17 DAYS VIRUNGA CIRCUIT

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June 2, 2023

D.R.Congo,D.R.Congo Safaris,Rwanda,Rwanda Safaris,Uganda,Uganda Safaris

17 DAYS VIRUNGA CIRCUIT

The Virunga Circuit Safari is developed around the VirungaMountains which are a chain of volcanoes along the northern border of Rwanda, The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains, which borders the western branch of the East African rift. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu.

Highlights
Itinerary
Includes & Excludes
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Day 1: – Pick You Up At Kigali International Airport

Day 2: – Kigali city tour and genocide visit

Day 3: – transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Day 4: – Karisoke Research Center for a Cultural Experience

Day 5: – Musanze to Gisenyi -Lake Kivu

Day 6: – Cross to DRC – Hike Mount Nyiragongo (3470m)

Day 7: – Mount Nyiragongo to Mgahinga National Park

Day 8: – Proceed To Nkuringo, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Day 9: – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Day 10: – Second Gorilla tracking

Day 11: – Community tour, Buniga Forests (encounter with the Batwa)

Day 12:–. Nkuringo to Buhoma sector- Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 13:–Game drive in Ishasha Sector and Transfer to Kasenyi Sector

Day 14;– Full day Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 15: – Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Later Transfer to Kibale

Day 16: 30^th Jan 2018 – Chimpanzee Habituation in Kibale National Park

Day 17: – Kibale National Park to Entebbe

Day 18: – Entebbe International Airport – End!

Day 1: – Pick You Up At Kigali International Airport

Arrival Kigali International Airport and transfer to your accommodation, depending on time of arrival possible city tour. Overnight: at Hotel Mille Collines (BB)

Day 2: – Kigali city tour and genocide visit

After breakfast, conduct city tour and visit Rwanda’s genocide memorial for the ancient history of the tusi and the hutu people of Rwanda. Retire you day at the hotel.

Overnight: at Hotel Mille Collines (BB)

Day 3: – transfer to Volcanoes National Park 

With morning breakfast, visit coffee plantation and various side trips on a scenic drive through Rwandan countryside to Ruhengeri Township in the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes.

Overnight: at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (FB)

Day 4: – Karisoke Research Center for a Cultural Experience

Today we have variety offers golden monkeys, visit Mt. Visoke or visit the Karisoke Research Center. This afternoon, continue exploring the cultural highlights of this area and visit the IbyIwachu Cultural Centre for cultural dancing and an informative experience about traditional local medicine. This cultural group was formed by pygmies and ex-poachers and we shall listen to their side of the story after abandoning the illegal practice. 

Overnight: at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (FB)

Day 5: – Musanze to Gisenyi -Lake Kivu

After breakfast, you will transfer to Gisenyi town which is located on the shores of Lake Kivu. On arrival, you will go for relaxing activities like swimming, sport fishing and boat cruise. The cruise will provide you with a spectacular view of the Kibuye and Gisenyi towns.

Overnight at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (FB)

Day 6: – Cross to DRC – Hike Mount Nyiragongo (3470m)

Depart Gisenyi early morning to cross the DRC border, clearing with customs to then proceed directly to Kibati Patrol post the start post for the Nyiragongo volcano climb. Its approximately 30minutes drive from Goma to Kibati. Today is the real adventure when you spend a day hiking the live volcano Nyiragongo. The 4-5 hour hike through lush rainforest takes you to the spot where the volcano erupted in 2002.

Overnight at Cabanas at the top of the volcano

Day 7: – Mount Nyiragongo to Mgahinga National Park

After breakfast start the descent of Mt. Nyriangongo to arrive at the head of the trail and meet your vehicle to proceed across the border to Uganda, meet up with your guide and transfer to the shores of Lake Mutanda and conduct a canoe excursion for 2 hrs to overnight on the shores of the Lake at Chameleon hill conducting amazing views of the Virunga Volcanoes.

Overnight at Chameleon Hill Lodge

Day 8: – Proceed To Nkuringo, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After breakfast with the Nkuringo Walking Safari guide, conduct 9km walk in the rural communities on the village path, giving you a great perspective in the lives of the local people and great photographic opportunities as long the way, the walk takes 3 hours and then you rendezvous with your vehicle and transfer to Nkuringo to relax and prepare for the Gorilla tracking the next day.

Overnight at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge (FB)

Day 9: – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Following a briefing, visitors embark on a forest trek lasting from a few hours up to a full day, depending on the location of the gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest, which family ranges the Kashasha river valley below the Nteko ridge. On completion of this once in a lifetime opportunity you will return to Nkuringo to relax and reflect back on the day’s experience

Overnight at Nkuringo Gorilla lodge (FB)

Day 10: – Second Gorilla tracking

Its’ 23km from Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge to the visitors reception if tracking Rushaga this is in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park once there you will first receive a briefing and at 8.00am and then start the tracking. Once you have found the gorillas, you will be able to spend an hour with them. Your time in the forest cannot be predetermined as every day is different from that previous. On your return to your vehicle you will proceed directly to Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge where hot showers and a bowl of potato soup await you.

