15 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Safari

Your three-country safari begins with a meet-and-greet at Entebbe International Airport or your Kampala hotel. After a briefing on the full Virunga circuit ahead — Uganda, Rwanda and DRC gorilla days — transfer to a lakeside hotel on Lake Victoria.

Depending on arrival time, stroll Entebbe botanical gardens for colobus monkeys and hornbills, or unwind by the pool overlooking Lake Victoria. Your guide confirms tomorrow's early departure for Ziwa and Murchison Falls and reviews the three-country permit schedule through to Kigali departure on Day 15.

Depart early north on the Gulu highway to Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch in Nakasongola (approx. 3 hours from Kampala). On foot with armed rangers, track southern white rhinos to within safe viewing distance.

Safari activity | Ziwa rhino tracking on foot

Walk with armed rangers to southern white rhinos — Uganda's only wild rhino experience before Murchison Falls.

After lunch, continue to Murchison Falls National Park. Visit the top of the falls where the Nile squeezes through a 7-metre gorge. Check in at your Paraa-area lodge.

Pre-dawn tea, then a morning game drive on the northern bank Buligi circuit — Rothschild's giraffe, elephant, buffalo, Uganda kob and lion at first light.

Safari activity | Nile boat cruise to Murchison Falls

Afternoon launch on the Victoria Nile — hippos, crocodiles, elephant at the water's edge, and Goliath herons along papyrus banks.

Afternoon launch cruise toward the base of Murchison Falls — one of Uganda's classic boat safaris with hippos yawning at close range.

Long drive southwest (approx. 7–8 hours) through Masindi, Hoima and Fort Portal. Landscape shifts from northern savannah to tea plantations and crater lakes approaching the Albertine Rift.

Stop for lunch en route — often in Fort Portal with Rwenzori foothill views. Arrive at your Kibale National Park lodge by late afternoon.

Early briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Centre, then chimpanzee trek through Kibale's mature rainforest with UWA rangers. One hour with the habituated group once located.

Safari activity | Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale

Track a habituated chimp community — loud pant-hoots and close-up social behaviour in Uganda's primate capital.

Afternoon optional Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk for red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey and great blue turaco.

Morning drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park (approx. 2–3 hours) via Kasese. Check in near Mweya with lunch at the lodge.

Safari activity | Kazinga Channel boat safari

Two-hour cruise linking Lakes George and Edward — dense hippo pods, elephant and buffalo on the banks.

Afternoon 2-hour boat safari on the Kazinga Channel — one of Africa's densest hippo populations with 600+ bird species recorded in the park.

Dawn game drive on the Kasenyi Plains — lion prides stalk Uganda kob at first light. After breakfast, drive south through the Ishasha sector scanning fig trees for tree-climbing lions.

Afternoon Ishasha game drive — buffalo, elephant and the famous lions draped over fig branches. Overnight near Ishasha or continue toward Bwindi depending on routing.

Scenic drive through the Kigezi highlands to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (approx. 4–5 hours from Ishasha). Terraced hillsides and volcanic peaks frame the approach to your sector lodge.

Evening gorilla trekking briefing — sector (Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija or Nkuringo) follows your UWA permit allocation. Prepare trekking gear and confirm porter hire for tomorrow.

Early breakfast and transfer to park headquarters. With UWA rangers, begin your mountain gorilla trek — trekking can take 2–8 hours depending on family location.

Safari activity | Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi

First of three country gorilla encounters — one hour with a habituated family in montane forest, then your UWA trekking certificate.

On contact, spend one hour with the habituated family. Afternoon rest at the lodge — first gorilla trek is physically demanding.

Relaxed morning drive to Lake Bunyonyi (approx. 1–2 hours) — 29 islands and cool highland air. Check in at a lakeside lodge.

Safari activity | Dugout canoe on Lake Bunyonyi

Afternoon paddle among the islands — Uganda's classic post-gorilla recovery before crossing into Rwanda.

Afternoon dugout canoe excursion among the islands. Bunyonyi buffers you before Rwanda gorilla day and DRC border logistics ahead.

After breakfast, cross the Cyanika border into Rwanda (allow 30–45 minutes). Continue to Kinigi at the base of Volcanoes National Park — bamboo forest on the Virunga slopes.

Evening briefing with RDB rangers for tomorrow's second-country gorilla trek. Rwanda permits are USD 1,500 — trekking groups are limited to eight visitors per family.

07:00 briefing at Volcanoes headquarters, then trek on bamboo slopes with RDB rangers. Rwanda treks are often shorter than Bwindi (1–4 hours) but altitude still demands fitness.

Safari activity | Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes NP

Second gorilla country — bamboo-zone photography and RDB certificate ceremony after one hour with your assigned family.

Compare bamboo terrain with Bwindi's montane forest. Afternoon rest or optional twin-lakes drive (Burera and Ruhondo).

Optional morning golden-monkey trek in Volcanoes bamboo forest (permit supplement). Drive to Gisenyi on Lake Kivu, cross Grande Barrière into Goma, DRC.

Transfer to Virunga partner lodge near Bukima with armed escort. DRC visa and security clearance required — handled in pre-departure briefing. Evening safety briefing from ICCN rangers.

07:00 ICCN briefing at Bukima patrol post. Third gorilla trek on Mikeno volcano slopes — Virunga permits at approx. USD 450 are the region's best value.

Safari activity | Gorilla trekking in Virunga NP

Third gorilla country with ICCN rangers and armed escort — open bamboo zones and the oldest national park in Africa.

Armed rangers escort all forest time. Optional Senkwekwe Orphan Gorilla Centre visit if open. Nyiragongo overnight extension available on request.

Exit DRC via Grande Barrière into Gisenyi, Rwanda. Continue to Kigali (approx. 3–4 hours). Optional stop at Kigali Genocide Memorial if flight time allows.

Airport transfer for evening international departures from Kigali International Airport — the logical exit after a Congo finish. Your guide assists with departure formalities and optional last-minute souvenir stops at the airport craft shop.