest camp
Day 13: Safari game drive / Boat ride
Wake up early in the morning for a game drive in the Northern sector of the park. Most of the game is to be found in the area north of the Victoria Nile River and East of the Albert Nile and Lake Albert. This is where part of the movie “The African Queen” was filmed. Game is now returning quite rapidly and game drives can be very exciting. During the Game drive, you may have the chance of seeing elephants, oribi, giraffes, waterbucks, hartebeests, topi, buffalo, sitatungas, bushbucks, warthog, bush pig, lion, leopard, mongoose, genet, hyena, jackal and bat eared fox.
Return for lunch and move down for an eye captivating launch cruise. Get to see birds like the ancient dying out shoe bill, yellow footed fly catcher, ituri batis, white thighed hornbill and other interesting birds. You will have time to see the elephants, buffalos, giraffes at a closer proximity. Take there photographs too. Return to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 14; Transfer to Kidepo Park.
In the morning right after breakfast, you will drive to transfer to Kidepo national park. This is a long drive.
Basic – UWA Bandas.
Moderate – Kidepo safari Lodge
Luxury – Apoka safari lodge.
Day 15: Game drive / Boat ride
Rise up early in the morning and head to the park premises for a game drive. This park has variety of wild creatures to see that are untapped. You may have the chance of seeing bat eared foxes, striped hyenas, caracal, cheetas, leopards, lions, ostriches, zebras, bush pigs, defassa, eland. Bush bucks, elephants, lions the list is endless.
There are no restrictions to length of game drives but are generally in the mornings and late afternoons because it can be quite hot. Have game walks as per clients’ wishes and requests. Return for dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 16: Community walk
After breakfast, walk to the Karamojong community. These are people who have stuck to there traditions since the ancient days. Karamajongs are similar to the Masai’s in Kenya and are mainly cattle keepers who dress usually in brief clothes or at times no clothes. Living in homesteads called the Manyattas, they also love wearing beads around their necks and waist. They remove their front teeth as believing it’s a sign of beauty. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day17; Fly to Entebbe
Having concluded your tour through Uganda and Rwanda, fly to Entebbe airport for your flight returning home. End of the 17 days Gorilla Tour.