14 Days Rwanda, Congo Gorillas & Wildlife Safari: This 2 weeks Rwanda and Congo safari is all you need to explore the unbeaten experience in two remarkable primate destinations. During this 14 days Rwanda, Congo Gorillas and Wildlife Safari, you will get to track the endangered Mountain Gorillas in Congo’s Virunga National Park, see the rare Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park, track Nyungwe Forest National Park, see golden monkeys in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and also view a variety of wildlife species in Akagera National Park; with a chance to see the famous Big Five animals including lions, buffalos, rhinos, leopards and elephants.
Highlights for 14 Days Rwanda, Congo Gorillas & Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Rwanda
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe
Day 4: Isumo Water fall hike and transfer to Bukavu- DR Congo
Day 5: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo
Day 6: Transfer to Goma
Day 7: Transfer to Virunga National Park
Day 8: Mountains Gorilla trekking
Day 9: Nyiragongo Hike
Day 10: Descend Nyiragongo & Proceed to Volcanoes National Park
Day 11: Golden monkey trek and transfer back to Kigali
Day 12: Transfer to Akagera national park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Day 13: Morning and Evening game drive
Day 14: Transfer back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary for 14 Days Rwanda, Congo Gorillas & Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Rwanda
Airport pickup and transfer to your Hotel in Kigali. Early arrivals can take optional tour of Kigali city including Kimironko market and the Genocide memorials and the surrounding areas. Overnight and Dinner at City Blue Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
On the 2nd day of your 14 Days Rwanda, Congo Gorillas & Wildlife Safari, In the morning, you will be picked by the driver from your hotel in Kigali and drive southwards to Nyungwe forest National Park. You will have a stopover in Butare, where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, the king’s palace in Nyanza, and the Rwanda genocide memorial site. After lunch, connect to your accommodation to spend the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe
Wake up as early as 5:30am and set off for your chimpanzee trek. Before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3 hours. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch. You will spend the evening at leisure enjoying the cool breeze of the forest at your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top hill view Hotel
Day 4: Isumo Water fall hike and transfer to Bukavu- DR Congo
Wake up to an early morning breakfast then meet with your driver guide to connect for your Isumo waterfall hike at 9am. This trail takes approximately 4 hours to and from and it crosses the large tea plantation of Nyungwe Forest and is a bit difficult but worth it. You will meet many monkey species and most times, guests get to see the Ruwenzori Turaco Bird.
After the hike, you will connect to your lodge for lunch then continue on a scenic journey to Bukavu with wonderful views of the hills in Rwanda through the tropical forest of Nyungwe National park and a clear view of Lake Kivu. Dinner and overnight at Panorama Hotel
Day 5: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in KahuziBiega – DR Congo
In the morning, you will head for the memorable adventure of tracking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park. Tracking lowland Gorillas are 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! Later in the afternoon drive back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Panorama Hotel
Day 6: Transfer to Goma
On the 6th day of your 14 Days Rwanda, Congo Gorillas & Wildlife Safari, In the morning you will take a speed boat from Bukavu to Goma which takes 3-4 hours. Upon arrival in Goma transfer to your hotel for rest and overnight at the Hotel. In the afternoon Goma city tour and return back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Linda
Day 7: Transfer to Virunga National Park
Arrive at the Grande Barrier border crossing by 10:30am and ensure check in with the Virunga tourism office by 11:15am. You will receive your gorilla and volcano trek permits at check in which must be presented before the start of each trek. Once check in is complete, guests will be transported to Mikeno Lodge at the Park headquarters in Rumangabo’s several nature trails, bird watching or paying a visit to the Congohounds. Dinner and overnight at Bukima Tented Camp
Day 8: Mountains Gorilla trekking
After an early breakfast at Mikeno Lodge, trekkers will head down the hill to Bukima Ranger Post to meet their Ranger guides and have a briefing before the gorilla trek. Treks usually require 1-2.5hours of hiking each way, depending on location of the gorilla group being trekked and the difficulty of the terrain. After spending the allotted hour with gorilla family group, trekkers will make their way back to camp, enjoy a late lunch then transported back to Mikeno Lodge where the rest of the evening shall be spent at leisure at the lodge terrace or visiting the gorilla orphans at the Senkwekwe Centre. Dinner and overnight at Bukima Tented Camp
Day 9: Nyiragongo Hike
After breakfast in Kibumba, proceed to Kibati Ranger post at 8:15am for a briefing before the hike, departure point for the Nyiragongo volcano trek. The climb up the volcano will take around four to six hours and trekkers will overnight on the summit.
Day 10: Descend Nyiragongo & Proceed to Volcanoes National Park
This morning, you will descend the Volcano and head down to Kibati by 11:00am. Here, you will connect with your driver / guide and transfer to Ruhengeri the home of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. You may have an optional cultural tour here at Iby’iwachu Cultural Centre or spend the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge.
Day 11: Golden monkey trek and transfer back to Kigali
On the 11th day of your 14 Days Rwanda, Congo Gorillas & Wildlife Safari, Have and early breakfast and set off to the park headquarters where you will be briefed before you set off into the forest in search of the golden monkeys. This trek may take longer than the gorilla treks, about 4-5 hours searching for these unique creatures, .
Once you meet them, you will enjoy their company then connect for lunch in Musanze town then drive back to Kigali, you will do a city tour visiting the Genocide memorial site in Kigali and Caplaki crafts village for souvenir shopping. Spend the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at City Blue Hotel
Day 12: Transfer to Akagera national park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Have breakfast and transfer to Akagera national park where you will arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and later embark on the afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will see game like hippopotamuses, Crocodiles and many bird species that live around the lake and the surrounding swamps. Dinner and overnight Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 13: Morning and Evening game drive
Rise up early and go for a game drive with great anticipation of seeing the different animals which rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill. After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxing.
In the evening you will set back to the park for the evening game drive so that you can see the animals you might have missed out on in the morning. Dinner and overnight Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 14: Transfer back to Kigali
Wake up to a cup of coffee, check out of your accommodation and meet your driver guide to embark on your journey back to Kigali arriving in the afternoon. You will be dropped off either at your hotel or at the airport for your onward flight as you will advise.
End of the trip
Equipment’s
Sleeping Bag (1), Rain Coat (1), Rain Jacket (1), Hiking Stick (1), Hiking Shoes (1), Hut (1), Gloves (1)
Note that your Rwanda Visa expires immediately you cross into Congo so you will have to reapply for another while at the border and find it ready after the tour.
