8-Day Murchison Falls Big 5 & Lowland Gorillas in Congo
This 8-Day Murchison Falls Big 5 & Lowland Gorillas in Congo explores both Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, renowned for its Big Five wildlife, and embarking on a journey to encounter lowland gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) presents a comprehensive and diverse wildlife adventure.
Here’s an overview of what you can expect from this combination trip:
Murchison Falls National Park – Big Five: Murchison Falls is one of Uganda’s most famous national parks, known for its diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes. The Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros) can all be found here, along with other species like giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and various antelope species. The park is also home to an array of bird species, making it a haven for birdwatchers.
Activities in Murchison Falls National Park may include game drives to spot the Big Five and other wildlife, boat cruises on the Nile River for close encounters with hippos and crocodiles, and visits to the impressive Murchison Falls themselves.
Lowland Gorillas in DR Congo: Lowland gorilla trekking in DR Congo offers a unique opportunity to observe these incredible primates in their natural habitat. DR Congo’s rainforests are home to the Eastern lowland gorillas, which are distinct from their mountain gorilla counterparts. Trekking into the lush forests, guided by experienced rangers, allows you to witness the gorillas’ behavior, interactions, and the sheer beauty of their environment.
Combining the Experiences: To create a combination trip that includes both Murchison Falls and lowland gorilla trekking, you’ll likely need to plan for travel between Uganda and DR Congo. This might involve flying or driving, depending on the logistics and your preferences.
Highlights:
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 2: Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Nile
Day 3: Kasese Town via Fortportal Tourism City
Day 4: Musanze
Day 5: Kahuzi Biega National Park-Congo
Day 6: Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking
Day 7: Transfer to kabale
Day 8: Transfer to Kigali, Genocide Memorial and fly out/Hotel
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After an early breakfast, our driver guide will pick you up from your hotel/Airport at 7:00 am, he will also brief you about your 8 Days safari to Murchison falls and DR Congo and you will start your 6 hours journey to Murchison Falls National park. You will go through the Luwero Triangle, and later have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking; here you will find both black and white rhinos.
After tracking have another stop in Masindi where you will have lunch, after lunch proceed to the park, after making payments for park entry drive towards the top of the falls, here along the way you will see various animals such as warthogs, baboons among others.
Being at the top of the falls is an amazing experience as you will watch the magnificent falls squeezing through the rocks in an 8m gorge. Take as many photos as you can. Later drive to the lodge, relax the whole evening, have dinner and an overnight.
Main Destination:
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Accommodation:
Hornbill Bush Lodge
- Budget lodge located in or near Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Meals & Drinks:
- Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
- Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 2: Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Nile
On this day wake up early and have breakfast at 6:30 am, after your driver and the guide will pick you up from the lodge to start your Game drive at 7:00 am. During the drive you will be in position to see very many animals such as lions, buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, antelopes, water
bucks and birds among others.
After the game drive at around 11:40 am, drive back to the lodge, relax/freshen up and have lunch as you prepare for the afternoon boat cruise. On the boat you will be able to see various Nile crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, elephants along the banks of the Nile as well as different beautiful birds some singing in the trees such as the bee eaters, the colored kingfishers, the shoe billed stork and many others. The boat ride will take you to the base/bottom of the Murchison Falls, when you reach here you will be able to see clearly the mighty waterfalls.
Main Destination:
Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda)
Accommodation:
Hornbill Bush Lodge
- Budget lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 3: Transfer to Kasese Town via Fortportal Tourism City
Wake up in the morning have breakfast and get ready for some good hours in the vehicle. Here you will enjoy the countryside viewing banana, tea plantations and also the great forest of Kibale and Mpanga River. On arrival in Fort portal tourism city you will have a view of the Tooro King’s palace as you continue to Kasese Town where you will see River Mubuku and Nyamwamba from the glaciers of Mountain Rwenzori ranges.
Dinner and Overnight.
Main Destination:
Fort Portal (Town, Uganda)
Accommodation:
Hotel Margherita
- Budget hotel located in or near Kasese
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 4: Transfer to Musanze
After breakfast, transfer to the southern part of the Virungas via Cyanika Border to Musanze town in Rwanda. Lunch will be served enroute. This will take only transfer through the rolling hills of the Kigezi Highlands in Kabale and Kisoro districts.
Dinner and overnight.
Main Destination:
Musanze (City, Rwanda)
Accommodation:
Fravan Eco-Resort
- Budget resort located in or near Musanze
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 5: Transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park-Congo
After an early morning breakfast, your guide driver will meet you at your hotel in Musanze. Cross the border at Ruzizi one to Democratic republic of Congo and proceed to Tshivanga Kahuzi-Biega National Park headquarters. Upon arriving at the Lodge, you will be checked in into your rooms for refreshing and relaxing preparing yourselves for the next Lowland Gorilla Tracking adventure day.
Main Destination:
Kahuzi Biega National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
Emeraude Kivu Resort
- Mid-range resort located in or near Rusizi
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 6: Eastern Lowland Gorilla Trekking
After an early morning breakfast, prepared to go lowland Gorilla Trekking, proceed Tshivanga Kahuzi-Biega National Park headquarters, kbnp is a World Heritage site. A vast area of primary tropical forest dominated by two spectacular extinct volcanoes, Kahuzi and Biega, the park has a diverse and abundant fauna. Some of the last groups of eastern lowland gorillas consisting of only some 7,000 individuals, live here at between 2100 and 2400 m above the sea-level. They have black coats, and the males develop silver backs as they mature. With the help of a ranger and trackers, we approach this rare primate. The walk can take several hours, but coming across the group in its particular habitat is an inspiring moment.
After the day experience with lowland Gorilla tracking transfer back to the lodge.
Main Destination:
Kahuzi Biega National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
Emeraude Kivu Resort
- Mid-range resort located in or near Rusizi
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 7: Transfer to kabale
After a leisurely morning breakfast, you will start your journey to Kabale town via the sharp curled corners of the Kigezi Highlands, arriving in the afternoon. Have lunch and then relax at the hotel for dinner and overnight getting ready to exit Uganda.
Main Destination:
Kabale (Town, Uganda)
Accommodation:
Kabale White Horse Inn
- Mid-range hotel located in or near Kabale
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 8: Transfer to Kigali, Genocide Memorial and fly out/Hotel
After a morning breakfast, you will start your journey to Kigali, arriving in the morning hours. The goal of the day is visiting the Kigaki Memorial genocide. This is the last day of our fruiful circuit of the 8 Day Murchison Falls Big 5 & Lowland Gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo. Here your private guide and 4WD vehicle leave you to continue your journey, either home or to your next destination. Thus the end of 8-Day Murchison Falls Big 5 & Lowland Gorillas in Congo.
Main Destination:
Kigali Genocide Memorial (Kigali, Rwanda)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
End of tour (See Getting There for more details)
- Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
- You’ll be dropped off at the airport.