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (FB)

Day 11: – Community tour, Buniga Forests (encounter with the Batwa)

This morning after a hearty breakfast, enjoy birding in Nombe Pocket Forest – it was part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it is still quite impenetrable, however it was cut off from it as people needed more land to live on and cultivate. It can be reached on foot (approx. 1 hour to go and 2 hours to come back) or by vehicle and the visit lasts approx. 2 hours, depending on the interest of guests.

Lunch at the lodge at 2.00 pm departure to Buniga Forest Trail Walk, an informative project run by USAID and the local Batwa community. The Batwa tribe was forced to leave their home in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in 1991 when it was declared a UNESCO Heritage site for gorillas only. They had been living in the forest as nomadic hunter-gatherers for millennia, in perfect balance with the flora and fauna around. Moving out and suddenly living in communities with a completely different way of life has proven to be a huge challenge. They now survive as best as they can and earn a living explaining their previous life in the forest and their rich heritage.

Continuation of the walk through the community to visit the traditional herbalist and the black smith

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (FB)

Day 12:–. Nkuringo to Buhoma sector- Queen Elizabeth National Park

With an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for a nature walk from Nkuringo to Buhoma. Enjoy a 15km walk from Nkuringo following the Kashasha River and Ivy River trails. This is a full day walk where there would be an opportunity of visiting the Munyaga River falls in the forest. The emphasis of this activity is for your walking guide to share his knowledge of the forest that you come into contact with and not simply an A to B.

On reaching Buhoma with your vehicle, and guide transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, lying 1978 sq. km west of Uganda. It harbours a diverse eco-system with a lovely savannah, fertile wetlands making it home for the big game, 10 primate species and a large number of bird species. Enjoy game drive in the Ishasha sector in search of the tree climbing lions and overnight by the River Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Overnight – Ishasha Wilderness Camp (FB)

Day 13:–Game drive in Ishasha Sector and Transfer to Kasenyi Sector

Early Morning game drive in the Ishasha Sector in search of tree climbing lions and return to the Lodge for breakfast, after checking out of the camp, continue on game drive as you drive into the Kasenyi sector. In the afternoon conduct game drive in the Queen Elizabeth National Park the tracks through Kasenyi, the North Kazinga Plains offer virtually guaranteed buffalo, antelope and elephant sightings, along with warthogs and baboons. Taking an experienced guide in the early morning or at dusk is the most successful way to track down a pride of lions, and maybe even the odd leopard.

Overnight: Kasenyi Safari Lodge (FB)

Day 14;– Full day Queen Elizabeth National Park
With an early breakfast, proceed to a spectacular game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park in the morning and after lunch; we will drive down to the Kazinga Channel and take a boat ride along the river. The launch trip along the Kazinga Channel is one of the most popular activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It provides an amazing chance to sit back, relax and enjoy the fresh river breeze whilst observing a large selection of animals. Those species commonly seen along the riverbank are elephants, buffalo, waterbuck and Ugandan Kob. Large breeding pods of hippos are also seen on a daily basis. On occasion visitors will also see giant forest hog, leopard and lion. The water birds in the area are plentiful; in particular, water thick knee, yellow‐billed stork, various plovers, white pink‐backed Pelicans and white‐bellied cormorants.

Accommodation: Kasenyi Safari Lodge

Day 15: – Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Later Transfer to Kibale

Have an early breakfast, enjoy another game drive. View more game as you catch them from their hunt expeditions before driving to Kibale. Enjoy the land scape as you set off to Kibale Forest National Park found in Fort Portal, a town at the south-western side of Uganda. The park bares homage to a very large number of primates.

Overnight: at Primate Lodge (FB)

Day 16: 30^th Jan 2018 – Chimpanzee Habituation in Kibale National Park

Full day chimpanzee habituation activity at Kanyanchu, clients to report at 6:30am for full day chimpanzee habituation experience where the clients will spend time with the Chimpanzees from nest to nest. Kanyanchu’s chimps have been tracked since 1993 and the chances of locating them are excellent

Overnight at Primate Lodge (FB)

Day 17: – Kibale National Park to Entebbe

Morning visit of the Bigodi swamp walk, then proceed with your driver for 6hour drive to Entebbe, various stops en route for photographic opportunities and visiting local markets along the road. Transfer to your accommodation at Papyrus Guesthouse.

Overnight: Papyrus Guesthouse (B&B)

Day 18: – Entebbe International Airport – End!

Transfer to Entebbe International Airport – outbound flight.