14 Days Rwanda Congo & Burundi Safari

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport

Upon Arrival at Kigali international Airport , you will be welcomed by the Rwanda Safaris guide , brief you about the safari trip to Rwanda , Congo & Burundi tips, people , hotels & safety tips , start on the adventure into the best East African Countries by Kigali city tour to explore the Genocide memorial, Local Markets and later enjoy lunch, transfer to Volcanoes National park , the home for the mountain gorillas & Golden monkeys along side other conservation projects of the Primates . Upon arrival, you will be checked at the accommodation .

You will be checked in at your accommodation.

• Luxury- One & Only Gorillas nest
• Mid range- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
• Lower Mid range- Mountain Gorilla View Lodge 

Note : You can take a private community walk and its safe to walk in the community .

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast head  to volcanoes National park headquarters for registration and briefing about  gorilla trekking  rules. After you will drive to the starting point depending on the gorilla family allocated for the gorilla trekking where you leave your safari guide,  You will start on the trek to search for the Mountain Gorillas which are unique creatures that are classified as endangered species, you may take around 3-4 hours to find them and once you come face to face with the gorillas, you will take one hour taking photos and videos as you watch them play, feed and later return to the for lunch and relax at the lodge .

Optional Visit to the Ellen De Generes Campus for donations and understanding the work of Dian Fossey.

Accommodation.

• Luxury- One & Only Gorillas nest
• Mid range- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
• Lower Mid Range- Mountain Gorilla View Lodge 

Day 3: Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes

You will have early morning breakfast at the lodge and proceed back to the park headquarter for briefing about the golden monkey tracking rules and regulation.After you will proceed to the starting point for the golden monkey tracking which will last for 3-4 hours and later return to the lodge for Lunch .

Optional visit to the Gorilla Guardian Village .

Dinner and overnight as Above .

Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park

After Morning break fast you will start on the journey to connect to Nyungwe forest national Park the home for primates ( Chimpanzees in Rwanda). During the drive you will enjoy the scenic drive with the stop overs. you May decide to use the Gisenyi road to enjoy the scenic view of lake kivu or the usual road that takes you to via Kamira side. Upon arrival at the hotel you will be checked in by your guide and enjoy the feel of the Nyungwe forest National Park at leisure.

Accommodation options- 

• Luxury Lodge : One $ Only Nyungwe House
• Mid Range Lodge: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
• Budget Lodge:  Gisakura Lodge

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking & Cross to Bukavu.

At 5;30am you will set off from the hotel and head to the chimpanzee tracking destination where you will be briefed about the chimpanzee watching rules and regulations in the wilderness of Nyungwe forest national Park.  Mostly chimpanzee watching is done either at Uwinka trail and at Cyamudongo section. During the trekking experience, you will spot a number of species including  13 primate species like the colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and the red-tailed monkeys. During your good time with the chimps, you will enjoy their daily lifestyles like feeding, playing and others. After you will return and drive to connect to Bukavu city located in the southern Kivu for the overnight stay .

Note : Border closes at 4;30pm so your expected to hurry during the trek. Check border section for more guidance

Accommodation options:

• Luxury Lodge : Orchid Safari Lodge
• Lower Luxury : Hotel Begonias

Day 6: Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking

At 6:00am you will set off from your hotel in Bukavu and transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park Headquarter for the briefing about the gorilla trekking rules and regulations as you enjoy coffee at the park . Later you will drive to the starting point for the gorilla trek and its dependent to the gorilla family allocated for your visit . The  search for the Eastern Lowland gorillas lasts between 1-5 hours and after you will return to the park headquarter for the transfer back to Bukavu town for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Visit the Lwiro Chimpanzees & Pole Pole Foundation

After morning break fast, you will drive to connect to Lwiro Chimpanzee Centre located close to the Kahuzi Biega National Park . Lwiro Chimpanzee is the only destination for the habituated chimpanzees that are orphans and it provides safety for the apes. Upon arrival , you will be oriented about the historical background of the organization and later participate in the chimpanzee feeding  ( Never Miss to dance with the Magical Felix in the cage ).

Later you will transfer to the pole pole foundation where you will be entertained by the local community which is an organization composed of former poachers , wives of the rangers , Lunch will be organized in the community and it will be the local food with the rangers of Kahuzi Biega National Park at the Guest house in Lwiro.  Later you will transfer back to Bukavu town for dinner and overnight stay.

Facts about Pole Pole Foundations :

Day 8: Transfer to Burundi via Ruaha boarder

After Breakfast at the lodge , you will head to cross to Rwanda for the connection to Burundi 's former capital city of Bujumbura where you will enjoy the over night stay .  You will have lunch in Bujumbura city , later visit lake Tanganyika for the boat cruise and visiting the fishing villages where you will enjoy the local fish as you get to learn more about the historical back ground of the lake . This lake is shared by Tanzania and Burundi , its the port used for the importation and exports in Burundi .

Dinner and over at the best accommodation in Bujumbura City.

Accommodation: Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika

Day 9: Kibira Chimpanzee Watching & Birding tour

You will enjoy your breakfast at the lodge and later transfer to the Kibira National park headquarter for briefing about the chimpanzee watching rules and regulations which are not different from those of Nyungwe forest national Park . Depending on the trekking location where the chimpanzees where sited, you will head into the jungle to search for the apes and once found you will stay with them for one hour and later transfer back to the hotel for relaxation .

Accommodation: Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika

Day10: Rusizi National Park & Game Drive

After morning breakfast , you will head to rusizi National Park for the wildlife watching experience to see the best wildlife in Burundi . Rusizi National Park is  located 15 km from Bujumbura and home to hippopotamuses and sitatungas Gustave, a Nile crocodile. Later after the game drive you will transfer to Gitega province the capital city of Burundi for your overnight stay .   You will arrive late evening at the lodge and check in .

Accommodation : Tropitel Hotel

Day 11: Transfer to Gitega drum Centre ( Ngozi Town )

You will have breakfast at the lodge and enjoy a relaxed morning to enable feel the city of Ngonzi , and after noon you will transfer to the Gitega Cultural experience that has been the target of the trip to Burundi with Rwanda Safaris.  The Experience can last for hours depending on the appreciation of the Burundian Cultural practices . Later return  to the lodge for relaxation in the Evening.

Accommodation : Tropitel Hotel

Day 12: Visit to Source of the Nile & Karera falls

You will wake and enjoy morning breakfast before heading for the nature walk to enable you visit the falls with strong water points as you will explore the five water falls of Nyakayi 1, Nyakayi 2, Karera 1, Karera 2 and Mwaro and even explore the source of the Nile in Burundi. You will head back to the hotel for early lunch and relax in the evening.

Day13: Transfer to Rubuvu National park

You will have breakfast at the lodge and head for the simple game drive in Rubuvu National Park for the wildlife watching experience and later transfer to Bujumbura City for the the relaxation in the Evening . The drive is 6 hours to connect to Bujumbura and the game drive will be short lived in Rubuvu National Park . Check in the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika

Day 14: Transfer to Bujumbura city for Flight Back home.

After breakfast at the lodge you will head for the city tour of the largest  city where you will visit the following , Burundi Zoo, Independence Monuments , Cementary, local markets and after proceed to Bujumbura International Airport  for flight back home.