17 Days Cross Border Adventure Safari in Rwanda & Congo starts in Kigali Rwanda and ends in Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is an intense adventure safari package that takes you to the deep layers of DR Congo including the Great Ituri forest – the home to the Okapi and the Mbuti pygmies, Kahuzi Biega National Park – home to the Eastern Lowland Gorillas, Virunga National Park with its Volcanic Mountains and Mountain Gorillas, Lake Kivu and its Islands and the Urban landscapes of Kisangani, Beni and Kinshasa.
The 17 Days also feature Rwanda Safari explorations including Nyungwe Forest for Chimpanzees and Canopy walk and Kigali genocide memorial.
Day 1: Arrive in Rwanda – Kigali International Airport & tour the Gisozi genocide memorial if time allows
Day 2: Drive to Nyungwe National Park. Tour the en route sites including Royal Palace at Nyanza and National Museum of Rwanda in Butare
Day 3: Do Chimpanzee Trekking in the morning and Nyungwe Canopy walk in the afternoon
Day 4: Transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park. Visit Chibati Falls and the Lwiro Scientific Research Station for chimpanzee exploration
Day 5: Do Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking & transfer by boat to Idjwi Island. Explore the Island village, the King’s Museum, Quinquinas & Pineapple plantations
Day 6: Transfer by Motorbike to the habour & connect by boat to Goma. Explore the Views of Virunga Volcanoes including the famous Nyiragongo Volcano – the world’s largest & most violent lava lake
Day 7: Connect by flight from Goma to Beni. Drive around Beni
Day 8: Connect to Ituri forest close to Epulu via Komanda and Mambsa
Day 9: Forest trek in Ituri forest spending time with the Pygmies
Day 10: Community Interaction and connect back to Epulu
Day 11: Drive to Kisangani passing through Nia Nia and Bafwasende
Day 12: Explore Kisangani – the Wagenia Fishery, transfer in a pirogue to the island to explore Tchopo Rover and Chiefs
Day 13 : Connect by flight to Kinshasa
Day 14 : Transfer to visit the Zongo / Congo falls
Day 15: Explore the Botanical Gardens in Kisantu viewing the endemic floral species of Congo
Day 16 : Explore the Lola ya Bonobos Reserve, the Kinsuka and the Lukaya Waterfalls
Day 17: Departure from Kinshasa
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport – the main gateway to destination Rwanda, you are welcomed by our representative who could be your driver guide as well for meet and greet after which you will be transferred to the respective hotel for check in.
If it is still early, you undertake a tour to the Gisozi genocide memorial to explore this living testimony of what transpired during the 1994 horrific genocide that befell Rwanda leaving over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead. Retreat for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Hotel des Milles Collines
Midrange / Standard: Hotel Chez Lando
Budget / Basic: Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel
Following breakfast at your hotel in Kigali, you embark on the transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park to the south west of Rwanda enjoying impressive scenery of Rwandan countryside.
En route stops will be made in Nyanza to explore the Royal Palace of the traditional Rwandan monarchical Kingship with the two of the Kings known to have occupied it including; King Musinga and King Rudahigwa.
The site features a very beautiful traditional hut, Inyambo cows and Intore dance group that combine to make the stop very exciting. From Nyanza, you proceed to Butare where you will settle for lunch and tour the National Museum of Rwanda with over 100,000 artifacts detailing the Rwanda’s heritage and history. Proceed on the drive to Nyungwe for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Nyugwe Forest Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Nyungwe Hill Top View Lodge
Budget / Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse
Drive to the forest of Kyamudongo which is a section of Nyungwe Forest National Park at 5am so as to arrive in time for briefing. Rwandan Development Board staff conducts briefing at 8am local time after which you set off to the montane forest of Nyungwe in search of Chimpanzees.
The forest is very diverse with other 12 primate species including Black and White Colobus Monkeys, birds and lush flora thus the 2 – 5 hours trek will go beyond the search for the Chimpanzees only.
You have one full hour of direct Chimpanzee viewing after which you get to the starting point and connect to the lodge for relaxation and lunch.
In the afternoon (2pm), you gather at Uwinka visitor center to embark on the canopy walking adventure encounter.
The two hour canopy walk offers magical views of the lush montane forest, the deep gorge, birds and primates. Retire for relaxation and overnight
Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Nyugwe Hill Top View Hotel
Budget / Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse
Following breakfast, you connect to the South Kivu Province of Democratic Republic of Congo crossing at Cyangungu.
The drive presents amazing scenic views of Lake Kivu before arriving in Bukavu town. From here, you tour the Chibati Falls for amazing sightseeing and tour the Lwiro Center to learn more about the Chimpanzees along with other primates including monkeys. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Luxury / Midrange: Orchid Safari Lodge
Budget: Hotel Horizon
You gather at the starting point for briefing after which you set off to the forest in the company of the armed park rangers in search of the Eastern Low land Gorilla Subspecies.
It is a fascinating journey through the jungle of Kahuzi Biega National Park known to be the main sanctuary for these gorilla sub species.
