10 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Safari (Nyiragongo & Gorillas)

Airport meet-and-greet at Entebbe International Airport. Transfer to lakeside hotel on Lake Victoria. Comprehensive safari briefing covers Uganda, Rwanda and DRC visa requirements, gorilla and Nyiragongo permit confirmations, and security monitoring for Virunga access.

Evening at leisure. Your guide confirms tomorrow's early departure for Queen Elizabeth and reviews fitness requirements for the Nyiragongo ascent (3,470 m summit).

Drive southwest (approx. 6–7 hours) with Equator photo stop at Kayabwe. Enter Queen Elizabeth National Park and afternoon game drive on Kasenyi Plains — lion, leopard, Uganda kob and elephant.

Check in at your bush lodge overlooking the rift valley. Hippos grunt below the terrace as the sun sets over the Kazinga Channel.

Morning 2-hour Kazinga Channel boat cruise among yawning hippos, Nile crocodiles and elephant herds drinking at the banks. African skimmer and malachite kingfisher patrol the papyrus edges.

Safari activity | Kazinga Channel boat & Ishasha lions

Morning boat cruise on Africa's densest hippo channel, then afternoon Ishasha sector drive scanning fig trees for tree-climbing lions.

Afternoon drive south to the Ishasha sector, scanning giant fig trees for tree-climbing lions — a behaviour seen in only two places in Africa.

After breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (approx. 4–5 hours) through the terraced Kigezi highlands. Evening gorilla etiquette briefing and gear check.

Porter hire, waterproof layers and gaiters are essential for tomorrow's trek. Uganda gorilla permits are around USD 800 (UWA foreign non-resident).

07:00 UWA briefing and allocation to a habituated mountain gorilla family. Full morning gorilla trek into Bwindi's montane forest — trekking can take 2–8 hours.

Safari activity | Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Track a habituated gorilla family through Bwindi's impenetrable forest — one hour on contact, then your first gorilla certificate on this three-country volcano route.

One hour with the habituated family, certificate on return. Afternoon rest at the forest lodge before tomorrow's cross-border transfer to Rwanda.

Early cross Cyanika border (Kisoro–Cyanika) into Rwanda with guide assistance. Continue to Volcanoes National Park headquarters at Kinigi (approx. 3–4 hours total from Bwindi).

Safari activity | Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes, Rwanda

Same-day gorilla trek if permits allow, or overnight Kinigi for Day 7 trek — second gorilla country on this route (Rwanda permits USD 1,500).

Same-day gorilla trek if permits allow, or overnight Kinigi for next-morning trek (routing confirmed at booking). Rwanda's bamboo slopes offer a different trekking experience from Bwindi's steeper terrain.

Morning drive to Kigali, continue northwest to Gisenyi on Lake Kivu and cross the Grande Barrière border into Goma, DRC. Your guide handles Rwanda exit and DRC entry formalities; allow 45–90 minutes. ICCN and Virunga Foundation escorts meet you on the DRC side for permit verification.

Safari activity | Grande Barrière crossing & Nyiragongo briefing

Rwanda–DRC border at Gisenyi–Goma, then transfer to Kibati trailhead for equipment check and ranger briefing ahead of tomorrow's overnight lava-lake ascent.

Transfer to Kibati Mount Nyiragongo trailhead base. Equipment check: sleeping bag, rain gear, headtorch, warm layers. Evening safety briefing with Virunga rangers.

10:00 ascent with Virunga rangers and porters (approx. 5–6 hours climbing to 3,470 m). The trail passes through montane forest, lava fields and volcanic scree to the summit shelters.

Safari activity | Mount Nyiragongo overnight lava-lake hike

Ascend to summit shelters overlooking the world's largest active lava lake — sunset and night photography of the glowing crater. Fitness required; porters recommended.

Overnight in basic summit shelters overlooking the world's largest active lava lake. Sunset and night photography of the glowing crater — one of Africa's most dramatic natural spectacles.

Early descent (approx. 3–4 hours) to Kibati trailhead. Afternoon rest and recovery at Virunga partner lodge. Briefing for tomorrow's Bukima gorilla trek — or trek same afternoon if energy and permits align.

Safari activity | Nyiragongo summit descent

Steep descent from summit shelters through lava fields and montane forest to Kibati — recovery afternoon at Virunga lodge before your final gorilla trek in DRC.

The descent is steep and dusty; walking poles help. Hydration and knee care are priorities after the summit night.

Morning gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park (ICCN permit, typically around USD 450). Trek on Mikeno volcano slopes with armed ranger escort — third gorilla country on this route.

Safari activity | Gorilla trekking in Virunga, DRC

Final gorilla trek at Bukima patrol post — one hour on contact, certificate ceremony, then cross Grande Barrière back to Rwanda for Kigali airport transfer.

Cross Grande Barrière border back to Rwanda, transfer to Kigali International Airport for evening departure. Your guide confirms all three-country permits and travel documents.