You traverse the sections of the Congo rain forest before encountering the volcanic soils on the Kahuzi and Biega volcanoes.
The trek tends to last four (4) hours with one (1) hour of actual gorilla viewing. From the jungle, you transfer by boat to Idjwi Island in Lake Kivu.
You use a motorbike to get to the lodge and then base from there to visit the King’s Museum and plantations of Pineapple and Quinquinas.
Accommodation: Congoman Hotel
Transfer by Motorbike to the dock and then transfer by boat to Goma in the North Kivu Province. You enjoy spectacular views of Virunga Volcanoes the chain of eight (8) mountains that straddle from Uganda through Rwanda to Democratic Republic of Congo.
The most amazing one is Nyiragongo Volcano which has the world’s largest and most violent lava lake whose eruptions have had a dangerous effect to the neighboring areas including the 2002 eruption that destroyed half of Goma town.
Virunga National Park is also home to the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas thus an optional tracking encounter can be arranged. Retire for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation
Luxury / Upmarket: Mikeno Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Bukima Tented Camp
Budget / Basic: Hotel Cape Kivu
Transfer by flight from Goma to Beni which is one Congo’s big towns. You enjoy the Arial views of the lush countryside.
Upon arrival in Beni, you take a town drive to explore the way of life of the residents and an extension to the Christian Bilingual University can be incorporated as well.
Accommodation: Vyahe Hotel
Following breakfast, connect to great Ituri forest traversing the Komanda and Mambsa. You spend the rest of day relaxing at the lodge.
Accommodation: Okapi Reserve Lodge
Extending to 63,000km2, the great Ituri forest is also the home to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve which covers 1/5 of its land.
The forest is marked by fascinating Ituri River and the indigenous Bambuti pygmies. There are over 5000 Okapis thriving in Okapi Wildlife Reserve and these species are endemic to Democratic Republic of Congo on world scale.
Other wildlife includes among others Elephants, Leopards, Chimpanzees, Crocodiles, forest Buffalos, water Chevrotain and over 300 species of birds.
You have chances of exploring some of these natural offers as you trek through the forest to the dwelling area of Mbuti Pygmies.
Accommodation: Pygmies Tents
You have a once in a life time moment with the Mbuti pygmies in their ancient lands learning more about their hunter gatherer culture, and the reliance on the forest for general survival including medical care, shelter and food.
About 30,000 – 40,000 Mbuti Pygmies still thrive bringing an interconnection between the modern and the ancient world. Retreat from the Mbuti area and trek back to Epulu.
Accommodation: Okapi Reserve Lodge
After breakfast, you embark on the drive to Kisangani traversing through the impressive areas of Nia Nia and Bafswande experiencing the interior of the historical Equatorial jungle noted to be the second largest on world scale after the Amazon. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation: Ramela Hotel
You spend the whole day exploring the amazing places of Kisangani in the Orientale Province capital and the third largest city in the whole of Democratic Republic of Congo. Other explorations include; the Wagenia fishery and the River Islands.
Accommodation: Ramela Hotel
Connect by flight to Kinshasa – the main Capital city of Democratic Republic of Congo enjoying impressive Arial views en route. Arrive in Kinshasa; take a city drive to explore this historic city – one of the largest in Africa before retiring for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Luxury / Upmarket: Kempinski Hotel Pleuve Congo
Midrange / Standard: Hotel Memling
Budget / Basic: Guesthouse Residence
You undertake an excursion to the famous Zongo Falls which rise to 65m in height as the lush water mass with intense quantity generate a thunderous roar which the locals have called the myth of eternal rain.
You explore the site under the guidance of indigenous people thus getting an opportunity to explore the site in depth and authentically. It is a rich experience for sightseeing and photo shoots.
Accommodation: Seli Safari Lodge
This is dedicated for magical exploration of the famous Kisantu Botanical gardens in the Bas Congo Province.
You drive 120km to reach the 225ha Botanical garden which is crossed by 12.5km of trails where the people and automobiles can access the various sections of the gardens.
Kisantu is marked by over 3000 species both indigenous and foreign origin. Retire and transfer back to Kinshasa for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation
Luxury / Upmarket: Kempinski Hotel Pleuve Congo
Midrange / Standard: Hotel Memling
Budget / Basic: Guesthouse Residence
You transfer to the Lola ya Bonobo for a day long encounter. Bonobos are members of the Great Apes and are limited in range to Democratic Republic of Congo on world scale with a world population of 50,000 – 75,000 individuals and listed as endangered on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The Lola ya Bonobo is a site where the Orphaned and rescued Bonobos are taken care of before they are re-introduced to the wild. From the Bonobos, you can do an extension to do sightseeing at Lukaya falls before connecting back to Kinshasa for relaxation, dinner and overnight
Accommodation
Luxury / Upmarket: Kempinski Hotel Pleuve Congo
Midrange / Standard: Hotel Memling
Budget / Basic: Guesthouse Residence
Connect to Kinshasa Airport to catch up with a flight back home
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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